Shane Rosenthal is The Star's All-County Football Defensive Player of the Year
The moments are unforgettable.
The game-clinching 41-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the CIF-Southern Section first-round win over Ventura.
The game-winning kickoff return with 3:59 left in the quarterfinal win at Santa Ana-Foothill.
The catch on fourth-and-13 to extend the game-winning drive in the semifinal win over Thousand Oaks.
The statistics are unbelievable.
The 12 interceptions to lead the state and break the Ventura County single-season record.
The 122 receptions and 1,948 yards receiving to lead the state in both categories and break the Ventura County single-season record in receiving yardage.
Perhaps the best word to sum up Shane Rosenthal’s junior season at Newbury Park High? Singular.
The trusted historians at CalHiSports.com attempted to find an example of another player who had grabbed 20 or more touchdown passes — Rosenthal finished with 21 — and 10 or more interceptions in a single season.
They could not.
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“It very well may be the first time ever for a California player,” wrote Harold Abend last month. “There likely could be none until now. We just can’t say for sure.”
What can we say for sure? Rosenthal’s junior year was one of the best two-way seasons in the history of high school football in Ventura County, and beyond.
“The most unbelievable season I think I’ve ever been around,” Newbury Park defensive coordinator Ron Wilford said. “I don’t think I can compare it to anything.”
The Star’s All-County Football Defensive Player of the Year was voted MVP by both the Ventura County Football Coaches Association and Marmonte League coaches.
He was the only underclassman among the finalists for MaxPreps’s State Player of the Year. St. John Bosco linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa won the award. Rosenthal was selected to the site’s Junior All-America first team.
“It was just a really great season,” Rosenthal said. “It was super fun. Everything we accomplished on the season was amazing. I’m just looking forward to getting back next year.”
Rosenthal finished in the top five nationally in all three of the above statistical categories — receptions, receiving yardage and interceptions — according to MaxPreps.com.
“The numbers are almost PlayStation-esque,” Wilford said. “Who the hell does that?”
Perhaps the only person who wasn’t surprised by the sheer outlier nature of Rosenthal’s season was Brady Smigiel.
The Newbury Park sophomore quarterback has been one of Rosenthal’s best friends since kindergarten at Sycamore Canyon Elementary in Newbury Park. They grew up playing football, baseball and basketball and any other sport they could find.
“He’s always been one of the best athletes on the field,” Smigiel said. “Seeing him grow into his body has been really special. He’s always been this dominate athlete. Now that he has the size, it’s really great to watch.”
Smigiel recounted the week in Cooperstown, New York, in 2017, when a 12-year-old Rosenthal was 19 of 27 with nine home runs and 11 stolen bases in nine games against national competition on the biggest week of the travel baseball season.
So when Newbury Park was down 28-13 in the fourth quarter at Foothill last month, he knew what was possible.
Rosenthal scored four touchdowns in seven minutes to lift Newbury Park to an epic 41-34, come-from-behind victory.
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“You literally saw one person take over a game,” Smigiel said. “He walked onto the field in the fourth quarter and said, ‘I’m going to win this game.’ ”
Rosenthal reeled in TD catches of 55, 40 and 29 yards to give Newbury Park the lead and, when Foothill retook the lead, 34-33, with less than four minutes left, he returned the subsequent kickoff 92 yards for the game-winning score.
“They just could not tackle him,” Smigiel said. "He literally took the game over. One of the most special things I’ve ever seen on a football field.”
Rosenthal followed that up with an interception to help protect the late lead.
Wilford, one of the top defensive coaches locally for decades, has been impressed with how Rosenthal has evolved as a defensive back.
“He has gotten so much better, to be honest with you, at the back end for us,” Wilford said. “When the whole thing started last year, I don’t think he was the typical secondary guy. This year, he’s become more physical.”
Rosenthal transitioned from cornerback to safety after his freshman season. But he doesn’t consider himself a receiver or a defensive back.
“Offense translates to defense,” Rosenthal said. “Knowing what I need to do to get open on safeties, goes hand in hand with (playing safety).”
Rosenthal excels on a day-to-day basis as an example to younger players and as a team leader, according to co-offensive coordinator Austin Civita.
“It doesn’t matter the day,” Civita said. “He’s always there and always ready to work. He’s the type of kid who never drops a ball in practice, never misses a snap.
“He’s the receiver who knows everybody’s job. So when somebody doesn’t know what to do, they can just ask Shane. It doesn’t matter where you put him, he always knows what to do.”
As the season progressed, defenses increasingly schemed against Rosenthal, pressing him with cornerbacks, chipping him with linebackers and doubling him with safeties over the top.
It didn’t matter.
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“Brady and him have the craziest connection on the field,” Civita said. “Offensively, there’s times I watch Brady throw a ball and think, ‘He overthrew him,’ and Shane just tracks it down.”
When fourth-and-13 arrived against Thousand Oaks, it seemed like an ultimate test.
“Everybody in the whole stadium knew where the ball was going,” Civita said.
Rosenthal reeled in the out pattern along the sideline, just beyond the sticks.
“That’s definitely fun clip to watch, having that in crunch time with the game on the line,” Rosenthal said. “Knowing we needed to get that was nerve-wracking.
“That was my favorite game, my favorite moment of my season. Being able to play in the CIF championship at (Hurley Field) for the first time in school history was an amazing experience.”
Newbury Park’s season unraveled the next week in the final against Orange Vista, partly because it was unable to slow down running back Sire Gaines.
But also due to the hip injury Rosenthal suffered in the first half.
“It was unbelievable,” Wilford said. “You sit there and say, ‘Man, what a year.’ ”
Rosenthal says he’s healed from the injury and focused on running sprints during the track season, which is the beginning of his preparation for his senior year.
“There’s always ways to get better,” Rosenthal said. “I’ll be working this offseason on my speed, quickness, route running and hands.”
Although he's already earned a handful of Division I scholarship offers, Rosenthal is at the beginning of his recruiting process.
“I’m open to all schools for sure,” Rosenthal said. “I really value education. It definitely comes first.
“I want to go to a school where I can have a great career and get a great education … which will prepare me for life after football.”
The Star’s All-County Football Defense Second Team
Sonny Aina, Pacifica
Bronson Thorpe, Ventura
DeJuan Colvin, Pacifica
Jaden Few, St. Bonaventure
Mason Charles, Westlake
Hayden Velasquez, Nordhoff
Kale Knighten, Grace Brethren
Shane Loes, Nordhoff
Alex Villalobos, Simi Valley
Balen Betancourt, Newbury Park
Jovany Amezcua, Moorpark
Evan Fanner, Oaks Christian
Budder Aina, Pacifica
Jeremiah Barrios, St. Bonaventure
Tristan Phillips, Ventura
Davon Benjamin, Oaks Christian
Tyler Starling, Agoura
Jayden Graham, Simi Valley
Mylan Walker, Ventura
Andy Tumamait, Hueneme
Noah Cooper, Grace Brethen
Charlie Neos, Rio Mesa
Zach Nagy, Royal
Davon Benjamin, Oaks Christian
Mason Charles, Westlake
Joe Curley is a staff writer for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcspreps on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Shane Rosenthal is the Football Defensive Player of the Year
