Daily Pilot High School Football Dream Team

As Cecil Whiteside prepares for his final high school football game, he looked back to the lone one he missed during his stellar four years at Newport Harbor High.

When Whiteside travels next month to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl game in San Antonio, he will feel much better than he did toward the end of the season.

More than a month away from the game and rest can heal all wounds for Whiteside, who’s the Newport-Mesa Dream Team Player of the Year.

The UC Berkeley-bound linebacker was part of the Sailors’ highs and lows as a senior. He came into the season as Newport Harbor’s most highly recruited player in Coach Jeff Brinkley’s 24 years at the school.

The Sailors started strong at 3-0, and then lost two straight games before Whiteside helped Brinkley reach the 200-win milestone at Newport Harbor.

The Sailors fell back down, losing back-to-back Sunset League games. One of those games Whiteside missed.

Having to sit out against Fountain Valley hurt Whiteside more than the pain forcing him to miss the game. A contusion of the elbow limited the mobility in his right arm.

Whiteside suffered the injury while returning a kickoff the week before in a loss at home to Edison. After passing some tests at halftime, the three-time first-team All-Sunset League pick gutted it out and returned in the second half to play only defense.

With the elbow swelling up after the game, Whiteside’s chances of returning the next week were dire. The Sailors’ CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division playoff hopes began to look just as grim.

“I wanted to play,” said Whiteside, the Dream Team Defensive Player of the Year the previous two years, who all he could do that night against the Barons was encourage teammates from the sideline. “It was hard watching the team play.”

The Sailors fought back without their 6-foot-3, 222-pound star, making it a game late.

There would be no upset without Whiteside unable to tackle anyone or be a threat on the field as a wide receiver. Newport Harbor lost to Fountain Valley, 37-32, dropping its second straight home game.

With the Sailors at 1-2 in league, they were in must-win situations in the final two games of the regular season.

Whiteside returned more determined than ever to help Newport Harbor win out for a chance at qualifying for the playoffs.

The Sailors first defeated Marina, 49-0. After recording their first shutout since 2006, the Sailors went on to beat Esperanza, 13-10, and finished in a three-way tie for second place in league.

All that was missing was a guaranteed berth into the playoffs.

Like the season before, Whiteside saw Newport Harbor’s postseason fate decided by a random tiebreaker process. Only two of the three teams splitting second place received the league’s No. 2 and No. 3 entries. The Sailors again lost out.

Whiteside was on his way to missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. That had never happened to the Sailors under Brinkley’s watch.

Two days later, the Sailors received the lone at-large entry into the playoffs. Whiteside believed Newport Harbor deserved a shot at the playoffs.

Injuries eventually caught up to the Sailors in the first round. Newport Harbor lost at fourth-seeded Lakewood, 41-17. The end of the season disappointed Whiteside.

“Making the playoffs is always expected at Newport Harbor,” said Whiteside, who led the Sailors with 96 total tackles, five going for losses, finished with one interception, and as a receiver made 29 catches for 377 yards and four touchdowns. “We wanted to make a run in the playoffs, so we could continue playing.”

More than a month has gone by since Whiteside last played. He said he’s ready to hit someone again.

Whiteside can’t wait to do it on national TV against some of the country’s blue-chip recruits in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl game on Jan. 9. Whiteside has earned the shot to cap his high school career on a positive note.

The rest of the players on this year’s Dream Team includes:

Offensive Player Of The Year

Cedric Whitaker

RB-KR

Newport Harbor

Junior transfer tailback electrified the Sailors with his elusive speed and moves. In his first year playing high school football, Whitaker finished with 1,003 rushing yards and totaled 12 touchdowns. If it weren’t for a knee injury forcing him to miss most of Newport Harbor’s regular-season finale and the entire CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division first-round playoff game, Whitaker might have led the area in yards and touchdowns on the ground. He scored touchdowns on two catches and returned a 94-yard kickoff and a 72-yard fumble for touchdowns. Whitaker earned first-team All-Sunset League honors.

Defensive Player of the Year

Parker Norton

CB

Newport Harbor

Junior was one of Orange County’s standout cornerbacks. Offenses began throwing away from Norton in the second half of the season. He intercepted a pass in five straight games. The five interceptions tied Norton for second most in the county. He finished with 45 tackles, two for losses, and averaged 15.1 yards per punt return. As a wide receiver, Norton led the Sailors with 37 catches, four going for touchdowns, another team best, and he finished with close to 300 yards. Norton earned first-team All-Sunset League honors.

Austin Rios

QB

Newport Harbor

Junior led the Sailors to a runner-up finish in the Sunset League and a berth into the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division playoffs in his first year as the starter. Rios threw for 1,274 yards and 15 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. He completed close to 60% of his passes. Rios engineered the Sailors’ game-winning drive in a 23-20 league upset of Los Alamitos, giving Coach Jeff Brinkley his 200th career victory at Newport Harbor. Rios earned second-team All-Sunset League honors.

Alex Abalos

RB

Estancia

Senior running back led the area with 1,309 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground, despite missing time due to an ankle injury. He rushed for 324 yards against La Quinta, setting an Estancia single-game record. Abalos returned and helped the Eagles earn the Orange Coast League’s third berth into the CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoffs, the second appearance for Coach Mike Bargas in three years.

Brian Waldron

WR

Costa Mesa

Senior wide receiver led the area with 56 catches for 836 yards and six touchdowns, earning him first-team All-Orange Coast League honors for the second straight year. Waldron helped Costa Mesa to a 6-5 record, the program’s first winning season since 2002. During a stretch in his final three years, Costa Mesa won a school-record eight straight league games. Waldron is a repeat Dream Team selection.

Luis Gomez

WR

Costa Mesa

Senior wide receiver finished with 46 catches for 586 yards and four touchdowns. Gomez gave quarterback Todd Davis another strong option to go to in games and he delivered. Gomez, a two-time All-Orange Coast League pick, scored three touchdowns in the Mustangs’ 48-34 victory against Century. He also rushed for 357 yards and four touchdowns. Gomez is a repeat Dream Team selection.

Connor Gaughan

TE

Sage Hill

Senior tight end was a huge target at 6-5, 220 pounds and the Lightning took advantage. Gaughan accounted for half of the team’s 10 passing touchdowns, and finished with 19 catches for 355 yards. He played a big part in Sage Hill’s turnaround under first-year coach J.R. Tolver. The Lightning qualified for the CIF Southern Section East Valley Division playoffs. Gaughan earned first-team All-Academy League honors.

Jake Taylor

OT

Newport Harbor

Senior left tackle protected the quarterback’s blind side and paved the way for the Sailors’ balanced attack. The 6-1, 261-pound Taylor earned a share of the Sunset League Offensive Lineman of the Year award.

Brandon Coffey

OG

Newport Harbor

Senior left guard was part of the one of the top left sides in Orange County. The 6-1, 220-pound Coffey earned first-team All-Sunset League honors.

Travis Whitlock

C

Costa Mesa

Senior moved from left guard to center in his final season and never lost a beat, posting 27 pancakes. The 6-2, 250-pound Whitlock earned the Orange Coast League Lineman of the Year award.

TJ Danner

OG

Sage Hill

Junior guard helped the change the Lightning’s image as a pass-happy team to a physical one. Sage Hill scored 24 touchdowns on the ground. The 6-foot Danner earned first-team All-Academy League honors.

Andrew Albers

OT

Costa Mesa

Junior tackle never allowed a sack, keeping the quarterback healthy after he was banged up for much of the previous season. Albers earned first-team All-Orange Coast League honors.

JB Salem

DL

Newport Harbor

Junior defensive lineman was by far the best in the area. The 6-4, 245-pound Salem made 58 tackles, three for losses, recorded two sacks, and intercepted a pass, earning him second-team All-Sunset League honors. Salem is a repeat Dream Team selection.

Zack Moghaddam

DL

Newport Harbor

Senior defensive lineman was the strongest lineman in the area. The 5-11, 242-pound Moghaddam finished with 30 tackles, two for losses, sacked the quarterback twice, and intercepted a pass. He made second-team All-Sunset League.

Omar Gutierrez

DL

Estancia

Junior defensive end posted an area-best 10 sacks for the second straight year. Gutierrez made 56 tackles and assisted on 13 others, earning him first-team All-Orange Coast League honors. Gutierrez is a repeat Dream Team selection.

Ryan Iverson

LB

Newport Harbor

Senior linebacker totaled 76 tackles, recovered three fumbles and sacked the quarterback once. He’s considered as one of the top long snappers in the country and Colorado and Washington are showing interest. Iverson earned first-team All-Sunset League honors.

Alex Swigert

LB

Corona del Mar

Senior linebacker led the Sea Kings with 60 unassisted tackles and six sacks. He received first-team All-Pacific Coast League honors for the second straight year. Swigert is a repeat Dream Team selection.

Dusty Orrantia

LB

Sage Hill

Senior linebacker ranked second on the Lightning with 71 tackles, and he caused two fumbles, recovered one, and intercepted a pass. As a fullback, he rushed for eight touchdowns. Orrantia earned first-team All-Academy League honors.

Gabe Gomez

CB

Newport Harbor

Senior cornerback was the most physical in the area. Gomez used his strength to his advantage, finishing with 47 tackles and recovering one fumble. Gomez earned first-team All-Sunset League honors.

Taylor Ross

S

Sage Hill

Junior safety wore many hats for the Lightning. Ross stood out in the secondary, where he finished with 51 tackles, two interceptions and recovered two fumbles. As a running back, he rushed for 610 yards and five touchdowns. Ross was named the Academy League Kicker of the Year after making four field goals, converting 25 extra-point kicks and recording 19 touchbacks.

Julian Marquez

S

Costa Mesa

Junior safety helped the Mustangs reach the CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoffs for the third year in a row under Coach Jeremy Osso. Marquez finished with 82 tackles and broke up six passes. Marquez earned second-team All-Orange Coast League honors.

Dillan Freiberg

K-P

Newport Harbor

Senior kicker made 71 straight extra-point kicks, the second longest streak in Orange County history. Freiberg converted 11 of 12 field goals, including hitting one from 49 yards. He averaged 41.3 yards per punt and pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard line 16 times. The longest punt went 76 yards. He shared the Sunset League Kicker of the Year award. Freiberg is a repeat Dream Team selection.