Willow Glen Resident
Sports
Passers Cukar, Bernarding tough on DBs
By Kevin Sparrer
It was difficult enough for the defensive backs with one amazing quarterback setting all kinds of school records, but two wasn't even fair.
That's what the DBs had to put up with in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League, though--senior Anthony Cukar of Del Mar and junior Cannon Bernarding of Westmont.
Cukar led the Del Mar football team to the division championship and into the Central Coast Section playoffs by completing 152 passes for 2,520 yards and 27 touchdowns. Cukar's performance earned him the division's Most Valuable Player award.
But Cukar was not alone as a masterful quarterback in the Santa Teresa circuit. Westmont's Bernarding was close behind, hitting on 137 passes for 2,074 yards and 26 touchdowns. He was selected as the Junior of the Year in the division.
The Senior of the Year award went to Travis Driskell of Mt. Pleasant, and the co-Sophomores of the Year were Alex Rorie, an offensive lineman for Leland who helped his team gain 2,511 yards on the ground this season, and Chris Eke of Gunderson, who carried the ball 55 times for 668 yards, averaging over 12 yards a carry and scoring six touchdowns.
The Most Outstanding Offensive Player award went to senior Kevin Krail of Leland. Krail carried128 times for 982 yards and scored 13 touchdowns for the Chargers.
On the opposite side of the ball, the Most Outstanding Defensive Player award went to Del Mar junior Samir Sabic, who was in on 121 tackles.
The Outstanding Offensive Lineman was Del Mar senior Logan Lijon, who led the Dons to 2,111 yards on the ground.
The Outstanding Defensive Lineman was junior Nick Pula of Evergreen Valley.
Three players shared the Outstanding Offensive Back award: senior Roger Rose of Gunderson (182 carries for 1,648 yards and 15 touchdowns); Westmont senior D.J. Gregg (876 yards); and senior Alonzo Parks of Santa Teresa.
Leland's defense was powerful with the help of Outstanding Linebacker junior Mike Santini, who was in on 137 tackles, and Outstanding Defensive Back senior Nate Jones, who had 34 tackles and two interceptions.
The Outstanding Utility Player award went to Del Mar senior Stephen Salerno, who ran for 582 yards and caught 49 passes for 780 yards.
Members of the all-league first team included: Leland--senior defensive end R.J. Singer, senior quarterback Ricky Battipede (194 yards rushing, 923 passing), senior linebacker Mike Ledeit (99 tackles), junior linebacker Matt Machado (89 tackles) and senior offensive lineman Bryan Jones; Santa Teresa--junior defensive lineman Omar Al-Helew and junior linebacker Josh Shelton; Del Mar--senior linebacker Thomas Johnson (82 tackles), senior wide receiver Robert Schooler (732 yards receiving), senior linebacker D.J. Linares and senior offensive lineman Steven Lee; Westmont--wide receiver Trevor Vlay (42 receptions for 781 yards), linebacker Chad Christopher and wide receiver Chris Ayala (seven receptions for 101 yards); Mt. Pleasant--senior offensive lineman Steve Somera and senior defensive lineman Isiah Jackson.
The all-league second team included: Leland--Amir Tadros, Jeff Sommer and Brighton Scala; Del Mar--Tim Stanislao, Michael Toso, Jordan Richardson, Cory Sullivan, Curtis Nielsen, Eric Tilbury and Tyler Lopez; Westmont--Max Gilson, Blake Bachtold, Brad Ruiz and Matthew McNairy.
Mt. Hamilton Division
The running backs of the BVAL's Mt. Hamilton Division dominated the field throughout the course of the season, with Oak Grove's Nevin Gardiner and Pioneer's Shane Murray leading the way.
Gardiner was in a class by himself, carrying the ball 275 times for 2,139 yards and 27 touchdowns to earn the Most Valuable Player award after leading his team the division championship.
Murray had less than half as many carries with only 118, but still ran for 837 yards and eight touchdowns to be named the Senior of the Year.
Jabbari Carr of Oak Grove who was named the Junior of the Year for his abilities as a defensive back. He picked off five passes and recovered five fumbles this season.
The Sophomore of the Year award went to Brian Michaelis of Leigh. Michaelis was a tight end who caught 25 passes for 213 yards and scored three touchdowns for the Longhorns.
The Outstanding Offensive Player award went to senior running back Devon Mynhier of Piedmont Hills. Oak Grove had co-Outstanding Defensive Players in senior linebackers Mark Forrest and Danny Ochoa. Senior Jacob Feagai of Piedmont Hills was named the Defensive Lineman of the Year, while senior Aaron Huck of Oak Grove was the Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Senior Jagjeet Sidhu was named the Outstanding Offensive Back for Lincoln with 35 catches for 736 yards and eight touchdowns.
Senior Kyle Hennings of Live Oak was the Outstanding Defensive Back.
Seniors Marquee Heffner of Pioneer and Stacey Long of Oak Grove were the co-Outstanding Utility Players. Heffner had 116 carries for 950 yards and eight touchdowns.
Earning spots on the all-league first team offense were: Piedmont Hills--senior wide receiver Dillin Albanese and senior quarterback Micah Banderas; Live Oak--junior quarterback Jeff Roberts, senior lineman Matt Acosta and senior running back Stephen Rodrigues; Leigh--junior quarterback Ryan Stillwell (160 completions for 1,506 yards and nine touchdowns) and junior running back Ryan Valentine (120 carries for 431 yards and five touchdowns); Oak Grove--senior quarterback Regis Ward and senior lineman Peter Ortega; Pioneer--senior linemen Tyler Chase and Stanley White; Independence--senior running back Jaleel Mackey.
On the all-league first team defense were: Oak Grove--junior back Allen Champman, senior back Mike Estrada, sophomore linebacker Paul Schwnke, junior linebacker Manny Rodriguez and junior lineman Gerard Everette; Live Oak--senior linebacker Derek Campagna; Lincoln--senior linebacker Thomas Duffey (32 tackles), senior back Armando Esparza (44 tackles) and junior lineman Alex Ortega; Piedmont Hills--junior linebacker Jose Lopez, senior lineman Jimmy Waters and senior linebacker Brandon Williams; Branham--senior linebacker Kalani Markle; Pioneer--senior lineman Enrique Martinez (47 tackles) and senior back Chad Dreher (33 tackles and two interceptions returned for 47 yards).
Those who received second team all-league awards on offense were: Oak Grove--Anthony Dean, Jacob Mausali and Jared Pakriots; Branham--Brandon Carter; Piedmont Hills--Derek Stewart and Kevin Nguyen; Lincoln--Nick DeMartini; Live Oak--Tim O'Rourke and Stephen Smith; Pioneer--Michael Cobb, Joe Alise and Travis Lorius.
The all-league second team defense team consisted of: Oak Grove--Anthony Machuca and Bruce Leaupere; Live Oak--Garrett Webb; Leigh--Shawn Sanders and Nate Jackson; Lincoln--Javier Reyes; Pioneer--David Figueroa; Independence--Aljed Solis.
West Valley Division
Andrew Hill senior A.J. Ellis was named this year's Most Valuable Player in the West Valley Division after carrying 157 times for 1,527 yards and catching 21 passes for another 265 yards. Ellis scored 26 touchdowns for the Falcons.
Prospect linebacker Paul Michael Davis and Sobrato receiver Jo Jo Anaya were named the co-Seniors of the Year. Davis had 3 1/2 sacks and 58 tackles for the Panthers.
Overfelt running back Irwin Taliaoa received the Junior of the Year award.
Malo Alaalatoa of Prospect and Joel Rueda of Sobrato were the co-Sophomores of the Year. Alaalatoa finished the season with 26 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks.
The members of the all-league first team offense were: Sobrato--junior running back Tony Zizzo, senior lineman Kyle Butcher, junior wide receiver Alex Meldrum and senior running back Steven Gutierrez; Prospect--senior quarterback Nate Taye (22 completions for 529 yards and six touchdowns), junior wide receiver Shane Miller ( nine receptions for 328 yards and four scores, including a longest catch of 80 yards) and senior lineman Chris Walter (who helped the running backs gain 1,654 yards behind his blocking); Willow Glen--senior running back Ricky Huynh (125 carries for 833 yards and 11 touchdowns, 17 receptions for 269 yards and one more score), junior specialist Mike Gibilisco (90 carries for 830 yards and three touchdowns, 11 catches for 188 yards), senior tight end Charlie Findeisen (18 catches for 244 yards and three touchdowns) and senior lineman Ross Schuyler (whose blocking allowed the Rams to rush for 2,057 yards and 25 touchdowns); Overfelt--senior running back Matthew Fuentes and senior lineman Steven Marquez; Yerba Buena--senior quarterback Arjun Ashokkunar and senior lineman David Simm; James Lick--senior utility player Christina Dykow.
The all-league first team defense had: Sobrato--senior linebackers Victor Gillespie and Cody Vivian; Prospect--senior Fiaavae Fiaavae (83 tackles), junior defensive back Nova Hardy (35 tackles and five interceptions) and senior lineman Ryan Eseroma (56 tackles, including 6 1/2 sacks); Overfelt--senior lineman Tiveyawn Faumui; San Jose--junior linebacker De Sergio Villalona.
The second team offense awards went to: Sobrato--Erick Levell and Eli Alaniz; Prospect--Kwasi Achiaw, Tasi Alaalatoa, Michael Brown and George Hicks; Willow Glen--Antonio Torres; James Lick--Anara Kham.
The second team all-league defense included: Prospect--Randy Wilde and Jack Rozewicz; Willow Glen--Bobby Lopez, Jose Gutierrez and Dan Winter.
