The race back to the top of the Sunset League has begun. Each played vital roles last year to their respective teams splitting a league crown.
Before Whiteside heads to UC Berkeley and Zumwalt to Stanford to compete on the next level, and when Middlebrooks decides on a college program to attend, the three don’t want to share anything in their final high school season.
That goes for a picture, to league title.
Two found out carving out a piece of a championship isn’t fulfilling.
While Middlebrooks as a running back carried the Barons to the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division playoffs, the tenacious pursuit of Whiteside and Zumwalt as linebackers ended in the regular season.
Zumwalt stopped Middlebrooks in his tracks, totaling almost as many tackles as yards Middlebrooks gained. Edison held on to beat Fountain Valley, 14-7, in the annual rivalry game.
Injuries caught up to the Chargers, who dropped their regular-season finale, creating a mess in league, five teams tied for first.
Whiteside and the Sailors lost sight of Middlebrooks on a 52-yard draw play resulting in a touchdown in the final 30 seconds, putting Newport Harbor in a hole early in league.
Middlebrooks ran 21 times for 221 yards as Fountain Valley’s 22-21 upset cost Newport Harbor a playoff berth.
Expectations are high at Newport Harbor, Fountain Valley and Edison. Which team reaches the No. 1 spot depends on which star shines the brightest.
Here’s a look at each of the three players.
CECIL WHITESIDE
He believes the Sailors just got the short end of the stick during last year’s tiebreaker draw.
Determining which three league teams qualified for the playoffs was a sports writer. He randomly picked three schools out of a bucket and each entered.
“It’s just more of a motivation to say we’re going to win it outright than having [us] say we tied,” Whiteside said.
