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Football 2019: Meet All-Bay Area Preps HQ defensive team

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Special honors

Player of the year: Shamar Garrett, De La Salle | story

Offensive player of the year: Jerry Johnson, Pittsburg | story

Defensive player of the year: Nusi Malani, Serra | story

Coach of the year: Patrick Walsh, Serra | @coachwalsh20 | Despite losing his star quarterback before the two most crucial regular-season games of the season, led the Padres to a share of the West Catholic Athletic League championship, plus Central Coast Section Division I and Northern California Division 1-A crowns. Won 13 games for the second time in program history, matching the 2017 team that celebrated a state title. Played in a state final for the third time in four seasons, nearly rallying from a three-touchdown deficit in the last five minutes of the title game against Corona del Mar before falling 35-27.

First team

Defensive line: Kavika Baumgartner, Clayton Valley Charter, 6-2, 270, senior

@KavikaB05

Received first-team honors in the East Bay Athletic League’s Mountain Division. Finished with 69 tackles, including eight behind the line of scrimmage. Helped the Ugly Eagles hold Aquinas of San Bernardino to one score in the Division 2-AA state championship game, which CVC won 10-7.

Defensive line: Wyatt Crespi, De La Salle, 6-2, 240, senior

@W_C_Crespi

First-team all-East Bay Athletic League Mountain Division selection. Helped lead a defense that allowed 14 points or fewer in 10 of 14 games, including three shutouts. Will be a preferred walk-on at Wake Forest.

Defensive line: Nusi Malani, Serra, 6-6, 250, senior

@JuiceNus

Bay Area Preps HQ defensive player of the year. Helped the Padres to league, section and regional championships as a force at defensive end. West Catholic Athletic League’s defensive lineman of the year. Had nine tackles, including one for loss, in a CCS semifinal victory over Wilcox.

Defensive line: Jamar Sekona, Marin Catholic, 6-4, 295, senior

@JamarSekona

Lineman of the Year in the Marin County Athletic League. Finished with 82 tackles and 10 sacks. Rated the No. 43 senior in California by 247Sports.com, the three-star recruit is headed to USC, where he is expected to play defensive tackle.

Linebacker: Rocky Aven, Clayton Valley Charter, 6-0, 195, senior

@AvenRocky

First-team All-East Bay Athletic League Mountain Division selection. Helped lead the Ugly Eagles to Northern California and state championships. Finished with a team-best 105 tackles, including five for loss.

Linebacker: William Cuddie, Valley Christian, 5-7, 170, sophomore

@CuddieWilliam

Inside linebacker of the year in the West Catholic Athletic League. Led Valley Christian in tackles by a wide margin, finishing with 116, including 18.5 behind the line of scrimmage. Had 7.5 sacks.

Linebacker: Mason Mastrov, Campolindo, 6-4, 210, senior

@masonmastrov

Most valuable defensive player in the Diablo Athletic League’s Foothill Division. Bound for SMU. Helped lead Campolindo to a share of the league championship and to the North Coast Section Division II final.

Linebacker: Noah Short, The King’s Academy, 6-0, 180, junior

@TKA_Athletics

Defensive player of the year in the Peninsula Athletic League’s Bay Division. Finished with 160 tackles — 17 for loss — as TKA won a CCS championship and played in a regional game.

Defensive back: Kavir Bains, Valley Christian, 5-9, 171, senior

@kbains23

Co-defensive back of the year in the West Catholic Athletic League. Led team with four interceptions. Fourth on the team with 63 tackles. All-around athlete who caught seven passes and had 209 yards in punt returns. Has committed to UC Davis.

Defensive back: Dejuan Butler, Antioch, 5-11, 180, senior

@DejuanKb21

Named defensive player of the year in the Bay Valley Athletic League despite Antioch’s 2-8 record. Four-year varsity player who basically took away one side of the field because opposing quarterbacks were afraid to throw against him. Rushed for 380 yards and six touchdowns. Three-star recruit who picked Cal over UCLA. Likely to play cornerback.

Defensive back: Jackson Lataimua, Serra, 6-2, 200, senior

@Lataimua32

Shared co-defensive back of the year honors with Kavir Bains in the WCAL. Played strong safety and also used some at running back. Was second-team all-WCAL as a junior. Will continue career at Washington State.

Defensive back: Edward Woods, McClymonds, 6-0, 175, senior

@edwardwoods_

Most Valuable Player of the Oakland Athletic League. Had four interceptions, including a pick-six. Dangerous return man who took back three punts and a kickoff for touchdowns. Had offers from Arizona, USC and Washington State before signing with Arizona State.

 All-purpose: Justin Anderson, Menlo-Atherton, 6-1, 180, senior 

@JustinA38602092

Utility player of the year in the Bay Division of the Peninsula Athletic League. Played wide receiver and cornerback, returned punts and kickoffs, and even had four rushing attempts. Caught 29 passes for 462 yards and four TDs, and had a rushing touchdown. Three-star prospect had four Power 5 offers. Chose Washington State. He’s expected to play cornerback in college.

All-purpose: Nate Rutchena, Monte Vista, 6-3, 200, senior

@nate_rutchena

Co-player of the year in the East Bay Athletic League’s Mountain Division. Great two-way star as a linebacker and receiver. Bound for Cal. Finished with 105 tackles — 10 for loss — and also caught 53 passes for 709 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Second team

Defensive line: Akili Calhoun, Liberty, 6-4, 250, junior

@AkiliCalhoun

Unanimous first-team All-Bay Valley Athletic League selection. Overcame an early-season injury to help lead the Lions to the semifinals of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs. Had two sacks in overtime loss to Pittsburg in October. Three-star prospect has offers from five Pac-12 schools, including Cal.

Defensive line: Marcellus Eison, Serra, 6-0, 260, senior

@marcellus_eison

First-team All-West Catholic Athletic League selection helped propel the Padres to the CIF Division 1-A state championship game. Had 10 tackles — six solo — in an early-season win over Menlo-Atherton and five tackles in a 27-14 section playoff win over Wilcox.

Defensive line: Ronny Moore, Los Gatos, 6-3, 215, senior

@Moore70Ronny

Received first-team All-SCVAL De Anza Division honors as Los Gatos won the CCS Division II championship and played in its first NorCal regional game. Finished with 87 tackles, 24 hurries and three sacks.

Defensive line: James Willoughby, McClymonds, 6-4, 240, senior

@BrodyForgot51

Was a tough matchup at defensive end for the Oakland Athletic League power. Helped lead Mack to league and regional crowns. Was a major cog on a defense that allowed fewer than 100 points on the season as Mack finished 11-1 and reached the Division 2-A state championship game.

Linebacker: Anthony Madrigal, Valley Christian, 5-11, 220, senior

@MadrigalAnt04

Outside linebacker of the year in the West Catholic Athletic League. Finished with 72 tackles, including 22.5 behind the line of scrimmage, for a team that allowed just 82 points. Had a team-leading 10.5 sacks.

Linebacker: Jezaiah Naigulevu, Encinal, 6-1, 225, senior

@YayaNaigulevu

West Alameda County Conference Foothill League defensive player of the year. Led a unit that shut out six opponents and won league and section championships.

Linebacker: Mason Padilla, Liberty, 6-0, 210, senior

@masonpadilla95

Unanimous first-team All-Bay Valley Athletic League selection. Credited with 70 tackles, including eight for loss. Had 16 tackles in a 28-27 overtime win against Clayton Valley Charter.

LInebacker: Connor Shay, Monte Vista, 6-2, 210, senior

@_Connor_Shay

Named to the East Bay Athletic League Mountain Division’s first team. Averaged 11.2 tackles per game, finishing the season with 134, including seven for loss.

Defensive back: Aaron Ah Sing, Wilcox, 5-11, 168, senior

@aaron_ahsing

First-team defensive back in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League’s De Anza Division. Ah Sing led the Chargers with four interceptions. Also played a key role on the offense, catching 20 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns, and scoring three TDs on the ground.

Defensive back: Kevin Cullen, Palo Alto, 6-0, 190, senior

@KevinCullen43

Most Valuable Player on defense in the De Anza Division of the SCVAL. Led team with 59 tackles and four interceptions. Also served as a backup quarterback for the 7-5 Vikings, completing 24 of 34 passes for 338 yards and five TDs. Had a 129.7 quarterback rating. San Diego, Puget Sound among schools that have offered.

Defensive back: Isaiah Dwelle, Milpitas, 6-2, 185, senior

@DwelleIsaiah

First-team cornerback on the SCVAL De Anza Division team. Had three interceptions and 37 tackles, 30 of them solo stops. Was one of the leading receivers for the Division 5-A state champs, catching 20 passes, two for touchdowns. Averaged over 10 yards per catch. Has offer from Whittier College.

Defensive back: Deven Vanderbilt, Valley Christian, 5-11, 162, senior

@devenvandy

Made West Catholic Athletic League all-league team at defensive back and wide receiver. Cornerback had 26 tackles and one interception. Has offers from BYU and Wyoming.

All-purpose: Tevita Moimoi, Sacred Heart Prep, 6-0, 205, senior

@moimoi_tevita

Co-Most Valuable Player in the Peninsula Athletic League’s Bay Division. Also selected to the first team at running back. Rushed for 1,013 yards and 17 touchdowns. Caught 11 passes for 148 yards. Was second on the team with 91 tackles, playing linebacker. Had two sacks. Has offers from Air Force, Harvard and Columbia. Listed as an athlete by 247sports.com, but likely college position is linebacker.

All-purpose: Peter Montini, Foothill, 5-11, 220, senior

@MontiniPeter

Was a first-team member of the East Bay Athletic League’s Mountain Division for the second year in a row at wide receiver. Accounted for 1,400 yards and 22 touchdowns for a Foothill team that went 6-6. A tough defender who will play linebacker in college. Three-star recruit headed to Nevada.

Third team

Defensive line: Dan Boyle, Cardinal Newman, 5-9, 185, senior

@CNHighSchool

Co-lineman of the year in the North Bay League’s Oak Division. Helped the Cardinals win league, section, regional and state championships. Five of his 33 tackles were behind the line of scrimmage.

Defensive line: Tyler Morano, Granada, 6-6, 255, senior

@tymorano99

First-team All-East Bay Athletic League Valley Division pick for a team that in its final two games, wins over rival Livermore and Dougherty Valley, allowed 19 total points. Has offers from Yale, Columbia and Cornell, according to 247Sports.com.

Defensive line: Afa Sanft, St. Francis, 6-0, 310, senior

@AfaSanft

First-team All-West Catholic Athletic League pick. Finished with 41 tackles, six for loss, as the Lancers qualified for the CCS Division I playoffs. Had eight tackles and 2.5 sacks in a win over rival Bellarmine.

Defensive line: Princeton Toki, Salesian, 5-11, 330, senior

@PrincetonToki

First-team All-Tri-County Athletic League Rock Division selection. Was a dominant presence in the trenches for a team that followed up victories in section and regional title games with a triumph in the Division 6-A state championship. Will play at UC Davis.

Linebacker: Osaro Aihie, San Leandro, 5-11, 222, senior

@OsaroAihie8

First-team All-West Alameda County Conference selection in the Foothill Division at running back and linebacker. Led the 6-4 Pirates in rushing with 784 yards and 10 TDs, receiving with 18 catches for 290 yards, and tackles with 59 (all stats through nine games). Has wide array of college offers including Air Force, Navy and Dartmouth

Linebacker: Moon Ashby, Valley Christian, 6-4, 200, senior

@bossupmoon

Three-star prospect signed with Washington State. First-team All-West Catholic Athletic League selection. Had 71 tackles, including 10 for loss, on a defense that was among the best in Northern California.

Linebacker: Will Schweitzer, Los Gatos, 6-4, 210, junior

@WillSchweitzer2

Three-star prospect with six Power 5 offers, including four from Pac-12 schools. First-team All-SCVAL De Anza Division selection. Had 130 tackles, nine for loss.

Linebacker: Noah Thomas, San Ramon Valley, 6-1, 215, senior

@The_Noah_Thomas

First-team All-East Bay Athletic League Mountain Division pick. Helped lead the Wolves to a seven-win season and berth in the NCS Division I playoffs.

Defensive back: Gaven Cooke, Marin Catholic, 5-11, 165, senior

@gavencooke

All-Marin County Athletic League first team at defensive back. Starred on a defense that allowed only 69 points during an 11-2 season. Listed as an athlete by 247sports.com.

Defensive back: Dillon Leao, Clayton Valley Charter, 5-11, 156, senior

@cv_football

First-team all-East Bay Athletic League defensive back in the Mountain Division. Only Mountain DB placed on the first team by the division coaches. Had 44 tackles and blocked two field-goal attempts.

Defensive back: Connor Quosig, Half Moon Bay, 5-7, 150, junior

@HMBHSAthletics

Earned first-team all-Peninsula Athletic League in the Ocean Division. Had two interceptions. Dangerous player on offense, scoring eight touchdowns in nine games, mostly running the ball.

Defensive back: Montrell Smith, McClymonds, 5-8, 185, senior

@D1bound_trell2x

First-team all-Oakland Athletic League defensive back. Two-way starter who played running back on offense. McClymonds finished season 11-1 and defense allowed only 97 points all season.

All-purpose: Lu Magia Hearns, De La Salle, 5-10, 160, junior

@Hearns_21

First team All-East Bay Athletic League Mountain Division at defensive back. Caught 27 passes for 432 yards and four touchdowns. On defense, broke up 11 passes and had three interceptions. Against Pittsburg in the North Coast Section championship game, caught a touchdown pass, then on the subsequent series took an interception to the house for six more.

All-purpose: Shane Moran, Cardinal Newman, 5-10, 185, junior

@CNHighSchool

Co-defensive player of the year in the North Bay League’s Oak Division. Second on the team with 108 tackles, 12 for a loss, and a pair of sacks. Intercepted two passes and took one back to the house, plus blocked two kicks. Led the state champion on the ground with 750 yards and 12 TDs, including seven in the postseason. Added 30 catches for 318 yards and another score.

Honorable mention

Defensive line

Jacques Allard, Archbishop Mitty, senior

Evan Branch-Haynes, Sacred Heart Cathedral, junior

Peyton Borrelli, Liberty, senior

Joseph Carrillo, Acalanes, junior

Aaron Coll, California, senior

Ian Dong, Cupertino, senior

Cade Duncan, Half Moon Bay, senior

Joe Fleming, Christopher, senior

Malik Jackson, Silver Creek, senior

Soane Kolokihakaufisi, San Mateo, junior

Elijah Lash, Las Lomas, senior

Brandon Manty, Campolindo, senior

Oscar Mayorga, Windsor, senior

Marcus Mifsud, Bellarmine, senior

Dairyus McNorton, Benicia, senior

Seta Netane, St. Ignatius, junior

Josh Nisa, San Leandro, sophomore

Julian Pell, Windsor, junior

Brian Peeso, Livermore, senior

Josh Powell, Aptos, senior

Jack Ryan, Leland, sophomore

Clayton Seastrand, De La Salle, senior

Chad Tasi, De La Salle, junior

Jermaine Terry, JFK-Richmond, junior

Solomon Thomas, Moreau Catholic, senior

Alfred Ugaitafa Jr., Jefferson, senior

Spencer Unga, San Mateo, senior

Christian Van Stralen, Menlo-Atherton, senior

Colton Vardell, Bishop O’Dowd, senior

Jailen Weaver, Antioch, junior

Logan Wiemann, Live Oak, junior

Miles Wycoff, Cardinal Newman, senior

Linebacker

Ryan Dolan, Marin Catholic, senior

Brent Eastman, Palma, senior

Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Moreau Catholic, junior

Jayden Fulsom, Oak Grove, senior

Giovanni Ghilotti, Marin Catholic, senior

Matthew Hallgrimson, Amador Valley, junior

Jared Kennedy, Pioneer, senior

Andrew Korea, Los Gatos, senior

Jeremiah Lacson, Silver Creek, sophomore

Elijah Lawson, Stellar Prep, senior

Zach Lewman, The King’s Academy, senior

Max Masajla, Foothill, senior

Henry Minturn, Redwood, senior

Vincent Nunley, Encinal, junior

Mike O’Donnell, Acalanes, senior

Spencer Oxe, Amador Valley, junior

Kevin Pelaez, San Mateo, senior

Semaj Sims, McClymonds, senior

Roan Soulivaati, Wilcox, senior

Domonic Spivey, Benicia, sophomore

Kareem Sullivan, Salesian, senior

Tommy Thrasher, Acalanes, senior

Raider Vreonis, Antioch, senior

Jared Wade, Homestead, senior

Defensive back

Aisosa Amas, Silver Creek, sophomore

JT Amaral, Palma, junior

Everett Banks, Sacred Heart Prep, senior

Andrew Bice, Mountain View, senior

Joe Celentano, St. Ignatius, senior

Tyler Chaffin-Price, Saratoga, junior

JJ Chin, Salinas, senior

Nick Costello, Dublin, senior

Jayden Davis, Bishop O’Dowd, senior

Nicholas Enriquez, Alisal, senior

Aizon Henry, Bellarmine, senior

Josh Heverly, Amador Valley, junior

Javonte Jackson, Oak Grove, senior

Jaylen Johnson, California School for the Deaf, junior

Jeremiah Johnson, Las Lomas, senior

Jered Kenny, San Ramon Valley, senior

Axel Lara, Tamalpais, junior

Carson Ledesma, Branham, junior

Tyler Lepolo, Freedom, junior

Kylen Liu, Gunn, senior

Christian Luciano, Monte Vista, senior

Alan Lloyd, Ygnacio Valley, senior

Justin Lynch, Dublin, senior

Joe Pilawski, St. Francis, senior

Jared Quandt, Los Gatos, senior

Noah Rivas, Monte Vista, senior

Caden Royere, Las Lomas, senior

Case Smith, Salinas, senior

Jayden Stanley, Menlo-Atherton, junior

Zach Tabangcura, Archbishop Mitty, junior

Nolan Tarzon, Sequoia, senior

Will Uhrich, Burlingame, sophomore

Jaysn Wade, Antioch, senior

Malachi Ward, Bishop O’Dowd, senior

How choices were made

The players were chosen by the Bay Area Preps HQ staff.