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On Thursday, Dec. 27, FrontRowPreps.com announced its inaugural Coaches of the Year, Hilmar's Frank Marques and Denair's Anthony Armas, both whom engineered CIF State championship runs. And now, without further ado, we present the All-Region large- and small-school football teams, a collection of 60 players from throughout the southern half of the Sac-Joaquin Section.
On Saturday, Dec. 29, we'll unveil the Player of the Year.
QB — Jonah Kosakiewicz, Turlock: Named the Central California Athletic League’s inaugural MVP after guiding the Bulldogs to the league title; accumulated 2,400 yards of total offense.
QB — Xavier Rodriguez, Davis: Set single-game and single-season records at Davis and topped the region with 3,518 passing yards and 37 touchdowns against just five interceptions.
RB — Max Moore, Oakdale: A dependable, hard-charging fullback, Moore rushed for 1,200 yards and 24 touchdowns out of the Mustangs’ turbo-charged Wing-T offense.
RB — Trabron Russell, Manteca: Only a junior, Russell rushed for a career-high 1,320 yards and 18 touchdowns in just 10 games, averaging nearly 8 yards per carry.
RB — Dawaiian McNeely, Central Catholic: McNeely was named the Valley Oak League’s co-Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 1,073 yards and 10 touchdowns; his 80-yard touchdown run triggered the Raiders’ come-from-behind victory over Inderkum in the playoffs.
OL — Jackson Betz, Downey: The 6-foot-4 center anchored the Knights’ offensive line and is fielding Division I offers for his ability to run and pass block.
OL — Chris Mendoza, Central Catholic: The two-way starter was named the Valley Oak League MVP; helped pave the way for two all-VOL running backs.
OL — Eric Soares, Central Catholic: After transferring from Modesto High, Soares is the only offensive lineman in the region to be named to the all-Modesto Metro Conference and all-VOL first teams.
OL — Clifford Johnson, Merced: The Central California Conference’s Offensive Lineman of the Year was the unsung hero in the Bears’ explosive offense; a third-year starter whose absence was felt in Merced’s playoff loss.
OL — Michael Jeffus, Turlock: The 6-foot guard was named the CCAL’s Offensive Lineman of the Year, and he was a big reason the Bulldogs amassed nearly 5,000 yards of total offense.
OL — Everett Johnson, Turlock: The 6-foot-8 left tackle has verbally committed to Cal and it’s no wonder why major Division I coaches drool over his game film. Johnson is athletic and aggressive, and he embraces the physical demands of the position.
OL — Eric DeGraff, Oakdale: DeGraff was named to the all-VOL first team and helped pave running lanes for Moore, talented sophomore Zeke Saffar and a host of other Mustang running backs.
WR — Xaver Stewart, Merced: The CCC’s Best Offensive Player had at least one touchdown reception in every game and finished with 843 receiving yards and 14 scores.
WR — Anderson Grover, Downey: Grover was named the CCAL’s Outstanding Offensive Player after reeling in 74 receptions for 1,164 yards and 15 touchdowns.
WR — Jacob DeJesus, Manteca: Only 5-foot-6, DeJesus embodies the motto, “Heart over height.” He was named the VOL’s co-Offensive Player of the Year after racking 843 receiving yards, 542 rushing yards and 20 total TDs.
ALL-PURPOSE — Payton Bass, Pitman: The CCAL’s co-Outstanding Back was a threat in all three phases, but proved nearly unstoppable as a sure-handed running back. Bass had 936 rushing yards and 535 receiving yards.
DL — Boss Foumai, Patterson: Only a sophomore, Foumai was named the Central California Conference’s top defensive lineman. He starred on both sides of the ball for the Tigers, along with brother Logan Foumai.
DL — Tamirr Bullock, Turlock: The CCAL’s top defensive lineman, as voted upon by the coaches, Bullock finished with 30 tackles, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
DL — Garrett Fountain, Turlock: Already committed to San Diego State, the 6-foot-4, 215-pounder was named the Central California Athletic League’s Defensive Player of the Year after racking up 53.5 tackles. He also accounted for five turnovers, including two interceptions.
DL — Caleb Kuppens, Oakdale: Kuppens was named the Valley Oak League’s Utility Player of the Year for his speed and tenacity out of the backfield as a running back and off the edge, where he terrorized QBs as a defensive end.
LB — Jayden Jackson, Turlock: The CCAL’s co-Outstanding Linebacker had 43 tackles and a 17-yard pick-six interception return for the region’s top defense.
LB — Matt Robinson, Pitman: The 6-foot, 185-pound inside linebacker earned a share of the CCAL’s Outstanding Linebacker award after starring for a defense that gave up just 55 points in its first four league games.
LB — D'Angelo Bellamy, Central Catholic: A two-way player, Bellamy delivered punishing blows from the fullback and inside linebacker positions. He tied for the team lead with 67 tackles. Also had three sacks en route to all-VOL first team honors.
LB — Junior Bravo, Central Catholic: Bravo was named the VOL’s Outstanding Defensive Player from his middle linebacker spot. He finished with 54 tackles.
DB — Trey Longstreth, Gregori: Longstreth was named the CCAL’s co-Outstanding Offensive Back/Receiver, Special Teams Player of the Year and appeared on the first team as a wide receiver and defensive back.
DB — Youlas Dickson, Buhach Colony: A game-changing talent, Dickson had four interceptions, 12 total touchdowns, and 785 yards of total offense. He was also a threat on special teams, especially on kick returns.
DB — Adrian Cuevas, Central Catholic: The hard-hitting, all-conference safety tied for the team lead with 67 tackles. He also had one interception and forced a fumble.
DB — Dhameer Warren, Merced: The Central California Conference MVP did it all for the Bears, including rove the secondary. Warren, who is fielding interest from Arizona, had three interceptions, to go along with 1,559 yards of total offense.
DB — Sithri Price, Central Catholic: Price’s hands saved the Raiders on both sides of the ball. The all-VOL first-team selection led Central Catholic with five interceptions, 530 receiving yards and nine TDs.
K — Adrian Melesio, Patterson: In a region rich with kicking talent, Melesio was the most productive. He connected on 11 of his 15 field goal attempts, including a school-record 54-yard boot against Modesto.
QB — Jacob Bettencourt, Orestimba: Bettencourt led all small-school quarterbacks with 2,957 yards and 31 touchdowns. An unheralded runner, Bettencourt also led the Warriors with eight rushing scores.
QB — Ryan Daggett, Ripon: The Trans-Valley League’s Outstanding Offensive Player completed 67 percent of his passes for 1,127 yards and 13 touchdowns, and then gutted defenses with his feet. He rushed for a team-high 743 yards and 11 TDs.
QB — Michael Vivo, Waterford: Vivo was a one-man wrecking crew, decimating defenses and destroying dreams. He passed for nearly 2,000 yards, connecting on 21 touchdowns, and led the Wildcats with 1,120 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.
RB — Javyn Drobnick, Big Valley Christian: Drobnick led the region in rushing with 2,211 yards, joining an elite class that stretches back through the decades. Drobnick is the 16th member of the 2,000-yard club and will have one more season to take aim at the single-season rushing record (2,851) set by Oakdale’s Will Semone.
RB — Isaac Sharp, Hilmar: The TVL’s Outstanding Offensive Back totaled 2,105 yards of offense, including 1,687 on the ground, and 32 touchdowns. He topped 100 yards eight times with a season-high 222 against Sonora.
RB — Michael Kamps, Ripon Christian: Kamps rushed for 1,632 yards and 36 total touchdowns, carrying the Knights to a Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI finals appearance. Kamps, who also had 429 receiving yards, shared the SL’s Offensive Player of the Year award.
OL — Wyatt Van Vliet, Ripon Christian: A two-way starter, Van Vliet was named to the all-Southern League team as an offensive lineman. Defensively, he also had 113 tackles, second only to Dale Fisher (136).
OL — Landon Wright, Modesto Christian: The 6-foot-2, 280-pound senior gave the Crusaders’ offensive and defensive lines some nastiness, coach Mike Parsons said. Wright was an all-TVL first team selection at both positions.
OL — Damien Tom, Escalon: The 6-foot-2, 235-pound tackle was named the Southern League’s Outstanding Offensive Lineman and will be charged with protecting promising sophomore quarterback Ty Harris next fall.
OL — Carlo Morales, Denair: The Southern League’s Offensive Lineman of the Year, Morales helped pave the way for one of the southern section’s top ground attacks.
OL — Nick Aguilera, Hilmar: The 6-foot-2, 250-pound senior cleared the way for a devastating lightning-and-thunder running back tandem in Sharp (lightning) and Justin Rentfro (thunder).
WR — Tyler Vargas, Orestimba: Vargas led the Sac-Joaquin Section in receiving yards with 1,458 yards on 87 receptions. He also had 20 touchdowns and earned a share of the Southern League’s co-Offensive Player of the Year award.
WR — Evan Bearden, Sonora: Despite a nagging foot injury that hampered him at the start, Bearden’s return coincided with the Wildcats’ dramatic turnaround. Bearden, who has committed to UC Davis, was named league MVP as Sonora captured its fifth straight Mother Lode League title.
WR — Ricardo Ramirez, Waterford: Vivo’s top target, Ramirez finished with 931 yards and 12 touchdowns, including a 99-yard scoring reception. He averaged 22.2 yards per catch. Defensively, Ramirez also had 68 tackles and five interceptions.
ALL-PURPOSE — Steffin Winston, Denair: An all-Southern League performer, Winston was the Coyotes’ top rusher and an impact player on the defensive side of the ball. He rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns in the CIF State Division VII-AA Bowl.
DL — Xavier Carlton, Modesto Christian: The TVL’s Outstanding Defensive Lineman had 81 tackles, 6.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries. Carlton also made one of the season’s biggest catches — a game-winning snag between two Escalon defenders … from his back.
DL — Drew Van Vliet, Ripon Christian: The Southern League MVP was a force to be reckoned with in the trenches, amassing 103 tackles, including 29.5 for a loss, and 11 sacks for one of the section’s top scoring defenses.
DL — Jacob Walden, Escalon: The TVL’s Outstanding Defensive Player finished with 67 tackles, three fumble recoveries and a team-high 13 sacks.
DL — Declan Van Vuren, Ripon Christian: Van Vuren led the Knights’ attack-minded defense with 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. He also had 78 tackles.
LB — Ryan Leonard, Mariposa: Leonard averaged 16.3 tackles per game and finished third in the section with 147 stops, despite only playing nine games. In three varsity seasons, the SL’s Defensive Player of the Year never had fewer than 124 tackles.
LB — Grant Wiebe, Ripon: Wiebe was the Indians’ top defender, recording 103 tackles and a team-best 9.5 sacks. He also forced two fumbles.
LB — Nash Satnat, Escalon: Satnat paced the Cougars with 92 tackles, including 60 solo stops, en route to a share of the TVL’s Outstanding Linebacker honor.
LB — Isaac Schinmann, Modesto Christian: His value to a team isn’t defined by statistics. Without a doubt one of the toughest players in the southern half of the section, Schinmann had 49 tackles, two interceptions, 1,061 yards of total offense and 10 touchdowns.
LB — Justin Rentfro, Hilmar: The TVL’s co-Outstanding Linebacker hit so hard that he bent his facemask making a tackle in the CIF State Division VI-AA Bowl. A two-way talent, Rentfro averaged nearly as many tackles per game (8.7) and he did yards per carry (9.5).
DB — Sean McGovern, Ripon Christian: McGovern shined in the secondary for the Knights, finishing with 107 tackles, four interceptions and five fumble recoveries. He returned three of those fumbles for scores.
DB — Jose Hernandez, Modesto Christian: Hernandez (46 tackles, two interceptions) captained one of the top scoring defenses in the section from his safety position and was named the TVL’s Outstanding Defensive Back. Suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Division VI quarterfinal, leaving the Crusaders without a two-way catalyst.
DB — Bryan Wynne, Sonora: The all-Mother Lode League first-team selection rounded out his prep career with 52 tackles and a region-best six interceptions.
DB — Kaden Christensen, Escalon: The do-it-all junior led the Cougars in rushing (810) and all-purpose yards (1,351), yet the all-TVL performer still had enough energy and wind to anchor the secondary. His four interceptions were also tops on the team.
DB — Nico Ilardi, Ripon: An all-TVL first-team selection as a defensive back and punter, Ilardi, Ripon’s jack of all trades, had two interceptions and 30 tackles.
K — Bryan Millan, Hilmar: A converted soccer player, Millan converted 72 extra-point kicks and five of his seven field goal attempts. He also led the Yellowjackets in receiving with 469 yards and totaled 13 touchdowns.
Follow James Burns on Twitter @jburns1980, or email him at frontrowpreps@gmail.com.
