High School Football: Murtha league’s Offensive Player of Year

Estancia High senior tailback Robert Murtha has been named the Orange Coast League Offensive Player of the Year for the third straight year in football after setting two Newport-Mesa career records.

Murtha rushed for 1,594 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2012, giving him 5,489 yards and 53 touchdowns on the ground for his varsity career. The rushing total is a Newport-Mesa career record and his 57 touchdowns are also a Newport-Mesa career record.

Murtha is one of seven Estancia players on the first team after the Eagles (7-4, 4-1 in league) finished second in league and reached the CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoffs for the fourth straight year.

Colby Koste, a senior linebacker, shared the Defensive Player of the Year award. He finished with a team-best 112 tackles (77 solo), seven sacks, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and one caused fumble.

The rest of the first-team picks included DeionTe Haywood, a senior fullback and safety, senior cornerback Levi Stillman, senior quarterback Brad Wilson and senior Ben Beck, a wide receiver and defensive back, as well as sophomore offensive lineman Michael Hubbard.

Haywood produced 65 tackles, three fumble recoveries, one sack, one interception and one caused fumble. He rushed 51 times for 464 yards and four touchdowns, and caught seven passes for 115 yards and one touchdown.

Stillman, a repeat first-team selection, intercepted six passes, made 24 tackles and recovered one fumble.

Wilson, a repeat first-team pick, completed 66 of 141 passes for 975 yards and nine touchdowns, with three interceptions.

Beck had 17 receptions for 384 yards and three touchdowns. He finished with 20 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery.

Laguna Beach running back Drake Martinez was named league MVP.

— From staff reports