Sage Hill’s Ben Romeo is Express League Offensive Player of the Year in 8-man football

Sage Hill School junior wide receiver Ben Romeo received the Express League Offensive Player of the Year award for leading the 8-man football team to a second straight undefeated league title.

Lightning coach BJ Crabtree was named the Express League Coach of the Year. Sage Hill went 10-2 overall and 5-0 in league play, advancing to the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs, where the Lightning suffered a 46-21 loss at Ojai Thacher.

Romeo, who also served as a defensive back and kick returner, is joined on the first-team All-Express League by Lightning teammates Jake Nadelman, Christo Karahalios, Alvaro Corona, Christian Moyano and Finn McClintock.

Brethren Christian had Dakota Whitmire and Evan Fischbacher on the first team.

Nadelman, a senior, and Karahalios, a junior, lined up at both running back and defensive back. Corona, a junior, played tight end and defensive end. Moyano, a junior, was a two-way lineman, while McClintock was a junior quarterback.

Senior Dhruv Patel, junior Griffin Lewis, junior Zane El-Gamal, freshman Ty Mazakas and senior Daniel Towers were named to the second team for the Lightning.

James Wang and Seth Klaasen received second-team honors for the fifth-place Warriors (2-6, 1-4 in league). Jace Knowles was an honorable mention.

Avalon junior wide receiver Adalberto Martinez was the Express League Player of the Year, while Downey Calvary Chapel junior nose tackle Adam Westfield was named the Defensive Player of the Year.

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