Nine locals make roster bid

Newport Harbor High all-purpose threat Parker Norton, defensive lineman JB Salem and Corona del Mar inside linebacker Preston Risser highlight three of nine Newport-Mesa seniors nominated to play in the 52nd Brea Lions Orange County North-South Prep Football All-Star Game on July 15 at Orange Coast College.

The other nominees for the South All-Star team include five players from Newport Harbor, Kellon Truxton, a wide receiver and defensive back, Ryan Andrews, a fullback and linebacker, offensive lineman Dillon Gillette, linebacker Blair Luchs, and defensive end Mutuvai Asi, as well as Corona del Mar kicker Andrew Boehm.

Norton earned Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Dream Team Player of the Year and Sunset League Defensive Back of the Year honors after leading the Sailors (6-5, 3-2 in league) to a third-place finish in league and the program’s second straight CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division playoff appearance.

Norton, who started at cornerback, wide receiver and returned punts and kickoffs, will be a preferred walk-on at Colorado.

As a receiver, Norton finished with 64 receptions for 569 yards and five touchdowns. The catches ranked in the top five in the county.

Norton intercepted four passes and returned one for a touchdown. He broke up 12 passes.

Salem, a 6-foot-4, 258-pounder bound for Stanford, recorded 44 tackles, three sacks and blocked one kick. He earned Dream Team and first-team All-Sunset League honors.

Risser, the Dream Team and CIF Southern Section Southern Division Defensive Player of the Year, helped the Sea Kings go undefeated in the Pacific Coast League, the program’s first outright league title in 22 years.

CdM (10-2-1, 4-0-1 in league) also reached the semifinals of the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.

Risser finished with 110 tackles, 10 for losses, forced five fumbles, and had two sacks and two interceptions.

The South roster will be comprised of 36 players, with no more than four from any one school.

The North and South All-Stars will be honored at a recognition dinner on May 26 at the Brea Community Center.

— From staff reports