California high school football: Hunter Babb of Caruthers headlines Small Town All-State Team

Although the California Interscholastic Federation has transitioned from an enrollment-based state football playoff format to a competitive-equity model, small town teams still found a way to shine during the 2023-24 season.


Which goes to show that there is plenty of talent coming out of small towns in California. MaxPreps is recognizing that talent with its inaugural California Small Town All-State Team. The 30-member squad consists of players from schools with an enrollment under 1,000 students from towns with a population of under 10,000 citizens.


The Small Town All-State Team MVP is Hunter Babb of Caruthers. The senior led the nation in rushing yards per game at 295 and led the nation in overall rushing yards for most of the season before eventually finishing fourth with 3,245 yards.

The Small Town Coach of the Year honors goes to Mikey Badaluco of Colusa, who led the Red Hawks to a 14-0 season — the best record in school history — with a convincing 33-17 win over Sweetwater.

Read on for the 30-member California Small Town All-State Team along with the California Small Top Top 25 rankings.
California Small Town All-State Team

Offense
WR — Omar Sanchez, Hamilton (Hamilton City)
5-8 | 135 | Senior
All-Northern Section first-team selection, he caught 53 passes for 1,393 yards and 19 touchdowns.

WR — Deandre Smith, Linden
6-2 | 180 | Sophomore
Named to the Black Hat All-209 team, Smith caught 68 passes for 1,039 yards and 10 touchdowns.

WR — Diego Diaz, Fowler
6-0 | 160 | Senior
One of the leading receivers in the state, he caught 65 passes for 1,014 yards and 11 touchdowns.

TE — Isaiah Travis, Colusa
6-5 | 185 | Senior
All-Northern Section first-team pick caught 43 passes for 900 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Class 6-A state champions.

OL — Jaxon Ludwig, Sonora
6-3 | 230 | Senior
Made the Black Hat All-209 team after earning Lineman of the Year honors in the Mother Lode League.

OL — Jordan Wynne, Summerville (Tuolumne)
6-1 | 240 | Senior
Joined his brother Reece as a three-year starter for the Bears and a member of the Black Hat All-209 team

OL — Reece Wynne, Summerville
6-0 | 250 | Senior
Joined his brother Jordan as a three-year starter for the Bears and a member of the Black Hat All-209 team

OL — Jackson Lloyd, Carmel
6-6 | 280 | Junior
One of the top recruits in the nation for the Class of 2025, Lloyd earned All-Monterey County honors.

OL — Navi Arretche, Hughson
6-4 | 315 | Senior
Paved the way on offense for a team that racked up 5,600 yards of offense. Named to the Black Hat All-209 team.

K — Jesus Bon, Dos Palos
5-9 | 150 | Sophomore
Among the state leaders in field goals with six, Bon also made 44 of 45 extra points and finished with 62 kicking points.

AP — Donovan Rozevink, Escalon
6-3 | 200 | Senior
The Modesto Bee's All-District Player of the Year completed 142 of 230 passes for 2,106 yards and 36 touchdowns for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV champions.

Defense

DL — Auckland Asiata, Sutter
6-2 | 240 | Senior
Named to the Sacramento Bee's All-Metro first team with 72 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and eight sacks along with 29 hurries.

DL — Hayden Tuccori, Portola
5-11 | 215 | Senior
The two-way standout was named league defensive MVP for the Northern Section Division V champions and was also picked to the All-Northern Section second team.

DL — Corbin Diedrich, Firebaugh
6-5 | 175 | Senior
Selected to the Fresno Bee's All-Star team, Diedrich had 34 tackles with seven tackles for loss and five sacks.

DL — Ryan Lewis, Escalon
6-4 | 220 | Junior
The Trans Valley League's defensive Player of the Year had 72 tackles and 8.5 sacks while also earning All-District honors by the Modesto Bee.

LB — Christian Padilla, Orland
5-10 | 180 | Senior
The Butte View League defensive MVP and a first-team All-Northern Section pick, Padilla had 123 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 11 sacks for the Northern Section Division 3 champions.

LB — Fermin Velarde, Holtville
5-8 | 185 | Senior
One of the leading tacklers in the state with 159 tackles and 12.5 sacks, Velarde finished his career with 431 tackles and 17 sacks.

LB — David Burns, Hughson
5-11 | 195 | Senior
For the second straight year, Burns made the All-District team by the Modesto Bee as he racked up 131 tackles for the Sac-Joaquin Section Class VI champions.

LB — Mason Cartwright, Sutter
6-2 | 220 | Senior
Named to the Sacramento Bee's All-Metro first team defense after posing 114 tackles for the Huskies.

DB — Sam Jimenez, Escalon
6-1 | 175 | Junior
Rich Estrada of the Black Hat All-209 team chose Jimenez as the North MVP after he had eight interceptions on defense and racked up 982 yards on 67 receptions with 18 touchdowns on offense for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV champions.

DB — Ashton Rees, Carmel
6-2 | 170 | Junior
Named the Mission Division South's Player of the Year, Rees led Carmel in scoring with 117 points and also had two interceptions on defense.

DB — Bryce Nicolson, Sonora
6-2 | 185 | Senior
Named the most valuable player in the Mother Lode League for the conference champions. Named to the Black Hat All-209 team.

DB — Isaak Kasso, Ferndale
6-1 | 170 | Senior
A spark plug as a receiver for the Class 7-AA champions, Kasso also had a number of interceptions during the year, including one for a 102-yard return and another in the state finals.

P — Brenden Gratt, Taft
6-0 | 217 | Senior
The leader among small-town punters with an average of 37.2 yards per kick with 12 placed inside the 20-yard line.

AP — Jacob Poole, Strathmore
5-10 | 160 | Senior