16 Centaurs Make All-Ocean League Team

IN THE TRENCHES—Culver City High School offensive lineman Amir Hodge was one of eight Centaur offensive starters to be named to the 2019 All-Ocean League first team. This is the second year in a row that Hodge has been named to the team, a rare feat among CCHS linemen. Photo courtesy of Greg Goodyear

 

By Larry Weiner and Gary Goodyear

After a record-setting season that saw the Cents win their first CIF title in 40 years and nearly win the Ocean League title, 16 of Culver’s 22 starters were named All-Ocean League. This group included 14 All-League first-teamers and two-second teamers.

Wide receiver Kevin McGuire, one of the most exciting and electrifying players in Culver City football history, led a group of 8 offensive awardees by being named the Ocean League Offensive Player of the Year. McGuire, who has signed to play for the University of Idaho next season, had a record-setting season catching 18 touchdown passes, shattering the former record of 13 shared by five past CC receivers. His 69 catches for 1,169 yards are both fourth best all-time for a Culver City receiver.

He also ran for 331 yards on 35 carries for six TDs and a 9.5 yards per carry average. He also completed three of three passes for 79 yards and a touchdown, and he had two punt returns for 21 yards.

There were two offensive linemen that were named All-League including Amir Hodge, who was named for the second year in a row, and Kofi Karikari (Virginia Union).  Wide receivers Jamal Glaspie (Fresno State) and junior Chris Miller were named to the first team, along with 1,000-yard running back Josh Ford and sophomore sensation quarterback Zevi Eckhaus, who finished the season with 50 touchdowns.

Culver City’s defense was markedly improved versus the run and in hitting ability last year and had eight of the 11 defensive starters named All-Ocean League. Of those, 7 were named the first team. Three of the four Centaur linebackers were named All-League. This included hard-hitting linebacker senior Cortez Wright­—who was the CIF Defensive Player of the Year with 134 tackles on the year—and junior Keaton Asma, who has the potential to play at a Division 1 school. Also named was outside linebacker Malachi McMahon.

The Centaur defensive backs were fast and dominating and this was evidenced by the fact that they all got Division 1A offers. Safety Dominic Tatum (Utah State), cornerback Allen Smith (Wyoming), and junior cornerback Khary Crump (offers to Oregon, Arizona, and Utah State) were all standouts on the field. Rounding out the first-teamers was dominating defensive tackle Tony Morillo who harassed quarterbacks and crushed running backs on a regular basis.

There were 2 Centaurs named to the second team All-League. One was the diminutive but highly skilled defensive back Tyler Luckett, and the other was a junior offensive lineman and Division 1 prospect David Naranjo.