David Ortega – Concord – Football

Facing the state-record holder for passing touchdowns in Folsom’s Jake Browning, Ortega and his defensive teammates helped the Spartans win the California Interscholastic Open Division Northern Regional bowl game 49-17 by executing a solid game plan against the Bulldogs’ spread attack. It went so well that Ortega came up with a pair of interceptions in the…

De La Salle-Concord – Football – Senior

   Facing the state-record holder for passing touchdowns in Folsom’s Jake Browning, Ortega and his defensive teammates helped the Spartans win the California Interscholastic Open Division Northern Regional bowl game 49-17 by executing a solid game plan against the Bulldogs’ spread attack. It went so well that Ortega came up with a pair of interceptions in the contest. 

   His first interception of the night came midway through the third quarter as Folsom was trailing 25-3 and trying to stay in the game. The senior linebacker read Browning’s eyes  from the middle of the field and picked it off in stride before returning it 50 yards to the Folsom 2-yard line. De La Salle punched it in for a score two plays later for a commanding 31-3 lead. Ortega tacked on his second interception midway through the fourth quarter. This game came on the heels of the Div. I NCS Championship where he had two more interception, one of which was negated by a penalty. 

   IN HIS OWN WORDS:  “We were really focusing on getting pressure from Browning. He was having time to pick defenses apart (all season). We really put a lot of pressure on defensive backs to cover and be really physical, too. It was about reading your keys, play physical, don’t hesitate.”

   WHAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW: Despite growing up in Moraga and having played football since 5th grade, Ortega didn’t even know about De La Salle’s existence until he was in eighth grade and attended an open house. 

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Natalie Romeo — The Carondelet-Concord senior point guard got her season started off in style with a pair of triple doubles in the Cougars first tournament of the season. She finished the tourney with 65 points, 31 assists, 19 rebound, 16 steals.

Adarius Pickett — El Cerrito’s UCLA-bound running back and defensive back carried the ball 20 times for 255 yards as the Gauchos won their first ever NCS title, topping Marin Catholic 54-38.  

Blair Hurlock — The De La Salle cross country star finished eighth overall at the Foot Locker National Championship in Balboa Park. He was the top California finisher in 15 minutes, 24 seconds.