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The Register’s All-County selections for the 2023 season:
ALL-ORANGE COUNTY FOOTBALL TEAM 2023
Offensive Player of the Year: Elijah Brown, Mater Dei
Defensive Player of the Year: Nasir Wyatt, Mater Dei
Coach of the Year: Zack LaMonda, El Dorado
Second Team selections || Third Team selections
Steve Fryer: A look back at the 2023 football season, with a peak at 2024
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Elijah Brown, Mater Dei, Sr.: The Register’s offensive player of the year.
QB: Alonzo Esparza, Los Alamitos, Jr.: Esparza was the Sunset League MVP, led the Griffins to the Sunset League championship, completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,605 yards and 26 touchdowns.
RB: Aiden Rubin, San Clemente, Sr.: The South Coast League player of the year; he averaged 163 yards rushing per game.
RB: Eimesse Essis, Tustin, Jr.: Essis was the Empire League back of the year; rushed for 1,592 yards.
WR: Trent Mosley, Santa Margarita, So.: Trinity League co-MVP, had 81 receptions for 1,282 yards and 11 touchdowns, rushed for 15 TDs and added 331 yards on kickoff returns.
WR: Vance Spafford, Mission Viejo, So.: All-South Coast League first team, finished with 83 receptions with 22 touchdowns for a team that won CIF-SS and state titles.
WR: Ryan Luce, Trabuco Hills, Jr.: Caught 82 passes for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns, was named Sea View League offensive MVP.
TE: Ryner Swanson, Laguna Beach, Sr.: The Brigham Young signee had 50 receptions for 717 yards and nine touchdowns.
OL: Deandre Carter, Mater Dei, Sr.: All-Trinity League first-team left tackle; signed with Auburn.
OL: Brandon Baker, Mater Dei, Sr.: Was a Trinity League most valuable lineman; signed with Texas,
OL: Mark Schroller, Mission Viejo, Sr.: An All-South Coast League first-team selection; signed with UCLA.
OL: Justin Tauanuu, Huntington Beach, Sr.: Sunset League offensive lineman of the year; signed with USC.
OL: Connor Bachhuber, San Clemente, Sr.: Was All-South Coast League first team; signed with Stanford.
All-purpose: MacKenzie Alleyne, Tustin, Sr.: Scored 10 touchdowns rushing and 11 touchdowns receiving from the running back position; was named Empire League MVP.
All-purpose: Carter Christie, Villa Park, Sr.: A running back and linebacker, rushed for 1,098 yards and 15 touchdowns, scored three receiving touchdowns, had a team-high 24 solo tackles.
K: Michael Salgado-Medina, Mission Viejo, Sr.: Arizona signee sent 77 of his 104 kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks, averaged 39 yards on his 48 punts, was 64 of 70 on extra-point kicks and 15 of 21 on field goals.
—Steve Fryer
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Auma Jennings, Orange Lutheran, So.: First-team All-Trinity League selection was a force inside or outside the tackles, racked up 64 total tackles, including a team-high 18 for loss.
DL: Semi Taulanga, Mater Dei, Jr.: Vocal team captain was first-team All-Trinity League, collected 11.5 tackles for loss, including one in a 35-0 win against Serra of San Mateo in the state final.
DL: Jaden Williams, Mission Viejo, Jr.: First-team All-South Coast League selection helped lead the Diablos to a state title with 139 total tackles and 18.5 sacks.
LB: Christian Brooks, Corona del Mar, Sr.: Sunset League’s linebacker of the year and team captain collected 127 total tackles, helped Sea Kings finish as the CIF-SS Division 4 runner-up.
LB: Hoi Hansen, Edison, Sr.: Sunset League’s defensive player of the year, arguably the biggest hitter in Orange County and led the area with 166 total tackles.
LB: Jake Javorsky, San Juan Hills, Sr.: Sea View League’s defensive player of the year, racked up 130 tackles, including 26 for loss and 7.5 sacks.
LB: Jack Matranga, Mission Viejo, Sr.: Air Force commit tallied 138 total tackles and 11 sacks to earn first-team all-South Coast League honors.
DB: Travis Anderson, Mission Viejo, Sr.: Boise State-committed safety earned South Coast League co-defensive MVP, collected 109 tackles and seven interceptions.
LB: Nasir Wyatt, Mater Dei, Jr.: Orange County defensive player of the year.
DB: Daryus Dixson, Mater Dei, Jr.: First-team All-Trinity League cornerback led the Monarchs in total tackles (56) and passes defensed (14) and added three interceptions.
DB: Joshua Faulkner, Western, Sr.: Orange League’s Back of the Year, two-way standout with 1,458 yards from scrimmage along with 64 total tackles and three interceptions.
DB: Isaiah Rubin, Los Alamitos, Sr.: USC signee was the Sunset League’s Defensive Back of the Year, collected 58 total tackles and seven interceptions.
P: Emiliano Salazar, Villa Park, Sr.: Strong-legged senior helped the Spartans’ field possession with his punting and touchbacks, also was an excellent kicker.
–Dan Albano
