Prep2Prep 2019 CCS Football Honors
St. Ignatius' Teddye Buchanan is the Prep2Prep CCS Player of the Year. (Courtesy of St. Ignatius Athletics)

ALL-CENTRAL COAST SECTION

Player of the Year
TEDDYE BUCHANAN, ST. IGNATIUS




A common theme for the 2019 St. Ignatius Wildcats was the emergence of a new hero every week, either having the best game of their career or making a clutch play.

With a barrage of different players stepping up to lead the Wildcats this year, there was one common theme: Their efforts came alongside those of Teddye Buchanan.

SI’s unquestioned star at both quarterback and linebacker, the UC Davis commit is Prep2Prep’s CCS Player of the Year.

“We got a new turf field this year, and over the eight or nine years the turf lasts for, it’ll see a few great games,” athletic director John Mulkerrins said at Buchanan’s signing ceremony. “We already had a few wonderful memories on our field this year, and Teddye was a huge part of all of them.”

A year removed from an ACL injury and broken thumb that restricted him to defense for the bulk of his junior season, Buchanan not only played both sides of the ball but excelled. He split time with Zach Taylor-Smith at QB, throwing for 1,808 yards on 205-of-249 passing, and he was one of the key reasons wide receiver Danny Ryan shattered the all-time WCAL receiving record.

“It took a lot of work on his part to get himself there and keep himself there over the course of a tough, physical season, and I think that speaks to his competitive drive,” head coach John Regalia said. “The accolades are a byproduct of his work, and that’s not easy at the high school level.”

After sharing the offense with Taylor-Smith for much of the season, Buchanan sat out a win over Mitty with a quadriceps injury, only to return in a victory over Serra to clinch a share of SI’s first league title since 2006 and defeat the Padres for the first time since 2005. In that game, he played every snap on offense, going 19-of-24 for 174 passing yards and running for another 54. He threw a pair of first-half touchdowns to Ryan, then helped lead the defense to hold the Padres to their second-lowest point total of the season.

He was arguably even better a week later in a playoff win over Mitty, getting a chance to beat the team that he had missed his prior clash with. On that afternoon, he completed his first 12 passes en route to a 16-of-18 performance, throwing for 145 yards and running for another 65 while anchoring the defense that once again held the Monarchs to just seven points, even with starting quarterback Shamir Bey back in the fold.

Though his season ended a week later with a second-quarter injury in a loss to Valley Christian, the effect that Buchanan had on his team and the St. Ignatius program will last far beyond this season. In addition to ending their league title drought and losing streak against the Padres, the Wildcats also earned a home playoff game for the first time since 2014 and reached their highest win total since 2012, a season in which they won the CCS Open Division and advanced to what is to this point their lone Northern California playoff game in program history. Buchanan had all the reason to be boisterous about his skills, but it was rare to see even a single boisterous moment from the two-way star.

“He’s not a guy that’s gonna put it in your face,” Regalia said. “He’s gonna do the work, he’s gonna do it purposefully and he’s gonna do it genuinely.”

That level of calm and humility helped Buchanan, who threw for 12 touchdowns and ran for five more as he rushed for 317 yards on 58 carries, stay level-headed in a two-quarterback system, sharing a job that can often be a struggle if egos get in the way.

We’re not a dual quarterback system, and it takes a lot of maturity with everything pulling at them and pushing at them to share the situation,” Regalia said of the character shown by both Buchanan and Taylor-Smith.

The connection and friendship between the two quarterbacks also helped Buchanan catch his breath when needed to excel on defense, where he racked up 83 tackles (39 solo) and six sacks. He also forced three fumbles and recovered two.

“To start at both quarterback and linebacker in our league and stand out at both positions is rare,” Regalia added.

At UC Davis, Buchanan will be focused on linebacker, but the Aggies certainly know they can turn to him if an emergency quarterback is ever needed. Whatever position he does play, he’ll surely be a force to be reckoned with who makes his presence on the field known not with attitude, but with excellence and leadership.

For his efforts this past season, we are pleased to recognize St. Ignatius’ Teddye Buchanan as the Prep2Prep Central Coast Section Player of the Year.

Other players considered for this award include Salinas’ Carl Richardson, Wilcox’s Paul M Rosa, Serra’s Nate Sanchez and Menlo-Atherton’s Troy Franklin.


Coach of the Year
JOHN REGALIA, ST. IGNATIUS


(Courtesy of St. Ignatius Athletics)



Coach of the Year awards are often given to the coach whose team best exceeds expectations, and it’s no different with Prep2Prep’s CCS football awards.

A year removed from a three-win season, John Regalia has earned the honor of Prep2Prep’s CCS Coach of the Year award after his St. Ignatius Wildcats earned a share of their first WCAL championship since 2006.

With a roster comprised of multi-sport athletes, including a significant contingent of lacrosse stars, the Wildcats went toe-to-toe with rosters full of Division I talents with NFL aspirations, using a versatile offense and defense with a wide array of weapons to reach heights that the program hadn’t seen in years.

New offensive coordinator Mike Clark and a talented offense helped lead the St. Ignatius offense to 24.5 points per game, a number that would have been far higher had repeated great defensive performances not led the offense to tighten up and slow down as games went on. The Wildcats had their most pass-heavy attack in years, with star wide receiver Danny Ryan bringing in 86 passes for 12 touchdowns and 1,216 yards from a combination of quarterbacks Teddye Buchanan and Zach Taylor-Smith.

“They changed up the offense that we had been running for years and created an offense that fit the strengths of our team,” Ryan said.

While a significant percentage of high school coaches will run the same system year in and year out, Regalia and Clark joined forces to innovate and create a system that took advantage of the offensive depth the Wildcats showcased.

“Flexibility, versatility and variety is important. We have to be flexible and we have to be versatile. We really got to tap into the abilities our guys have,” Regalia said. “It might be easier to see on the offensive side with things like throwing the ball more, but we were able to see that this year on all levels.”

The new offense replaced a traditional system that relied heavily on running backs and carries up the middle with one that spread the ball between a pair of dual-threat QBs, three reliable running back options and multiple wide receivers and tight ends. The results were clear right away in a revenge win over Palo Alto to make up for a 2018 loss, a game in which the defense thrived, setting the tone for the entire season. A year removed from allowing 25.6 points per game, the Wildcats yielded an average of just 14.7 in 2019, and of the three games in which they allowed more than 20, one of those was played with the flu and injuries ravaging the team.

That combination of an innovative offense and stifling defense helped the Wildcats, who hadn’t finished with a winning record in the WCAL since 2012, skyrocket into a share of first place with traditional giants Serra and Valley Christian. While the Padres and Warriors had rosters primarily made of football-first athletes who spent seemingly every weekend at camps and passing tournaments, the Wildcats were hanging with the big dogs with a team of multi-sport athletes, including a substantial portion of the roster also playing on the school’s nationally-acclaimed lacrosse team.

“I’ve always been a big supporter of multi-sport athletes. Obviously that philosophy and mindset has changed, but we’ve always had a ton of multi-sport athletes playing football. We have a department and a collection of coaches that support each other,” Regalia explained. “There’s value to honing your sport, but there’s no substitute for competition. They bring what they learn from other teammates and other coaches to football.”

With Buchanan headed to UC Davis, Ryan accepting an offer to join USC as a preferred walk-on and Gardner accepting a PWO offer to UCLA, it’s not like there was a shortage of top football talent at Regalia’s disposal, but at the same time, it’s not like the entire St. Ignatius roster is looking ahead to the NFL Draft in the next few years.

“For a number of guys, it’s about the experience in high school,” Regalia added. “We want to challenge them in the classroom as students and develop them as athletes and as football players.”

Considering that the 2019 season included a league championship and rivalry wins over Riordan, Sacred Heart Cathedral and Serra, those players got the fullest high school experience possible.

For his efforts this past season, we are pleased to recognize St. Ignatius’ John Regalia as the Prep2Prep Central Coast Section Coach of the Year.

Other coaches considered include Serra’s Patrick Walsh, Half Moon Bay’s Keith Holden and Oak Grove’s Marcus Reese.


FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

Carl Richardson, Salinas
Position: Quarterback
Year: Senior

Richardson was named MVP of the PCAL-Gabilan Division after leading the Cowboys to their third straight league title. He is headed to Northwestern after completing 71 percent of his passes for 3,277 yards and 34 touchdowns with just six interceptions, while also rushing for 620 yards and six scores.


Paul M. Rosa, Wilcox
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

Rosa’s time on defense this year was limited after an early-season injury, but he still led the way offensively, rushing for 1,787 yards and 16 touchdowns while adding another 199 yards and two scores through the air. That included a monster 255-yard, three-touchdown performance against Menlo-Atherton in the Division I quarterfinals.



Isaiah McElvane, Valley Christian
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

McElvane was the explosive piece of the Warriors’ attack, finishing the year with 1,141 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground despite limited touches during one-sided victories. He also added 16 catches for 381 yards and four scores. He is headed to San Diego State.



Anthony Villegas, Palma
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

Villegas was named Offensive Player of the Year for the PCAL-Gabilan after rushing for 1,841 yards and 31 touchdowns, including monster performances against the three biggest opponents on the Chieftains’ schedule, a 282-yard night against Archbishop Mitty, 248 yards against Salinas and 319 yards on just 18 carries in a big win over Aptos.



Troy Franklin, Menlo-Atherton
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: Junior

Despite playing in just nine games this past season, and drawing attention from multiple defenders on every play, Franklin was still the section’s premier big-play threat. The PAL-Bay co-MVP had 43 catches for 674 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior, including a six-catch, 118-yard and two-score performance to finish the season against Wilcox.



Terence Loville, Serra
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: Senior

Having multiple quarterbacks getting him the ball didn’t matter to Loville, who racked up 48 catches for 1,061 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also snagging three interceptions on defense, one of which he returned for a score. He is headed to San Jose State.



Danny Ryan, St. Ignatius
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: Senior

Ryan, who accepted a preferred walk-on spot at USC, had 86 catches for 1,216 yards as a senior, a year which included an 11-catch, three-touchdown performance against Bellarmine and a day in which he scored both SI touchdowns in a 14-13 win over Serra.



JT Byrne, Carmel
Position: Tight End
Year: Junior

Byrne was named first-team PCAL-Gabilan after racking up 48 catches for 636 yards and five touchdowns, while showing his versatility mid-season when he was moved to quarterback due to Kai Lee’s injury, and he responded with a 351-yard, four-touchdown performance in a big win over Hollister, giving him 560 yards and six scores as a passer. The 6-foot-6 junior is a three-sport standout.



Andres Dewerk, Los Gatos
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The USC-bound Dewerk was the unquestioned force up front for the Wildcats, who averaged over 230 yards per game on the ground on their way to a Division II section title.



JT Reed, Valley Christian
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The 6-foot-2, 295-pound interior lineman anchored a Warriors’ attack which averaged nearly 250 rushing yards per game. He is committed to Montana State.



Frank Poso, Branham
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The massive Poso is headed to the University of Nevada-Reno after paving the way up front for the Bruins to average 281 rushing yards per game and reach the Division IV championship.



Beau Gardner, St. Ignatius
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The 6-foot-5, 265-pound first-team all-WCAL selection anchored the Wildcats up front, leading them to a share of the WCAL title and into the Division I semifinals. He is headed to UCLA.



Samuela Lolo, Wilcox
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Senior

Lolo anchored an offensive line that paved the way for the Chargers to average 325 rushing yards per game, as they secured another De Anza Division title and reached the Division I semifinals.



Teddye Buchanan, St. Ignatius
Position: Utility
Year: Senior

The UC Davis commit was named WCAL Player of the Year after leading the Wildcats to a share of the WCAL title. He completed 71 percent of his passes for 1,785 yards and 18 touchdowns, and was a force on defense with 83 tackles, six sacks and three forced fumbles.



Nate Sanchez, Serra
Position: Utility
Year: Senior

Serra’s Swiss Army knife, Sanchez seemed to be the glue which held the Padres together in big games. He had 735 yards and 15 touchdowns from scrimmage while adding 58 tackles and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a score.



Ronan Donnelly, Sacred Heart Prep
Position: Kicker
Year: Senior

The elite leg in the section, the Cal-bound Donnelly placed nearly half of his kickoffs in the end zone and averaged over 42 yards per punt. In the playoffs, he was 3-for-3 on his field goals, including a 42-yarder in the win over Bellarmine.



FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

Nusi Malani, Serra
Position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The University of Virgina-bound Malani was certainly one of the most feared edge players in Northern California, and his season totals of 61 tackles and 11 stops behind the line would have been even greater if teams headed his way more often.


Ronny Moore, Los Gatos
Position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Moore held the edge for the Wildcats this past season, racking up 87 tackles, and will play next season at the University of San Diego.



Josh Powell, Aptos
Position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The undersized Powell was the PCAL-Gabilan Defensive Player of the Year after creating havoc on the interior of the line all season, using his explosion off the ball to occupy multiple blockers and get into the backfield on a regular basis. He was also the National Football Foundation scholarship recipient for Santa Cruz County.



Dominic Oliver, Valley Christian
Position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Junior

The 6-foot-3 defensive end had 62 tackles, including 15 tackles for a loss, and 5.5 sacks for the Warriors, while adding four pass break-ups. He already has a handful of Division I offers.



Marcellus Eison, Serra
Position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Senior

Eison was dominant on the interior for the Padres, despite his six-foot frame, registering 62 tackles up front. He was also the heavyweight wrestling champion for the WCAL and has begun to receive Division I offers.



Noah Short, The King’s Academy
Position: Linebacker
Year: Junior

The Defensive Player of the Year in the PAL-Bay, Short had 160 total tackles for the Knights, including 17 tackles for a loss, to go with four sacks and five interceptions. He also had nearly 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns from scrimmage offensively.



William Cuddie, Valley Christian
Position: Linebacker
Year: Sophomore

The sophomore sensation led the Warriors’ stingy defense with 116 tackles, including 18.5 tackles for a loss, and 7.5 sacks. Cuddie was also a revelation for special teams, placing 25 of his kickoffs in the end zone for touchbacks.



Will Schweitzer, Los Gatos
Position: Linebacker
Year: Junior

The rangy junior with multiple Division I offers showed his ability to play inside or outside this past season, racking up 130 tackles for the Division II champion Wildcats.



Anthony Madrigal, Valley Christian
Position: Linebacker
Year: Senior

The San Jose State-bound outside linebacker was a force off the edge all year for the Warriors, notching 22.5 tackles for a loss to go with 10.5 sacks.



Tristan Hofmann, Half Moon Bay
Position: Linebacker
Year: Junior

The two-way standout could be listed on either side of the ball. At linebacker, he led the Cougars with 99 tackles, including 14 tackles for a loss, and five sacks. At running back, he totaled 1,286 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground.



Jackson Lataimua, Serra
Position: Defensive Back
Year: Senior

A playmaker from his strong safety position, Lataimua had 41 tackles, including three tackles for a loss, and two interceptions for the Padres, including seven tackles in the regional win over San Joaquin Memorial. The Washington State commit also added six rushing touchdowns and was the WCAL co-Defensive Back of the Year.



Kavir Bains, Valley Christian
Position: Defensive Back
Year: Senior

The speedy Bains was a leader on a lockdown Valley Christian secondary, racking up four interceptions to go with 63 tackles. He was named co-Defensive Back of the Year in the WCAL.



Justin Anderson, Menlo-Atherton
Position: Defensive Back
Year: Senior

The Washington State-bound Anderson doesn’t have many defensive stats, but for good reason, as opposing offenses were smart enough to avoid his side of the field. However, in addition to an interception, he also returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns while adding 29 catches for 462 yards and four scores on the offensive side of the ball. He was named the PAL-Bay Utility Player of the Year.



Kevin Cullen, Palo Alto
Position: Defensive Back
Year: Senior

The SCVAL De Anza Defensive Player of the Year had 59 tackles and four interceptions, returning one of them for a touchdown, to lead the Vikings to the Division II semifinals.



Isaiah Flores, Wilcox
Position: Utility
Year: Senior

Flores did everything for the Chargers this past season, rushing for 942 yards and 12 touchdowns, registering nine sacks and 19 tackles for a loss on defense, plus converting 50-of-51 extra-point attempts and 4-of-5 field goal attempts. For good measure, he also averaged over 47 yards per punt.



Damon Lewis, Serra
Position: Utility
Year: Senior

Lewis’ steady play in the secondary was a big reason why Serra was so good defensively, registering 57 tackles and two interceptions. But he also averaged nearly 44 yards per punt, placed 16 of his kickoffs in the end zone for touchbacks and was a perfect 4-of-4 on field-goal attempts.



SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

Kai Lee, Carmel
Position: Quarterback
Year: Senior

The multi-sport standout for the Padres completed 64 percent of his passes, for 2,643 yards and 19 touchdowns with just one interception. He also ran for over 250 yards.


Daylin McLemore, Serra
Position: Quarterback
Year: Senior

Despite missing multiple games with a broken collarbone, McLemore managed to accumulate 1,573 yards and 15 touchdowns through the air, completing a whopping 79 percent of his passes. The Arizona State commit also ran for 429 yards and five scores, and wowed onlookers with his 15-of-16 performance against Corona del Mar in the state title game, in his one-game return from injury.


Nathan Iskander, Hillsdale
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

Nicknamed ‘Rabbit’, Iskander lived up the mantra, scooting through defenses for a section-leading 2,130 yards and 23 touchdowns. He topped the 200-yard mark on six different occasions and ran for 193 yards in a one-point semifinal loss to Milpitas, being named the PAL-Ocean Offensive Player of the Year for his efforts.


Lucas Meredith, Burlingame
Position: Running Back
Year: Junior

The rugged fullback for the Panthers ran for 1,616 yards and 20 touchdowns, and was held under 100 yards just once during the season on his way to being named the PAL-Bay Offensive Player of the Year. His top performance was a 199-yard, four-touchdown night against Terra Nova during the regular season.



Cameron Rynhard, Branham
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

Rynhard led the Bruins to the Division IV title game, rushing for 1,962 yards and 23 touchdowns, including 22 carries for 251 yards in a semifinal win over Carmel. He was named MVP of the BVAL-Santa Teresa.



Josue Torres, Milpitas
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

Torres battled the stingy defenses of the SCVAL-De Anza all season long, then ran wild in the post-season. After gashing Palo Alto for 247 yards in the regular season finale, he added a 331-yard performance against Branham in the Division IV title game, then destroyed Caruthers with a 40-carry, 285-yard effort in the regional final. For the season, he had 1,565 yards on the ground.



Jamir Shepard, Palo Alto
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: Senior

The Fresno State commit was the Offensive Player of the Year in the SCVAL De Anza, compiling 539 yards and seven touchdowns through the air.



Benicio Cristofalo, Carmel
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: Junior

The multi-talented Cristofalo was a big-play threat for the Padres, hauling in 55 catches for 1,203 yards and nine touchdowns, while also jumping into the backfield at times, adding 429 yards and five scores on the ground, including a 170-yard, three-touchdown rushing effort in the playoffs against Saratoga.



Cade Smith, Salinas
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: Senior

Richardson’s favorite target, Smith had 63 catches for 1,046 yards and 12 touchdowns, including three straight 100-yard games to finish the season and a 199-yard, two-score performance in a big win over Palma.



Louis Passarello, Palo Alto
Position: Tight End
Year: Senior

The 6-foot-5 Colorado commit was used primarily as a blocker, but showed reliable hands as well, adding nearly 200 yards and two touchdowns through the air.



Nathan Azzopardi, Serra
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Azzopardi is headed to Idaho after leading the way up front for the Padres’ offensive line, for a unit which scored nearly 500 points this past season.



Uate Uhila, Menlo-Atherton
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Senior

Uhila will move on to play rugby for the elite program at Cal after using his 6-foot-1, 285-pound frame to anchor the Bears’ offensive line this past season, helping lead them to another undefeated campaign in the PAL-Bay.



Mose Vavao, Saint Francis
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The Fresno State commit was an interior force for the Lancers, using his 6-foot-2, 310-pound frame to anchor the line from his guard spot. He was a first-team all-WCAL selection.



Noah Pulealii, Palma
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Junior

The 6-foot-5, 315-pound tackle paved the way for Villegas’ big season and was a first-team PCAL-Gabilan selection. He has offers from multiple Pac-12 schools.



Hunter Wright, The King’s Academy
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The six-foot, 255-pound center anchored the middle of the line for the Knights, who excelled offensively, scoring over 400 points while winning a section title. He was a first-team PAL-Bay selection on offense, while adding 75 tackles, including 14 tackles for a loss, and five sacks from his nose guard spot on defense.



Tevita Moimoi, Sacred Heart Prep
Position: Utility
Year: Senior

Moimoi was the workhorse for the Gators offensively, rushing for 1,013 yards and 17 touchdowns while adding 91 tackles on defense from his linebacker position. The co-MVP of the PAL-Bay will play at Dartmouth next year.



Caleb Ojeda, Live Oak
Position: Utility
Year: Junior

Ojeda was the everywhere threat for the Acorns, passing for 1,418 yards and 17 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,230 yards and 16 scores. His kicking ability only rounded out his contributions, drilling 45-of-49 extra points and 4-of-5 field goals.




Michael Giannini, Terra Nova
Position: Kicker
Year: Senior

The first-team PAL-Bay selection drilled 8-of-10 field goals this season, including a 40-yarder.



SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

Marcos Alvarez, Oak Grove
Position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The two-way standout for the Eagles racked up 55 tackles, including 15.5 tackles for a loss, and four sacks on his way to earning first-team Mt. Hamilton honors.


Jacques Allard, Mitty
Position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The 6-foot-3 Holy Cross commit was terrific off the edge for the Monarchs with 51 tackles and seven sacks, earning first-team all-WCAL honors in the process.



Logan Wiemann, Live Oak
Position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Junior

Named the Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman in the Mt. Hamilton, Wiemann had 7.5 sacks for the Acorns, to go with 71 total tackles, including 6.5 tackles for a loss.



Ian Tupulua, Riordan
Position: Defensive Line
Year: Senior

The 6-foot-2 edge player notched 9.5 sacks for the Crusaders, to go with 51 tackles. The first-team all-WCAL selection played especially big in a non-league win over Terra Nova, where he had seven tackles and 3.5 sacks.



David Chavez-Pena, Mountain View
Position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Junior

Chavez-Pena excelled at getting in the backfield, racking up 21 tackles for a loss and 13 sacks, to go with 71 total tackles. He had a season-high four sacks in a win over Milpitas.



Moon Ashby, Valley Christian
Position: Linebacker
Year: Senior

The rangy Washington State commit had 71 tackles, including 10 tackles for a loss, to spearhead the Warriors’ defense, while adding an interception and six pass break-ups.



Kevin Pelaez, San Mateo
Position: Linebacker
Year: Senior

The PAL-Ocean Defensive Player of the Year racked up 125 tackles for the Bearcats, including 13 tackles for a loss. He led a unit which held six of its opponents to 10 points or less.



Jafer Snipes, St. Ignatius
Position: Linebacker
Year: Senior

The highlight of Snipes’ season no doubt was his game-winning stop on the goal-line to preserve a one-point victory over Serra, a game in which he also recovered a fumble at the Wildcats’ four-yard line. But he also led the SI run defense all season long, earning first-team all-WCAL honors in the process.



Jared Kennedy, Pioneer
Position: Linebacker
Year: Senior

The BVAL-Mt. Hamilton Most Outstanding Linebacker had 157 total stops for the Mustangs, including 12 tackles for a loss, and a pair of sacks.



Jayden Fulsom, Oak Grove
Position: Linebacker
Year: Senior

Fulsom was recognized as the Mt. Hamilton’s Defensive Player of the Year after anchoring the Eagles’ defense with 80 tackles, including eight tackles for a loss, to go with 4.5 sacks and six pass break-ups. His efforts helped carry Oak Grove to the Division II title game, with three wins by shutout along the way.



Aaron Ah-Sing, Wilcox
Position: Defensive Back
Year: Senior

Ah-Sing was a ball-hawk in the Chargers’ secondary, notching four interceptions to go with 27 tackles, which included four tackles for a loss. He was also a big contributor on the offensive side of the ball, serving as the team’s top receiving threat with 20 catches for 286 yards and four touchdowns.



Isaiah Dwelle, Milpitas
Position: Defensive Back
Year: Senior

The lockdown corner pulled down three interceptions for the Trojans, despite being largely avoided. He also totaled 37 tackles and scored twice on offense as a receiver.



Deven Vanderbilt, Valley Christian
Position: Defensive Back
Year: Senior

The speedy Vanderbilt was the other part of the equation which made throwing on the Warriors next-to-impossible this past season. He had 27 tackles and three pass break-ups to go with an interception from his corner spot, while funneling opposing teams’ passing options back to the middle of the field.



Riley Anderson, North Monterey County
Position: Defensive Back
Year: Senior

The tackling machine from his strong safety position added a pair of interceptions and was a unanimous choice as the Defensive Player of the Year in the PCAL-Cypress.



Carson Yates, Leland
Position: Utility
Year: Senior

The MVP of the Mt. Hamilton, Yates battled injury to produce at a high level on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he threw for 1,721 yards and 18 touchdowns, while adding 951 yards and 13 scores on the ground. Defensively, he added 27 tackles and two interceptions, and for good measure, kicked a pair of field goals.



Reymello Murphy, Mitty
Position: Utility
Year: Junior

The WCAL Junior of the Year produced in multiple ways for the Monarchs, primarily as a receiver, but also a bit on defense and on special teams. He had 52 catches for 816 yards and seven touchdowns, while averaging over 17 yards per punt return, and added 16 tackles and two pass break-ups in limited time on defense.



THIRD TEAM OFFENSE:

QUARTERBACK: Payton Stokes (Saratoga), Matt MacLeod (Menlo-Atherton), Dillon Danner (Santa Cruz)

RUNNING BACK: Jalen Camp (Terra Nova), Adam Arenas (Lincoln), Eitan Smolyar (Gunn), Adam Garwood (Los Gatos), Malique Sumler (Oak Grove)

WIDE RECEIVER: Cody Ahola (Christopher), Alex Murrell (Piedmont Hills), Austin Flax (Mountain View), Jalen Moss (Menlo-Atherton), Jurrion Dickey (Valley Christian), Colin Giffen (Palo Alto), Jaden Richardson (Menlo)

TIGHT END: George Bian (Saratoga), JP Frimel (Sacred Heart Prep)

OFFENSIVE LINE: Francisco Sandoval (King City), Matt Ames (Leland), Jack Burnett (St. Ignatius), Connor Kall (Burlingame), Netane Fehoko (Hillsdale), Joe Fleming (Christopher)

UTILITY: Jayden Frazier (King’s Academy), Nate Tillak (Piedmont Hills), Melvon Ballard (Overfelt), Luke Bergstrom (San Mateo), Dakota Mornhinweg (Carmel)

KICKER: Nate Miskella (Milpitas), Giovanni Vurro (Monta Vista), Lucas Ramirez (Valley Christian)



THIRD TEAM DEFENSE:

DEFENSIVE LINE:Ruben Manzanares (Gunderson), Dylan Pruitt (Willow Glen), Malik Jackson (Silver Creek), Seta Netane (St. Ignatius), Afa Sanft (Saint Francis), Evan Branch-Haynes (Sacred Heart Cathedral), Kefu Leander (Seaside)

LINEBACKER: Andrew Korea (Los Gatos), Siaki Hunkin (St. Ignatius), Zach Lewman (King’s Academy), Adam Rostran (San Benito), Aneterea Lealao (Milpitas)

DEFENSIVE BACK: Deshawn Dawson (Terra Nova), Andrew Bice (Mountain View), Javonte Jackson (Oak Grove), JJ Chin (Salinas)



HONORABLE MENTION:

ALISAL: Nicholas Enriquez, Marco Espinoza
ALVAREZ: Andre Wallace, Braden Arriaga-Lopez
ANDREW HILL: Vincent Nguyen
ANN SOBRATO: Jacob Turagavou, Jose Reyes
APTOS: Nicco Riccabona, Christian Reyes
ARAGON: Solomone Hokafonu
BELLARMINE: Aizon Henry, Eli Hall, Garrett Arnold
BRANHAM: Nick Bandanza, Ethan Norris, Jack SanFilippo
BURLINGAME: Cal Stephenson, Will Uhrich
CAPUCHINO: Sione Kafoa
CARLMONT: Wes Brown, Steven Talaina
CARMEL: Lavar Edwards, Amir Brown
CHRISTOPHER: Rossi Oteri
CUPERTINO: Demarcus Oandasan, Matt Keelan
DEL MAR: Giovanni Talledos
EL CAMINO: Javion Tarusan
EVERGREEN VALLEY: Nick Ramirez, Kevin Tran
FREMONT: Owen Street
GONZALES: Franky Leon-Cisneros, Jayson Flores
GREENFIELD: JD Lopez
GUNDERSON: Nathan Martinez
GUNN: Phillip Doan, Cory Hallada
HALF MOON BAY: Cade Duncan, Connor Quosig
HARBOR: Garrett Lackey
HARKER: Devin Keller
HILLSDALE: Johnny Goode, Baby Tongamoa, Xavier Andrade
HOMESTEAD: Jared Wade, Harold Rucker III
INDEPENDENCE: Isaac Cisneros
JAMES LICK: Ricardo Pena
JEFFERSON: Peleseuama Briez-Peleseuma, Alfred Ugaitafa, Jr.
KING CITY: Devin Morales
LEIGH: Max Griffiths, Dylan Stone
LELAND: Carson Prescott, Andrew Thorne
LINCOLN: Epoki Fakaosi, Chris Gomez
LIVE OAK: Mosiah Saulala, Nick Lomanto, Zach Souza
LOS ALTOS: Brennan Hanley, Aaron Parker
LOS GATOS: Yost Girvan, Gian Lagemann
LYNBROOK: Jonathan Leslie
MARINA: Michael Barrera
MENLO: Samson Axe
MENLO-ATHERTON: Christian Van Stralen, Jayden Stanley
MILLS: Tevita Ofila Fifita, Dominic Piefer
MILPITAS: Jovin Becerra, Curtis Price
MITTY: Shamir Bey, Derrick Chiou, Davis Salom
MONTA VISTA: Henry Hodgkins
MONTE VISTA CHRISITAN: Brendan Doyle, Riley Moller
MONTEREY: Hendrick Lusk
MOUNTAIN VIEW: Julian Daniels
MT. PLEASANT: Marco Herrera, Alfredo Hernandez
NORTH MONTEREY COUNTY: Kobe Hatten, Brandon Ducusin
NORTH SALINAS: Josiah Guzman, Izaiah Guzman
OAK GROVE: Izaiah Nakanishi, Elijah Banks, Elias Herrera
OVERFELT: Tristan Maningo, Austin Payne
PACIFIC GROVE: Ben Minik, Blake Moore
PAJARO VALLEY: Martin Gonzalez
PALMA: Brent Eastman, Jon Jon Berring, JT Amaral
PALO ALTO: Danny Peters
PIEDMONT HILLS: Matthew Nguyen, Justin Stokes
PIONEER: Dat Huynh, Norlando Gamez
PROSPECT: Gabriel Wirnowski, Lalotoa Tautolo
RIORDAN: Lavaka Kefu, Aden Jackson
SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL: Tyrice Ivy, Jr., Cian Dowling
SACRED HEART PREP: Cole Gurtner, Dante Cacchione
SALINAS: Joey Moag, Jason Palodichuk
SAN BENITO: Isaac Gonzalez, Ricky Navarro
SAN JOSE: Adrian Chavez
SAN LORENZO VALLEY: RJ Kindred
SAN MATEO: Spencer Unga, Dane Anderson
SANTA CLARA: Isiah Ketton, Jojo Hernandez
SANTA CRUZ: Qwentin Brown, Henry Campion
SANTA TERESA: Carlos Padilla, Journey James
SARATOGA: Talon Sisco, Max Muilenburg
SCOTTS VALLEY: Jamesley Giblin
SEASIDE: Rusty Finona, Tevita Kamitoni
SEQUOIA: Simon Talauati
SERRA: Fauese Gaoteote
SILVER CREEK: Ricky Anaya, Jeremiah Lacson, Aisosa Amas
SOLEDAD: Josiah Freeman
SOQUEL: RJ Worsch, Jeremiah Corpuz
ST. FRANCIS: Ryan Daly, Camilo Arquette, Joey Schott
ST. FRANCIS-WATSONVILLE: Lawson Orradre
ST. IGNATIUS: Joe Celentano, Deven Enos
STEVENSON: Evan Johnson, Dylan Santos
TERRA NOVA: Tyler Ramos, Torry Young
THE KING'S ACADEMY: Kevin Sielski, Charlie Jones
VALLEY CHRISTIAN: Michael Corini, Cory Taylor
WATSONVILLE: Angel Rocha
WESTMONT: Adolfo Carrasco, Jonah Wymore
WILCOX: Roan Poulivaati, Geremy McCollough
WILLOW GLEN: Michael Malvini, Jack Reilly
WOODSIDE: Ethan Mooney
YERBA BUENA: Andrew Isais