All-Area First Team Football
OFFENSE
QB — Brandon Cox, Junior, Pasadena
All-Pacific League first-team selection shined this season with his arm and his legs. Through the air, he threw 26 touchdowns to just five interceptions, completing 60% of his passes for 2,697 yards. On the ground, he led his team with 562 yards and eight touchdowns in 96 carries.
RB — Austin De Los Santos, Senior, St. Francis
A first-team All-Mission League honoree, he scored five touchdowns and rushed for 1,049 yards in 203 carries, becoming the first St. Francis back to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing since 2008.
RB — Kwame Do, Senior, San Marino
Rio Hondo League co-Most Valuable Player was the Titans’ workhorse en route to the playoffs. Rushed for more than 1,600 yards and just over 200 yards receiving while tallying 25 touchdowns.
RB — Marro Lee, Senior, Crescenta Valley
Came back from an injury in his junior year to lead the Falcons offense and earn first-team All-Pacific League honors with 1,187 yards rushing and nine touchdowns in 201 attempts, while also adding 27 catches for 223 yards and three more scores.
WR — Nick Ruiz, Senior, Crescenta Valley
Eclipsed 1,000-yard mark, as he hauled in 12 touchdowns on 57 catches for third-place Falcons and also became a stellar defensive back.
WR — Riian Simpson, Senior, Pasadena
All-Pacific League second-teamer put up first-team numbers with 1,001 receiving yards on 49 catches and also hauled in eight touchdowns.
OL — Freddie Barnes, Junior, Pasadena
First-team All-Pacific League selection was a huge asset for the Bulldogs’ high-octane offense.
OL — Kristion Grbavac, Senior, St. Francis
A three-year starter, captain and the leader in the trenches, Grbavac displayed great versatility, skill and a mean streak. A natural at center, made the move to tackle for the good of the team and was a standout despite his small stature in garnering first-team All-Mission League honors.
OL — Joe Marrone, Senior, St. Francis
Returning three-year starter was an All-Mission League first-team selection for the Golden Knights, as he was a crucial cog in an offense that totaled nearly 4,300 yards of offense in 12 games.
OL — Lester Quintana, Senior, Burroughs
Was a leading force in the assault on the record books that was Indians running back Zander Anding’s season. Earned All-Pacific League honor.
OL — Gus Ferrat, Senior, Burroughs
Was a key attribute in the Indians’ ground-and-pound success who was voted to the Pacific League first team.
K — Pavle Atanackovic, Senior, Crescenta Valley
First-team All-Pacific League pick converted a 52-yard field goal against Glendale and a 49-yarder against La Cañada and eight overall. The reigning All-Area Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year was also perfect on all 35 point-after attempts.
DEFENSE
DL — Nick Gott, Junior, San Marino
Also a phenomenal blocking fullback, was a first-team All-Rio Hondo League pick who had 37 tackles, four sacks, two fumble recoveries and a blocked field goal.
DL — Daniel Leon, Senior, Poly
A force for the short-handed Panthers, the 6-foot-3, 290-pound Prep League first-teamer notched 30 tackles and six sacks for Pasadena Poly.
DL — Tyler Marona, Senior, St. Francis
A pass-rushing force, the second-team all-league selection put up first-team numbers with 11 sacks, which was one of the biggest sack totals in recent memory for a Golden Knights player.
LB — Luke Anderson, Senior, St. Francis
Despite missing four games with an injury, Anderson still put up 97 tackles in an All-Mission League first-team season, averaging 10.8 a game and tallying 71 solo tackles.
LB — Matt Hall, Soph., Maranatha
The Olympic League Defensive Player of the Year had a breakthrough season for the Minutemen, tallying a team-high 137 tackles in 11 games to go with two sacks and an interception.
LB — Nathan Hamming, Senior, Poly
A pass-rushing force, the 6-foot-3, 225-pounder tallied 12 sacks in addition to 78 tackles en route to Prep League first-team honors.
LB — Ryan McAleenan, Senior, St. Francis
Three-year starter and captain was a huge key to Golden Knights success and a clutch player, tallying 86 tackles, while also hauling in 23 passes for 308 yards, two touchdowns and many of them for big first downs. Was named Mission League co-Lineman of the Year.
LB — Denzel Talifero, Junior, Muir
A tackling machine for the Mustangs, the All-Pacific League selection had 143 tackles in 13 games, including an eye-popping 22 for a loss.
DB — Tarien Owens, Senior, Muir
UCLA-bound standout was a first-team All-Pacific League pick who shined on both sides of the ball. Had nine total touchdowns and 907 total yards on offense. Defensively, he had 41 tackles and two interceptions as a corner.
DB — Kevon Seymour, Senior, Muir
All-Area Player of the Year candidate is headed to USC after doing it all for the Mustangs during their semifinal run. On defense, he had five interceptions, including three for touchdowns. He also returned a punt for a score and had nine touchdown catches and 653 yards receiving on 33 catches.
DB — Travis Talianko, Senior, St. Francis
A two-way standout bound for San Jose State, he came into his own as a dominant safety with 56 tackles and an interception returned for a 90-plus yard touchdown. Offensively, he had 44 catches for 687 yards and three touchdowns.
ALL-PURPOSE
Andrew Elffers, Junior, Maranatha
Much-ballyhooed Minutemen recruit quarterbacked squad back to playoffs and has 22 touchdowns to seven picks, while throwing for 2,029 yards and completing 64% of his passes. First-team All-Olympic League pick also had eight rushing scores.
Christian Hess, Senior, St. Francis
Two-way starter at receiver and defensive back also had two kickoff returns for touchdowns. A second-team All-Mission League receiver, he had 546 yards on 24 catches and had nine touchdowns.
Darien McGee, Senior, Maranatha
An all-purpose threat, the first-team All-Olympic League selection had seven touchdowns receiving and 45 catches for 662 yards, while rushing for 209 yards and five TDs in 18 carries. Was perhaps most dangerous returning kickoffs, though, as he tallied three for scores.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Dave Mitchell,
Muir
Took over as coach of the Mustangs during the course of the season and helped lead the team to a resurgence that included a trip to the CIF Southern Section Southeast Division semifinals for the first time in 13 years.