MaxPreps 2014 California All-State Football Teams: Division III

You won't find Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton) among any of the small school section champions in California, but that's because the Gators moved up to play with the big boys and came home giant killers.

After winning the Central Coast Section Division IV championship the past two seasons and competing in the CIF Division III State Championship Bowl Game last year, Sacred Heart Prep accepted a chance to play in the Open Division in the Central Coast Section this year. In doing so, the Gators forfeited the opportunity to return to the Division III Bowl Game since the CCS Open Division champion only qualifies for the Division I Bowl Game.

However, the gamble turned out to be a good one. The Gators defeated the top large school teams in the section, including a 14-0 win over Bellarmine (San Jose) in the championship game, to finish 13-0 on the season. The Gators were not chosen for the Division I NorCal Regional, but that did not diminish the magnitude of their season.

Since Sacred Heart Prep was essentially a Division III-sized school this year, MaxPreps has chosen to consider the Gators for the Division III all-state team. Thus Ben Burr-Kirven, the unequivocal team leader of the two-time section champions, is the Division III State Player of the Year.

Burr-Kirven has twice been named the San Jose Mercury News Player of the Year, taking the honor ahead of some of the top large school players in the south bay. Besides being a hard-charging running back with over 800 yards rushing, Burr-Kirven was one of the top linebacking prospects in the state with 116 tackles on the season. Burr-Kirven will head to Washington next year to play at the next level.

While Burr-Kirven is the Division III Player of the Year, his coach, Pete Lavorato, is the Division III Coach of the Year. In leading Sacred Heart Prep to an unbeaten season, Lavorato was upbeat after his team was denied a bid to participate in the NorCal Regionals.

"It's bittersweet, I suppose," Lavorato told Darren Sabedra of the Mercury News. "It was a great year. How could you be upset after going 13-0? We won the Open. I think we are the best team in the CCS. I can't say enough good things about our coaching staff and our kids and how wonderful they were and are."

A five-time Grey Cup champion while playing in the Canadian Football League, Lavorato has won four section championships with the Gators.

The Division III All-State Team consists of players from teams that compete in the sections designated by the CIF as Division III bowl game qualifiers. Teams that were moved to Open Division play in their respective sections were still considered in their enrollment division.


First Team Offense

WR – Bailey Gaither, Paso Robles, 6-1, 170, Senior
Honors: San Luis Obispo Tribune All-Area Player of the Year; Southern Section All-Northern Division Offensive Player of the Year.
Stats: 73 catches, 1,480 yards, 20 touchdowns, 30 touchdowns total. Career: 167 catches, 3,277 yards, 41 touchdowns.

WR – Darnay Holmes, Newbury Park, 5-11, 185, Sophomore
Honors: Ventura County Star All-Area Team.
Stats: 89 catches, 1,350 yards, 15 touchdowns.

WR – Jordan Genato, Terra Nova (Pacifica), 6-0, 180, Senior
Honors: San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Team; San Jose Mercury News All-Area Team.
Stats: 104 catches, 2,000 yards, 22 touchdowns.

TE – Tyler Petite, Campolindo (Moraga), 6-5, 230, Senior
Honors: San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Team; Contra Costa Times All-East Bay Team.
Stats: 37 catches, 969 yards, 9 touchdowns.

OL – Zach Okun, Newbury Park, 6-4, 310, Senior
Honors: Los Angeles Times All-Area Team; Ventura County Star Offensive Player of the Year; Southern Section All-Northern Division Team; Los Angeles Daily News All-Area Team.

OL – Brady Aiello, Acalanes (Lafayette), 6-7, 265, Senior
Honors: Contra Costa Times All-East Bay Team; San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Team.

OL – Kevin Estes, San Marcos, 6-5, 270, Senior
Honors: San Diego Section All-Section Team.

OL – Austin Lucht, Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), 6-2, 300, Senior
Honors: San Diego Section All-Section Team.

OL – Noah Myers, Las Lomas (Walnut Creek), 6-5, 300, Senior
Honors: Contra Costa Times All-East Bay Team; San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Team.

QB – Anthony Gordon, Terra Nova (Pacifica), 6-3, 180, Senior
Honors: San Jose Mercury News All-Area Team; San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Team.
Stats: 324 completions, 470 attempts, 4,899 yards, 49 touchdowns. Career: 566 completions, 810 attempts, 8,305 yards, 81 touchdowns.

QB – Daniel Prieto, Newbury Park, 6-0, 175, Senior
Honors: Ventura County Star All-Area Team; Los Angeles Daily News All-Area Offensive Player of the Year; Southern Section All-Northern Division Team.
Stats: 247 completions, 358 attempts, 3,687 yards, 47 touchdowns.

RB – Sheldon Arnold, Santee (Los Angeles), 5-11, 190, Senior
Honors: Los Angeles City Section All-Division III Team.
Stats: 204 carries, 2,602 yards, 28 touchdowns. Career: 394 carries, 4,956 yards, 60 touchdowns.

RB – Gabriel Cabezuela, Wasco, 5-11, 185, Senior
Honors: Bakersfield Californian All-Area Team.
Stats: 225 carries, 2,009 yards, 16 touchdowns.

RB – Moby Contreras, Los Amigos (Fountain Valley), 5-10, 180, Senior
Honors: Southern Section All-Southern Division Team; Orange County Register All-County Third Team.
Stats: 276 carries, 2,391 yards, 25 touchdowns.

AP – Brandon Jones, Bakersfield Christian, 6-3, 200, Senior
Honors: Bakersfield Californian All-Area Team.
Stats: 229 completions, 351 attempts, 3,565 yards, 36 touchdowns. Career: 481 completions, 780 attempts, 7,930 yards, 90 touchdowns.

K – Bryce Pasky, Paso Robles, 5-10, 175, Senior
Honors: Los Angeles Times All-Area Team; Southern Section All-Northern Division Team; San Luis Obispo Tribune All-Area Team.
Stats: 8 field goals, long of 48, 67 of 71 extra points, 39.6 punting average.

First Team Defense

DL – Ben Schrider, Saint Mary's (Albany), 6-4, 225, Senior
Honors: Contra Costa Times All-East Bay Team; San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Team.
Stats: 34 tackles, 9 sacks, 15 hurries.

DL – Hugo Martinez, Chavez (Delano), 5-11, 210, Junior
Honors: Bakersfield Californian All-Area Team.
Stats: 135 tackles, 47 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 5 forced fumbles.

DL – Jaquille Bradford, Hoover (San Diego), 5-11, 250, Senior
Honors: San Diego Section All-Section Team.
Stats: 116 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 23 sacks, 16 hurries. Career: 306 tackles, 55 sacks, 94 tackles for loss.

DL – Chris Fletcher, Novato, 6-2, 225, Senior
Honors: Marin Independent Journal Defensive Player of the Year.
Stats: 53 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 11 sacks.

LB – Ben Burr-Kirven, Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton), 6-0, 200, Senior
Honors: San Jose Mercury News All-Area Player of the Year; San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Team.
Stats: 116 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions.

LB – Riley Vickner, Sutter, 6-1, 190, Senior
Honors: All-Northern Section Team.
Stats: 192 tackles, 15 tackles for loss.

LB – D.J. Smith, El Capitan (Lakeside), 6-0, 225, Senior
Honors: San Diego Section All-Section Team; All-East County Team.
Stats: 134 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks.

LB – Josh Oliver, Paso Robles, 6-5, 225, Senior
Honors: San Luis Obispo Tribune All-Area Team; Lee Central Coast Newspapers All-Area Team; Southern Section All-Northern Division Defensive Player of the Year.
Stats: 13 sacks.

LB – Chucky Smith, Newbury Park, 6-0, 190, Senior
Honors: Southern Section All-Northern Division Team; Ventura County All-Area Team; Los Angeles Daily News All-Area Team.
Stats: 112 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 4 sacks.

DB – Ron Smith, Saint Mary's (Albany), 6-1, 165, Senior
Honors: Contra Costa Times All-East Bay Team; San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Team.
Stats: 69 tackles, 2 interceptions.

DB – Dalton Geringer, Newbury Park, 6-1, 180, Senior
Honors: Ventura County Star All-Area Team; Los Angeles Daily News All-Area Second Team; Southern Section All-Northern Division Team.
Stats: 7 interceptions.

DB – Elijah Thompson, Los Angeles, 5-10, 170, Junior
Honors: Los Angeles All-City Section Division III Player of the Year.
Stats: 75 carries, 724 yards, 6 touchdowns rushing, 37 catches, 715 yards, 4 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 40 tackles.

DB – Nick Fadelli, Campolindo (Moraga), 5-11, 190, Senior
Honors: San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Team; Contra Costa Times All-East Bay Team.
Stats: 36 touchdowns. 1,870 yards rushing, 204 carries.

P – Andrew Ferrero, St. Ignatius (San Francisco), 6-2, 175, Senior
Honors: San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Team; San Jose Mercury News All-Area Team.
Stats: 39.7 punting average, 9 field goals.

Second Team Offense

WR – Kerr Johnson Jr, Analy (Sebastopol), 5-11, 175, Senior
Honors: San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Second Team.
Stats: 56 catches, 1,209 yards, 21 touchdowns.

WR – Shawn Wilson, Pomona, 5-11, 170, Senior
Honors: Inland Daily Bulletin All-Inland Offensive Player of the Year; Southern Section All-Mid Valley Division Team.
Stats: 50 catches, 1,375 yards, 19 touchdowns.

WR – Joseph De La Cruz, Farmersville, 5-8, 160, Senior
Honors: Visalia Times Delta All-Area Team.
Stats: 84 catches, 1,689 yards, 23 touchdowns. Career: 162 catches, 3,144 yards, 44 touchdowns.

TE - Edrico Oliver Jr., Bakersfield Christian, 6-3, 230, Senior
Honors: Bakersfield Californian All-Area Team.
Stats: 55 catches, 1,134 yards, 14 touchdowns.

OL – Sterling Strother, Campolindo (Moraga), 6-5, 230, Junior
Honors: Contra Costa Times All-East Bay Second Team; San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Honorable Mention.

OL – Thomas Rogers, Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton), 6-2, 220, Senior
Honors: San Jose Mercury News All-Area Team; San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Honorable Mention.

OL – Branden Keding, Pioneer (San Jose), 6-3, 280, Senior
Honors: San Jose Mercury News All-Area Team.

OL – Gildardo Sandoval, Fillmore, 6-1, 210, Senior
Honors: Ventura County Star All-Area Team; Southern Section All-Northern Division Team.

OL – James McBride, Sutter, 6-4, 301, Senior
Honors: All-Northern Section Team.

QB – Sam Metcalf, Farmersville, 6-0, 185, Senior
Honors: Visalia Times Delta Offensive Player of the Year.
Stats: 212 completions, 371 attempts, 3,360 yards, 42 touchdowns. Career: 711 completions, 1,236 attempts, 11,913 yards, 140 touchdowns.

QB – Nick Brown, Rancho Alamitos (Garden Grove), 6-0, 170, Senior
Honors: Southern Section All-Southern Division Offensive Player of the Year.
Stats: 258 completions, 416 attempts, 3,998 yards, 52 touchdowns.

RB – Alex Shelton, Bernstein (Hollywood), 5-8, 165, Junior
Honors: Los Angeles City Section All-Division III Team.
Stats: 277 carries, 2,357 yards, 22 touchdowns.

RB – Bulla Graft, Bishop's (La Jolla), 5-8, 170, Senior
Honors: San Diego Section All-Section Team.
Stats: 130 carries, 1,619 yards, 25 touchdowns.

RB – Greg Johnson, Hawkins (Los Angeles), 5-11, 185, Sophomore
Honors: Los Angeles City Section All-Division III Team.
Stats: 147 carries, 2,371 yards, 20 touchdowns, 41 completions, 65 attempts, 1,049 yards passing, 8 touchdown passes, 20 catches, 416 yards, 4 touchdown receptions.

AP – Nico Portillo, Corcoran, 5-10, 170, Senior
Honors: Hanford Sentinel All-County Player of the Year.
Stats: 262 completions, 406 yards, 3,558 yards, 32 touchdowns.

K – Grant Schober, Maranatha (Pasadena), 6-2, 170, Senior
Honors: Pasadena Star News All-Area Team.
Stats: 9 field goals, 41.9 punting average.

Second Team Defense

DL – Jacob Murrieta, Kennedy (Fremont), 6-3, 220, Senior
Honors: Contra Costa Times All-East Bay Team; San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Team.
Stats: 25 sacks.

DL – Andres Enriquez, Carmel, 6-0, 185, Senior
Honors: Salinas Californian All-County Team.
Stats: 75 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 9 sacks.

DL – Anthony Hopson, Vanden (Fairfield), 5-9, 180, Junior
Honors: Fairfield Republic All-Area Defensive Player of the Year.
Stats: 52 tackles, 15 sacks, 14 hurries.

DL – Cyrus Nolan, Bishop's (La Jolla), 6-4, 210, Senior
Honors: Coastal League Defensive Player of the Year.
Stats: 60 tackles, 11 sacks.

LB – Andre Walker, Pomona, 5-10, 180, Senior
Honors: Inland Valley Bulletin All-Inland Team; Southern Section All-Mid Valley Division Defensive Player of the Year.
Stats: 183 tackles, 12 sacks.

LB – Adam Remotto, Campolindo (Moraga), 5-10, 210, Senior
Honors: Contra Costa Times All-East Bay Second Team; San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Second Team.
Stats: 7 rushing touchdowns, 7 receiving touchdowns.

LB – Shane Hersh, Nordhoff (Ojai), 5-8, 190, Senior
Honors: Ventura County Star All-Area Team; Southern Section All-Northern Division Team.

LB – Dante Gomez, Aptos, 6-2, 225, Senior
Honors: Santa Cruz Sentinel All-County Defensive Player of the Year.
Stats: 5 interceptions.

LB – Johnny Garcia, Lincoln (San Diego), 5-10, 190, Senior
Honors: San Diego Section All-Section Team.
Stats: 163 tackles, 9 tackles for loss.

DB – Zack Fulks, Las Lomas (Walnut Creek), 5-9, 178, Senior
Honors: Contra Costa Times All-East Bay Team; San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Second Team.
Stats: 8 interceptions.

DB – Bradley Mickey, Arroyo Grande, 5-10, 165, Junior
Honors: Lee Central Coast Newspapers Defensive Player of the Year; San Luis Obispo Tribune All-Area Team; Southern Section All-Northern Division Team.
Stats: 83 tackles, 10 interceptions.

DB – Peyton Witcher, Nipomo, 5-9, 165, Senior
Honors: Southern Section All-Northwest Division Defensive Player of the Year; San Luis Obispo Tribune All-Area Team; Lee Central Coast Newspapers All-Area Team.
Stats: 142 tackles, 9 interceptions.

DB – Jarred Turner, El Capitan (Lakeside), 5-10, 165, Senior
Honors: San Diego Section All-Section Team.
Stats: 8 interceptions.

P – Alex Ceja, Garden Grove, 6-1, 170, Senior
Honors: Orange County Register All-County Second Team; Southern Section All-Southern Division Defensive Player of the Year.
Stats: 40.3 punting average, 50 completions, 79 attempts, 799 yards, 9 touchdowns passing, 132 carries, 1,165 yards rushing, 21 touchdowns rushing, 68 tackles, 3 interceptions on defense.