Football: Seven players named to all-conference team

Zedekiah Rodriguez-Brown was a two-time unanimous all-conference selection
Zedekiah Rodriguez-Brown was a two-time unanimous all-conference selection

After completing a season where the Cerritos College football team posted a 5-5 record, seven players were named to the All-SCFA National Central Division teams. There were a total of eight selections, with sophomore Zedekiah Rodriguez-Brown (Los Altos HS) the only two-time unanimous selection in two positions. He was the lone 1st Team pick, as he was named as a cornerback and kick returner. Those who received 2nd Team honors include freshman wide receiver Chase Grosfeld (Los Alamitos HS), freshman all-purpose Gavin Porch (Los Alamitos HS), freshman defensive tackle Leroy Palu (Mayfair HS), freshman defensive end Kevonte Henry (Leuzinger HS), freshman linebacker EJ Smith (Mayfair HS) and sophomore punter Aiden Petruescu (La Mirada HS/Long Island University).

Not only did Rodriguez-Brown share the state lead with seven interceptions, he finished second in the state with 17 pass break-ups. Along with interceptions in six different games (he picked off two passes against Ventura College), he had a season-high five pass break-ups against Long Beach City College. A sure-handed tackler, Rodriguez-Brown also finished the season with 41 tackles, which included six against Ventura and East Los Angeles College. As a kickoff returner, Rodriguez-Brown brought back 14 for 337 yards (24.1 average) with a season-best 58-yard return against Orange Coast College. His seven interceptions were the most by a Cerritos player since Keith McGill picked off seven in 2010.

Grosfeld led all receivers with 35 catches for 479 yards and ge caught three touchdown passes, although he didn't have any receptions the final two games of the year. He pulled in a season-high eight passes against Antelope Valley College and Long Beach City College, which also resulted in a season-high 97 yards. Grosfeld caught the game-winning touchdown against Ventura on a 56-yard reception with 4:42 left in the game. Porch was second on the team with 33 catches for 395 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns. He also rushed 10 times for 23 yards and a touchdown. Porch had a season-high eight catches against Ventura, with three of them going for touchdowns to account for the team's first three scores. Porch had a season-high 93 receiving yards on six receptions against San Diego Mesa College.

Palu helped anchor a solid defensive line and finished third on the team with 44 tackles to go along with 3 1/2 quarterback sacks and three pass break-ups. He turned in a season-high eight tackles against Golden West College and had seven against Orange Coast College. Palu also at at least a half tackle for loss in five games. Henry was also a key player on the defensive line and finished with season with 43 tackles, while he added a team-high 7 1/2 tackles for loss to go along with 3 1/2 sacks and blocked one kick. He finished with eight stops against Mt. San Antonio College, while he had four tackles, 2 1/2 tackles for loss and two sacks against East Los Angeles College.

Along with being one of the stalwarts on defense with his 54 tackles, to go with three interceptions (two returned for touchdowns in the same game), Smith also stepped in the final two games to help with the rushing duties due to injuries. He ended up carrying the ball nine times for 96 yards and a touchdown. He also posted 3 1/2 tackles for loss, one sack and also broke up a pass. He returned two interceptions for touchdowns against San Bernardino Valley College, while he posted a season-high eight tackles with another interception return for touchdown against East Los Angeles College. He is the first player in school history to return three interceptions for touchdowns.

Petruescu punted 51 times on the year for a 37.8 average, while 12 of his punts landed inside the opponent's 20-yard line. He dropped a pair of punts inside the 20-yard line in four separate games and booted six punts over 50 yards, including a season-best 57 yards against San Bernardino Valley. Petruescu also converted 5-of-7 field goals, including a season-long 32 yards against San Diego Mesa College.