SOUTH COUNTY — Gonzales High School placed seven football players on the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Santa Lucia Division All-League first-team, while Greenfield High Bruins had three players chosen first-team offense and one player voted first-team for defense.
The division champion Spartans had four players on the first-team for offense, and three on the first-team defensive team. Gonzales running back Payton Flores was voted the Division’s Most Valuable Player and head coach Arthur Berlanga was voted as the Coach of the Year.
Flores has rushed for 2,344 yards and scored 30 touchdowns to lead the Spartans in rushing and scoring. Flores was also a standout on defense as he finished the season with four interceptions.
Berlanga guided the team to 11-0 record and the semifinals of the Central Coast Section Division 5 playoffs. Berlanga is in his second year as head coach of the Spartans.
Joining Flores on the offense for Gonzales were: Raul Morales, quarterback; Dominic Emery, receiver; and Miguel Arreola as an offensive lineman. Greenfield players on the first-team offense were: Jaime Soto, running back; Jose Hernandez, receiver; and Chris Espinoza, offensive lineman.
Other players chosen first-team on offense were: Dylan Santos (ST) quarterback; Tanner Jones (SQ) quarterback; Carlos Hernandez (PV) running back; Darius Bedford (SQ) running back; Ernie Guevara (MA) receiver; Ryan Douglas (ST) tight end; Felipe Olvera (MA) lineman; Bohan Xu (ST) lineman; and Jeremiah Corpuz (SQ) lineman.
On the defensive side of the ball, Gonzales first-team players were: Pablo Villasenor, defensive lineman;
Nael Vasquez, linebacker; Franky Cisneros, defensive back; and Franky Cisneros-Leon at defensive back. Greenfield’s Raul Martinez was first-team defense as a defensive back.
Rounding out the first-team defensive unit were: Manuel Murillo (PV) lineman; David Blanke (SQ) lineman; Connor Adams (ST) linebacker; Brendan Bobo (HA) linebacker; Alex Murray (ST) defensive back; Elijah Norlund (MA) defensive back; Jarred Martinez (SQ) defensive back.
Voted as second-team on offense were: Alex Morga (GO) receiver; Pablo Villasenor (GO) lineman; Diego Velasquez (GF) receiver; Andy Espinoza (GF) tight end; Sergio Aguirre (GF) lineman; Michael Barrera (MA) quarterback; Tyler Olson (ST) running back; Darryl Williams (SQ) running back; Evan Johnston (ST) receiver; Connor Casand (ST) receiver; Nate Maas (SQ) tight end; Anthony Garcia (MA) tight end; Ethan White (ST) lineman; Aaron Oliveros (PV) lineman; and Fernando Garcia (SQ) lineman.
Second-team defensive players were: Miguel Arreola (GO) lineman; Jose Lopez (GO) lineman; Michael Duby (GO) defensive back; Jayson Flores (GO) defensive back; Jacob Amador (GO) defensive back; Alfredo Mendoza (GF) linebacker; Coleman Riopel (SQ) lineman; Alex Romans (ST) linebacker; Josue Gutierrez (PV) linebacker; Brayden Eller (SQ) linebacker; Preston Burgess (HA) defensive back; and Danh Lee (MA) defensive back.
Chosen to the Santa Lucia Sportsmanship team were: Jeff Rivera (MA); Aviel Avila (GO); Bryan Salim (ST); Fabian Zavala (GF); and Allen Hernandez (PV).
