Register's first-team defensive football team capsules

Register's first-team defensive football team capsules

December 23, 2006 - 3:00 AM
The Orange County Register

MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
All County Defensive squad for 2006 is #5 Ryan Maxwell of Santa Margarita, #32 Travis McNaughton of Mater Dei, #5 Edward Pleasant of Kennedy, #9 Dominick Glover of Mission Viejo, #8 Rishard Matthews of Saddleback, #20 David Green of Mission Viejo, #2 Arron Martinez of Esperanza, Coach Mike Jacor of Santa Margarita, #9 Chris Galippo of Servite, #77 Logan Harrell of Santa Margarita, #77 Michael Reardon of Orange Lutheran and #55 Mike Calabrese of Newport Harbor.
MICHAEL REARDON

Orange Lutheran

6-6, 255, Sr.

Defensive Lineman

Reardon was one of the dominant defensive players in Southern California. He was one of those few players that can take over a game on defense and create nightmares for opposing offensive coordinators. He had 77 tackles, 12.5 sacks and 14 tackles for losses. He had 2.5 sacks against Edison in the CIF-SS Pac-5 title game. He helped the Lancers win a share of the Trinity League title, the Pac-5 championship and the Division II state title. He was the Trinity League's co-Lineman of the Year. He committed to USC. "I think he competes with an intense passion that is contagious," Lancers coach Jim Kunau said.

LOGAN HARRELL

Santa Margarita

6-2, 245, Jr.

Defensive Lineman

Harrell was one of the premier defensive players in the premier league in the county, the Trinity League. He had a knack for making plays. He finished with 61 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and two caused fumbles. "He was probably one of our most solid lineman," Eagles defensive coordinator John Byszewski said. "He was great against the run and turned into a great pass rusher."

MIKE CALABRESE

Newport Harbor

6-1, 224, Sr.

Defensive Lineman

Calabrese was the Sunset League's Defensive Player of the Year. He finished with 28 lead tackles and 19 assists, five sacks and seven quarterback hurries, three caused fumbles and two fumble recoveries. "Obviously, he was our leader on defense," Sailors coach Jeff Brinkley said. "He really was a complete defensive player. He played the run well, and he also could put pressure on the quarterback."

DOMINIC GLOVER

Mission Viejo

6-4, 255, Sr.

Defensive Lineman

Quarterbacks around the county knew who No. 9 was because he appeared to be in the backfield on almost every play. Glover was a ferocious pass rusher that is only going to get better in college. Glover had79 total tackles, caused three fumbles and recorded 16 sacks. He recorded 12 sacks during a five-game stretch from the end of league play into the playoffs. "He had a tremendous year," Diablos coach Bob Johnson said. "He is very young, just turned 17." He is being recruited by Colorado, Arizona, Oregon and Washington.

HUNTER WHITE

Edison

6-0, 200, Sr.

Linebacker

White, the co-MVP of the Sunset League, was one of the top two-way players in the county. He had 32 solo tackles and 72 assists for 104 total tackles to go along with six sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, two caused fumbles, one blocked kick and two defensive touchdowns. "He is the heart and soul of our team," Edison coach Dave White said. "The team feeds off him." He was also one of the top receivers in the county, finishing with 74 catches for 1,201 yards and eight touchdowns.

TRAVIS MCNAUGHTON

MATER DEI

6-0, 224, Sr.

Linebacker

He had39 solo tackles and 17 assists for 56 total tackles to go along with one sack, four fumble recoveries, six forced fumbles and nine passes defended. He made all-league as a junior and was the Trinity League's co-Defensive Player of the Year this season. "He's a great playmaker and always seems to spark their outstanding defense," Orange Lutheran coach Jim Kunau said.

EDWARD PLEASANT

Kennedy

6-0, 205, Sr.

Linebacker

Highlights: Pleasant was a playmaker on defense and was Kennedy's workhorse on offense at tailback. He had 57 total tackles, 1.5 sacks and one blocked kick. He was named the Empire League's Defensive Player of the Year. He also rushed for 1,428 yards and scored 20 touchdowns on offense. "Eddie has come through for us every game," Kennedy quarterback Eric Okula said. He helped lead the Fighting Irish to the CIF-SS Southern Division title, the school's first since 1971.

RISHARD MATTHEWS

Saddleback

6-2, 205, Sr.

Defensive Back

Matthews, theMVP of Golden West League, had a school-record 12 interceptions, 88 solo tackles, 38 assists, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, four pass deflections and one defensive TD. He also had 53 catches for 1,165 yards and 16 TDs. "It has been 20 years since Saddleback had someone like him, but they weren't even as good as Rishard," Roadrunners coach Jeoff Meek said.

RYAN MAXWELL

Santa Margarita

5-9, 180, Sr.

Defensive Back

When the Eagles needed a big play on offense, defense or special teams, Maxwell was the player they turned to. Maxwell had four interceptions, nine passes defended and 36 total tackles. He made first team All-Serra League as a junior and was the Trinity League's co-Offensive Player of the Year this season. He has 53 catches for 684 yards and four touchdowns. "I felt he was one of the best playmakers in Southern California this year," Orange Lutheran's Kunau said.

AARON MARTINEZ

Esperanza

6-0, 170, Sr.

Defensive Back

Martinez was one of those players who made game-changing plays. Martinez, a two-time all-league selection, was the Sunset League's Defensive Back of the Year. He had nine interceptions this season to finish with a school-record 14 interceptions. He also had 28 catches and six TDs on offense. "He had an interception in every league game," Aztecs coach Bill Pendleton said. "He would come up with two or three plays a game that made the difference."

DAVID GREEN

Mission Viejo

6-1, 205, Sr.

Punter

Green had one of the best legs in the county this season. He didn't get many opportunities to punt playing for the Diablos, but when he did, he averaged 40.5 yards per punt. He made 7 of 8 field-goal attempts and 95 percent of his kickoffs went into the end zone for touchbacks. He committed to Stanford. "He was one of the top guys at all the kicking camps and was ranked No. 2 or No. 3 in the nation as a kicker and punter," Mission Viejo's Johnson said.

CARLOS ARIAS/The Register