MaxPreps 2017 All-NorCal Football Team

Video: From Ashes to End Zone
See the story of how Cardinal Newman battled more than just on-field opponents.

The high school season never truly ends. Just the games. 

Of late, there was National Signing Day, coaches coming and going and the news that Folsom and De La Salle will meet in a season opener next fall (see link below).

Northern California football stars continue to pile up scholarship offers for returning players, including Alabama and Clemson for Folsom's Joseph Ngata.

And of course the postseason honors. Here's the 2017 All-MaxPreps NorCal Team and top coaches.

2017 MaxPreps All-Northern California Football Team

Coach of the Year, Large School
Kris Richardson, Folsom
Richardson led the Bulldogs to their second 16-0 season since 2014 and the school's sixth Sac-Joaquin Section championship this decade, all with one of his youngest teams.

Coach of the Year, Medium School
Paul Cronin, Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa)
It wasn't just leading the storied program to another successful season that left an impact, it was how Cronin kept a shattered team together in the wake of the devastating Tubbs Fire that flattened much of the region, including part of the school.

Coach of the Year, Small Schools
Joey Montoya, Placer (Auburn)
An alumni of the school, Montoya's energy fueled the Hillmen to their first Sac-Joaquin Section championship since 1981, a NorCal title and a berth in the CIF State Division 4-AA finals.
Offensive Player of the Year
WR — Joe Ngata, Folsom, Jr.
The Sacramento Bee Player of the Year, Ngata had 81 catches for 1,777 yards and 26 touchdowns and was unguardable in the playoffs as the Bulldogs went 16-0 and won the CIF State Division I-AA championship.

First team offense
QB — Kaiden Bennett, Folsom, Jr.
The Sacramento Bee Offensive Player of the Year passed for 4,431 yards and 57 touchdowns and rushed for 1,218 and 16 for a 16-0 team that won the CIF State Division I-AA title.

RB — Tariq Bracy, Milpitas, Sr.
The Bay Area News Group Player of the Year ran for 2,042 yards and scored 31 total touchdowns. The Notre Dame commit helped his team win a CIF State title.

RB — Cameron Cherry, Oakdale, Sr.
Setting school rushing records, Cherry ran for 2,154 yards and scored 30 touchdowns, eclipsing 200 yards in a game four times for a team that reached the section Division III finals.

WR — Vincent Mossotti, Campolindo (Moraga), Sr.
Hard to slow down and guard, Mossotti had 77 receptions for 1,219 yards and 16 touchdowns for the North Coast Section Division II champions.

WR — Patrick Nunn, Serra (San Mateo), Sr.
Nunn had 64 receptions for 876 yards and nine touchdowns for the CIF State Division 2-AA champions, the first in program history.

TE — Spencer Webb, Christian Brothers (Sacramento), Sr.
The Oregon-bound Webb caught 61 passes for 1,063 yards and 18 touchdowns, and he made plays as a defensive end.

OL — Max Barth, St. Mary's (Stockton), Sr.
An anchor for two seasons, Barth powered the line game for a program that reached back-to-back Sac-Joaquin Section Division I title games.

OL — Will Craig, Granite Bay, Sr.
Deemed the best player in the Sac-Joaquin Section by his coaches, the Cal-bound Craig overwhelmed teams en route to a Division II section title.

OL — Blake McDonald, San Ramon Valley (Danville), Sr.
The WSU-bound McDonald dominated his craft for another playoff team.

OL — Miles Owens, Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland), Sr.
Owens was paramount in O'Dowd reaching the North Coast Section Division III semifinals. He is headed to Cal.

OL — Kaden Richardson, Folsom, Jr.
One of the best centers in the state was paramount in the Bulldogs going 16-0 and winning the CIF State Division I-AA title.

K — Mariano Robles, Milpitas, Sr.
He made 12 field goals and 72 point-after touchdowns for a state-championship team, missing just twice all season.

AP (All-Purpose) — A'jae Boyd, Pittsburg, Sr.
The heart and soul of the Pirates, Boyd made plays on offense and defense for the Northern California Division 2-A champions.

AP — Gino Campiotti, Manteca, Sr.
Winners of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championship, Campiotti passed for 3,807 yards and had 52 total touchdowns.

AP — Isaah Crocker, Inderkum (Sacramento), Sr.
The Oregon-bound burner torched teams as a receiver and made stops in the secondary for an 11-1 team.

AP — Gunnor Faulk, Christian Brothers (Sacramento), Sr.
The UC Davis-bound Faulk shattered school passing and touchdown records for a 10-3 playoff team, including 48 TD passes.

AP — Tanner Mendoza, Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), Sr.
A driving force for another powerhouse team, Mendoza had 1,687 all-purpose yards and recorded 135 tackles.

AP — Daniyel Ngata, Folsom, So.
With a surge of scholarship offers coming his way, Ngata made plays as a running back and defensive back and excelled on a 16-0 team.

AP — Justin Poerio, Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), Sr.
A kicker, punter, receiver, defensive back and leader, the UC Davis-bound Poerio is one of the greatest players in school history.

AP — Kairee Robinson, De La Salle (Concord), Sr.
Headed to San Jose State, Robinson led the Spartans in rushing and helped power them back to the CIF State Open Division finals.

AP — Isaiah Rutherford, Jesuit (Carmichael), Jr.
A national recruit for his defensive ability in the secondary, Rutherford also ran for more than 1,300 yards for a 10-3 team.

AP — Vincent Smith, Shasta (Redding), Sr.
He ran for 2,363 yards for the Northern Section's top team as the Wolves won their first section title in 29 years and also won the NorCal 3-AA title.

AP — Evan Tattersall, Granite Bay, Sr.
Relentless as a fullback and as a linebacker, the Cal-bound Tattersall led the Grizzlies to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship.

AP — Dylan Williams, Half Moon Bay, Sr.
He had 1,087 all-purpose yards and scored 103 points as a kicker for a team that had its finest season.
Defensive Player of the Year
LB — Henry To'oto'o, De La Salle (Concord), Jr.
The leading tackler and the driving force for a Spartans team that has not lost to a NorCal team since 1991, To'oto'o powered DLS to another CIF State Open Division final.

First team defense
DL — Tuli Letuligasenoa, De La Salle (Concord), Sr.
The Washington-bound Letuligasenoa was the Bay Area's No. 1 recruit and played like it.

DL — Atonio Mafi, Serra (San Mateo), Sr.
The UCLA-bound Mafi was lost for the season early in the playoffs with an injury and still celebrated his team's CIF State title win.

DL — Tyler Manoa, Saint Francis (Mountain View), Sr.
Manoa was a force in the trenches for the CIF State Division 2-AA champions.

DL — Tyler Hardeman, Folsom, Jr.
One of the top linemen in Northern California was paramount in the Bulldogs going 16-0, capped by a CIF State Division I-AA title.

DL — Laiatu Latu, Jesuit (Carmichael), Jr.
A dominating tight end who also blocks kicks, Latu is a national recruit as a defensive end, too.

LB — Harrison Heath, St. Mary's (Stockton), Sr.
The defensive stalwart for a team known for offense, Heath helped the Rams back to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I finals.

LB — Jaime Cousey, Sacramento, Sr.
Unblockable as a rush end for an 11-2 team, Cousey is headed to Sacramento State.

LB  — Nate Otto, Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), Sr.
The defensive leader for an 11-2 team, Otto had 112 solo tackles and earned Sierra Foothill League Defensive MVP honors.

LB — Nicholas Einess, Liberty (Brentwood), Jr.
He had 130 tackles and blocked kicks and punts for an 11-2 team that won its first North Coast Section championship.

DB — Jevon Holland, Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland), Sr.
The Oregon-bound star had five interceptions, scored on special teams and as a receiver for a 9-3 team.

DB — Davion Ross, Inderkum (Sacramento), Sr.
The Sacramento State commit had six interceptions and a school-record 18 for his career for an 11-1 team.

DB — D'Angelo McKenzie, Valley Christian (San Jose), Sr.
The WSU commit had 778 all-purpose yards and dominated in the secondary for a 9-3 team.

DB — Tanner Ward, Folsom, Sr.
The Sacramento Bee Defensive Player of the Year led the defensive charge with blitzes and 130 tackles for a 16-0 team.
Second team offense
QB — Spencer Petras, Marin Catholic (Kentfield), Sr.
RB — Isiah Kendrick, Serra (San Mateo), Sr.
RB — Darrell Page, Saint Francis (Mountain View), Jr.
WR — Anthony Bradley, Sacramento, Sr.
WR — Peter Brown, Marin Catholic (Kentfield), Sr.
TE — Ben Skinner, Marin Catholic (Kentfield), Sr.
OL — Bryan Catchings, Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), Sr.
OL — Tucker Dunbar, Folsom, Sr.
OL — Jarrett Kingston, Anderson, Sr.
OL — Kyle Reis, Manteca, Sr.
OL — Nico Sarale, Oakdale, Sr.

Second team defense
DL — Jacob Bandes, Pittsburg, Jr.
DL — Cade Brownholtz, Jesuit (Carmichael), Jr.
DL — Joey Capra, Placer (Auburn), Jr.
DL — Tyler Gillming, Sutter, Sr.
DL — RJ Stone, Valley Christian (San Jose), Sr.
LB — Blayden Brown, Rocklin (Rocklin), Sr.
LB — Marshaun Hunter, Del Campo (Fair Oaks), Sr.
LB — Tatuo Martinson, Del Oro (Loomis, Calif.), Jr.
LB — Drew Schuler, Salinas, Sr.
DB — Charles Alberty, McClymonds (Oakland), Sr.
DB — Trevor Brouhns, Del Campo (Fair Oaks), Sr.
DB — Emilio Guajardo, Central Catholic (Modesto), Sr.
DB — Logan Reese, Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park), Sr.

The Sacramento Bee on how De La Salle and Folsom came to schedule each other for a football opener in 2018 ... click here

The Sacramento Bee on how being a college walk-on can save face and how lying about commitments on social media is not a wise thing ... click here

Joe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and at sacbee.com