Duo earn All-CIF honors

Two Laguna Beach High football players earned All-CIF Southern Section Southern Division honors Tuesday. Senior Mitchell McMullin, a 6-foot-1, 230 lineman, and sophomore Chris Paul, a 6-1, 160 wide receiver, made the 18-man offensive team. McMullin was one of seven offensive linemen named to the team and Paul was one of three wide receivers selected.

Paul also was the lone underclassman to made the offensive unit and just one of two sophomores to make the all-division team. The other is Laguna Hills defensive back Ryan Urr.

“I’m so happy for Mitchell and Chris,” Laguna Coach Jonathan Todd said. “Mitchell worked so hard and one of his goals was to be the best lineman in our league. You have to give credit to him for how hard he worked in the offseason and also throughout the season.

“There had never been a sophomore from Laguna Beach High to make All-CIF until Chris. He’s a phenomenal athlete who plays three sports. He’s a playmaker and really had a great year.”

McMullin, a two-way player at right guard and nose guard, also is the Lineman of the Year on the 2008 All-Orange Coast League team.

“Like coach said, I did work hard so I expected to have a good year,” McMullin said. “Also, I was surrounded by a lot of good players on my team, which helped a lot. I was surprised, though, when I heard that I made All-CIF. It’s an honor to be recognized.”

Paul also was a first-team all-league selection. In mid-November, he set a school record for touchdown receptions in a game with four in a CIF playoff victory over Santa Ana, a game in which he also tied former Breaker Donelle Darling (2001) for most touchdowns in a game (five) and most points scored in a game (30).

Paul had 41 receptions total 677 yards, with eight touchdowns in 2008.

“I was shocked,” he said of making All-CIF. “It’s a great accomplishment and I hope to continue to improve next year. I owe a lot to my teammates, because they pushed me and made me a better player.”