Defensive Player of the Year: Eugene Rice, DL, Lincoln
A unanimous selection, the 5-foot-10, 255-pound Rice finished the season with 117 tackles, six tackles-for-loss and five sacks for a Lincoln team that won the CIF San Diego Section Open Division championship and went on to beat Pittsburg to claim a State Division 1-AA title. Rice had a season-high 12 tackles in a playoff game vs. Mission Hills and totalled 37 tackles in four playoff games. He had at least seven tackles in every game this season. Rice finished his career with 220 tackles, 18 TFLs and 5 1/2 sacks. Playing one of the hardest schedules in the state, the Hornets surrendered just 214 points with three shutouts.
“Our team played great defense, and it all started with Eugene,” said Lincoln coach David Dunn…”
Article and photo provided by The San Diego Union-Tribune. Read the full article here.
