The Register’s All-County first-team offense for 2014.
ALL-COUNTY OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK
SAM DARNOLD (OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR)
San Clemente, 6-4, 209, Sr.
The Register’s Offensive Player of the Year.
RUNNING BACKS
EDWARD VANDER
JSerra, 6-1, 205, Jr.
The only junior on the All-Orange County offensive first team, Vander rushed for 1,565 yards, the fourth-highest total in the county. Vander averaged 8 yards a carry and 130 yards a game. One of his best games – 217 yards on 29 carries – was in a 49-44 loss to the Lions’ best opponent, St. John Bosco. He rushed for 142 yards and three touchdowns in a Trinity League win over Servite. Vander committed to Arizona.
CARLOS MARTIN
La Habra, 6-0, 200, Sr.
He was the county’s sixth-leading rusher with 1,425 yards. Martin ran for 429 yards and four touchdowns in the Highlanders’ nonleague win over Colony of Ontario. He scored four touchdowns and ran for 155 yards in a crucial Freeway League win over Buena Park. Martin was named Freeway League offensive player of the year. He surpassed 100 yards in eight of 11 games. Martin, a good mix of quickness and power, has not settled on a college choice.
WIDE RECEIVERS
KALEB FOSSUM
El Toro, 5-10, 175, Sr.
He was the South Coast League’s MVP, an honor that usually goes to a player on a league champion. El Toro finished in third place. Fossum’s 75 catches were the seventh-most in the county. He is sure-handed and quick. He had 11 catches for 178 yards and one touchdown in a win over Trabuco Hills. Fossum had 12 receptions for 94 yards in a loss to Tesoro. Fossum has not made a college commitment.
JACOB BREELAND
Trabuco Hills, 6-6, 205, Sr.
Breeland was All-Sea View League first team. He had 61 catches for 1,028 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Southwest Division champions. In the semifinals, Breeland had six receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Buena Park. He followed with five receptions for 68 yards and two touchdowns in the championship game. Breeland was a big target with breakaway speed and an ability to make graceful, leaping catches. He committed to Oregon, which plans to use him at tight end.
JAYLINN HAWKINS
Buena Park, 6-1, 180, Sr.
Also outstanding at defensive back, Hawkins was one of the county’s better two-way players. He had 80 receptions, the fourth-most in the county, for 1,476 yards and 16 touchdowns. Hawkins was selected to the All-Freeway League first team. Hawkins had 13 receptions for 158 yards and two touchdowns in a league win over Troy. He had 10 catches for 186 yards and three touchdowns in a league win over Sonora. Widely recruited, Hawkins’ list of favorite colleges includes Arizona State, Cal, Utah and Washington.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
COLE SMITH
Mission Viejo, 6-3, 270, Sr.
He was All-South Coast League first team and is first-team All-County for the second year in a row. Smith was a three-year starter at center and the best lineman for the West Valley Division champions. Mission Viejo’s offense improved as the season progressed and Smith was a key reason for that. Running pretty much between the tackles, the Diablos compiled more than 400 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground in a 41-36 win over Great Oak of Temecula in the West Valley semifinals. Smith committed to USC.
CLAYTON JOHNSTON
Servite, 6-6, 280, Sr.
Johnston was All-Trinity League first team. Many of the county’s top linemen are left tackles. Johnston played right tackle because the Friars had youth at left tackle and at right guard and the Friars’ decided to balance the experience by placing the senior on the right side. Johnston helped Servite average 31 points a game against perhaps the most-challenging schedule in Orange County. He committed to USC, which Johnston said plans to play him at tackle. To succeed with the Trojans, Johnston said, “I need to get better at run blocking and I need to get bigger so that I’m better at pushing the bigger defensive linemen around.”
OLIVE SAGAPOLU
Mater Dei, 6-2, 295, Sr.
Sagapolu was named All-Trinity League first team. He played mostly at guard and some at center. Whatever the position, Sagapolu was the most reliable lineman on a team that finished third in the Trinity League, second in the Orange County top 10 and that averaged 31 points a game. He said what he will remember most about his senior year is Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson’s inspiration. “He pushes you to dig deeper when you’re tired,” Sagapolu said, “and how to play every play like it’s your last play.” Sagapolu committed to Wisconsin where he hopes to play guard.
AUSTIN MAIHEN
Santa Margarita, 6-5, 288, Sr.
Maihen was named All-Trinity League first team. He had played various offensive line positions before settling in at left tackle this season. He said that among his favorite games of his senior year was a fourth-quarter comeback the Eagles made to beat Orange Lutheran, 42-41. “That’s something I will always remember,” Maihen said. He has committed to Washington State but has sent an application to Stanford and might explore an opportunity there if it arises.
ZACH HICKMAN
Offensive line, Tesoro, 6-3, 261, Sr.
Hickman manned the left tackle position on Tesoro’s fine offensive line. He was first-team all-league in the South Coast League. His favorite game was when the visiting Titans beat Upland, 28-14. “That’s when we clicked as a team,” Hickman said. He has not received any college offers and is considering playing at a community college next year.
RELATED:
Offensive Player of the Year: Sam Darnold, San Clemente
Defensive Player of the Year: Matt Locher, Los Alamitos
Coach of the Year: Jim Hartigan, JSerra
All-Puprose and Special Teams capsules
Past Register All-County football award winners
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com
