DAILY NEWS ALL-AREA FOOTBALL TEAM 2023
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Shane Rosenthal, Newbury Park, Junior
Rosenthal broke multiple records this season at Newbury Park, and did it all with a smile on his face.
The Canyon League’s Most Valuable Player hauled in 122 catches for 1,947 yards and 21 touchdowns. He averaged 139.1 yards per game.
“He’s all that and a bag of chips,” Panthers coach Joe Smigiel said. “He just goes 1,000 miles an hour during games, during practices, no matter what he’s doing.”
Rosenthal set Newbury Park records in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown receptions. He also rewrote the Ventura County record for receiving yards and is second in single-season receptions as well as second in career receptions.
His route-running and understanding of the game allowed him to get open for catches and fully utilize his chemistry with quarterback Brady Smigiel, who set the program record for touchdown passes this season. The two have been playing together since they were kids.
Rosenthal is being recruited as a receiver, Joe Smigiel said, but has also contributed on defense. He grabbed 12 interceptions this season.
“We averaged 190 plays per game and he probably played 180 of them,” Smigiel said. “So you’re talking about a guy who is doing all that while going both ways.”
Lots of attention fell on Rosenthal this season, and he made sure to share the knowledge and experience that has come with his success with his teammates.
Newbury Park finished in a three-way tie for first place in the Canyon League and reached the CIF Southern Section Division 5 championship game.
“Football is a team sport,” Joe Smigiel said. “So you need a bunch of guys like that who just want to win the game and want to help each other out and be able to be in a position where no matter what happens, as long as we win and I do my job, then I’m going to be successful. And that’s the way he is.”
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Carnell…
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