Sailors’ star in action

Newport Harbor High senior Cecil Whiteside is possibly playing in his final high school football game today. It won’t be just any game.

The UC Berkeley-bound linebacker is the lone player from Orange County participating in the 11th annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. The game, which will be nationally televised by NBC at 10 a.m., boasts many of the nation’s elite seniors in a West vs. East matchup.

Whiteside, the Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Player of the Year, is the first player from Newport Harbor to earn a spot in the prestigious event. The 6-foot-3, 222-pound Whiteside is a member of the West team.

Whiteside said he’s excited to compete against a couple of future Golden Bear teammates in Nick Forbes and Chris Martin, who are from Frederick, Md., and Aurora, Colo., respectively.

“It’s going to be great,” said Whiteside, who earned first-team All-Sunset League honors for the third straight season after leading the Sailors with 96 total tackles, five going for losses, and intercepting a pass. “It’s one last chance to represent Newport Harbor on the field.”

Whiteside could also play in the Orange County North-South All-Star Game later this year.

— David Carrillo Peñaloza