CdM’s Espinoza, Humphreys earn top Pacific Coast League football awards

Corona del Mar High senior quarterback Nathaniel Espinoza was named the Pacific Coast League MVP and safety John Humphreys the Defensive MVP for leading the football team to its sixth straight undefeated league title.

Espinoza and Humphreys are two of 11 CdM players who were selected to the first team. The duo helped the Sea Kings (10-2, 5-0 in league) reach the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs, where they lost to Downey 49-42.

The other CdM first-team selections were senior wide receiver TaeVeon Le, senior linebacker Jack Fairon, senior running back J.T. Murphy, senior running back Alex Pourdanesh, senior defensive tackle Connor Reid, senior defensive end Cameron Prudhomme, junior offensive lineman Sean Owens, sophomore Mark Redman and senior kicker Max Casper.

Espinoza completed 139 of 226 passes for 2,460 yards and 29 touchdowns, with only four interceptions. The dual-threat quarterback rushed 124 times for 803 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Humphreys made 72 tackles, one for a loss, intercepted two passes (returning one 28 yards for a touchdown), and had five passes defensed.

As a receiver, the 6-foot-5 Humphreys had 55 receptions for 1,110 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Le, who is heading to Stanford as a preferred walk-on player, finished with 52 receptions for 1,084 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Le, a two-time first-team pick, totaled 145 catches for 2,751 yards and 43 touchdowns during his three years with the Sea Kings. The receiving yards and receiving touchdowns are CdM career records, and the touchdowns rank No. 2 all-time in Orange County.

Fairon totaled 58 tackles with three tackles for loss, two sacks and two passes defensed.

Murphy had 107 carries for 742 yards and 12 touchdowns. He caught 17 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns.

Pourdanesh, a repeat first-team pick, rushed 76 times for 644 yards and seven touchdowns. He had 16 receptions for 167 yards.

Reid finished with 42 tackles, eight tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.

Prudhomme had 27 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack.

Owens helped CdM average 266.3 passing yards and 209.2 rushing yards per game.

Redman had 23 catches for 255 yards and three touchdowns.

Casper converted 63 of 70 extra-point kicks and two of four field-goal attempts. The two-time first-team pick had 64 touchbacks.

Casper also played defensive back. He had 25 tackles, one tackle for loss, six passes defensed, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.

CdM senior offensive lineman Jake Berkey and Colston Chacon, and junior defensive back Jack Elliot and junior linebacker Ari Froelich made the second team.

Woodbridge senior quarterback Nick Nash was the Pacific Coast League Offensive MVP.

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