Locals among nominees

Corona del Mar High senior Erik Rask, the Pacific Coast League Defensive Player of the Year as a linebacker for the Sea Kings last fall, and Mater Dei High receiver Robby Boyer, a Newport Beach resident, lead a list of Newport-Mesa players nominated to represent the South in the 49th edition of the Orange County All-Star Football Game, scheduled July 11 at Orange Coast College.

Rask, who will continue his career at Penn, had 105 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two interceptions on his way to earning All-Southern California and All-Newport-Mesa Dream Team honors. He was a three-time Dream Team selection who also sparkled at running back, before injuring his knee in his junior season.

Boyer, named third-team all-state by CalHisports.com, had 57 receptions for 1,026 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was also named All-Pac-5 Division. He will attend USC as a walk on.

All-Southern California performers Cody De La Mater (Costa Mesa High) and Connor McKendry (Estancia) were also among those nominated by their coaches. Nominees will be narrowed to 36 players who will represent the South in the annual showcase against the top graduated seniors from the North.

De La Mater, a linebacker and fullback for the Mustangs, as well as McKendry, who starred at left tackle while also playing defensive line, were also Dream Team honorees.

Kevin Rask, a senior linebacker for CdM and a two-time Dream Team performer, was also among the nominees, as was Sea Kings tight end Ali Meshkin. Meshkin, another Dream Team honoree, had 38 receptions for 379 yards as a senior.

Sean Ulrich, a two-way lineman from Estancia, and Chase Obenauer, a defensive tackle from Newport Harbor, are additional nominees who were selected to the Dream Team.

Additional nominees include John Salyer, a receiver-defensive back from Costa Mesa, Eddie Tomasek, a linebacker-receiver from Estancia, and Henry Pyle, a strong safety from Newport Harbor.

Other locals nominated from Mater Dei include receiver Carlo Valdes from Newport Beach, Ryan Mumma, another receiver from Newport Beach, and Ben Tauanuu, a Montana State-bound offensive lineman from Costa Mesa.

Valdes, who plans to walk on at UCLA, had 41 catches for 786 yards and six TDs for the Monarchs while Mumma, bound for West Point, had 34 receptions for 581 yards and five TDs.

— Barry Faulkner