Briefs: Estancia's Murtha earns OCL honor

Estancia High junior tailback Robert Murtha earned the Orange Coast League Offensive Player of the Year award in football for the second straight year after leading the program to new heights in league and in the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

Murtha rushed for 2,216 yards and 20 touchdowns and lifted the Eagles (10-3, 5-0 in league) to back-to-back undefeated league titles for the first time and to the semifinals of the Southern Division playoffs, the furthest the school has ever advanced in the postseason.

Estancia senior defensive end Andy Ugalde received the Lineman of the Year award after producing 13 sacks and 105 tackles. He also recovered three fumbles and caused two fumbles.

Estancia senior defensive tackle Alipa Peters shared the Defensive Player of the Year award after finishing with 104 tackles. Peters, a repeat first-team pick, sacked the quarterback four times, recovered two fumbles and caused two fumbles.

Murtha, Ugalde and Peters helped the Eagles win their first postseason game since 1980, win back-to-back postseason games for the first time, and post their second 10-win season.

Murtha, who broke Estancia's single-season rushing record he set in 2010, has rushed for 3,895 yards and 39 touchdowns in two seasons. He is closing in on the Newport-Mesa career rushing record of 4,333 yards, which Costa Mesa's Binh Tran established from 1991-93.

Other Eagles making the first team are senior quarterback Brad Wilson, senior offensive tackle Zach Bateman, junior cornerback Levi Stillman, senior outside linebacker Ozzy Magana, junior linebacker Colby Koste and junior defensive tackle Kevin Peters.

Bateman is a repeat first-team selection.

Wilson threw for 1,108 yards and 16 touchdowns, with four interceptions. He rushed for 324 yards and four touchdowns.

Stillman finished with five interceptions and broke up 12 pass attempts. He made 17 tackles.

Magana registered 95 tackles, eight for losses, two sacks, and returned one fumble for a touchdown.

Koste finished with 77 tackles and two sacks.

Kevin Peters had 87 tackles and one sack.

— From staff reports

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