2013 MANTECA BULLETIN ALL-AREA FOOTBALL TEAM
Offensive Player of the Year
QB Jake Pruitt (6-3, 195), Sierra senior: Sierra coaches took advantage of their quarterback’s intelligence, accurate arm and talented receivers to produce the greatest single-season effort from a passing attack in the area. Pruitt completed 249 of 360 passes (69.2 percent) while accumulating 3,260 yards and 38 touchdowns — all program and city records. He threw for 400-plus yards three times, and at least five touchdowns on four occasions. Pruitt was named the VOL’s Outstanding Offensive Player.
Defensive Player of the Year
ILB Michael Morris (5-10, 225), Ripon senior: This hard-hitting, third-year varsity player led area defenders with 154 tackles (11.8 per game). Morris racked up a season-high 16 tackles in the Indians’ SJS Division IV semifinal defeat to Central Catholic, which went on to earn a second straight CIF title. He was more than just a tackling machine, however, proving to be a defensive playmaker with 10 sacks, four caused fumbles and an interception. Morris also helped power the offense as a fullback (675 yards, 11 TDs).
Lineman of the Year
LT/DL Isaac McClain (6-3, 291), Manteca senior: All-Area Co-MVP Billy Sharmoug and McClain were a force on the left side of the Buffaloes’ mighty offensive line for three seasons. It is perhaps the most dominant tandem of linemen the city has ever had. On top of paving the way for RB Alex Laurel’s record-breaking season, McClain collected 40 tackles (10 for losses) and blocked two kicks on defense. He and Sharmoug are the only players to get All-VOL first-team nods for offense and defense.
Utility Player of the Year
RB/OLB/KR Michael Ysit (5-9, 175), Ripon senior: The Manteca area had three electric all-purpose backs, and through the first half of the season it was Ysit leading the charge. The TVL’s Outstanding Offensive Back finished with 1,525 rushing yards at a whopping 15.1-per-carry clip. He was also the Indians’ second-leading receiver with 396 yards on 26 catches. Ysit totaled 27 touchdowns — 21 rushing, four receiving and two more on special teams returns. On defense, he tallied 65 tackles and nine sacks.
OFFENSE
QB Joe Menzel (6-2, 195), Manteca senior: After setting single-season records at East Union as a sophomore, Menzel left his mark at Manteca with 136 completions and 26 TDs, both program highs.
RB Andrew Brown (5-9, 175), Ripon Christian senior: Rushed for a section-high 2,781 yards, had 658 more as a receiver and totaled 55 touchdowns en route to becoming the SJS’s career TD leader.
WR Bradley Clark (5-7, 155), Ripon senior: There was no drop-off in production despite a change of quarterbacks, as Clark caught 45 passes for 701 yards and eight touchdowns.
WR Bryson Sanders (6-2, 190), Sierra senior: Pruitt’s go-to target on short- and intermediate-yardage situations set a new program record with 71 receptions to go with 717 yards and six TDs.
WR Lucas Widmer (6-3, 185), Sierra senior: A track athlete in the spring, Widmer was Sierra’s big-play standout whose 1,012 yards and 12 touchdowns are new school records.
OL Adam Bettencourt (6-0, 250), Sierra senior: Bettencourt showed versatility in his third varsity season, starting out at center before injuries forced a move to right tackle and right guard.
OL Eric Broker (6-1, 215), Ripon Christian senior: Three-year varsity player earned All-SL first-team honors after anchoring one of the section’s top small-school offenses from left tackle.
OL Joe Eavenson (6-5, 312), Manteca senior: While the left side of Manteca’s line received much of the attention, the offense was able to move just as effectively behind the biggest of the Buffaloes.
OL Valenti Saavedra (5-10, 228), Manteca senior: Flanked by giants, but the smallest member of the Buffaloes’ offensive line called the shots from center and was named to the All-VOL first team.
OL Robert Taylor (6-1, 210), Ripon junior: Helped Ripon average 289.6 rushing yards while protecting sophomore QB Nick Price, a fellow All-TVL first-teamer.
TE/P Michael Hatfield (6-4, 212), Manteca senior: Hatfield had his best moments as a pass catcher earlier in the season but remained effective as a blocker while averaging 49 yards per punt in the playoffs.
K Marcus Montano (6-1, 177), Manteca junior: After missing three PATs (two blocked) in Week 0, Montano converted his next 85 tries; only made one FG on two attempts, but 61 of 108 kickoffs were touchbacks.
DEFENSE
DL Kody Day (6-2, 225), Ripon senior: TVL’s Outstanding Defensive Lineman was arguably the area’s most disruptive player at his position; rung up 11 sacks while causing nine fumbles.
DL Will Kamps (6-0, 190), Ripon Christian sophomore: The scrappy Kamps set the bar high for himself as just a sophomore, as compiled 90 tackles (23 for losses) and a new team record 20.5 sacks.
DL Steven Martinez (5-9, 254), Manteca junior: Manteca was stout on the D-line with McClain, Sharmoug and Martinez, who ended up with 65 tackles (14 for losses) and three sacks.
DL Aaron Thiel (6-0, 215), Sierra senior: One of the area’s top two-way linemen, Thiel recorded 49 tackles and five sacks and was named to the All-VOL first-team defense and second-team offense.
LB Davis Armstrong (5-9, 175), Ripon senior: Contributed nine quarterback sacks and 81 tackles to a defense that pitched five shutouts and gave up seven or less points on two other occasions.
LB Jacob LeDon (6-1, 184), Manteca senior: Voted the VOL’s top defensive player, LeDon was the Buffaloes’ enforcer who finished with 83 tackles (10 losses), four sacks and three fumble recoveries.
LB Trevon McCray (5-10, 225), Sierra junior: McCray received the highest marks among ILBs from opposing VOL coaches during the year-end meeting; led T’Wolves with 88 tackles, 13 for losses.
LB Lechi Nkwocha (6-0, 189), Manteca junior: Opposite LeDon was Nkwocha, whose 11 sacks, three fumble recoveries, 27 QB knockdowns and 22 tackles for losses (87 total) were team-highs.
DB Elijah Cooper (5-7, 171), Manteca senior: Smallish cornerback was not afraid of contact as evidenced by his team-best 96 tackles (10 for losses); also defended eight passes and picked of two.
DB Josh Clark (5-10, 160), Ripon senior: Clark, an All-TVL first-team safety, and second on the Indians with 92 tackles, had a team-high six pass deflections and two interceptions.
DB Brandon Dabney (5-11, 151), Manteca senior: The area leader with 17 pass breakups and four interceptions held his own against some of the section’s most productive receivers.
— Jonamar Jacinto
For months, Billy Sharmoug stepped to the microphone and stumped for teammate Alex Laurel.
Sharmoug, Manteca’s mountain-sized offensive lineman, predicted that Laurel – the versatile, fast-action running back – would be the Valley Oak League’s MVP.
Just watch, he said as early as August. “Sometimes you see a player and all you can say is ‘Wow.’ Alex is one of those guys.”
As we’ve come to trust, never ever doubt Sharmoug.
Laurel earned the league’s top individual honor with a record-breaking season that saw him finish among the state’s most explosive touchdown producers.
A funny thing happened along the way, though. As attention began to shift toward Laurel and his penchant for the big play, the Buffaloes’ senior running back began to do a little stumping of his own.
Laurel praised his offensive line every chance he got, showcasing a rare ability to evade praise and tacklers.
Finally, there’s a spotlight big enough for the two of them. The Bulletin has decided to award the 2013 All-Area Football Player of the Year award to Sharmoug and Laurel, a block-and-run combo that carried the Buffaloes to a fourth Sac-Joaquin Section title and a berth to the CIF State Northern California Regional Championship.
An entire city followed their journey – from rivals to proud alumni – packing the stands at Lincoln High’s Spanos Stadium as the Buffaloes vied for a State Bowl invitation.
Manteca’s quest literally fell inches short in a 27-21 loss to the Enterprise Hornets, but the loss doesn’t diminish arguably the greatest season in the program’s 90-year history.
“It was a crazy ride, that’s for sure,” Sharmoug said. “It was everything I could have ever hoped for and more. Coming in my freshman year, my ultimate goal was to get a section championship. Just to have all that come together was awesome.”
The Buffaloes leaned on many over the course of a 15-game season, but Sharmoug and Laurel were the most consistent of their top performers.
Sharmoug represented the backbone of Manteca’s power design. The Buffaloes’ offensive and defensive lines set the tone, leaning on the opposition with their overwhelming strength, weight and height.
Manteca racked up nearly 6,000 yards of offense, including 3,960 on the ground, and finished fourth in the state in scoring at 46.7 points per game.
Running through lanes opened up by Sharmoug, Isaac McClain, Tyler Elliott, Valenti Saavedra and Joe Eavenson, Buffalo running backs averaged nearly 7 yards per carry.
The leader of this herd was Sharmoug, a 6-foot-2, 301-pound third-year varsity player. He was one of three captains, an All-Sac-Joaquin Section first-team selection and the keeper of the team’s fabled Shepherd Stick, a responsibility bestowed upon him by former teammate Eddie Smith.
Sharmoug didn’t disappoint the fraternity of Shepherds before him. He is a natural leader, his role as the school’s Senior Class President and Mr. Buff proof positive of that attribute.
“It was a great honor when Eddie gave it to me. I can’t thank him enough,” said Sharmoug, a right guard who also had 36 tackles, six sacks and a team-high five forced fumbles at defensive tackle.”I know he made the right decision and I think my teammates think so, too.”
Laurel said the players counted on Sharmoug’s leadership, whether it was his work ethic in pads or his words in the huddle.
“Not only does he get the job done,” Laurel said, “but he always had something great to say after practice and games. He led us ... he led us to a section championship.
“He comes to work and leads by example the same way every day. It’s never different with him.”
Laurel offered his coaches that same level of comfort and confidence running out of their traditional Power-I.
He rushed for a school record 1,876 yards and totaled 49 touchdowns, second most in the section and fourth on the state’s leader board.
“Greatest season a Manteca running back has ever had,” Sharmoug said. “No disrespect to Andre Patterson, but the No. 1 running back is Alex Laurel. With the numbers he put up, he was awesome.”
Laurel still has trouble believing his place in program history. Patterson, a difference-maker on Manteca’s 2005-06 section championship teams, watched from the sideline as his single-season rushing mark fell during a 49-6 victory over Sacramento in the Division II final.
“Unbelievable to have this type of season. I’ve always said hard work (pays off), but it really paid off this time ... in big numbers it paid off,” Laurel said. “The fact that I had over 1,000 yards rushing and finished top-5 in the state in touchdowns, it gives me hope. It takes my aspiration higher.”
And to think, it started so slow – by Laurel’s standards.
Though he began the season with four touchdowns in a victory over Central Valley at Ceres High, Laurel’s record-setting run didn’t take off until Week 8 at Sierra High.
That night, Laurel helped secure the VOL championship with a 26-carry, 144-yard, four-touchdown performance.
From that point on, Manteca put its fate in Laurel’s hands. After averaging just 11 carries in the first eight games, Laurel saw his average soar to 23 over the final seven. In six of those seven games, he had at least 132 yards.
“When it comes down to it, I’d like to have the ball in my hands. I love my team and I try to live up to that playmaking hype everyone puts on me.”
Individual glory aside, Sharmoug and Laurel long to be remembered for their hardware not highlights.
Shortly after the season ended, Manteca was fitted for its section championship ring.
“An MVP in our league is a pretty good honor. But the numbers and all that, I’m sure somebody will break my records,” Laurel said. “Getting that ring is what really matters.”
