By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor 2016 Pasadena Sports Now Football Honors Most Valuable Player: Amon Milliner, La Salle Offensive Player of Year: Michael Bonds, St. Francis Defensive Player of Year: Myles Cecil, La Salle All-Purpose Player of Year: Daniel Scott, St. Francis Coach of the Year: Jim Bonds, St. Francis There were many great defensive […]
By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor
2016 Pasadena Sports Now Football Honors
Most Valuable Player: Amon Milliner, La Salle
Offensive Player of Year: Michael Bonds, St. Francis
Defensive Player of Year: Myles Cecil, La Salle
All-Purpose Player of Year: Daniel Scott, St. Francis
Coach of the Year: Jim Bonds, St. Francis
There were many great defensive standouts in the Pasadena area.
No one, though, seemed able to single-handedly change an opposing offensive game plan like La Salle defensive end Myles Cecil.
Cecil led a talented Lancers defense on night’s their offense was cruising, and stepped up even more on nights there was very little offensive output to keep La Salle in almost every game they played.
The Lancers (7-5) won their first two Angelus League games after 12 straight losses dating back three years.
La Salle also won its first playoff game in 9 years when they defeated Mayfair, 27-7, in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 9 playoffs.
Cecil led La Salle with 90 tackles and an area-best 14 sacks.
He had 13 hurries and recovered a fumble, but it’s often times difficult to truly understand the value of a defensive player by statistics alone.
It was commonplace to see Cecil limping around with ailments that afflict most football players over a season, but he never came out for more than a play or two.
Cecil was his best in the biggest moments of the most important games, and was able to disrupt an opposing offense, and changed a game with his pressure on an offensive line and its backfield.
It is for all of the above that Cecil was named the Pasadena Sports Now Defensive Player of the Year.
“Myles was an opposing offense’s nightmare, La Salle coach Russell Gordon said. “He was simply unblockable in league. When our opponent’s scouted our defense, they had to spend a ton of time preparing for #56. Myles ended the season with over 12 sacks. That’s a career for most defensive players.
Cecil would rightfully mention Jake Rose, Sammy Martinez, Wyatt Cimino and many others for their efforts and allowing Cecil to do his job.
“La Salle did great things this year. Winning our first league game and then winning another,” Cecil said. “It was amazing for our program. Personally, I did all right. Of course, like any senior, you feel like you could have done more. I tried to make as much of an impact on the field as I could. I believe my success roots come from my motor, in terms of my drive to give the max effort.The coaches put me in the right spot to play within the scheme, and when an opportunity presented itself, I was able to capitalize.”
While Cecil won’t brag about any of his accomplishments, his coach is happy to step in and give his star defensive end his due.
“Myles exemplifies what a student athlete is,” Gordon said. He holds a cumulative 3.8 GPA at a very rigorous academic institution, while preparing to be the best defensive player he can. Myles is a great son, brother and student athlete. He represents La Salle and the Pasadena community amazingly.”
As popular as Cecil is among his coaches and teammates, it’s more for what a solid and intelligent young man he is, even more than what he displays on a football field.
“My favorite memory was my last game as a Lancer. Although it didn’t end the way I wanted, I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful moment than the one that unfolded in our locker room. After the devastating loss (to Silverado in the playoffs), we all came together and expressed how grateful we all were for one another, for all the good times and the bad.”
