TIMES ALL-COUNTY FOOTBALL AWARDS : Kirschke, Carey, Devaney Receive Special Recognition

Esperanza defensive lineman Travis Kirschke and Los Alamitos quarterback Tim Carey, who led their teams to a Southern Section Division II co-championship, and Tim Devaney, coach of Sunny Hills’ Division VII championship team, were singled out for recognition Sunday by The Times Orange County Edition at a brunch honoring the all-county football team at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel.

Kirschke was recognized as The Times Orange County Edition Lineman of the Year for the second consecutive season, after pacing Esperanza to a 12-1-1 record. Carey was honored as Back of the Year for leading Los Alamitos to a 13-0-1 mark. Esperanza and Los Alamitos battled to a 14-14 tie in Saturday night’s Division II title game.

Devaney’s Sunny Hills’ team finished 12-1-1 and climaxed a great season Friday night by upending Rancho Alamitos, 14-13.

Honored along with Kirschke on the defensive team were linemen Beau Ralphs (Newport Harbor), Bryan Werner (Esperanza), and Gary Winsor (Mission Viejo); linebackers Chris Draft (Valencia), Ryan Jones (Irvine), Leon Vickers (Rancho Alamitos) and Brian Willmer (Sunny Hills); defensive backs Marshall Brown (Rancho Alamitos), A.J. Gass (Servite) and Ray Jackson (Mater Dei), and punter Micah Knorr (Orange).

Offensive team members cited with Carey were running backs Scott Seal (Irvine) and Jim Sebreros (Garden Grove); wide receivers Brian Finneran (Santa Margarita) and George Sagen (Los Alamitos); tight end Tony Gonzalez (Huntington Beach); linemen Joe Ireifej (Marina), Caleb Kemp (Los Alamitos), Bill McMullen (Los Alamitos), Kyle Murphy (Edison) and Travis Pulliam (Esperanza), and kicker Doug Stuckey (Newport Harbor).

Bill Cunerty, quarterback coach and offensive coordinator at Saddleback College, the nation’s top-ranked community college team, was the guest speaker.