In Central Catholic's back-to-back state championship wins, the running backs were almost interchangeable. One of the constants, however, was 6-foot-2, 305-pound tackle Spencer Stark.
Over the course of two seasons, Stark blocked for two 2,000-yard rushers and one 1,500-yard rusher. The Raiders gained more than 9,000 yards rushing in two seasons with nearly 150 rushing touchdowns. When Matt Ringer, a 2,300-yard rusher, went down with an injury in the playoffs, Central Catholic didn't miss a beat. It simply handed the ball to freshman Montell Bland and had Stark lead the way. Bland ended up with 103 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the 36-23 win over Bakersfield Christian in the Division IV state final.
Named to the All-NorCal Team and the All-Sac-Joaquin Section Team by MaxPreps, Stark is also the MaxPreps Division IV State Player of the Year.
Jerald Pierucci, coach of Bakersfield Christian (12-3), is the MaxPreps California Division IV Coach of the Year. Playing against much larger schools in the Central Section Division IV playoffs, Pierucci's team knocked off previously undefeated Mission Oak (Tulare) to win the section championship. The Eagles then knocked off View Park 40-8 in the regional playoffs before falling to Central Catholic in the Division IV finals.
Along the way, Pierucci's offense piled up 641 points and gained more than 7,000 yards of total offense.
The MaxPreps California Division IV All-state team consists of players who played on teams that were in the Division III state enrollment divisions but had an enrollment of less than 500.
California Division IV All-State Football Teams
First Team Offense
Spencer Stark of Central Catholic is the MaxPreps Division IV State Player of the Year.
File photo by Heston Quan
Honors: Southern Section All-Mid-Valley Division Team, Los Angeles Daily News All-Area Second Team.
Stats: 71 catches, 1,302 yards, 20 touchdowns.
Kyle Betts, Bradshaw Christian
File photo by Ralph Thompson
Honors: Bakersfield Californian All-Area Team.
Stats: 66 catches, 1,458 yards, 17 touchdowns; Career: 131 catches, 2,395 yards, 24 touchdowns.
WR – Kyle Betts, Bradshaw Christian (Sacramento), 6-0, 185, Senior
Honors: Sacramento Bee All-Metro Small Schools Offensive Player of the Year, Sacramento Bee All-Metro Second Team, Sierra Delta League MVP.
Stats: 45 catches, 989 yards, 17 touchdowns.
TE – Edrico Oliver Jr., Brookside Christian (Stockton), 6-3, 230, Junior
Honors: Black Hat All-Modesto Area Honorable Mention, Stockton Record All-Area Honorable Mention, Central California Athletic Alliance, Defensive MVP.
Stats: 51 catches, 840 yards, 17 touchdowns.
OL – Spencer Stark, Central Catholic (Modesto), 6-2, 305, Senior
Honors: Black Hat All-Modesto Area Team, MaxPreps All-NorCal Team, MaxPreps All-Sac-Joaquin Section Team, Modesto Bee Small Schools All-Area Team, National Football Foundation All-Sac-Joaquin Section Team.
OL – Jeremiah Tiemersma, Central Valley Christian (Visalia), 6-4, 250, Senior
Honors: Times Delta All-Area Team, Fresno Bee All-Area Second Team.
OL – Bronson Espinoza, Central Valley Christian (Visalia), 6-1, 292, Senior
Honors: Times Delta All-Area Team, Fresno Bee All-Area Team, Central Sequoia Lineman of the Year.
OL – Josh Mantle, Bakersfield Christian, 6-2, 235, Junior
Honors: Bakersfield Californian All-Area Team.
OL – Logan McHone, Valley Christian (Dublin), 6-4, 290, Senior
Honors: Contra Costa Times All-East Bay Second Team, San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Honorable Mention.
QB – Brandon Jones, Bakersfield Christian, 6-2, 185, Junior
Honors: Bakersfield Californian All-Area Team, South Sequoia Offensive MVP.
Stats: 252 completions, 429 attempts, 4,365 yards, 54 touchdowns.
QB – Bradley Mowbray, Arrowhead Christian (Redlands), 5-9, 150, Junior
Honors: Southern Section All-East Valley Division Team, Riverside Press-Enterprise All-Area Honorable Mention, San Bernardino Sun All-Area Second Team.
Stats: 157 completions, 273 attempts, 2,761 yards, 34 touchdowns.
RB – Patrick Laird, Mission Prep (San Luis Obispo), 6-0, 205, Senior
Honors: Southern Section All-Northeast Division Offensive Player of the Year, Santa Maria Times All-Area Team, San Luis Obispo All-Area Player of the Year.
Stats: 408 carries, 3,117 yards, 36 touchdowns; Career: 547 carries, 4,551 yards, 64 total touchdowns.
RB – Andrew Brown, Ripon Christian, 5-9, 175, Senior
Honors: Black Hat All-Modesto Area Team, Stockton Record All-Area Team, Modesto Bee All-Area Small Schools Team, Southern League MVP, MaxPreps All-Sac-Joaquin Section Second Team.
Stats: 263 carries, 2,781 yards, 55 total touchdowns; Career: 681 carries, 5,909 yards, 126 total touchdowns.
Kenny Smart, Central Catholic
File photo by Louis Lopez
Honors: Black Hat All-Modesto Area Stanislaus County Player of the Year, Modesto Bee Small Schools All-Area Team, Western Athletic Conference Outstanding Offensive Player.
Stats: 323 carries, 2,348 yards, 34 touchdowns.
AP – Ryan Martinez, Le Grand, 5-11, 185, Senior
Honors: Merced Sun Star Player of the Year, Black Hat All-Modesto Area Team, Modesto Bee Small Schools All-Area Team, Southern League MVP.
Stats: 195 carries, 2,010 yards, 34 touchdowns; Career: 469 carries, 4,101 yards, 65 total touchdowns.
K – Kenny Smart, Central Catholic (Modesto), 6-1, 195, Senior
Honors: Black Hat All-Modesto Area Team, Modesto Bee All-Metro Team, MaxPreps All-NorCal Team, National Football Foundation All-Sac-Joaquin Section Team, Western Athletic Conference Outstanding Speciality., MaxPreps All-Sac-Joaquin Section Team.
Stats: 11 field goals, long of 53, 75 of 82 extra points, 77 touchbacks; Career: 22 field goals, 244 of 260 extra points, 147 touchbacks.
First Team Defense
DL – Nifae Lealao, Capital Christian (Sacramento), 6-5, 282, Senior
Honors: Sacramento Bee All-Metro Team, Sacramento Bee All-Metro Small Schools Defensive Player of the Year, National Football Foundation All-Sac-Joaquin Section Team, 247 Ranking – No. 7, US Army All-American Game, Golden Empire League Lineman of the Year, MaxPreps All-Sac-Joaquin Section Second Team.
Stats: 71 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks.
DL – Nolan Tooley, Bishop Diego (Santa Barbara), 6-0, 225, Senior
Honors: Southern Section All-Northwest Division Team, Presidio Sports All-City Team, Tri-Valley League MVP Lineman.
Stats: 60 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks.
DL – Dallas House, Linfield Christian (Temecula), 6-3, 220, Junior
Honors: Southern Section All-East Valley Division Team, Riverside Press-Enterprise All-Area Honorable Mention.
Stats: 78 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, six sacks.
DL – Matt Smith, Bakersfield Christian, 6-1, 210, Junior
Honors: Bakersfield Californian All-Area Team.
Stats: 241 carries, 1,694 yards, 21 touchdowns, 89 tackles, nine sacks.
Cameron Griffin, View Park
File photo by Craig Morley
Honors: Southern Section All-East Valley Division Defensive Player of the Year.
Stats: 98 tackles.
LB – Grant Bouma, Bakersfield Christian, 6-3, 220, Senior
Honors: Bakersfield Californian All-Area Defensive Player of the Year, South Sequoia Defensive MVP.
Stats: 250 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, three interceptions.
LB – Cameron Griffin, View Park (Los Angeles), 6-3, 210, Senior
Honors: Los Angeles Times All-Area Team, Los Angeles All-City Section Division III Player of the Year, Wave Newspapers All-West Region Team.
Stats: 159 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, four sacks.
LB – Reggie Bland, Central Catholic (Modesto), 5-10, 205, Senior
Honors: Black Hat All-Modesto Area Team, Modesto Bee Small Schools All-Area Team.
Stats: 107 tackles, five sacks.
LB – Christian Pearson, Bishop Diego (Santa Barbara), 6-0, 180, Senior
Honors: Southern Section All-Northwest Division Team, Presidio Sports All-City Defensive Player of the Year.
Stats: 132 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks.
DB – Justice Shelton-Mosley, Capital Christian (Sacramento), 6-0, 180, Junior
Honors: Sacramento Bee All-Metro Small Schools Player of the Year, Sacramento Bee All-Metro Team, National Football Foundation All-Sac-Joaquin Section Team, Golden Empire League MVP, MaxPreps All-NorCal Second Team, MaxPreps All-Sac-Joaquin Section Team.
Stats: 59 tackles, eight interceptions.
Lavon Washington, McClymonds
File photo by Gerardo Coronado
Honors: Southern Section All-Northwest Division Team, Presidio Sports All-City Team.
Stats: Six interceptions, 46 tackles, 10 passes defended.
DB – Lavon Washington, McClymonds (Oakland), 5-11, 185, Senior
Honors: Contra Costa Times All-East Bay Team, San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Second Team, 247 Ranking – No. 48.
Stats: Unavailable.
DB – D.J. Payne, Boron, 6-1, 185, Senior
Honors: Southern Section All-Northeast Division Team, Bakersfield Californian All-Area Honorable Mention, Desert Mountain League MVP.
Stats: 268 carries, 1,980 yards, 26 touchdowns, 57 tackles.
P – Manuel Cruz, Laton, 6-0, 150, Senior
Honors: Hanford Sentinel All-Area Team, East Sierra Offensive MVP.
Stats: 45.4 punting average.
