CdM’s TaeVeon Le highlights one of eight local football players earning All-CIF honors

Corona del Mar High senior wide receiver TaeVeon Le, Edison junior middle linebacker Luke Hoggard, Fountain Valley senior quarterback Nick Welch and Ocean View senior all-purpose threat Nathaniel Washington highlight half of the eight local football players earning All-CIF Southern Section honors in their respective divisions.

The other four players receiving recognition were CdM’s John Humphreys, a sophomore receiver and strong safety, junior center Sean Owens, and Max Casper, a senior kicker, punter and defensive back, and Fountain Valley’s Benn Vallier, a senior running back and linebacker.

Le, Humphreys, Owens and Casper made the Division 4 team. The foursome led the Sea Kings to their sixth consecutive 5-0 Pacific Coast League championship and the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs.

The Sea Kings (10-2 overall) exited the postseason with a 49-42 loss to Downey at Newport Harbor High.

Le, bound for Stanford as a preferred walk-on player, finished with 52 receptions for 1,084 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s a two-time All-CIF performer.

Le made the All-Orange County and All-Pacific Coast League first teams, and shared the Daily Pilot Dream Team Offensive Player of the Year award. Le is the Sea Kings’ career receiving leader in yards (2,751) and touchdowns (43), and his touchdowns rank No. 2 all-time in Orange County.

Humphreys had 55 catches for 1,100 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was the Pacific Coast League Defensive MVP, garnered second-team All-Orange County honors, and shared the Daily Pilot Dream Team All-Purpose Player of the Year award.

On defense, Humphreys finished with 72 tackles, one tackle for loss, two interceptions and five passes defensed. He returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown.

Owens paved the way for CdM’s offense to average 266.3 passing yards and 209.2 rushing yards per game. He made the All-Pacific Coast League and Daily Pilot Dream Team first teams.

Casper, a repeat All-CIF member, converted 63 of 70 extra-point kicks and two of four field-goal attempts, and averaged 34.6 yards per punt.

The first-team All-Pacific Coast League and second-team Daily Pilot Dream Team selection made 25 tackles, broke up six passes, recovered one fumble and caused a fumble.

Hoggard, a Division 2 member, helped the Chargers finish 8-4 overall and second in the Sunset League at 4-1, and reach the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs. Edison’s season ended with a 42-13 loss to Westlake Village Oaks Christian at Huntington Beach High.

Hoggard shared the Sunset League Linebacker of the Year award and made the Daily Pilot Dream Team first team.

Hoggard totaled 121 tackles to go with 1½ sacks, one interception and three passes defensed.

Welch and Vallier played vital roles to Fountain Valley’s turnaround in 2017, earning them spots on the Division 6 team.

The Barons shared third in the Sunset League at 2-3 after finishing 0-5 in 2016. Fountain Valley (7-5 overall) beat Wildomar Elsinore 38-23 in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 6 playoffs, marking the program’s first postseason win since 2003.

Welch threw for 2,370 yards and 19 touchdowns, with 10 interceptions, and rushed for 1,031 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Welch completed 150 of 279 passes. He averaged 8.1 yards on the ground.

Welch received All-Sunset League and Daily Pilot Dream Team first team accolades.

Vallier was a member of the All-Sunset League first team and the Daily Pilot Dream Team second team. He rushed 131 times for 911 yards and 11 touchdowns, and caught 20 passes for 211 yards and one touchdown.

Washington, a Division 13 member, was a versatile player for Ocean View (5-5, 1-4 in the Golden West League). He played wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner, and was a member of the All-Golden West League first team and the Daily Pilot Dream Team second team.

Washington led Ocean View in receptions (43), receiving yards (749) and receiving touchdowns (six). On defense, Washington made 45 tackles, broke up 15 passes, intercepted a pass, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.

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