ALL-NORTH COAST SECTION
Player of the Year ANTOINE CUSTER, RB, DE LA SALLE
By NATE SMITH Prep2Prep
After his sophomore season ended with an ankle injury early in the Spartans’ loss to St. John Bosco, Antoine Custer got to work.
“He became more dedicated everywhere this past off-season, and the results showed on the field,” said De La Salle head coach Justin Alumbaugh.
Custer finished the season with nearly 2,100 yards from scrimmage and 26 total touchdowns, despite being pulled early from a majority of the Spartans’ lopsided victories,
and getting fewer than 10 touches in six of the team’s 14 games. Beyond the impressive numbers, however, was the fact that he became De La Salle’s most
consistent performer, all while playing both sides of the ball and returning kickoffs.
For his efforts, the junior was named the East Bay Athletic League’s Most Valuable Player, and finished the season with a flourish, rushing for 270 yards and four touchdowns
in the Spartans’ 63-42 win over Centennial. In fact, Custer’s biggest performances all happened under the brightest lights this season, also running for over 200 yards
against Servite and in the NCS title game against Pittsburg.
With over half of the Spartans’ starting lineup returning along with Custer next season, he will easily be at the top of the discussion for a repeat award in 2015.
Coach of the Year RICH COTRUVO, JUSTIN-SIENA
Rich Cotruvo led Justin-Siena to its second NCS title in three years.
(Justin-Siena Athletics)
In leading Justin-Siena to its second North Coast Section title in the last three years, and their sixth title since 2000, head coach Rich Cotruvo has cemented his legacy in Braves history.
The road to the title this year, however, was much more unexpected than the 2012 championship, as the tri-champions of the Marin County Athletic League were underdogs
in each of their last two games.
Prior to the Division IV title game, opposing head coach Keith Minor of Saint Mary’s voiced his respect for both Cotruvo and the program he has built at the Lasallian school in Napa.
“They are the benchmark for success in Division 4,” said Minor. “Those kids fully buy into everything he asks them to, and the results are evident year in and year out.”
Despite that consistent approach, few expected this year’s Justin-Siena team to contend for another title. For starters, Saint Mary’s was returning a large amount of talent from
its 2013 team that had won the section title. Beyond that, the Braves dropped their opener to a Piedmont team that would go undefeated and earn the number two seed in the playoffs.
Two losses in his team's first three games did not change Cotruvo’s approach, nor the style of his team, as its relentless blue-collar approach to defense and a ball-control
offense resulted in three consecutive victories by shutout, including a 3-0 win over eventual Division III finalist Marin Catholic. A loss to Novato in late October
prevented the Braves from capturing an outright league title, but would be the last time the team would taste defeat in 2014.
Cotruvo’s veer option offense, combined with a stiff and opportunistic defense, led to a 14-3 win in a rematch with Piedmont in the section semifinals. That gave the
Braves a shot at heavily favored Saint Mary’s. With at least half a dozen players on their current roster who will be playing on Saturdays after high school graduation,
the Panthers' talent level seemed to overwhelm the Braves’ roster, which did not feature any top-tier college recruits.
What the apparent disparity between the rosters did not show, however, was the Braves’ belief in themselves, a belief ingrained by their coaching staff.
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Mitch Daniels, Concord
Position: Quarterback
Year: Senior
Daniels completed 68 percent of his passes for 55 touchdowns and nearly 4,000 yards, leading Concord to the Division II NCS championship game against Clayton Valley, the
only team to beat the Minutemen this season. He is currently receiving strong interest from Idaho State and Valparaiso.
Ja'Narrick James, Analy
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior
James received Sonoma County League Player of the Year honors as a multiple threat for the Tigers, helping lead them to the Division III semifinals, where. He totaled
over 2,000 yards from scrimmage along with 33 offensive touchdowns, and was referred to by an opposing coach as “difficult to tackle even in a phone booth.”
JJ Koski, San Ramon Valley
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: Senior
Playing in a balanced offense and getting attention from top corners on a weekly basis, Koski scored 15 touchdowns, along with 56 catches for 881 yards. An opposing
coach said he is “so tough to defend, because all routes are in his repertoire, and he runs them all extremely well.” He is committed to Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo.
Matt Snyder, California
Position: Tight End
Year: Senior
The Nebraska-bound Snyder should thrive in Mike Riley’s zone and play-action offensive system. A dominant blocker on the edge of the line, Snyder also had 408 yards
receiving on 17 catches, averaging 24 yards per catch with four touchdowns. For good measure, he added 57 tackles from his defensive end position.
Jack Hanson, Eureka
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Senior
Hanson (6-5, 285) was the Humboldt-Del Norte Big 5 Co-Lineman of the Year, and is committed to Oregon. He was not only solid in pass protection for the Loggers, but
also in the run game and displayed great agility in space as a lead blocker on screen passes.
Clayton Demski, Marin Catholic
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Junior
Demski has been touted by Coach Mazi Moayed as possibly the best line prospect to come out of the Wildcats’ program in a long time, high praise considering the
Division I programs that have recruited players out of MC. He was first-team all-MCAL, carries a 4.2 GPA, and has schools such as Northwestern already calling.
Willie Williams, Liberty
Position: Utility
Year: Senior
Williams displayed an ability to score from anywhere on the field. The first-team all-league utility player scored on a punt return, kickoff return, and a
bubble screen in a playoff win over Amador Valley, and turned a five-yard completion into an 80-yard touchdown on the first play of their quarterfinal game
against California. He finished the year with 16 total touchdowns.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Gabe McCoy, Pittsburg
Position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Senior
McCoy had a breakout season as a premier pass rusher, registering 17.5 sacks and 25 tackles for loss, along with earning first-team All-BVAL honors. He has
been receiving strong interest from Division I programs such as UNLV, Northern Arizona, Sacramento State, Idaho State, and UC Davis.
Devin Asiasi, De La Salle
Position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Junior
The physically imposing and extremely athletic junior registered five sacks and six tackles for loss despite very limited playing time in most games. He also
added nearly 300 yards receiving and played quarterback when needed. Asiasi (6-5, 255) has interest from most of the Pac-12 schools heading into his senior year,
with early offers from USC, Washington State, Cal, Washington, and UCLA.
Ben Schrider, Saint Mary's
Position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Senior
Schrider is headed to the University of Richmond, where the Spiders’ staff is not yet sure whether they will utilize his talents as a defensive end or as a tight end.
Defensively, the senior was a force off the edge for the Panthers, with 15 sacks, and is described as a “hard-nosed player who works his butt off every play.”
Boss Tagaloa, De La Salle
Position: Defensive Line
Year: Junior
Despite drawing double-teams most of the season, Tagaloa still racked up 6.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss, also without the benefit of excessive playing time.
The imposing junior (6-3, 290) is being recruited by a majority of the Pac-12, with early offers from Arizona State, Washington State, UCLA, and Cal.
Michael Ross, Rancho Cotate
Position: Linebacker
Year: Senior
Ross was recognized as the North Bay League Co-Defensive Player of the Year after a senior season that saw him rack up 138 tackles to go with four sacks. One
opposing coach described him as “athletic, fast, and able to make plays all over the field.”
Jax Carter, Clayton Valley
Position: Linebacker
Year: Senior
Despite missing four games due to injury, Carter was recognized as the Diablo Valley Athletic League’s Defensive Player of the Year. He had 87 tackles at inside linebacker,
and also served as the team’s top blocking back prior to his leg injury.
Jacob Murrieta, Kennedy-Fremont
Position: Linebacker
Year: Senior
Described by one opposing coach as the best player he has seen in the Mission Valley Athletic League in “at least four years”, Murrieta earned first-team all-league
honors on both sides of the ball. He got to the quarterback for an amazing 25 sacks, and added eight touchdowns offensively from his tight end position.
Jordan Parker, Pittsburg
Position: Defensive Back
Year: Junior
Parker earned first-team all-league honors after a season in which he had five interceptions and ten pass break-ups, while constantly being assigned to
opposing team’s top receivers and seeing fewer balls thrown his way as the season progressed. He also led the Pirates in receiving touchdowns with five and
was the top kick and punt returner on the team. He has multiple Pac-12 offers, including UCLA, Arizona State, and Washington State.
Isaiah Langley, Foothill
Position: Defensive Back
Year: Senior
An opposing coach put it very simply when talking about the USC-bound Langley: “You’re not going to complete any passes on his side of the field.” In addition to
being a shutdown corner, he also scored 15 touchdowns, including a team-high 12 receiving touchdowns.
Prentiss Reid, Salesian
Position: Defensive Back
Year: Senior
Reid was the TCAL-Rock Defensive Player of the Year after spearheading the Pride defense from his safety position. He totaled 103 tackles to go with six
interceptions and nine pass break-ups. Showing an ability to hit, he also forced three fumbles. Eastern Washington, Nevada, and Grambling State have all
expressed interest for next season.
Ron Smith, Saint Mary's
Position: Defensive Back
Year: Senior
Smith earned first-team all-TCAL honors, and is headed to San Diego State. Described by Coach Keith Minor as a player who is equal parts ball-hawk and fearless hitter,
Smith had six interceptions for the Panthers, including a 100-yard return for a touchdown against Salesian.
Alex Netherda, Maria Carrillo
Position: Utility
Year: Senior
Netherda was both the Redwood Empire Player of the Year and the Co-MVP of the North Bay League after helping lead the Pumas to the quarterfinals of the
Division II playoffs as both a standout running back and strong safety. He has been recruited by Cal Poly, UC Davis, and Yale, along with a preferred
walk-on offer at California.
Matt Abramo, Casa Grande
Position: Kicker/Punter
Year: Senior
Abramo is headed to Washington State, and is rated in the top seven kicking prospects nationwide by multiple recruiting services. Forty-two of his 54 kickoffs
went for touchbacks, and he converted 10 field goals during the season, including two game-deciding kicks in a win over Maria Carrillo that turned around the Gauchos’ season.
For good measure, he averaged 37 yards per punt.
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
HONORABLE MENTION:
ACALANES:
Brady Aiello, Casey Harrington, Tyler Henderson
ALAMEDA:
Rahman Kelley
ALBANY:
Marco Lazaras
ALHAMBRA:
Grant Hill, James Gonsalves
AMADOR VALLEY:
Collin Miller, Ledre McCullough
AMERICAN:
Anthony Wellington, Jared Luty, Trevon Jones
ANALY:
Will Smith, Jesse Erdmann, Henry Campbell
ANTIOCH:
Kobie Beltram, Michael Fonteno, Jonathan Gaytan, Michael Gray
ARROYO:
Joe Moala
BEREAN CHRISTIAN:
Isaiah Hodgins
BERKELEY:
Isaiah Cassidy, Henry Bazakas
BISHOP O'DOWD:
Bryce Grandison, Damani Ballard
CALIFORNIA:
Simi Hingano, Peter Farina, Spenser Thompson-Meyers
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF:
Jax Pedersen
CAMPOLINDO:
Sterling Strother, Jack Shurtz, Max Flower
CARDINAL NEWMAN:
Jordan Brookshire, Craig Lucey, Duncan Hatch
CASA GRANDE:
Jaleel Lawson, Spencer Torkelson
CASTRO VALLEY:
Damon Mitchell
CLAYTON VALLEY:
Rich Peralta, Sean Vaisima, Chandler Wakefield, Shimon Rosenblatt
CLOVERDALE:
Luke Bernardi
COLLEGE PARK:
David Jones
CONCORD:
Robert Liu, Jose Rivera, Josh Weins
DE ANZA:
Tyrique Armstrong
DE LA SALLE:
Cameron Lissarrague, Blake Ogburn, Adam Mayer
DEER VALLEY:
Jonathan Farmer, Ray-Shian Alexander
DEL NORTE:
Steven Maready
DOUGHERTY VALLEY:
Kieffer Longson, Michael Pangelinan
DUBLIN:
Jabari Jefferson, Tyler Nobida, Tyree Williams
EL CERRITO:
Alex Meurer, Rodney Washington
EL MOLINO:
Leo Garza
ELSIE ALLEN:
Jalen Busby
EMERY:
Elijah Lucy
ENCINAL:
Taivale Tautalatasi
EUREKA:
Marcus Finney
FOOTHILL:
Ruben Mercado, Cash Connolly, Isaiah Floyd, Dan Rodriguez
FORT BRAGG:
Kaylor Sullivan, Lucas Triplett
FORTUNA:
Russell Kadle
FREEDOM:
Stevie Costello, Kyle Harmon, Sean Pinson, Ronnie Rivers
GRANADA:
Ryan Silvas
HAYWARD:
CJ Montgomery, Juni Moi Moi
HEALDSBURG:
Jacob Sloma, Tanner Cristando
HERCULES:
D’marrien McKenzie
HERITAGE:
Tre Edwards, Sam Hinn
IRVINGTON:
Austin Walker
JAMES LOGAN:
Christian Leota, Ahmari Davis
JOHN SWETT:
Devan Quesada, Joe Ilaoa
JUSTIN-SIENA:
Naufahu Anitoni, Liam Boyd, Henry Grieve
KENNEDY-FREMONT:
Kaleem Abubukari, Siaosi Vehikite
KENNEDY-RICHMOND:
Monta Johnson
LAS LOMAS:
Noah Myers, Aviv Elor, Ben Wood, Willie Amen
LIBERTY:
Alex Espinoza, Dylan Gilfoy
LIVERMORE:
Tim Harris
LOWER LAKE:
Isazah King
MARIA CARRILLO:
Jordan Rosado, Jared Brazis, Josh Groesbeck
MARIN CATHOLIC:
Johnny McLean, Nick Gernhard, Jackson Snyder, Riley Sell
MCKINLEYVILLE:
Kyle Spalding, Travis Nickols, Bailey Turner
MIRAMONTE:
Ryan Anderson, Clayton Stehr
MISSION SAN JOSE:
Elliot Tu
MONTE VISTA:
Jake Haener, Traehome Banda
MONTGOMERY:
Ke’Shawn Walker
MOREAU CATHOLIC:
Jullen Ison, Johnny Den Bleyker
MT. DIABLO:
Davail Jenkins
MT. EDEN:
Giovanni Remmen, Tookey Stevenson, Andres Guzman
NEWARK MEMORIAL:
Tristan Thorsteinsson, Luke Lombana, Kenneth Beck
NORTHGATE:
Mason Mitchell
NOVATO:
Chris Fletcher, Ben Putman
PETALUMA:
Yusef Kawasami
PIEDMONT:
Hunter Abel
PINER:
Peter Barbieri, Tony Martignoli
PINOLE VALLEY:
Troyante McConico, Elijah Cunningham
PITTSBURG:
David Lui, Armani Levias, CJ McClure, Harland Tautalatasi, Jason Russo
RANCHO COTATE:
Oscar Nava, Carlos Franco, Gunner Mefferd
REDWOOD:
Alex Kosinski, Tristan Pulver
RICHMOND:
Eric Silva
SAINT MARY'S:
Tamarick Pierce, Peter Sekona, Alex Glover, Aaron Mercadel
SALESIAN:
Charles Hillary, Dewayne Dixon, Kyree Harvey, Dalonnie Crater, Vegas Shackleford
SAN LEANDRO:
Reuben Baker, Derrick Purvis
SAN LORENZO:
Bejour Wilson
SAN MARIN:
Connor McGarty, Jason Draper
SAN RAMON VALLEY:
Zack Baker, Carter Nichols, Josiah Alvira
SANTA ROSA:
Alesana Sunia
SONOMA VALLEY:
Alex Gustafson
STELLAR PREP:
Cameron Burston
ST. BERNARD'S:
Noah Davis, Jack Rice, Heath Francis
ST. HELENA:
Jack Preston, Davon Browne
ST. PATRICK-ST. VINCENT:
Marquis Perrillat, Triston Foley
ST. VINCENT:
George Sammon
TAMALPAIS:
Jack Harris
TENNYSON:
Christian Silva, Xavier Thibodeaux, Tukai Laginikoro
TERRA LINDA:
Kirby Dederian, Beau Keeve
TOMALES:
Willy Lepori
VALLEY CHRISTIAN-DUBLIN:
Jairus Woodson
WASHINGTON:
Mark Colbert
WINDSOR:
Jalen Roman, Dmitri Acken
YGNACIO VALLEY:
Jesse Guzman
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