Briefs: Fells stands out for Cardinals

Former UC Irvine men’s basketball standout Darren Fells had four receptions for 82 yards and one touchdown for the Arizona Cardinals, who opened the 2015 NFL season Sunday with a 31-19 home win over the New Orleans Saints.

Fells, in his second season as a tight end for the Cardinals, posted the second-best receiving yardage total by a Cardinals tight end since 1989.

He had a 48-yard catch and run in the second quarter to set up the Cardinals’ second touchdown.

With 9:54 remaining in the fourth quarter, Fells hauled in a 17-yard scoring pass from Carson Palmer to put Arizona up, 24-16.

This was Fells’ second career touchdown catch.

Fells, an Anteater post player from 2004-08, ranks No. 4 in UCI history with 780 rebounds, is 13th in career scoring with 1,252 points and is tied for ninth in career steals with 103. He is one of just six players in the 50-year history of the Anteater program to record at least 1,000 points and 700 rebounds in a career.

Fells led the Big West Conference in field-goal percentage (.569) and offensive rebounds at 2.78 per game as a senior in 2007-08. He was third in the league in rebounding (7.2), fourth in steals (1.59) and ninth in scoring (14.4). He was named second-team All-Big West Conference and was selected to the All-Big West Tournament team after averaging 16.3 points and 9.8 rebounds in UCI’s four games.

Fells played five seasons of professional basketball in Belgium, Finland and Argentina.

He signed with the Seattle Seahawks as a rookie free agent in March 2013. He was waived on May 8, 2013 and re-signed with the Seahawks 12 days later. He was released by Seattle Aug. 31, 2013, and was signed to the Arizona Cardinals practice squad Oct. 9, 2013. Fells signed a futures contract with the Cardinals on Jan. 1, 2014.

Fells was an all-state tight end at Fullerton High. His older brother, Daniel, is an eight-year veteran of the NFL now with the New York Giants.

— From staff reports

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Lions Fregoso lauded

Vanguard University senior Jesus Fregoso has been named Golden State Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week in men’s soccer.

The reserve forward scored on a penalty kick and added an assist in a victory 5-0 home over Antelope Valley on Thursday and also had a goal in a 4-0 nonconference home win over Soka on Saturday.

Fregoso has a team-best seven goals, and also one assist, this season for the Lions (5-1), ranked No. 8 in the NAIA.

— From staff reports

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Lions’ duo honored

Vanguard University senior Charlotte Heerlyn was named Golden State Athletic Conference Attacker of the Week, while freshman teammate Rebecca Lowden is the conference’s defensive player of the week.

Heerlyn had a combined 18 kills and hit .472 in GSAC home sweeps of San Diego Christian (Thursday) and Arizona Christian (Saturday).

Lowden, a libero, had 27 combined digs in the two matches to help Vanguard hold the No. 10 ranking.

— From staff reports

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Tars’ Genova commits

Newport Harbor High senior Luke Genova, a third baseman and a right-handed pitcher, has committed to play baseball at Santa Clara University.

— From staff reports