Joe Cesta

Justin Vedder and Joe Cesta, two keys to Saddleback's undefeated season, were selected the Mission Conference Central Division offense and defensive football players of the year by a vote of the coaches. Vedder, a sophomore quarterback from Laguna Hills High, threw for 2,630 yards and 20 touchdowns in the regular season in which the Gauchos went 10-0. Cesta, a sophomore middle linebacker from Los Angeles Loyola High, led the team with 111 tackles.

Justin Vedder and Joe Cesta, two keys to Saddleback's undefeated season, were selected the Mission Conference Central Division offense and defensive football players of the year by a vote of the coaches. Vedder, a sophomore quarterback from Laguna Hills High, threw for 2,630 yards and 20 touchdowns in the regular season in which the Gauchos went 10-0. Cesta, a sophomore middle linebacker from Los Angeles Loyola High, led the team with 111 tackles.

1995 RECORDS: OVERALL: 8-3 DIV.: 5-1 * COACH: Bill Cunerty RECORD AT COLLEGE: 8-3 * RETURNING STARTERS OFF: 8 DEF: 7 *--* TOP RETURNERS OFF DEF YR Jake Anderson, 5-10, 190 -- DB So. Enrico Bozman, 5-8, 190 RB -- So. Qahhar Burns, 6-2, 190 -- DB So. Peter Campbell, 6-4, 210 WR -- So. Joe Cesta, 6-1, 235 -- LB So. Zane Champion, 6-2, 270 OL -- So. Robert Crowell, 6-3, 280 OL -- So. Robbie Jacobs, 6-4, 240 OL -- So. Ilan Katz, 6-3, 250 OL -- So. Todd Keneley, 6-1, 265 -- DL So.

Joe Cesta came to Saddleback College looking for an identity. No matter how well he did in sports growing up, he was always following in the footsteps of his brothers, Tony and Mike. "People would always say, 'You're Mike Cesta's or Tony Cesta's little brother,' " Joe Cesta said. "I was never just Joe." Now, after two outstanding seasons at middle linebacker for Saddleback, Cesta has made a name for himself.

Joe Cesta came to Saddleback College looking for an identity. No matter how well he did in sports growing up, he was always following in the footsteps of his brothers, Tony and Mike. "People would always say, 'You're Mike Cesta's or Tony Cesta's little brother,' " Joe Cesta said. "I was never just Joe." Now, after two outstanding seasons at middle linebacker for Saddleback, Cesta has made a name for himself.

Saddleback's offense was unable to put the game away, but the defense did, and the Gauchos completed an undefeated season with a 17-14 victory over Riverside in a Mission Conference Central Division football game Saturday. Saddleback took a 17-7 lead, when the Gauchos' Mark Reynosa was stopped for no gain on fourth and one at the Riverside 10 with four minutes 48 seconds left. Riverside then drove to the two. Ryan Pizinger scored on a two-yard run with 2:03 left to play.

* Teams: Arizona State vs. Iowa * When: 11 a.m. today * Where: El Paso * Records: Arizona State 8-3; Iowa 7-4 * TV: CBS * Orange County connections: Arizona State--Joe Cesta (Saddleback College), Jr., LB; Kareem Clark (Esperanza), So., DB; Derrick Ford (Mater Dei), Jr., DE; Brian Forth (Esperanza), Fr., WR; Kyion Grayes (Troy), Fr., DB; Larry Montgomery (Troy), Fr., RB; Kyle Murphy (Edison), Sr., OG; Ryan Reilly (Valencia), So., DL. Iowa--Chad Johnson (El Toro), Fr., K

Two players from state champion Saddleback College have earned J.C. Grid-Wire Scholar-Athlete first-team All-American awards. Three others were named honorable mention. First-team honors went to defensive lineman Gage Oetgen and tailback/return specialist Mark Reynosa. Oetgen made 58 tackles, nine sacks and posted a 3.35 grade-point average. Reynosa had 26 total kick returns, gained 490 yards and eight touchdowns rushing and has a 3.65 GPA.

Saddleback's offense was unable to put the game away, but the defense did, and the Gauchos completed an undefeated season with a 17-14 victory over Riverside in a Mission Conference Central Division football game Saturday. Saddleback took a 17-7 lead, when the Gauchos' Mark Reynosa was stopped for no gain on fourth and one at the Riverside 10 with four minutes 48 seconds left. Riverside then drove to the two. Ryan Pizinger scored on a two-yard run with 2:03 left to play.

1995 RECORDS: OVERALL: 8-3 DIV.: 5-1 * COACH: Bill Cunerty RECORD AT COLLEGE: 8-3 * RETURNING STARTERS OFF: 8 DEF: 7 *--* TOP RETURNERS OFF DEF YR Jake Anderson, 5-10, 190 -- DB So. Enrico Bozman, 5-8, 190 RB -- So. Qahhar Burns, 6-2, 190 -- DB So. Peter Campbell, 6-4, 210 WR -- So. Joe Cesta, 6-1, 235 -- LB So. Zane Champion, 6-2, 270 OL -- So. Robert Crowell, 6-3, 280 OL -- So. Robbie Jacobs, 6-4, 240 OL -- So. Ilan Katz, 6-3, 250 OL -- So. Todd Keneley, 6-1, 265 -- DL So.

Joe Cesta, Saddleback's talented middle linebacker, was a J.C. Grid-Wire first-team All-American pick and Saddleback quarterback Justin Vedder made the second team. Cesta, from Los Angeles Loyola High, led the team with 111 tackles in the regular season. Vedder, from Laguna Hills High, threw 22 touchdowns passes and helped lead the team to an 11-0 record and a No. 2 ranking in the nation behind Blinn (Texas), which was 12-0.

Loyola COACH: Steve Grady, 19th year. 1993 RECORD: 3-2 in Del Rey League; 8-4 overall. OUTLOOK: The Cubs return 12 starters, including first-team Southern Section Division I kicker Mark McDonald and five all-Del Rey League selections. Loyola has its best group of receivers in Dan Farmer and Don Smith. TOP RETURNING PLAYERS NAME SIZE POS. YR. Mark McDonald 6-3/180 K Sr. Joe Cesta 6-1/235 TE/LB Sr. Matt Pentecost 6-5/270 OT Sr. Jim Ghezzi 6-5/255 DT Sr. Dan Farmer 6-4/195 WR Sr.