Prep football: Sweet 16

Barry Faulkner

Record-setting running backs Andre Stewart and Marshall Hendricks,

USC-bound offensive tackle Blair Jones, and Daily Pilot Pacific Coast

League Defensive Co-Players of the Year Kyle Westman and Jay Bottom, are

among 16 Newport-Mesa District seniors nominated for the South All-Star

football team.

The local candidates, submitted by their coaches, will hope to get one of

36 roster spots available for the annual summer showcase, scheduled July

14 at Orange Coast College.

The South roster, selected by Orange County sportswriters, is scheduled

to be announced April 4.

Stewart, the CIF Southern Section Division VI and Sea View League

Offensive Player of the Year, was also the district MVP after leading

Newport Harbor High to a 13-0-1 record and its second CIF championship.

The 5-foot-9, 170-pounder rushed for a school single-season record 2,404

yards and scored 26 touchdowns.

Hendricks, who broke the Estancia single-season rushing record with 1,477

yards on 200 carries, amassed 1,963 all-purpose yards for the Eagles as a

running back, receiver and kick returner. He also had eight interceptions

at cornerback. He has been offered a full scholarship by Humboldt State,

according to Estancia Coach Dave Perkins, who was unsure Monday if

Hendricks had accepted the offer.

Jones, a 6-8, 270-pound people mover, has already been selected to play

in the Shrine All-Star Game. He may, however, still decide to play in the

county game, should he be selected. He joined Stewart as a member of the

All-Southern Section team (all divisions).

Westman, a 6-3, 275-pound defensive end for Estancia, is bound for OCC,

according to Perkins.

Bottom (6-4, 210) played tackle and end for Corona del Mar, which shared

the Pacific Coast League title with Costa Mesa.

Other nominees include: Sean Fenton, Grant Estabrook and Mike Hayes

(Corona del Mar); Dave Weir, Shaun Ferryman, Eric Connaty, Jason Rankin,

Todd Duddridge and Jake Cleveland (Costa Mesa); as well as Mike Tunney

and Nick Haddy (Newport Harbor).

Fenton (6-4, 260) is an offensive tackle bound for Yale, while Hayes will

play fullback at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Estabrook (1,043 rushing

yards) was the Pilot’s PCL Offensive Player of Year.

Weir, like Westman and Bottom an All-CIF Division IX pick, was a two-time

all-district performer as a safety and outside linebacker. He also played

quarterback.