California Small Schools All-State Football Team

For those who place the emphasis on "valuable" in Most Valuable Player, Ryan Sanborn of Francis Parker is the player for you.

The quarterback for the San Diego school, Sanborn is also the team's kicker and punter, one of the leading tacklers on defense and one of the leading rushers on offense. He also helped lead Francis Parker to the San Diego Section Division 5 championship game and was MaxPreps Small Schools All-American at punter. He's also the MaxPreps California Small Schools State Player of the Year.

Sanborn finished with 2,055 yards passing and 27 touchdowns, while also rushing for 609 yards and 13 scores. He also was 58-of-59 on extra points and had three field goals. Defensively, he had 82 tackles and three interceptions. As a punter, he was one of the best in the nation with a 42.1 yard average.

Sanborn is listed as a punter on the All-State team, but he could very easily be listed as all-purpose, kicker, quarterback or defensive back. That's how versatile he was this year.

Anthony Armas of Denair is the Small Schools Coach of the Year. He led Denair to the first Sac-Joaquin Section championship in school history and then topped it off by defeating Santee (Los Angeles) 42-14 in the CIF 7-AA Bowl Game. The Coyotes were just 2-8 last year and were winless two seasons before Armas, a Denair graduate, took over as head coach in 2015.

Players on the Small Schools All-State team competed in enrollment divisions with generally fewer than 1,000 students or they were in lower level divisions based on competitive equity.

First Team Offense

WR — James Odom, Workman (City of Industry), 6-0, 185, Junior
Honors: Southern Section All-Division 13 Team; San Gabriel Valley Tribune All-Area Team.
Stats: 92 catches, 2,011 yards, 21 touchdowns.

WR — Tyler Vargas, Orestimba (Newman), 5-7, 150
Honors: Black Hat 209 Offensive Player of the Year.
Stats: 87 catches, 1,458 yards, 20 touchdowns.

WR — Preston Conti, Minarets (O'Neals), 6-2, 175
Honors: West Sequoia League Outstanding Player
Stats: 67 catches, 1,586 yards, 20 touchdowns.

TE — Austin Ries, Ripon Christian (Ripon), 6-2, 195
Honors: Modesto Bee All-District Small Schools Team.
Stats: 23 catches, 287 yards, 3 touchdowns, 73 tackles.

OL — George Becker, Gridley, 6-4, 260
Honors: All-Northern Section Team.

OL — Jesse Tello, Mary Star of the Sea (San Pedro), 6-3, 305
Honors: Southern Section All-Division 12 Team; Daily Breeze All-Area Team.

OL — Christopher Alvarez, El Monte, 6-5, 320
Honors: Southern Section All-Division 13; San Gabriel Valley Tribune All-Area Team.

OL — Isaac Duenas, Alisal (Salinas), 6-5, 315
Honors: Monterey Herald All-County Team.

OL — Ivan Garza, Kennedy (Delano), 6-5, 275
Honors: Bakersfield Californian All-Area Team. QB — Kaleb Maresh, Linfield Christian (Temecula), 6-1, 180
Honors: Southern Section Division 12 Player of the Year.
Stats: 138 of 225 for 2,408 yards, 34 touchdowns, 97 carries, 814 yards, 14 touchdowns.

QB — Alex Aguilar, Shafter, 5-11, 175
Honors: Bakersfield Californian All-Area Team.
Stats: 212 of 319 for 3,436 yards, 44 touchdowns, 128 carries, 1,178 yards, 20 touchdowns.

RB — Davon Booth, El Monte, 5-9, 175
Honors: Southern Section Division 13 Player of the Year; San Gabriel Valley Tribune All-Area Team.
Stats: 161 carries, 2,429 yards, 31 touchdowns.

RB — Joseph Todd, Santee (Los Angeles), 5-11, 165
Honors: Los Angeles City All-Section Division III Player of the Year.
Stats: 244 carries, 3,315 yards, 46 touchdowns.

RB — Fresh Ison, Moreau Catholic (Hayward), 6-0, 205
Honors: San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Team; Bay Area News Group All-Area Team.
Stats: 133 carries, 2,093 yards, 32 touchdowns.

K — Noah Guastella, Mary Star of the Sea (San Pedro), 6-0, 175
Honors: Southern Section All-Division 12 Team.
Stats: 8 field goals, 36 of 40 extra points.

AP — Ike III Udengwu, Workman (City of Industry), 6-3, 215
Honors: Southern Section All-Division 13; San Gabriel Valley Tribune All-Area Team.
Stats: 184 of 359 for 3,440 yards, 34 touchdowns.

AP — Dakota Mornhinweg, Carmel, 5-10, 170, Junior
Honors: Monterey Herald All-County Team.
Stats: 169 carries, 1,475 yards, 22 touchdowns; 26 catches, 369 yards, six touchdowns; 3 interceptions.

First Team Defense

DL — Ethan Saunders, Orange Vista (Perris), 6-4, 243
Honors: Southern Section Division 13 Defensive Player of the Year.

DL — Jacob Walden, Escalon, 6-0, 200, Junior
Honors: Black Hat All-209 Team.
Stats: 13 sacks.

DL — Robert Brown, Carmel, 6-1, 265
Honors: Monterey Herald All-County Team Defensive Player of the Year.
Stats: 118 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 14 sacks.

DL — Damon Thomas, Mar Vista (Imperial Beach), 6-0, 175
Honors: All-San Diego Section Second Team.
Stats: 70 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 15 sacks.

LB — Justin Rentfro, Hilmar, 6-1, 210
Honors: Black Hat All-209 Team.
Stats: 131 tackles

LB — Travion Brown, Linfield Christian (Temecula), 6-3, 212
Honors: Southern Section Division 12 Defensive Player of the Year; Press-Enterprise All-Area Team.
Stats: 45 catches, 1,142 yards, 22 touchdowns, 122 tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, three interceptions.

LB — Javanz Dornners, McClymonds (Oakland), 6-2, 220, Senior
Honors: San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Second Team.

LB — Raiden Hunter, San Diego, 5-10, 190
Honors: All-San Diego Section First Team.
Stats: 69 tackles, two interceptions, 8.5 tackles for loss, 1,176 yards rushing, 21 touchdowns.

LB — Bailey Sulzer, West Valley (Cottonwood), 5-11, 200
Honors: All-Northern Section Defensive Player of the Year. Shasta County Sports Heisman winner.
Stats: 283 carries, 2,054 yards, 29 touchdowns, 150 tackles, 17.0 tackles for loss.

DB — Jayden Wickware, San Diego, 6-1, 175
Honors: All-San Diego Section First Team.
Stats: 4 interceptions, 44 tackles.

DB — Will Omey, St. Bernard's (Eureka), 6-1, 180, Junior
Honors: Prep2Prep All-North Coast Section Third Team.
Stats: 155 of 255 for 2,271 yards, 31 touchdowns, 223 carries, 1,413 yards, 19 touchdowns, 69 tackles, three interceptions.

DB — Adi Anderson, McClymonds (Oakland), 5-11, 190
Honors: Bay Area News Group All-Bay Area Second Team; San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Second Team.

DB — Lovelace Rufus, Moreau Catholic (Hayward), 6-3, 180
Honors: San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Team;
Stats: 54 catches, 824 yards, eight touchdowns, 43 tackles, seven interceptions.

P — Ryan Sanborn, Francis Parker (San Diego), 6-3, 195
Honors: San Diego Section Kicker of the Year.
Stats: 117 of 198 for 2,055 yards, 27 touchdowns, 104 carries, 609 yards, 13 touchdowns, 82 tackles, 3 interceptions, 66 touchbacks, 42.1 yard punting average, 10 inside the 20, 58 of 59 extra points, 2 field goals, long of 47.

AP — Akil Edwards, St. Patrick-St. Vincent (Vallejo), 6-0, 165
Honors: Vallejo Times Herald City Player of the Year.
Stats: 1,443 yards rushing, 20 touchdowns.
Second Team Offense

WR — Jake Green, Colfax, 6-2, 180
Honors: Sacramento Bee All-Metro Team.
Stats: 45 catches, 1,035 yards, 15 touchdowns.

WR — Jackson Sanchez, Shafter, 5-10, 155, Junior
Honors: Bakersfield Californian All-Area Team.
Stats: 77 catches, 1,351 yards, 16 touchdowns.

WR — Sean Nolan, Laguna Beach, 6-1, 180
Honors: Southern Section All-Division 12 Team; Orange County Register All-County Third Team.
Stats: 70 catches, 1,184 yards, 18 touchdowns.

TE — Luciano Manzo, Chowchilla, 5-10, 185
Honors: North Sequoia League Utility Player of the Year.
Stats: 23 catches, 458 yards, 5 touchdowns.

OL — Nathan Peterson, Dixon, 6-5, 290
Honors: Sacramento Bee All-Metro Team.

OL — Drew Van Vliet, Ripon Christian (Ripon), 6-4, 260
Honors: Black Hat All-209 Second Team.
Stats: 103 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 11 sacks.

OL — Leonardo Gallegos, Lincoln (San Francisco), 6-2, 256, Junior
Honors: San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Second Team.

OL — Ian Novak, East Nicolaus (Nicolaus), 6-0, 225
Honors: All-Northern Section Team.

OL — Francisco Sandoval, King City, 5-10, 265, Junior
Honors: Monterey Herald All-County Team.

QB — Damian Hernandez, Woodlake, 5-8, 175, Junior
Honors: East Sequoia League MVP.
Stats: 201 of 300 for 3,036 yards, 32 touchdowns. QB — Alex Weir, Colfax, 6-0, 185
Honors: Sacramento Bee All-Metro Team.
Stats: 155 of 244 for 2,742 yards, 39 touchdowns.

RB — Michael Kamps, Ripon Christian (Ripon), 5-11, 183
Honors: Modesto Bee All-District Player of the Year; Black Hat All-209 Second Team.
Stats: 194 carries, 1,632 yards, 28 touchdowns, 30 catches, 429 yards, 8 touchdowns.

RB — Cael Patterson, Orange Glen (Escondido), 5-10, 180, Junior
Honors: All-San Diego Section Second Team.
Stats: 375 carries, 2,453 yards, 29 touchdowns, 18 catches, 247 yards,

RB — Gilbert Payton Flores, Gonzales, 5-10, 160
Honors: Monterey Herald All-County Team.
Stats: 250 carries, 2,463 yards rushing, 31 touchdowns.

AP — Heder Gladden, Artesia (Lakewood), 5-11, 170
Honors: Southern Section All-Division 12 Team;
Stats: 212 carries, 2,478 yards, 34 touchdowns; 57 of 120 for 1,150 yards, 14 touchdowns.

AP — Steffin Winston, Denair, 5-11, 180
Honors: Black Hat All-209 Second Team.
Stats: 163 carries, 1, 432 yards, 20 touchdowns.

K — Nathan Valdez, Ripon, 5-10, 185, Junior
Honors: Modesto Bee All-District Small Schools Team.
Stats: 4 field goals, 51 extra points.

Second Team Defense

DL — Sheaden Kadle, Fortuna, 5-11, 260
Honors: Prep2Prep All-North Coast Section Third Team.

DL — Keenami Maggard, Mountain House, 6-4, 215
Honors: Black Hat All-209 Team.
Stats: 84 tackles, 32 tackles, 20 sacks.

DL — Joshua Sanchez, Dinuba, 6-0, 240
Honors: Central Sequoia Player of the Year
Stats: 74 tackles, 13 sacks.

DL — Oso Velez, Wasco, 6-1, 295
Honors: Bakersfield Californian All-Area Team.
Stats: 99 tackles, six sacks. LB — Dyllan Hyde, East Nicolaus (Nicolaus), 6-1, 230
Honors: All-Northern Section Team.
Stats: 154 tackles, 5.5 sacks.

LB — Noah Nyenhuis, Central Valley Christian (Visalia, Calif.), 6-1, 195
Honors: Central Sequoia League Defensive Player of the Year.
Stats: 133 tackles.

LB — Thomas Branconier, Xavier Prep (Palm Desert), 6-1, 180
Honors: Southern Section All-Division 12 Team; Desert Sun All-Area Team.
Stats: 176 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, four sacks.

LB — Jeff Fitzgerald, Sutter, 6-0, 175
Honors: All-Northern Section Team.
Stats: 177 tackles, 11 tackles for loss.

LB — Damian Valencia, Strathmore, 5-6, 145
Honors: All-Orange Belt Player of the Year.
Stats: 106 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 5 interceptions.

DB — Isaiah Woods, Millennium (Tracy), 5-10, 190
Honors: Black Hat All-209 Second Team.
Stats: 59 tackles, 2,067 yards rushing.

DB — Tre Maronic, Bear River (Grass Valley), 6-4, 185, Junior
Honors: Sacramento Bee All-Metro Team.
Stats: 36 tackles, 18 catches, 267 yards, 6 touchdowns; 140 carries, 1,182 yards, 12 touchdowns.

DB — Kyle Rajala, Scotts Valley, 6-2, 200
Honors: Prep2Prep All-Central Coast Section Second Team.
Stats: 7 interceptions.

DB — Devin Low, West Valley (Cottonwood), 6-1, 165
Honors: All-Northern Section Team. Shasta County Sports first team.
Stats: 5 interceptions.

P — Cory Mcintyre, Sutter, 5-8, 160, Junior
Honors: All-Northern Section Team.
Stats: 41.5 yard average, six field goals.

AP — Issac Sharp, Hilmar, 5-11, 175
Honors: All-Black Hat 209 Team; Merced Sun-Star All-Area Team.
Stats: 164 carries, 1,687 yards, 22 touchdowns; 18 catches, 418 yards, 6 touchdowns; 3 touchdowns on kickoff returns, one touchdown on interception return.