It was no surprise to see a pair of Liberty standouts headline this year's All-Bay Valley Athletic League football team, which was released this Friday.
Senior Sione Vaki, who has shined this year on offense, defense and special teams was named the Most Valuable Player of the league. Vaki played three years on the varsity level, transferring to Liberty after playing for Antioch as a sophomore. This season, he has racked up 51 catches for 1,117 yards and 18 touchdowns for the undefeated Lions, but earned first-team all-league honors on both sides of the ball, and scored in multiple ways. He added a rushing touchdown, had four interceptions and two fumble recoveries on defense - returning one of the interceptions for a touchdown - and also took a kickoff back for a score when Liberty faced Antioch.
Vaki's younger teammate, quarterback Jay Butterfield, was named Co-Offensive Player of the Year along with Freedom senior Giles Jackson, who is verbally committed to the University of Michigan. Butterfield has had a record-breaking season on the 116-year old Brentwood campus, smashing single-season and career marks for passing touchdowns and yards. So far this year, through 10 games, Butterfield has completed 66 percent of his passes for 2,513 yards with 36 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Jackson, meanwhile, has been a threat to score in multiple ways this year for the Falcons. Having shifted back out to receiver, where he played as a sophomore, Jackson has 57 catches for 1,088 yards and 11 touchdowns, while adding 147 yards and three scores on the ground. For good measure, he has added a punt return and two interceptions returns for touchdowns.
Pittsburg was also represented in the major awards, as senior standout Jacob Bandes was named Defensive Player of the Year. The Washington commit faced constant double and triple teams throughout the year, but found a way to notch 14 total stops behind the line of scrimmage, along with eight quarterback hurries. He added a pair of fumble recoveries and a blocked kick.
Below is the complete all-league team.
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
QB - Jay Butterfield (Liberty)
RB - Tyerell Sturges-Cofer (L), Patrick Robinson (Deer Valley)
WR - Gaudie Campbell (Antioch), Mekel Ealy (Freedom), Giles Jackson (F), Sione Vaki (L)
TE - Koby Gross (Pittsburg)
OL - Payton Zdroik (L), Josh McKey (L), Isaias Sierra (P), Samiuela Fonongaloa (P), Enele Amituanai (P), Jake Hope (A)
UT - Willie Harts III (P)
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
DL - Jacob Bandes (P), De'jon Benton (P), Gabriel Iniguez (P), Jake Hope (A), Payton Zdroik (L)
LB - Vincente Ballardo (A), Nicky Einess (L), Jack Lacy III (P), Josiah Porter (P)
DB - Dejuan Butler (A), Sione Vaki (L), Eddie Rankin (P), Brenden Bell (L), Josh Scott (DV)
K - Omar Curiel (A)
SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
QB - Joey Aguilar (F)
RB - Premier Murphy (P), Avant Muldrow (P)
WR - Kendrick Shaw (Heritage), Jerrin Easter-Williams (L), Jaimier Parker (F), Adrik Lamar (L)
OL - King Matu (DV), Ryan Fithian (F), Cle'mone Kennedy (L), Alberto Sandoval (A), Jacob Caguyong (DV), Akili Calhoun (L)
UT - Josh Scott (DV)
SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
DL - Kitione Tau (P), King Matu (DV), Brett Bausola (F), Tre Pedreira (H), Brock Hammer (L)
LB - Greg Filardo (H), Hunter McAllister (F), Diego Fratus (F), Robert Garcia (F)
DB - Patrick Robinson (DV), Jaysn Wade (A), Daniel Roanhorse (F), Devonyae McClay (A), John Fio (L)
K - Jake Croteau (L)
HONORABLE MENTION
QB - Willem Karnthong (A), Trevor Moorman (H)
RB - Jaysn Wade (A)
WR - Kihmani Tolefree (F)
TE - Jaden Tauanu'u (P)
OL - Adam Smith (H), Taleni Lepolo (H), Kwamayne Sims (A), Deric Lapuz (F), Giovanni Spinelli (P)
DL - James McNorton (H), Kwamayne Sims (A), Peyton Borrelli (L), Aiden Rangel (L)
LB - Logan Fontaine (DV), Raider Vreonis (A), Joseph Luna (P)
DB - Deizion Bartley (L), Donovan Fells (A), Avant Muldrow (P)
K - Roy Lee (F)
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS
Antioch - Jacob Johnson; Deer Valley - Muhammad Khalfani-Bey; Freedom - Raymond Alvarez; Heritage - Brad Ehlen; Liberty - PJ Hernandez; Pittsburg - James Williams III
