Los Alamitos quarterback Malachi Nelson, who led the Griffins to a Sunset League title and the Division I quarterfinals, has been selected as the 2021 Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team Player of the Year. [The P-T and Register are both owned by the Southern California News Group so we linked to the Register version of the article.]
Nelson, a 6-foot-4, 185-pound junior quarterback, piloted Los Alamitos to a 9-2 record. In 11 games, he threw for 2,690 yards, 39 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while completing 62 percent of his attempts.
Nelson is the latest in a long line of highly recruited Los Al QBs that include Todd Gragnano, Tim Carey, Kevin Feterik and Jimmy Barnes.
Earlier in the year, Nelson had verbally committed to play his college football at Oklahoma, but when Sooner coach Lincoln Riley signed to coach Southern California, Nelson de-committed and announced he would play for Riley at USC.
Joining him in that decision, and on the Dream Team 1st team offense was Nelson’s favorite target, wide-receiver Makai Lemon. Also making the DT first-team unit were wide receiver DeAndre Moore, and offensive lineman Cash Koepke.
Defensive Lineman Adam Tomcyk and all-purpose defender Brian Jurado were named to the first-team defense.
Los Al players on the Dream Team include:
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
- Player of the Year: QB: Malachi Belson
- WR: Makai Lemon, Los Alamitos, Jr.
- WR: DeAndre Moore Jr., Los Alamitos, Jr.
- OL: Cash Koepke, Los Alamitos, Sr.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
- DL: Adam Tomczyk, Los Alamitos, Sr.
- All-Purpose S/LB/DE: Brian Jurado, Los Alamitos, Sr.
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
- OL: Robert Hamilton, Los Alamitos, Sr.
- OL: David Main, Los Alamitos, Sr.
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
- DB: Isaiah Dorsey, Los Alamitos, Jr.
HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE
- RB: Nygel Osborne, Los Alamitos, Jr.
- WR: Alec Wills, Los Alamitos, Sr.
- All-Purpose WR/RB: Gavin Porch, Los Alamitos, Jr.
HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE
- DL: Zephania Misa, Los Alamitos, Sr.
- DL: Sinn Brennan, Los Alamitos, Jr.
- DB: Ethan O’Connor, Los Alamitos, Jr.
Press-Telegram Football Dream Team: Los Alamitos QB Malachi Nelson is the Player of the Year
