Football: CdM’s Greenlee can make game-changing plays
The football field at Trabuco Hills High holds a special place in Brett Greenlee’s heart.
He doesn’t play for the school, or attend it. In fact, his team, top-seeded Corona del Mar, is traveling to Trabuco Hills on Friday for the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Southwest Division playoffs at 7 p.m.
The site of the contest is where Greenlee’s most memorable athletic moment took place. Fourteen months ago, on the final play of the game at Trabuco Hills, Greenlee blocked a potential game-tying 30-yard field-goal try. At the time, the victory marked CdM’s 13th in a row, and the winning streak lasted 30 games.
During that stretch, CdM’s toughest outing was at Trabuco Hills. No other team came close to ruining CdM’s magical run, ranked as the fourth-best winning streak in Orange County history. The 24-21 win didn’t even come against Trabuco Hills, only on its field. The Sea Kings edged El Toro, which used to play its home contests at Trabuco Hills.
Greenlee expects his second and final trip with CdM (10-1) to Trabuco Hills (7-4) to be another close one. If the game goes down to the wire, don’t be surprised if Greenlee comes through for the Sea Kings.
Greenlee has a knack for making a big play with the game on the line. Whether it’s blocking field goals on special teams or intercepting passes as a cornerback, Greenlee always seems to get a hand or two on the ball.
Last week, Greenlee used both of his hands to secure the ball in his vicinity, and he ran with it, all the way to the end zone. The senior intercepted a deflected pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown, sealing CdM’s 17-7 first-round win against Tustin with less than 2 1/2 minutes to go at Davidson Field.
The pick-six was a first for Greenlee, while the interception gave him a team-best three interceptions. He has blocked two field goals and one extra point this year.
The latest field goal he got in the way of was against Tustin late in the opening quarter, keeping the game scoreless. Twice Greenlee prevented Tustin from going ahead, late in the first and fourth quarters. Coach Scott Meyer said there is something about Greenlee delivering a game-changing play with the clock winding down in a quarter. Instead of the other team scoring, Greenlee is the one finding the end zone.
A year ago, Greenlee blocked a 47-yard field goal and scooped up the ball, taking it back for a 51-yard touchdown at University. Greenlee’s first touchdown came during his sophomore season. A teammate blocked a 42-yard field goal, but Greenlee took it back to the house 72 yards against Northwood.
During Greenlee’s three years on varsity, he has four blocked field goals and two blocked extra points. He said the reason why he has been able to create havoc on special teams is because he used to swim. He doesn’t use the kind of swim move found in the arsenal of a pass rusher. Off the left edge is where you will find Greenlee lined up. Once he fires off the ball, with his right shoulder dipped, and makes his way toward the holder, he dives in as if he’s performing the breaststroke, both hands side by side to alter the kick’s direction.
Greenlee is a nuisance on the field. The football field isn’t even where Greenlee stands out the most. The 6-foot, 175-pounder is a defensive midfielder for the CdM boys’ lacrosse team. After high school, he’s off to Denver University to play men’s lacrosse.
Lacrosse is Greenlee’s favorite sport, but in both lacrosse and football, he has been a part of historic perfect seasons at CdM. The lacrosse team went 24-0 and won a U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section title during Greenlee’s freshmen year. Last year, the school’s football team became the first in California to go 16-0, capping the season with a CIF State Division III crown.
Greenlee is one of three current players who were members of the 2012 lacrosse team and the 2013 football team. The other two are the Crance twins, Hugh and Hoyt, who start at linebacker. The Crances are also playing lacrosse on the next level, Hugh as a defender at Notre Dame and Hoyt as a goalie at Yale.
The high school lacrosse season is in the spring. Right now, Greenlee’s focus is on helping CdM win an unprecedented fourth straight section title. The previous three were in the Southern Division, which was Division 9. The Sea Kings are now in the tougher Southwest Division, equivalent to Division 4.
“I think it’s definitely possible, if we play well,” Greenlee said of winning the Southwest Division.
The Sea Kings are two wins away from competing for the championship. They enter the game at Trabuco Hills having won their last 15 postseason games.
The successful playoff run began during Greenlee’s sophomore season two years ago, and he hopes it doesn’t end. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep CdM’s season alive, even if it requires him to make another game-saving play at the end at Trabuco Hills.
“If it comes down to it,” Greenlee said, “then it would be nice.”
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Brett Greenlee
Born: Oct. 14, 1996
Hometown: Newport Beach
Height: 6 foot
Weight: 175 pounds
Sport: Football
Year: Senior
Coach: Scott Meyer
Favorite food: Spaghetti
Favorite movie: “Interstellar”
Favorite athletic moment: Blocking a potential game-tying 30-yard field goal-try against El Toro on the final play last year, helping CdM hold onto a 24-21 win at Trabuco Hills High.
Week in review: Greenlee intercepted a pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, securing the Sea Kings’ 17-7 win against Tustin in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Southwest Division playoffs.