Prep2Prep 2018 CCS Football Honors
St. Francis' Evan Williams is the Prep2Prep CCS Player of the Year.

ALL-CENTRAL COAST SECTION

Player of the Year
EVAN WILLIAMS, ST. FRANCIS




It’s no surprise that the St. Francis Lancers were one of the best teams in the Bay Area once again this year, but for those familiar with their system, it would be a bit of a shock to see one of the stars of such a run-heavy team dominate at the wide receiver position.

Evan Williams was just that good, though. He was nearly automatic in the end zone on fade routes, and he was so reliable that a Lancer team that almost always kept the ball on the ground, moving the line of scrimmage bit by bit even turned to Williams to take the top off of the defense. Over the course of the season, he caught 35 passes for 900 yards and 14 touchdowns.

He was also phenomenal in the secondary, with three interceptions early in the season before teams wised up and realized to stop throwing in his direction.

Offensively, he had a profound impact on games all year long, even as competition got fiercer and opposing coaches went out of their way to try to stop him.

He had five catches for 105 yards in a September loss to De La Salle despite a massive size disadvantage, and though his production slowed a bit when quarterback Jack Perry tore his ACL, as Ryan Daly strengthened throughout the season, he got back to taking over games. Daly found his stride by the end of the season, and Williams completely took over a 42-7 win over Serra in which the Lancers clinched an outright WCAL title by beating the Padres at their own game, assaulting Serra through the air to snap a four-game head-to-head losing streak. Williams caught three passes for 140 yards, all resulting in touchdowns, including a 70-yard bomb and another signature fade route. He had become so automatic on those fades that teammates were celebrating before he even hauled the pass in.

Those who thought they could handle Williams because of his small frame – some listed him at 5-foot-11, others at an even six feet – were in for a nasty surprise as he constantly torched defenses, making catches both in tight coverage and by simply blowing past opposing DBs.

Even in two gut-wrenching one-point losses that ended St. Francis’ season and denied the Lancers a second straight state championship appearance, Williams was still brilliant. He had six catches for 133 yards and hauled in both overtime touchdowns in a double-OT loss to Valley Christian, and in a Northern California 2-AA Championship defeat at Del Oro, he had another four catches for 65 yards and the Lancers’ lone touchdown.

To this point, his lone FBS offers are from Air Force and Fresno State, but has received offers from numerous FCS schools, including Princeton and UC Davis.

For his efforts throughout the season, we are pleased to recognize Evan Williams as the Prep2Prep Central Coast Section Player of the Year.

Others players considered included Aptos’ Marcos Reyes, Menlo-Atherton’s Daniel Heimuli and Noa Ngalu, Valley Christian’s D’Von Lang.


Coach of the Year
PAUL ROSA, WILCOX






A common refrain when a new head coach takes the reins of a program is to judge that individual’s success by the progress made in four years, marking the period of time when a new head coach will have had a class of freshmen for an entire high school career. By that standard alone, Wilcox coach Paul Rosa’s tenure has been nothing short of spectacular so far.

In his fourth season at the helm of the Chargers’ program, Rosa led Wilcox to new heights. Not only did they go unbeaten in the regular season, including a perfect mark in the competitive SCVAL-De Anza Division, but the Chargers shook off a loss to Menlo-Atherton in the CCS Division I championship game, bouncing back to defeat Capital Christian for the CIF 3-A North regional crown and then downing Kaiser-Fontana in the CIF 3-A title game. Including this year’s overall mark of 14-1, Rosa has guided Wilcox to 35 wins in his first four seasons.

“The main thing is I have great help. You can’t do it by yourself, and our administration and my assistant coaches are great,” Rosa said. “I believe I have five or six guys on my staff who could be head coaches somewhere else. And the support from administration is tremendous.”

Wilcox opened eyes around the section this year when it opened the season by beating eventual Division II champion Valley Christian. The Chargers had lost to the Warriors by a combined 62 points over the previous two seasons, including a 48-7 defeat early in the 2017 season, so the early victory was certainly a tone-setter for the 2018 campaign. The next week featured a 37-6 victory over a physical San Benito team, a game in which the Chargers jumped out to an early lead and then cruised. The fast start to the season was a by-product of the goals set in the off-season by a returning core of veteran leaders.

“Our team chemistry was huge. We all wanted the same goal, and we did not take any days off to get there,” said Wilcox junior standout Paul M Rosa, the son of the head coach. “Our entire coaching staff, led by my dad, puts in such a tremendous effort. They are all football people, and it shows.”

After the win over Valley Christian, the Chargers hardly broke a sweat in their next four victories, leading up to a hard-fought 35-21 win over Palo Alto in the second game of league play. If that victory served as an early test, the next week’s 25-19 win over Los Gatos was like taking a mid-term exam. Wilcox overcame four lost fumbles in that win, testing its resolve and ability to win even when not playing at its best, holding off a late Wildcats’ rally.

“We continued to work hard through that stretch, and those games gave us a chance to fix our mistakes,” said the elder Rosa. “We had to clean up the little things.”

Clean things up they did, and the Chargers stormed past Homestead, Milpitas and Cupertino to complete the perfect regular season. After that was a one-sided win over Piedmont Hills in the Division I quarterfinals before a semifinal showdown with defending section champion Salinas. Wilcox ran for over 300 yards in that game, and picked off heralded Cowboys’ quarterback Carl Richardson three times during the Salinas comeback attempt, propelling the Chargers to the 45-27 victory and a berth in the title game.

The championship game against Menlo-Atherton would bring heartbreak, as a 21-point Chargers’ lead evaporated amid turnovers and an athletic Bears’ offense, ultimately resulting in a 33-28 defeat. But Wilcox had already secured its spot in the CIF bowl game series, and got its chance against an unbeaten Capital Christian in the regional final. The Chargers ran for 275 yards, handing the Cougars their first defeat of the year, 34-30.

But the real stroke of coaching genius came the following week, facing a Kaiser team which boasted the state’s leading rusher. Intent on controlling the clock and being the more physical team, Rosa did not call for a single pass in the state title game, and Wilcox responded by rushing for 425 yards with its veer offense, carrying the Chargers to the 41-27 victory.

“We knew from the first play that we were going to win the game,” said the younger Rosa. “We were the tougher team.”

For his efforts throughout the season, and the championship path he has created in his first four years at the helm of the Wilcox program, we are pleased to recognize Paul Rosa as the Prep2Prep Central Coast Section Coach of the Year.

Other coaches considered include Burlingame’s John Philopopoulos, Palo Alto’s Nelson Gifford, Menlo-Atherton’s Adhir Ravipati, Carlmont’s Jake Messina, Aptos’ Randy Blankenship and Independence’s Steve Papin.


FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

Luke Bottari, Serra
Position: Quarterback
Year: Senior

Injuries and graduation may have taken a toll on this year’s Serra team, but Bottari continued to shine, completing 68 percent of his passes for 1,898 yards and 18 touchdowns, while rushing for seven more scores. Despite lower totals this year, Bottari was still named Quarterback of the Year in the WCAL, carrying the load for the Padres.


Bralyn Lux, The King’s Academy
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

The Offensive Player of the Year in the PAL-Ocean, Lux ran for 1,811 yards and 24 touchdowns, averaging nearly 11 yards per carry, while also adding 670 yards and nine scores through the air. He was at his best in the post-season, racking up 664 yards and nine touchdowns from scrimmage in semifinal and title game wins over Monterey and Carmel.



Marcos Reyes, Aptos
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

The PCAL-Gabilan Player of the Year, Reyes ran for 1,815 yards and 32 touchdowns for the Mariners, leading them to a CCS Division III title, and was also a standout on the defensive side of the ball. He is also one of the top wrestlers in Santa Cruz County.



Anthony Heard, Sacred Heart Cathedral
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

Heard shared WCAL Utility Player of the Year honors, but we are recognizing him on the offensive side of the ball. He topped the 100-yard mark on the ground in four of the first seven games this year, including a whopping 234-yard, three-touchdown performance in a win over St. Ignatius.



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

The 6-foot-2 junior was dominant throughout the year, evidenced by his regular season numbers alone. Shepard had 48 catches for 1,074 yards and 19 touchdowns receiving during the regular season, and added a seven-catch, 78-yard performance in a playoff win over Los Gatos.



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

The sophomore sensation shined all over the field for the Bears, with 767 yards and 16 touchdowns from scrimmage offensively, including the game-winning score in the CCS Division I championship game. He added a pair of interceptions defensively, one of which he returned for a score.



Poe Gaskins, Salinas
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: Senior

The shifty slot receiver was a threat all over the field for the Cowboys, who found multiple ways for him to touch the ball. Through the air, he racked up 51 catches for 853 yards and five touchdowns, to go with 359 yards and six scores on the ground. For good measure, he added a pair of interceptions on defense.



Skylar Loving-Black, Valley Christian
Position: Tight End
Year: Senior

The Iowa State commit set the edge for the Warriors in their dominating run game, and also hauled in seven of the team’s 12 touchdowns through the air.



Zack Gieg, Valley Christian
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The Warriors ran for over 250 yards per game this season, following the lead of the 6-foot-1, 285-pound Gieg, who was named the WCAL Offensive Lineman of the Year.



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

The Lancers were able to grind games out offensively, and had a lot of success running the ball behind the big 6-foot-3, 310-pound first-team All-WCAL selection. He was also a force defensively on the interior.



Frank Poso, Branham
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Junior

The Bruins thrived on running the ball, averaging nearly 230 yards per game on the ground, with the 6-foot-5, 320-pound Poso serving as both a downhill run blocker and an effective pass protector from his tackle position. He was named the top offensive lineman in a competitive Santa Teresa Division this year.



Hayden Mennie, Aptos
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The Mariners averaged over 360 rushing yards per game, and Mennie was the backbone to their Wing-T attack, earning first-team PCAL-Gabilan honors in the process.



Aronn Abinsay, Wilcox
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The CIF champion Chargers ran for nearly 300 yards per game, and Abinsay did a lot of the heavy lifting on the interior, allowing Wilcox to get off the ball and effectively run its veer offense.



Evan Williams, Saint Francis
Position: Utility
Year: Senior

The Player of the Year in the WCAL, Williams thrived everywhere for the Lancers, and did so especially on the biggest stages. He finished the year with 35 catches for 900 yards and 14 touchdowns, including a pair of overtime scores in the CCS final against Valley Christian, and added six pass break-ups to go with a trio of interceptions.



Paul M. Rosa, Wilcox
Position: Utility
Year: Junior

Rosa accounted for 2,161 yards and 28 touchdowns from scrimmage, while adding two more scores on defense. He also drilled 44 of 47 extra point attempts and his only field goal attempt, finishing the year with a total of 227 points scored.



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

It is hard to believe that the strong-legged Donnelly, who also had three interceptions on defense, is only a junior. After all, the 6-foot-1 kicker drilled 51 of his 74 kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks, averaged close to a whopping 48 yards per punt, and drilled 12 field goals, with a long of 47 yards.



FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

Noa Ngalu, Menlo-Atherton
Position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The Washington commit was named Player of the Year in the PAL-Bay, which is high recognition for a two-way lineman. Defensively, despite multiple double-teams, he had 56 tackles, including 14 tackles for a loss, and seven sacks. He also returned a fumble for a touchdown in an early win over Mitty.


Josh Pakola, Saint Francis
Position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Senior

When it comes to pass rush off the edge, there was arguably no equal to Pakola this season. He was honored as the WCAL Outside Linebacker of the Year, but for the purposes of our team, we are recognizing him as a hybrid defensive end. He is committed to Stanford.



Sebastian Gomez, Salinas
Position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The Eastern Washington commit was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the PCAL-Gabilan, recording 78 tackles to go with six sacks.



Afa Sanft, Saint Francis
Position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Junior

Sanft was selected as the WCAL Defensive Lineman of the Year, after the 300-pound nose guard dominated the interior for the Lancers. He had seven tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks, while also notching double-digits in quarterback hurries.



Brent Grantham, Lincoln
Position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The 6-foot-2 defensive end was named the top defensive lineman in the Mount Hamilton, after wreaking havoc off the edge. For the season, he registered 24 tackles for a loss and 15.5 sacks, to go with a whopping 39 quarterback hurries.



Daniel Heimuli, Menlo-Atherton
Position: Linebacker
Year: Senior

The Defensive Player of the Year in the PAL-Bay, Heimuli recorded 95 tackles, including 16 tackles for a loss, to go with six sacks and a pair of interceptions. The highly coveted recruit is currently mulling offers from four Pac-12 schools and Alabama.



Opeti Fangupo, Saint Francis
Position: Linebacker
Year: Senior

Name something that the Lancers needed done, and Fangupo could get it done. Defensively, however, he was a rock at the second level, despite also carrying the load in the run game on offense.



Judaea Moon, Valley Christian
Position: Linebacker
Year: Senior

The 5-foot-11, 240-pound Moon was a wrecking ball at middle linebacker for the Warriors, and was named the WCAL Inside Linebacker of the Year. He had 87 tackles, including 15 tackles for a loss, to go with 13 sacks, three interceptions and five pass break-ups.



EJ Lahlouh, Serra
Position: Linebacker
Year: Senior

Lahlouh battled injury for a good portion of the early season, but was the rock in the middle of the Padres’ defense, finishing with 66 tackles, including 11 tackles for a loss. He also had five sacks and an interception.



Noah Lavulo, Burlingame
Position: Linebacker
Year: Senior

Named the MVP of the PAL-Ocean, Lavulo led a dominant Burlingame defense all the way to the CCS Division IV title. He had 56 tackles, with 10 tackles for a loss, three sacks and two interceptions, all while teams generally tried to avoid his side of the field. He returned one of the picks for a score in a semifinal win against Overfelt, and was also a key reason why the Panthers ran the ball so well on offense, with 36 pancake blocks at guard.



Maurice Wilmer, Saint Francis
Position: Defensive Back
Year: Senior

Wilmer was avoided at virtually all costs by opposing passing games, but still managed to break up seven passes and notch a pair of interceptions. The former Colorado commit is a coveted recruit.



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

The Defensive Back of the Year in the WCAL, Bains notched 62 tackles to go with five interceptions this season, while breaking up six other passes.



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

The 6-foot-1 junior had five interceptions for the Bears, earning first-team PAL-Bay honors in the process. He also shined offensively, accounting for 856 yards and 12 touchdowns.



Ryan Cooper, Jr., Wilcox
Position: Defensive Back
Year: Senior

Cooper was a playmaker anywhere he lined up, and that included in the defensive secondary, where he had 45 tackles to go with a pair of interceptions, both of which came in big wins over Milpitas and Salinas. He also scored nine times on offense, and twice in the return game.



D’Von Lang, Valley Christian
Position: Utility
Year: Senior

Lang was named the WCAL Running Back of the Year, but makes our team as someone who shined on both sides of the ball, and as a threat in the return game. He did rush for 907 yards and 14 touchdowns, but also ran two interceptions back for scores and was fantastic shutting down Liberty’s Sione Vaki in the CIF 1-A NorCal final.



Jared Julian, Terra Nova
Position: Utility
Year: Senior

The 6-foot-5 dual-sport standout was named Offensive Player of the Year in the PAL-Bay after lifting the Tigers to an eight-win campaign, equally effective as a passer and runner. He completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,139 yards and 20 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,219 yards and 20 scores.



SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

Carl Richardson, Salinas
Position: Quarterback
Year: Junior

With another year still remaining, Richardson already terrorized opposing defenses as a junior, completing 74 percent of his passes for 3,606 yards and 24 touchdowns, while rushing for another 598 yards and a score.


Grant Sergent, Palma
Position: Quarterback
Year: Senior

Sergent was amazingly efficient for the 10-2 Chieftains, and was named Offensive Player of the Year in the PCAL-Gabilan. He threw for 2,243 yards and 27 touchdowns, with just two interceptions for the season.


Gabe Herrera, Wilcox
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

The other half of the Chargers’ one-two punch on the ground, Herrera ran for 1,576 yards and 23 touchdowns, including a huge 246-yard, four-score performance against Kaiser-Fontana in the CIF 3-A title game.


Anthony Villegas, Palma
Position: Running Back
Year: Junior

The junior earned first-team PCAL-Gabilan honors after running for 1,445 yards and 12 touchdowns, topping the 100-yard mark in 10 of the 12 games this year.



Dakota Mornhinweg, Carmel
Position: Running Back
Year: Junior

One of the top all-around athletes in the southern part of the section, Mornhinweg racked up 1,475 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground, to go with 26 receptions out of the backfield and three interceptions on defense. He was at his best in the post-season, scoring 11 times in three games.



Payton Flores, Gonzales
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

Flores had a season for the ages with the Spartans, as the PCAL-Santa Lucia MVP ran for a section-high 2,463 yards and 31 touchdowns. He topped the century mark in every game and went over the 200-yard mark on five occasions, including a quarterfinal win over Saratoga, the Spartans’ first playoff win in over two decades.



Joseph Vaughn, Mitty
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: Junior

Vaughn was named Wide Receiver of the Year in the WCAL, though he is also a two-way threat for the Monarchs. At receiver, the dual-sport standout had 40 catches for 640 yards and five touchdowns. At defensive back, he totaled 78 tackles to go with four interceptions.



Conor Messier, Prospect
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: Senior

The top threat for the Panthers’ offense, Messier was double-teamed all season long, yet still managed to haul in 60 catches for 1,041 yards and 11 touchdowns, despite also having four different quarterbacks during the year. He was named Offensive Player of the Year for the West Valley.



Nate Rios, Terra Nova
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: Senior

The first-team PAL-Bay selection had over 800 receiving yards to go with 12 touchdowns, including a pair of scores in a playoff defeat to Aptos. He had multiple touchdown games on four different occasions.



Isaac Duenas, Alisal
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The Trojans pounded it on the ground this year, and this 6-foot-5, 315-pound first-team PCAL-Mission selection was a big reason why, moving defenders with his down blocks and drive blocks all season.



Logan Wiemann, Live Oak
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Sophomore

Wiemann was named the top offensive lineman in the Mount Hamilton Division, as the 6-foot-1 underclassman paved the way for an offense which averaged nearly 400 yards per game.



Abel Garcia, Salinas
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The Cowboys racked up over 5,000 yards of offense, and Garcia anchored things up front, providing solid pass protection for Richardson and opening holes in the run game. He was a first-team PCAL-Gabilan selection.



Mike Lizaola, Palma
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Senior

Palma averaged 205 yards per game on the ground, and Lizaola anchored the front line on both sides of the ball, also notching five sacks on defense. He is also one of the top wrestlers in the section, having placed third at the CCS Championships last year.



Tevita Tafuna, Menlo-Atherton
Position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The Bears averaged over six yards per carry this season, and the athletic 260-pound Tafuna was a major reason, earning first-team PAL-Bay honors in the process. His consistency helped propel M-A to CCS and CIF titles, despite a rotating cast at quarterback.



Taylor Kaufman, Burlingame
Position: Utility
Year: Sophomore

Kaufman earned first-team PAL-Ocean honors as both a kicker and receiver. As a kicker, he placed roughly a third of his kickoffs in the end zone, and drilled 5-of-6 field goal attempts, with a long of 40 yards. He scored three times at receiver, where he had over 300 receiving yards, including a touchdown in the title game win over Carlmont. For good measure, he added over 30 tackles, an interception and a pair of pass break-ups at defensive back.



Gabriel Reclusado, Piedmont Hills
Position: Utility
Year: Senior

Reclusado carried the Pirates offensively, with his arm and legs. The co-MVP of the Mount Hamilton Division completed 70 percent of his passes for 2,715 yards and 27 touchdowns, while adding 1,341 yards and 19 scores on the ground. For good measure, was also the team’s punter and added 20 tackles with a pair of pass break-ups in limited time on defense.



Anthony Waller, Menlo-Atherton
Position: Kicker
Year: Senior

Over a third of Waller’s kickoffs went into the end zone for touchbacks, and he also showed great range on his field goals, nailing 4-of-7 attempts, including a 45-yarder in a win over Milpitas and a 47-yarder in a win over Palo Alto, both of which occurred in the playoffs.



SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

Dylan Neeley, Burlingame
Position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Senior

Neeley was a force at the edge of the line for a dominant Panthers’ defense, notching 64 tackles, including 17 tackles for a loss, and eight sacks. He was named Defensive Player of the Year in the PAL-Ocean.


Josh Powell, Aptos
Position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Junior

The undersized Powell was recognized as a first-team PCAL-Gabilan recipient from his defensive end position, where he causes mayhem with his speed and toughness. He is also a weapon offensively, with over 800 yards and 11 touchdowns from his fullback position.



Paul Matavao Poialii, Jefferson
Position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Senior

The massive interior lineman was named co-MVP of the PAL-Lake, and received rave reviews from all opposing coaches. For the season, he had 30 tackles for a loss, 12 sacks and forced six fumbles.



Robert Brown, Carmel
Position: Defensive Line
Year: Senior

The Defensive Player of the Year in the PCAL-Mission, Brown had 116 tackles and 14 sacks for Carmel, leading a unit that helped carry the Padres to the CCS title game. He is also one of the top players on a strong Carmel basketball team.



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

The Defensive Player of the Year in the Mount Hamilton, Alvarez racked up 15.5 tackles for a loss and eight sacks for the Eagles.



Derrick Smith, Mitty
Position: Linebacker
Year: Junior

The 6-foot-2 first-team All-WCAL selection racked up 90 tackles and an interception for the Monarchs, including a season-high 14 stops against Valley Christian.



John Willard, Sacred Heart Prep
Position: Linebacker
Year: Senior

Named the Utility Player of the Year in the PAL-Bay, Willard gets recognized here as a linebacker, where he had 86 tackles, including 15 in a win over Burlingame, and returned an interception for a score against Menlo. He also scored seven times on offense, and ran for over 600 yards.



Nathan Martorella, Salinas
Position: Linebacker
Year: Senior

The Cal baseball commit had over 80 tackles and 12 sacks for the Cowboys, earning first-team PCAL-Gabilan honors in the process.



Noah Short, King’s Academy
Position: Linebacker
Year: Sophomore

Keep an eye on Short over the next two seasons, after the sophomore racked up 114 tackles, 26 tackles for a loss, and six sacks for the Knights during their run to a CCS title. He was also named first-team PAL-Ocean and scored on both sides of the ball.



Roan Poulivaati, Wilcox
Position: Linebacker
Year: Junior

The highly active leader of a stingy Chargers’ defense, Poulivaati had 108 tackles this year to go with 4.5 sacks. He also served as the team’s punter.



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

Anderson was everywhere for the Condors, finishing the year with a whopping 206 total stops from the secondary, including 13 tackles for a loss, to go with three interceptions and five forced fumbles.



Brandon Lowe, Piedmont Hills
Position: Defensive Back
Year: Senior

Lowe was named Most Outstanding Defensive Back in the Mount Hamilton, after recording seven interceptions to go with 39 tackles. He was also a weapon offensively, with 43 catches for 879 yards and nine scores.



Kyle Rajala, Scotts Valley
Position: Defensive Back
Year: Senior

The 6-foot-2 Rajala was named MVP of the PCAL-Mission and earned Santa Cruz County’s National Football Foundation award. He had seven interceptions as a defensive back, while also playing quarterback and handling all kicking and punting duties for the Falcons.



Justin Sinclair, Saint Francis
Position: Defensive Back
Year: Senior

Sometimes overlooked amid the Lancers’ stingy defense, Sinclair quietly shut down his side of the field all year long. He has begun to receive more attention from the next level, including a preferred walk-on offer from UCLA.



Ulysses Alvarado, Overfelt
Position: Utility
Year: Senior

The co-MVP of the Santa Teresa Division, Alvarado was a force on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he ran for 1,926 yards and 18 touchdowns, while adding three receiving scores. Defensively, he had 107 tackles, including seven tackles for a loss, and three interceptions.



Julian Morin, Carlmont
Position: Utility
Year: Senior

Morin was everywhere for the Scots, and led their Wing-T Offense with 1,636 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. He was also a force in the defensive secondary, with 47 tackles, including six tackles for a loss, and three interceptions.



THIRD TEAM OFFENSE:

QUARTERBACK: Payton Stokes (Saratoga), Jonathan Singleton (Live Oak), Jackson Chryst (Palo Alto), Kai Lee (Carmel)

RUNNING BACK: Dorian Segovia (Alisal), Tim Byrd (Monterey), Isaac Juarez (Lincoln), Michael Graham (Del Mar), Dylan Oliver (Independence), Isaiah McElvane (Valley Christian), Deston Hawkins (Menlo-Atherton), Aiden Chang (Palo Alto), Paul Lautaimi (Aragon), Tyler Hawkins (Willow Glen), Lucas Meredith (Burlingame), Stevan Navarro (San Benito)

WIDE RECEIVER: Paul Thie (Palo Alto), Rashaan Ward (Carmel), Melvon Ballard (Overfelt), Ivan Curiel (Salinas), Micah Olivas (Palma), Terence Loville (Serra), Dante Cacchione (Sacred Heart Prep), Levar Watkins, Jr. (Sacred Heart Cathedral), Marcus Williams (Riordan), Richard Corona (Santa Clara)

TIGHT END: Simon Mapa (Aragon), Nate Winiecki (Leland)

OFFENSIVE LINE: Anthony Cruz (Monta Vista), Matthew Azzopardi (Saint Francis), Jack Dyke (St. Ignatius), Grant Zubick (Carmel), Francisco Sandoval (King City), Jake Davison (Sacred Heart Prep), Daniel Taumalolo (Carlmont), Scott Atkinson (Burlingame), Evan Branch-Haynes (Sacred Heart Cathedral), Justin Scrempos (Milpitas)

UTILITY: Nick Garcia (Santa Clara), Jordan Ausbie (Independence), Noah Cruz-Marquez (Mt. Pleasant), Malakai Rango (Serra), Luke Melcher (Carmel), Josue Torres (Milpitas), Dillon Grady (Menlo), Mark Biggins (St. Ignatius), Carson Yates (Leland), Jared Anderson (Harker)

KICKER: Lucas Ramirez (Valley Christian), Damon Lewis (Serra)



THIRD TEAM DEFENSE:

DEFENSIVE LINE: Josh Gomez (Salinas), Joe Fleming (Christopher), Hollis Ellis (Gunderson), Justin Dewitt (Valley Christian), Aidan Callahan (San Lorenzo Valley), Pablo Villasenor (Gonzales), Will Schweitzer (Los Gatos), Sean Mahoney (Archbishop Mitty)

LINEBACKER: Jose Marin-Melo (Los Altos), Dre Gomez (Aptos), Jonathan Sheets (Ann Sobrato), Camron Grant (Aragon), Tyler McCabe (Saint Francis), Jayden Kuhn (Carlmont), Nick Marquez (Salinas), Kyle Smith (Los Gatos), Siaki Hunkin (St. Ignatius), Luke Splaine (Bellarmine)

DEFENSIVE BACK: Brandon Mailangi (Capuchino), Andrew Seymour (St. Francis-Watsonville), Nick Malvini (Wilcox), Noah Rodriguez (Milpitas), Quincy Robinson (Overfelt), Alex Murray (Stevenson), Mateo Martinez (Palma), Malik Johnson (Menlo-Atherton)



HONORABLE MENTION:

ALISAL: Israel Corona, Alexis Lopez
ALVAREZ: Isiah Sanchez, Jose Lomeli
ANDREW HILL: Miguel Mejia, Zeke Jasso
ANN SOBRATO: Jason Martinez, Jesse Redmond
APTOS: Josh Sousa-Jimenez, Dre Gomez, Silvano Lopez
ARAGON: Liam Laughlin, Kenneth Fehoko
BELLARMINE: Tyson Garcia, Aizon Henry, Hayden Laccabue
BRANHAM: Cameron Rynhard, David Ciprian
BURLINGAME: Curtis Lauti, Chase Funkhouser
CAPUCHINO: Lorenzo Bullock, Akel Jack
CARLMONT: Jonaven Kuhn, Nico Franchi, Ralphie Holmes
CARMEL: Tristan McCallister, Zach DeZee
CHRISTOPHER: Joe Fleming, Tyler Davis, Jason Scirigione
CUPERTINO: Diego Zamora, Joseph Wilson
DEL MAR: Owen Hugill, Felix Jimenez
EL CAMINO: Justin Keegan, Javion Tarusan
EVERGREEN VALLEY: Brian Nemedez, Sergio Gama
FREMONT: Jonathan Soto
GILROY: Salvador Zendejas, Dallas Gutierrez
GONZALES: Raul Morales, Neal Vasquez
GREENFIELD: Jose Hernandez, Jaime Soto
GUNDERSON: Julian Simpson
GUNN: Solomone Paletua
HALF MOON BAY: Tristan Hofmann, Kellan Royce
HARKER: Mitchell Granados, Trevor Thompson
HILLSDALE: Ethan Landry, Alex Totozintle
HOMESTEAD: Aaron Oduor, Jared Wade
INDEPENDENCE: Azirel Fagasau, Jevon Smith
JAMES LICK: Gabriel Salinas
JEFFERSON: Joaquin Alvarez, Henry Tom
KING CITY: Luis Briseno, Alex Villasenor
LEIGH: Niklas Torres-Cooper, Eduardo Alvarez-Delgado
LELAND: Preston Gook, Parker Petersen
LINCOLN: Gabe Florez, Adam Arenas, Jose Martinez
LIVE OAK: Connor Dietz, Richard Cortez, Caleb Ojeda
LOS ALTOS: Ben Parker, Sam Aoki
LOS GATOS: Andrew Korea, Ronny Moore
LYNBROOK: Jay Lee
MARINA: Ernie Guevara, Elijah Norlund
MENLO: Jaden Richardson, Samson Axe
MENLO-ATHERTON: Joe Posthauer
MILLS: Vaenuku Vahai, Tevita Fifita
MILPITAS: JJ Alegria, Israel Gil
MITTY: Davis Salom, Reymello Murphy
MONTA VISTA: Cheeto Vasquez, Tarun Sarang, David Hernandez
MONTE VISTA CHRISITAN: Alec Ramirez, Daniel Brierley, Scott Tinsley
MONTEREY: Darius Garrard, Evans Charles
MOUNTAIN VIEW: Jacob Cortinas, Victor Baird
MT. PLEASANT: Marco Herrera, Joseph Gonzalez
NORTH MONTEREY COUNTY: Brandon Ducusin, Adrian Gomez
NORTH SALINAS: Xavier Barragan, Manuel Carberos
OAK GROVE: Isaiah Fernandez, Elijah Dominguez, Jasiri Harvey
OVERFELT: Niko Iosefa, Ulysses Reyes
PACIFIC GROVE: John Kerick
PAJARO VALLEY: Carlos Hernandez
PALMA: Jon Jon Berring, Matthew Morales
PALO ALTO: Wes Walters, Messi Mahe
PIEDMONT HILLS: Alex Murrell, Caiaphas Ardoin
PIONEER: Edgar Valencia, Devonte Matthew
PROSPECT: Declan Wirnowski
RIORDAN: Ian Tupulua, Dalton Mitchell, Jalen Camp
SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL: Rafael Cervantez, Spencer Goldfein, Lio Mateo
SACRED HEART PREP: Ben Horvath, Tevita Moimoi
SALINAS: Zach Robison, Abraham Hernandez
SAN BENITO: Blaze McShane, Albert Rodriguez, Jon Reyes
SAN JOSE: Lawrence Garza
SAN LORENZO VALLEY: Taj Glasky, Ty Martinez
SAN MATEO: Anthony Villalobos, Sam Kolokihakaufisi
SANTA CLARA: Bailey Mungaray, Alan Tran
SANTA CRUZ: Henry Campion, Ben Williams
SANTA TERESA: Ethan Janto, James Carlton
SARATOGA: Max Muilenburg, George Bian, JJ Wang
SCOTTS VALLEY: Casey Collins, Jordan Smith
SEASIDE: Terrance Hawkins
SEQUOIA: Lio Lauese
SERRA: Nate Sanchez, Vince Campana, Keelan O’Riordan
SILVER CREEK: Alejandro Flores, Nnamdi Obilor, Trey Trim
SOLEDAD: Angel Olivas, Victor Ocampo
SOQUEL: Tanner Jones, Darius Bedford
ST. FRANCIS: James Dinneen, Nick Robinson
ST. FRANCIS-WATSONVILLE: Aaron Soto, Isaac Davila
ST. IGNATIUS: Teddye Buchanan, Lance Sell, Zachary Taylor-Smith
STEVENSON: Dylan Santos, Connor Adams
TERRA NOVA: Gio Fabiani-Wyatt, Milo Greenwood
THE KING'S ACADEMY: Robbie Chatterton
VALLEY CHRISTIAN: Kayne Schmidt, Blake Newquist
WATSONVILLE: Dylan Vargas, Rodrigo Hernandez
WILCOX: Alex Adame, Aaron Ah-Sing
WILLOW GLEN: Stephen Neary, Pau Reed, Jacob Soria
WOODSIDE: Christian Ochoa, Adrian Jimenez
YERBA BUENA: Paul Phravixay, Andrew Isais