Hillgren headlines hopefuls

Corona del Mar High senior Steven Hillgren, the Newport-Mesa Player of the Year last fall, highlights a list of 13 area players nominated to represent the South in the Orange County All-Star Football Game, scheduled July 13 at Orange Coast College.

In addition to Hillgren, who starred at receiver and cornerback for the Sea Kings, CdM quarterback Taylor Hughes and Newport Harbor senior defensive tackle Michael Calabrese are among the Newport-Mesa players up for 36 South roster spots.

Hughes was the Newport-Mesa Offensive Player of the Year and Calabrese was the Newport-Mesa Defensive Player of the Year.

The other nominees, submitted by coaches, are John Joyce (CdM), London Sapolu (Costa Mesa), Matt Redding and Tim Morley (Estancia), the Newport Harbor contingent of Jarrett Daniel, Nick Frazier, Brian Beaudette and Frank Muscatello, as well as Sage Hill seniors Don Ayres and Braden Ross.

Hillgren, an All-CIF Southern Section honoree in the Southern Division, had 52 receptions for 932 yards and 11 touchdowns to help the Sea Kings advance to the division quarterfinals.

The 5-foot-11, 168-pounder, who will continue his career at Georgetown, also had nine interceptions to bring his career total to 18, a school record.

The 6-2, 176-pound Hughes, also an All-CIF performer, completed 139 of 234 passes for 2,204 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Calabrese, a 6-1, 224-pound repeat All-CIF honoree, this time in the PAC-5 Division, made 47 tackles for the Sailors, including 12 for negative yardage and five sacks.

Ross caught 66 passes for 1,092 yards, rushed for 248 yards on 37 carries and scored 14 touchdowns to help the Lightning reach the CIF Northeast Division playoffs. The 5-11, 180-pound All-CIF performer also led his team in tackles (91), with five interceptions and two sacks.

Redding, a 6-2, 205-pound All-CIF selection, caught 44 passes for 1,045 yards and 12 TDs and also rushed for two more TDs to help the Eagles reach the Southern Division playoffs. He had 49 tackles and one interception on defense.

Daniel, who plans to walk on at SMU, had 28 receptions for 386 yards and two TDs to earn All-Newport-Mesa laurels for the Sailors. The 6-1, 182-pounder had two interceptions at cornerback.

Frazier, an All-CIF Division VI middle linebacker as a junior, when he helped the Sailors win the section title, led the Tars with 96 tackles, including 56 solo stops.

Like Daniel, Redding, Calabrese and Hillgren, Frazier was a repeat All-Newport-Mesa honoree.

Ayres, a 6-0, 185-pounder, overcame a shoulder injury to collect 66 tackles for the Lightning. A three-time Dream Team performer, he also rushed for 765 yards and 12 touchdowns and totaled 288 yards and three TDs on 20 receptions.

Morley made 68 tackles from both inside and outside linebacker spots. The 6-3, 200 pounder earned All-CIF and All-Newport-Mesa recognition.

Beaudette (6-1, 250 pounds), who also plans to walk on at SMU, Muscatello (6-2, 282), Joyce (6-7, 250) and Sapolu (6-0, 265) were all standout offensive linemen for their respective teams. All four were All-Newport-Mesa performers.

The South roster, which will be guided by Santa Margarita Coach Mike Jacot, is scheduled to be announced later this month.