Two players from cross-town rival schools share the Utility Player of the Year award on the All-Valley Oak League team.
East Union junior Jack Weaver was recognized for his work as the Lancers’ quarterback, safety, punter and placekicker. Manteca senior receiver/cornerback Ronaldo Tijero is the other utility standout, as he was named to the all-VOL second team offense and defense.
All-league spots were otherwise dominated by the top two teams. First-place Central Catholic (7-0 VOL, 14-0), which competes in the CIF Regional Open Small Schools Division Bowl Game today, captured two major awards and eight first-team spots. Runner-up Oakdale (6-1, 12-2) has nine first-team selections — with one player getting the nod for both offense and defense — to go with one major-award winner.
Weaver threw for 1,855 yards and 17 touchdowns against six interceptions in his second varsity campaign. He was also the second-leading rusher for the Lancers (0-7, 3-7) with 243 yards and seven touchdowns and converted 21 of 26 point-after kick attempts. Weaver was named to the all-league second team.
Tijero, a first-team defensive player as a junior, paced Manteca (5-2, 9-3) with 708 yards and seven touchdowns on 40 receptions on the offensive end. He totaled a team-high 10 touchdowns, with two coming on interception returns and another on a punt return.
Fifth-place Sierra (3-4, 8-5) had the most first-team selections among the five Manteca Unified schools with three: running back Mark Paule Jr. (1,238 yards, 13 touchdowns), wide receiver Daniel Wyatt (60 receptions, 830 yards, five touchdowns) and 6-foot-6, 345-pound offensive tackle Josh Fala. The Timberwolves head to Yuba City tonight to face Sutter in the NorCal Division IV-A Bowl Game.
Manteca and Lathrop (4-3, 6-5) each had two first-team defenders. Manteca is represented by senior safety Marcus Rivas and sophomore inside linebacker Ferrin Manuleleua. Lineman Rob Luckett and cornerback Brian Terrell were the picks from Lathrop.
Two-way standout Erron Duncan of Weston Ranch (2-5, 5-5) was voted onto the first-team offense and defense. Oakdale lineman Louis Marsella is only player in the league to have that distinction. Duncan rushed for 1,084 yards and nine touchdowns and had 325 yards and two scores receiving. Defensively at cornerback he finished with 31 tackles, one interception and five pass deflections.
Manteca-area players named to the second team were:
 Manteca: offensive linemen Francisco Cebreros and Kyle Reis, outside linebacker Devyn Gonzales, defensive linemen Justin Kakala and Daniel Brand and cornerback Damon Lynch.
Sierra: inside linebacker Nashon Tamiano and defensive end Andrew Guevara.
Lathrop: offensive linemen Jared Atkins and Elijah Hunter, inside linebacker Jacob Devita and outside linebacker Tremayne Willis.
 Weston Ranch: inside linebacker Alonzo Gaxola, defensive lineman Andrew Farley and defensive back Cinque Benn.
Fresno State-bound Central Catholic running back Justin Rice (2,157 yards, 25 touchdowns) is the VOL’s Most Valuable Player. Oakdale fullback Brad Aquino earned Outstanding Offensive Player, and Central Catholic inside linebacker Kekupaa Freehauf (139 tackles) is the Outstanding Defensive Player. Oakdale’s Trent Merzon and Roger Canepa of Central Catholic are co-Coaches of the Year.