It looked bleak for the De La Salle Spartans. Quickly down 14-0 in the CIF Open Division state championship game against Crenshaw, the prospect of another championship-game disappointment looked imminent.
That’s when Terron Ward took over.
The East Bay Player of the Year by the Contra Costa Times, Ward erupted for 166 yards on 22 carries and scored three touchdowns to lead the Spartans to a 28-14 victory and the school’s second CIF Bowl Championship win. The win also helped wipe away the disappointment from last year’s championship-game loss.
”I didn’t want to leave here crying like we did last year,” Ward said following the Crenshaw win.
Coach Bob Ladouceur praised Ward’s performance in the championship game and also pointed out his solid play on defense as well.
”He had a great game on offense but he did a great job on defense as well,” said Ladouceur. “He certainly deserves to be on an all-state team at some position.” 
Terron Ward, De La Salle
File photo by Dirk Dewachter
For the season, Ward rushed for 2,038 yards on just 194 carries with 26 touchdowns. He helped the Spartans bounce back from a 1-2 record at the start of the season to win 12 straight games. Included in that streak was a 28-21 win over Monte Vista in which Ward ran for 398 yards on 28 carries. He followed up that game with a 276-yard performance in a 42-14 win over San Ramon Valley.
For his efforts, Ward has been selected as the MaxPreps California Division I State Player of the Year.
The Division I Coach of the Year honor goes to Oceanside coach John Carroll, who guided the Pirates to their sixth straight San Diego Section Division II championship and a second state championship in the past three seasons. Oceanside also has a 40-game unbeaten streak over the past three seasons.
Following is a look at the rest of the players named to the Division I all-state team, which consists of athletes who played for schools within the Division I state enrollment divisions as determined for the CIF State Bowl Championship Games.
MAXPREPS CALIFORNIA DIVISION I ALL-STATE TEAM
First Team Offense
Antoine Arnold, Chaparral (Temecula), 6-4, 170, WR, Jr.
One of the top junior receivers in the country, Arnold had a breakout season with 79 catches for 1,536 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was selected the all-area MVP by the Riverside Press Enterprise, was named to the All-Southland Team by the Los Angeles Times and was the Inland Division offensive MVP.
Bryce McGovern, Monte Vista (Danville), 5-9, 180, WR, Jr.
McGovern became one of the few receivers in state history to ever gain over 2,000 yards, as he caught 106 passes for 2,063 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was named to the All-East Bay Team by the Contra Costa Times and the All-Bay Area Team by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Tyler Trosin, Folsom, 5-11, 185, WR, Jr.
One of the leading receivers in Northern California, Trosin caught 81 passes for 1,446 yards and 25 touchdowns in Folsom’s explosive offense. Named to the Sacramento Bee’s All-Metro Team.
Randall Telfer, Rancho Cucamonga, 6-4, 230, TE, Sr.
The USC commit earned all-area honors in Riverside County after latching on to 45 passes for 905 yards and seven touchdowns. Selected to the All-Central Division team.
Wade Yandall, Carson, 6-4, 305, OL, Sr.
Selected to all-area teams by The Wave, the Los Angeles Times and the Torrance Daily Breeze, Yandall was the Marine League lineman of the year and was also named to the All-Los Angeles City Section squad.
Sil Ajawara, Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita), 6-5, 320, OL, Sr.
Honored on the Los Angeles Times All-Southland Team, the All-Pac 5 Division team and the Orange County Register All-County Team, Ajawara will play at Arizona State next year.
Thomas Hickel, De La Salle (Concord), 6-3, 260, OL, Sr.
A mainstay on the offensive line for the state champion Spartans, Hickel helped the Spartans average over 400 yards of offense per game and earned a spot on the Contra Costa Times All-East Bay Team. Also made the San Francisco Chronicle’s All-Bay Area Team.
Ryan Sapolu, Edison (Huntington Beach), 6-2, 240, OL, Sr.
The top lineman for a Charger team that was ranked No. 1 in the state for much of the season. He was named the top lineman in the Sunset League and will play at Oregon State next year. Also made the Orange County Register’s All-County Team as well as the All-Pac 5 Division squad.
Tim O’Hara, Bellarmine (San Jose), 6-2, 220, OL, Sr.
The lineman of the year in the West Catholic Athletic League, O’Hara was named to the All-Bay Area Team by the San Francisco Chronicle and the all-area team by the San Jose Mercury News.
Brett Nottingham, Monte Vista (Danville), 6-4, 210, QB, Sr.
Bound for UCLA, Nottingham was the East Bay Offensive Player of the Year after completing 246 of 342 passes for 3,818 yards and 44 touchdowns. Also named to the San Francisco Chronicle’s All-Bay Area Team. 
Matt Viles, Edison
File photo by Louis Lopez
Matt Viles, Edison (Huntington Beach), 6-3, 192, QB, Sr.
A member of the All-Pac 5 Division Team, Viles led the Chargers to a 13-1 record while completing 213 of 361 passes for 2,948 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Terron Ward, De La Salle (Concord), 5-8, 193, RB, Sr.
The Player of the Year in the Bay Area by the Contra Costa Times and the San Francisco Chronicle, Ward led the Spartans to a 28-14 victory over Crenshaw in the CIF Open Division championship game. He finished the season with 2,038 yards rushing on 194 carries with 26 touchdowns.
Devontae Butler, Grant (Sacramento), 5-11, 190, RB, Sr.
The leading rusher in Northern California, Butler gained 2,884 yards on 263 carries and scored 45 touchdowns for the Pacers. He was named to the Sacramento Bee’s All-Metro Team.
Jesse Callier, Warren (Downey), 5-11, 180, RB, Sr.
Led the state of California in rushing with 3,010 yards on 300 carries with 43 touchdowns. Named to the All-Western Division Team.
Dano Graves, Folsom, 5-10, 175, AP, Jr.
The Offensive Player of the Year on the Sacramento Bee’s All-Metro Team,
Graves had a huge season. He completed 246 of 327 passes for 3,882 yards and 52 touchdowns and also rushed 121 times for 874 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Jacob Van Ginkel, Upland, 6-0, 175, K, Jr.
One of the top kickers in the country, Van Ginkel booted 16 field goals on the season, including five of at least 40 yards, with a long of 47. He is a two-time all-area pick by the Riverside Press-Enterprise and was also a solid punter with a 40.2 yards-per-kick average.
First Team Defense
Justin Utupo, Lakewood, 6-3, 250, DL, Sr.
The defensive player of the year on the All-Southland Team by the Los Angeles Times, Utupo was also the defensive player of the year in the Moore League. He had 16 sacks and 29 tackles for losses. He will play at Notre Dame.
George Uko, Don Lugo (Chino), 6-4, 280, DL, Sr.
A member of the Inland Valley Bulletin’s all-area team, Uko is one of the top defensive line recruits in the country. He had 15 sacks and 88 tackles on the season. He has committed to USC.
Vei Moala, Grant (Sacramento), 6-3, 325, DL, Jr.
One of the top recruits in the country in the Class of 2011, Moala was the defensive MVP on the Sacramento Bee’s All-Metro Team. He had 104 tackles on the season with 15 sacks.
Charles Burks, Edison (Huntington Beach), 6-0, 220, DL, Sr.
Burks helped Edison to an unbeaten regular season with 14 sacks in 10 games. Although he missed the playoffs with a broken leg, Burks was named the Sunset League’s defensive lineman of the year and was also named to the All-Pac 5 Division team.
Tre Madden, Mission Viejo, 6-1, 220, LB, Jr.
Selected to the All-Southland Team by the Los Angeles Times and the all-county team by the Orange County Register, Madden also earned South Coast League Defensive MVP honors after picking up 101 tackles. Also made the All-Pac 5 Division team.
Jordan Zumwalt, Edison (Huntington Beach), 6-4, 218, LB, Sr.
The Orange County Register’s Defensive Player of the Year, Zumwalt had 164 total tackles, including 10 for loss, and 3.5 sacks. Also named to the All-Southland Team by the Los Angeles Times and was the Pac-5 Division Defensive Player of the Year.
Ronald Powell, Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley), 6-4, 225, LB, Sr.
The MVP of the U.S. Army All-American Game, Powell has risen to the top of some recruiting-service rankings after his spectacular defensive effort in the all-star game. He had seven sacks on the season with 17 tackles for loss. He was chosen the Inland Valley League Defensive MVP and also earned a spot on the All-Central Division Southern Section team as well as the Riverside Press-Enterprise all-area team and the Los Angeles Times All-Southland squad.
Blake Renaud, De La Salle (Concord), 6-1, 225, LB, Jr.
Renaud paced the Spartan defense that overcame a rough start to the season to win the CIF Open Division championship. He had 53 tackles on the season and was named the East Bay Defensive Player of the Year by the Contra Costa Times. Also found a spot on the San Francisco Chronicle’s All-Bay Area Team.
Josh Shirley, Kaiser (Fontana), 6-3, 215, LB, Sr.
Shirley scored on a blocked field goal in the U.S. Army All-American game, climaxing a spectacular high school career that saw him earn all-area honors three straight years. The Sunkist League MVP, Shirley had 105 tackles and five sacks on the season. Shirley was also the defensive MVP of the Eastern Division of the Southern Section.
Sean Parker, Narbonne (Harbor City), 6-0, 185, DB, Sr.
One of the most prized defensive recruits in the country, Parker was named to the All-City Section team and the Los Angeles Times’ All-Southland Team. Helped lead Narbonne to the City Section championship game the past two seasons.
Josh Shaw, Palmdale, 6-2, 190, DB, Sr.
The Golden League MVP, Shaw was a standout at quarterback, where he earned All-Western Division honors, but he was also one of the top defensive backs in the state. Named to the Los Angeles Daily News’ all-area team.
Anthony Brown, Kaiser (Fontana), 6-0, 180, DB, Sr.
The MVP of the all-area team by the Inland Daily Bulletin, Brown rushed for 1,681 yards on 198 carries, but was also a stellar defender at running back with 55 tackles and an interception. He’ll play at USC next year. 
Tony Jefferson, Eastlake
File photo by Kirt Winter
Tony Jefferson, Eastlake (Chula Vista), 6-1, 205, DB, Sr.
Besides rushing for just under 2,000 yards, Jefferson was also a standout in the secondary for Eastlake. He was named to the All-San Diego Section Team after leading Eastlake to the Division I section championship. He’ll play at Oklahoma.
Derrick Brown, Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 6-4, 235, P, Jr.
An outstanding quarterback, Brown threw for 1,886 yards and 18 touchdowns and also rushed for 913 yards and 15 scores. However, he was also one of the best punters in the country with a 45.9 yards-per-punt average. He was the Southwestern League’s Offensive MVP and the Inland Division Offensive MVP. Brown was also named to the Los Angeles Times All-Southland team, along with the Riverside Press-Enterprise all-area squad.
Second Team Offense
Tevin Carter, Santee (Los Angeles), 6-3, 190, WR, Sr.
Headed to Cal next year, Carter was an All-City selection in Los Angeles after catching 42 passes for 1,117 yards and eight touchdowns. He was also a member of the Wave’s all-city team. A standout on defense as well, Carter had 84 tackles and two interceptions.
Kenny Stills, La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad), 6-2, 185, WR, Sr.
The Oklahoma-bound receiver grabbed 56 passes for 1,088 yards on the season and finished his career with over 3,000 receiving yards to set a new San Diego Section record. He was also named to the All-San Diego Section Team.
Joey Branker, Mission Viejo, 5-9, 170, WR, Sr.
A member of the Orange County Register’s All-County Team and the All-Pac 5 Division Team, Branker had 46 catches for 1,097 yards on the season. He was named the MVP of the South Coast League.
Christian Thomas, Highland (Palmdale), 6-3, 240, TE, Sr.
Named to the Los Angeles Daily News’ all-area team, Thomas caught 43 passes for 674 yards on the season with seven touchdowns.
Zach Russell, Trabuco Hills (Mission Viejo), 6-6, 285, OL, Sr.
Named to the all-county team by the Orange County Register, Russell was regarded as the top lineman in the Seaview League. He also landed on the Southern Section’s All-Southwest Division team.
Wilson Edwards, Poly (Long Beach), 6-3, 280, Sr.
Named the offensive lineman of the year in the Moore League, Edwards was also selected to the All-Pac 5 Division team in the Southern Section.
Zach Dilley, Paloma Valley (Menifee), 6-5, 290, OL, Sr.
Named to both the Riverside Press Enterprise all-area team and the All-Central Division team by the Southern Section. He’ll play at San Diego State next year.
David Peterson, Redlands East Valley (Redlands), 6-5, 275, OL, Sr.
An All-Citrus Belt League selection, Peterson also found a spot on the Riverside Press Enterprise’s all-area team and the All-Inland Division Team by the Southern Section.
Avery Poates, Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley), 6-4, 300, OL, Sr.
Found a spot on the All-Inland Division team, as well as the Riverside Press Enterprise all-area team. Will play at Nevada next season.
Jeff Mathews, Camarillo, 6-3, 230, QB, Sr.
Named to the All-Ventura County Large Schools Team and the All-Northern Division team, Mathews had a huge season, completing 209 of 328 passes for 3,314 yards and 37 touchdowns. He had a Southern Section-record 588 yards passing in a 69-20 win over Hueneme.
Alex Bishop, Valencia, 5-10, 166, QB, Jr.
Bishop had a remarkably consistent season, throwing for at least 206 yards or more in every game, including a 422-yard effort in a 49-0 win over Saugus. Finished the year completing 179 of 241 passes for 3,431 yards and 37 touchdowns and was named to the All-Northern Division Team.
Ronald Douglas, Chaffey (Ontario), 6-0, 180, RB, Sr.
One of the leading rushers in the state, Douglas ran for 2,671 yards and scored 24 touchdowns for Chaffey. He landed on the Inland Valley Bulletin’s all-area team and was also named to the All-Central Division Team. 
Ricky Seale, Escondido
File photo by Kirt Winter
Ricky Seale, Escondido, 5-10, 190, RB, Sr.
An All-San Diego Section pick, Seale finished his career as the all-time leading rusher in San Diego Section history with 6,635 yards. He gained 2,418 yards his senior year on 292 carries with 35 touchdowns. He was named to the All-San Diego Section Team.
Kyle Olugbode, Bellarmine (San Jose), 6-0, 185, RB, Jr.
Earned MVP honors from the San Jose Mercury News and was also a first team All-Bay Area player by the San Francisco Chronicle. Helped lead the Bells to the Division I state championship game and finished the season with 1,811 yards rushing on 259 carries with 24 touchdowns.
Greg Watson, Rancho Cucamonga, 6-0, 195, AP, Sr.
Besides passing for 2,678 yards (161 of 279) and 23 touchdowns, Watson also rushed 111 times for 665 yards and 11 scores. He’s the all-time leading passer in San Bernardino County with 6,636 yards, according to the Riverside Press Enterprise, which picked Watson as its all-area quarterback.
Dillan Freiberg, Newport Harbor (Newport Beach), 5-8, 153, K, Sr.
Named to the all-county team by the Orange County Register, Freiberg booted 71 consecutive extra points and finished the season with 12 field goals, including a long of 49 yards.
Second Team Defense
Tony Washington, Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga), 6-4, 225, DL, Sr.
Named the defensive MVP of the Baseline League, this Oregon commit had 85 tackles and registered 10.5 sacks in helping Los Osos reach the section championship game for the first time in school history.
Dylan Wynn, De La Salle (Concord), 6-2, 230, DL, Jr.
Wynn was the only player selected on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball on the Contra Costa Times All-East Bay Team. Wynn finished the season with 66 tackles and 10 sacks on the year.
Thomas Molesi, Oceanside, 6-2, 280, DL, Sr.
Named the Defensive MVP of the Valley League, Molesi anchored the defensive line for the Pirates, who won the CIF Division I state championship. Molesi also made the All-San Diego Section team as the honor squad’s defensive MVP. He will play at Oregon State next year.
Lee Adams, Centennial (Corona), 6-3, 240, DL, Sr.
Adams made the Riverside Press-Enterprise all-area team after finishing the season with 93 tackles and five sacks. He also returned an interception for a touchdown and was the Big VIII League defensive player of the year.
Matt Lester, Chaparral (Temecula), 6-0, 205, LB, Sr.
The Inland Division Defensive MVP, Lester had 70 tackles and 5.5 sacks on the season. He was named the Southwestern League Defensive MVP and was also a member of the Riverside Press-Enterprise all-area team.
Daniel Snelling, Bullard (Fresno), 5-10, 205, LB, Sr.
Snelling led Bullard to an undefeated season and a Central Section Division I championship. He made the Fresno Bee’s all-area team for the second year in a row.
Dave Wilkerson, Monte Vista (Danville), 6-3, 239, LB, Sr.
Headed for Cal, Wilkerson was the leading tackler for Monte Vista with 130. He was named to the all-league team for the second year in a row and was also a member of the Contra Costa Times All-East Bay team and the San Francisco Chronicle’s All-Bay Area Team.
Ryan Hofmeister, Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 6-0, 195, LB, Sr.
Hofmeister was one of the leading tacklers in the state with 195 tackles and 10 sacks. A member of the Riverside Press-Enterprise all-area team, Hofmeister was also named to the All-Inland Division squad by the Southern Section.
Rene Siluano, Oceanside, 5-10, 190, LB, Sr.
A member of the All-San Diego Section Team, Siluano was one of the leading tacklers for the Pirates, who won the CIF Division I state championship for the second time. Siluano will play at San Diego State next season.
Darius Guillory, Chaparral (Temecula), 5-10, 180, DB, Jr.
Selected as the Inland Division Defensive MVP, Guillory had 65 tackles and four interceptions on the season. He also had four fumble recoveries and was a member of the Riverside Press-Enterprise all-area team.
Terrance Mitchell, Burbank (Sacramento), 6-0, 185, DB, Sr.
Mitchell earned All-Metro honors by the Sacramento Bee after intercepting six passes and racking up 70 tackles for the Titans.
Josh Barut, Los Alamitos, 5-11, 175, DB, Sr.
The defensive back of the year in the Sunset League, Barut is a three-time all-league selection. He also made the All-Pac 5 Division team and had 55 tackles and three interceptions on the season.
John Hardy, Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 6-0, 165, DB, Sr.
Hardy set a state record, according to CalHiSports, with 23 blocked kicks in his career. He also was one of the state leaders in interceptions with 10 while also racking up 65 tackles. A member of the Riverside Press-Enterprise All-Area team, Hardy also found a spot on the All-Inland Division team.
Trevor Romaine, Centennial (Corona), 5-11, 175, P, Sr.
One of the top placekickers in the state, Romaine owns the state record for extra point kicks with 217, according to CalHiSports. He was also a standout punter with a 42.2 yards-per-punt average. Headed to Oregon State, Romaine was named to the Riverside Press-Enterprise all-area team.
