Despite being on the road in Redding, the Marin Catholic Wildcats were favored going into their CIF Northern Regional Division 3-AA Bowl game with Shasta, and while the team as a whole did not play real well, and the defense gave up a lot of yards, the bulk of it came on runs to the outside and in the air because the middle was being stuffed by defensive lineman Jamar Sekona.

“I thought I played really well against Shasta,” Sekona said. “I didn’t allow much on the inside and our interior execution was good.”

In fact, the two top running backs for Shasta combined for 298 yards on 55 carries, but up the middle they averaged a mere 2.3 yards a carry.

For his performance against Shasta, and an outstanding season that has him on the radar screen of every Pac-12 school plus other major Division 1 college programs, Sekona has been named the Prep2Prep North Coast Section Sophomore of the Year.

In the NorCal 3-AA game he had 13 tackles and four quarterback pressures, but Shasta was not the first team Sekona did not allow to run up the middle. In a season that saw Wildcats coach Mazi Moayed bring him along with patience, which meant not playing on offense and being pulled early and often in Marin County League action that saw the Wildcats outscore opponents 334-6 combined, and also in a 63-7 win over De Anza in the first round of the NCS Division III playoffs, Sekona still amassed 98 tackles, five sacks, 16 pressures, four tipped passes, and two fumble recoveries.

“Jamar is super athletic, quick off the line and in pursuit, and tremendously strong,” Moayed said.

Sekona transferred to Marin Catholic from Tamalpais after his freshman year and even before his first play from scrimmage there were high expectations, particularly after he manhandled Cardinal Newman in a scrimmage just prior to the start of the season.

“Honestly, coming to Marin Catholic was nerve-wracking at the beginning,” Sekona remarked. “I knew the level of work I would have to put in but I wanted the challenge."

Being young and new to the school, his teammates helped comfort Sekona’s nerves.

“That was a big part of why I felt welcomed,” Sekona said. “The brotherhood of the team, and the seniors in particular, took me right in – and the Marin Catholic community has embraced me.”

Recently, Sekona, who is part Tongan, Samoan, African-American and German, and whose uncle Haloti Ngata currently plays for the Detroit Lions, was invited to the US Army All-American combine in San Antonio.

There is no messing with the numbers at the top-notch combines, so when Sekona measured in at 6-3 3/4 and 295 pounds, and was still clocked at 5.0 flat in the 40, it was official. According to Moayed, he was second at the combine in the power push up, which measures velocity and force, and is a replacement for the 225-pound bench press.

“He was launching some dudes in the one-on-ones,” Moayed remarked.

Sekona doesn’t have many outside interests other than academics and football, although he’s wrestled and played some rugby, and he likes lifting weights.

“I love lifting,” Sekona said with a smile.

The ultimate goal for the 3.3 GPA student-athlete is to follow in his uncle’s footsteps and play in the NFL, but that’s a long way off. He has two more seasons of high school and likely a big-time college career ahead.

“I like sales and marketing so I’ll probably major in business as a backup, but the ultimate goal is the play professionally,” Sekona remarked.

“Jamar has the physical maturity of a senior, he can run like a fullback and as a sophomore he already holds some of our weight lifting records and will go on to shatter all of them this year,” said Moayed.

“His character may be better than his physical talent. He’s a mature leader as a sophomore and extremely respectful with a unique ability to connect with and love the people that surround him. Wherever he ends up going to college he will be built to contribute right away,” continued Moayed, who also indicated Sekona will likely play on both sides of the ball next season after only being a backup on offense this season.

What about Sekona’s short term goals and goals for next season, and his assessment of his first year at Marin Catholic?

“I’m pretty sure I’m playing both sides of the ball next year so my goal is to execute on both sides of the ball and be in good enough shape to be a high level two-way player. As for this season, coming to a new school and a new program I thought I did pretty well and got better. It’s been a great year,” he concluded.

With the way Sekona played this season, he may very well be earning more Prep2Prep honors plus many others over the next two seasons. For now the NCS Sophomore of the Year award is a pretty good start.

Other players considered for this award include: Bishop O’Dowd’s Sterling Stokes, Foothill’s Pete Montini, and Mt. Eden’s Asi Bailey.