OCC’s DeLeone paces All-division football picks

Orange Coast College sophomore defensive end Dean DeLeone was named Defensive Player of the Year to highlight eight Pirates named to the All-Southern Conference National Division football teams.

DeLeone, a 6-foot-2, 245-pounder, led the Pirates with 78 tackles, including 32 solo stops. He had 9 1/2 sacks, 15 1/2 tackles for loss, broke up five passes and had seven quarterback hurries in 10 games for OCC (4-6).

DeLeone, the son of former NFL and Ohio State center Tom DeLeone, also forced one fumble.

DeLeone was a first-team All-Mission Conference American Division performer as a freshman, when his 65 tackles ranked second on the team. He had 3 1/2 sacks in 2007.

Sophomore safety Shad Baichtal, a first-team honoree as a freshman, made the second-team defense, despite playing in eight games due to a knee injury. Baichtal made 63 tackles, including 22 solo stops. He also forced one fumble.

Freshman middle linebacker Matt Henry and freshman tackle Jimmy Niutapuai also represented the Pirates on the second-team defense.

The second-team offense included OCC sophomore quarterback Taylor Hughes, sophomore receiver Cameron Hall, freshman running back Ray Holley and freshman kicker Ryan Casano.

Connor McKendry, a freshman offensive tackle at Santa Ana College, which recruited him out of Estancia High, was a second-team honoree.

Hughes, a Corona del Mar High product, threw for 1,992 yards and 17 touchdowns in nine games. He completed 144 of 246 attempts with 10 interceptions. Hughes also rushed for 110 yards and five TDs.

Hall, a 6-foot-4, 215-pounder, led the team with 51 receptions for 760 yards and seven TDs. He also completed one pass for 39 yards.

Holley was recognized as an all-purpose performer. He led OCC with 464 rushing yards on 99 carries, including four TDs. He also had 23 receptions for 243 yards and one TD and he averaged 19.7 yards on 25 kick returns.

Henry had 56 tackles (19 solo stops), including 1 1/2 sacks.

Niutapuai had 33 tackles and one sack in 33 games.

Fullerton quarterback Jeff Fleming and Saddleback tailback Jai Morris shared Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Fullerton’s Tim Byrnes is the Coach of the Year.

— Barry Faulkner