High School Football Dream Team: Lawson credits line for success

The senior wide receiver showed some of the best hands in the area, even making remarkable one-handed grabs, and blocked well down field when the Mustangs ran. The Mustangs ran more often than they passed, but when they aired it out, almost half of quarterback Nathan Alvis' completions went to Walden. He led Costa Mesa with 44 catches for 708 yards and eight touchdowns. Walden's best performance was a six-catch, 127-yard and one-touchdown effort in a 49-14 win against Calvary Chapel in which Costa Mesa clinched a CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoff berth. Walden earned first-team All-Orange Coast League honors.

*

Caden Stark

Corona del Mar

OL

The senior center anchored the Sea Kings' offense, which was constantly in shotgun and in a hurry. Stark, a 6-foot, 260-pounder, helped CdM's balanced offense average 34 points and 362.9 yards per game. Stark made the All-CIF Southern Section Southern Division team and second-team All-Pacific Coast League.

*

Zach Bateman

Estancia

OL

The senior left tackle paved the way for running back Robert Murtha's record-breaking year. Bateman, a 6-foot-6, 310-pounder, also protected the quarterback as the Eagles passed more this season than in previous years. He earned first-team All-Orange Coast League honors. Bateman is a two-time Dream Team pick.

*

Sam Bush

Newport Harbor

OL

The sophomore left tackle emerged as one of the top young linemen in Orange County. Bush, a 6-foot-5, 290-pounder, became one of two sophomore tackles Coach Jeff Brinkley started for the first time at the position in his 26 years at Newport Harbor. Bush earned second-team All-Sunset League honors.

*

Givraan Gutierrez

Estancia

OL

The senior left guard helped the Eagles average 251.2 yards rushing per game. Gutierrez, a 6-foot-2, 235-pounder, made the left side of Estancia's offensive line the best in the area, opening huge holes for the Eagles' ground game to collect 3,266 yards and 33 touchdowns.

*

Ted Barry

Newport Harbor

OL

The senior right guard is one of the toughest linemen in Orange County. Barry, a 6-foot-1, 286-pounder, played with a broken fibula early in the season, believing it was just a sprained ankle. He missed three games with the injury and returned in time for Sunset League play.

*

Steve Michaelsen

Newport Harbor

DL