ALL-LEAGUE SELECTIONS
• Coach of the Year: Mike James, East Union.
• MVP: RB Robert Ladiges, Manteca, Sr.
• Offensive POY: QB Matt Burrows, Manteca, Sr.
• Defensive POY: LB A.C. Brown, Oakdale, Sr.
• First-team offense: C — Carlos DeLeon, Oakdale, Sr. OL — Johnny Ruiz, Manteca, Sr.; Dylan Law, Manteca, Sr.; Marcos Camacho, Oakdale, Sr.; Adam Bennett, Sierra, Sr.; Cody Weeks, Sonora, Sr. TE — Matt Mueller, Manteca, Sr. WR — Mike Timmins, Manteca, Sr.; Grant Widmer, Sierra, Sr. QB — TeeJay Gordon, East Union, Sr. RB — Daniel Linder, Oakdale, Sr.; Marcus Hernandez, Oakdale, Sr.; Anthony Cota, Sierra, So. K — Justin Martin, Oakdale, Jr. Util — Ryan Emerald, Sonora, Sr.
• First-team defense: DL — Josh Nkwocha, Manteca, Sr.; Justin Armstrong, Oakdale, Sr.; Ted Slade, Sierra, Sr.; Rico Roberts, Sierra, Sr. ILB — C.J. Rivas, Manteca, Sr.; Nick Baker, Sierra, Sr.; Ryan Kelly, Sonora, Sr. OLB — Brennen Resendes, Manteca, Sr.; Blake Thompson, Oakdale, Sr. DB — Zach Gase, Manteca, Sr.; Brayden Stephens, Oakdale, Sr.; Vince Thompson, Oakdale, Sr.; Stephen Thayer, Sierra, Sr. P — Grant Widmer, Sierra Sr.
• Second-team offense: C — Chris Andaya, East Union, Sr. OL — Kyle Edwards, East Union, Sr.; Tanner Winton, Kimball, So.; Anto Bidanian, Kimball, Jr.; Ryan Kelly, Sonora, Sr.; Akiha Etu, Weston Ranch, Sr. TE — Anthony Nunez, Weston Ranch, Sr. WR — Robert Vaughn, East Union, Sr.; Ruben Lopez, Sierra, Sr. QB — Adrian Valencia, Sierra, Sr. RB — Evan Owens, Kimball, So.; Andrew Aquino, Lathrop, Jr.; Nolan Dambacher, Sonora, Jr.
• Second-team defense: DL — Cody Christensen, East Union, Sr.; ILB — Dominic Barba, East Union, Sr.; Matt Carter, Manteca, Sr.; Jesus Fuentes, Weston Ranch, Sr. OLB — Jose Manzano, East Union, Sr.; Travis Phillips, Oakdale Sr. DB — Ryan Ward, East Union, Sr.; Justin Martin, Oakdale, Jr.; Karson Canaday, Sonora, Jr.; Austin Davis, Sonora, Jr. P — Jesus Fuentes, Weston Ranch, Sr.
• Honorable mention: East Union — Steven Gigli, Tyler Hardesty, Nick Duenas, Thomas King; Kimball — Chris Sampino, Zack Johnson, Aystin Griffith, Tyler Sousa; Lathrop — Jose Sevilla, Greg Hawkins, Anthony Higareda, Mike Goldberg; Manteca — Joe Trout, David Farrington, Nestor Chacala, Jesse Smith, J.T. Agbulos; Sierra — Austin Acker, Manuel Mora, Bret Wilson; Weston Ranch — Melvin Allen, James Aragon, Cameron Turner, Willie Contreras, Donnell Sims, E.J. Allen, Antoine Robinson.
• Coach of the Year: Mark Loureiro, Escalon.
• Outstanding OL: Dylan Cathcart, Escalon.
• Outstanding WR: Brandon Shaw, Escalon
• Outstanding Back: Ravonne Pious, Orestimba.
• All-league offense: OL — Dylan Cathcart, Escalon; Nate Caton, Escalon; Jake Almeda, Modesto Christian; Devin Azevedo, Hilmar; Jose Flores, Orestimba. TE — Raymond Nelson, Modesto Christian. WR — Brandon Shaw, Escalon; Ramonne Pious, Orestimba. RB — Adrian Cortes, Escalon; Tyke Andrews, Modesto Christian; Isaac Diaz, Hilmar; Mike King, Orestimba. QB — Ravonne Pious, Orestimba.
• Defensive MVP: Victor Carrillo, Escalon.
• Outstanding DL: Ray Nelson, Modesto Christian.
• Outstanding LB: Zack Giuliano, Hilmar.
• Outstanding DB: Josh Miguel, Escalon.
• All-league defense: DL — Tony Vincent, Escalon; Nate Caton; Andy Bunting, Ripon; Raymond Nelson, Modesto Christian; Trent Goiburn, Hilmar. OLB — Zack Giuliano, Hilmar; Brandon Shaw, Escalon; Tyke Andrew, Modesto Christian; Jose Lopez, Hughson. ILB — Nate Azevedo, Hilmar; T.J. Flores, Ripon; Garrett Davis, Hughson. DB — Steve Soares, Hilmar; Josh Miguel, Escalon; Cole Herrin, Ripon; Mykah Enos, Orestimba.
• Honorable mention offense: Chad Hale, Escalon; Luke Brindeiro, Hilmar; Caleb Williamson, Orestimba; Chris Bennet, Orestimba; Trent Goiburn, Hilmar; Chase Richey, Orestimba; Cole Herrin, Ripon; Raymond Musquez, Orestimba; Gino Franceschetti, Escalon; Angel Duarte, Riverbank.
• Honorable mention defense: Jake McCreath, Ripon; Jordan Sullivan, Ripon; Cody Ellak, Hughson; David Lopez, Hughson; Shane Silveira, Escalon; Travis James, Escalon; Devin Azevedo, Hilmar; Sergio Rocha, Riverbank; Nahua Moore, Orestimba; Matt Heinrich, Modesto Christian; Jose Flores, Orestimba; Anthony Diaz, Hilmar; Vince Rovadatti, Modesto Christian; Matt Moreno, Orestimba; Jose Navarro, Orestimba; James Hill, Escalon; Joey Ratto, Escalon; Denny Garcia, Hughson; Dominic Dami, Modesto Christian.
• Coach of the Year: Rick Martinez, Le Grand.
• Most Valuable: Bob Perez, Le Grand, Sr.
• Outstanding Lineman: Alex Martinez, Le Grand, Sr.
• Outstanding Back: Alex Bucio, Le Grand, Jr.
• All-league: Le Grand — Daniel Guizar, Jr.; Zach Moreno, Jr.; Gio Maldonado, Sr.; Ernan Copado, Sr.; Rick Martinez, Sr.; Chris Bustamante, Sr.; Julian Nava, Jr.; Roman Hernandez, So. Waterford — Wade Hawkins, Sr.; Andrew Walker, Sr.; Dylan Gonzalez, Jr.; Forrest Angle, Sr. Mariposa — Brandon Kinalele, Sr.; Justin Kinalele, Sr.; Bruce Contreras, Sr.; Jeremiah Baca, Sr.; Wyatt Ellis, Sr. Denair — Dylan Souza, Sr.; Paul Oel, Sr.; Trever Werner, Sr.; Jacob Wagner, Sr. Ripon Christian — Isaac Norman, Sr. Delhi — Antonio Cervantes, Jr. Gustine — Roman Puppo, Sr.
• Honorable mention: Le Grand — Aaron Salcido, Jr.; Andrew Hernandez, Jr. Waterford — Thomas Longworth, Sr.; David Hill, Sr.; Mariposa — Bryce Williams, Jr. Yussif Sulaiman, Jr. Denair — Bryce Melrose, Jr.; Martin Sanchez, Jr. Ripon Christian — Adam McKay, Sr.; Elijah English, Sr. Turlock Christian — Aaron Bennett, Sr.; Micah Larsson, Jr. Delhi — Dalton Gill, Jr.; Joseph Cantu, So. Gustine — Brett Chavez, Sr.; Jose Gonzalez, Sr.
The success enjoyed by all three schools in town — Manteca, East Union, Sierra — was reflected in the all-Valley Oak League selections, as three of the four major awards stayed within the city’s limits.
East Union’s Mike James was voted Coach of the Year after leading the Lancers (4-3, 7-4 overall) to their first postseason berth since 1992, undefeated non-league start since 1993 and first winning season since 1999.
But East Union’s crowning achievement of 2010 was perhaps its 10-7 shocker over Manteca High in Week 10, which not only snapped a 10-year winless drought against its oldest rival, but also ruined the Buffaloes’ bid for a perfect 10-0 regular-season finish.
Co-champion Manteca (6-1, 9-2) is home to the league’s Most Valuable Player, workhorse running back Robert Ladiges, and Outstanding Offensive Player, canon-armed quarterback Matt Burrows.
Linebacker A.C. Brown of Oakdale is the Outstanding Defensive Player. Oakdale holds the other half of the league title. On Saturday, the Mustangs were defeated by powerhouse Del Oro 21-0 in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championship game at Sacramento State.
In the Trans Valley League, three Ripon High players were named to the all-conference defensive team. Ripon Christian had just one athlete make the first-team cut in its inaugural football season in the Southern League.
Including Ladiges and Burrows, the Buffaloes led Manteca Unified teams with 10 first-team selections in the VOL.
Ladiges typified Manteca’s power running game that is the staple for all of its successful teams in years past. He led all area players with 1,650 yards and 25 touchdowns while displaying surprising burst and cuts out of the backfield to go with his physical running style.
Burrows was the other reason why Manteca’s offense was the area’s most explosive. He completed 56 percent of his 212 passes for 2,036 yards and 21 touchdowns to nine interceptions. Manteca had eight different players finish the season with at least 21 catches, one of them being first-team wide receiver Mike Timmins (33 receptions, 567 yards, 9 TDs).
Other Buffaloes selected to the first team were: offensive linemen Dylan Law and Johnny Ruiz, tight end Matt Mueller, defensive lineman Josh Nkwocha, linebackers C.J. Rivas and Brennen Resendes and defensive back Zach Gase.
Grant Widmer of Sierra (5-2, 6-5) is the only area player to make the all-league first team for both offense and defense, doing so as a wide receiver (38 receptions, 600 yards, 7 TDs) and punter.
Sophomore RB Anthony Cota, OL Adam Bennett, defensive linemen Ted Slade and Rico Roberts, linebacker Nick Baker and defensive back Stephen Thayer join Widmer on the first team.
East Union’s lone first-team honoree is senior QB TeeJay Gordon. The multifaceted playmaker was the focal point of EU’s change to a spread offense. He completed 55.4 percent of his passes for 1,564 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine picks while rushing for 541 yards and 10 scores.
Andy Bunting, a big-bodied defensive lineman with a mean streak, was named to the all-league defensive team for the second straight year. Junior inside linebacker T.J. Flores, among area leaders with 94 tackles joins Bunting on the defensive team.
The Indians missed out on an opportunity to advance to the SJS Division-IV playoffs but gave up a spot to Orestimba via a 40-21 loss in the final regular-season game of the season.
Ripon Christian (3-4, 3-7) struggled in its first go-round in the SL in what ended up being a rebuilding season, though the Knights finished strong by winning three of their last four.
Isaac Norman, an all-TVL player last year, keyed their late-season charge. He paced RC with 1,043 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, and a lot of that came from an outstanding Week-10 effort (23 rushes, 334 yards, 4 TDs) in a 35-6 win against Gustine.
