Ventura sweeps Channel League awards for football

Ventura’s Conner Armstrong, Nick Januska, Zack Hays, and the Cougars’ coaching staff claimed the Channel League’s top awards for football this season, a nod to the league’s best team.

Ventura was undefeated in Channel League play and won its first 11 games overall before falling to Santa Monica in the second round of CIF-ss playoffs.

Armstrong was a senior running back for the Cougars and was credited with 1632 yards rushing on the season while averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Armstrong rushed for 23 touchdowns on the ground and added a receiving touchdown.

Santa Barbara Dons Cheroke Cunningham was the only sophomore who made the all-league team. Cunningham had a 1,000-yard season with 16 touchdowns to his credit.

Dos Pueblos back Josh Bartley was named Channel League offensive MVP in 2010 but an injury-plagued season limited his impact on the playing field. Even still, Bartley did enough to make the league’s first team. In games he did play, Bartley helped the Chargers win the City Championship for the second-straight season.

The Dons and Chargers will have the most all-league performers returning next season. Cunningham, linebacker Jason Jimenez, and kicker Matt Medina return for Santa Barbara. Offensive lineman Jason Shwartz, linebacker Anthony Spiritosanto, and kicker Nico Bornand will be back for the Chargers.

Ventura, meanwhile, will lose 12 seniors named to this year’s all-league team.

2011 ALL-CHANNEL LEAGUE

OFFENSIVE MVP
Conner Armstrong 12 RB Ventura

DEFENSIVE MVP
Nick Januska 12 DB Ventura
Zack Hays 12 DL Ventura

VARSITY STAFF OF THE YEAR
Ventura

OFFENSE

OFFENSIVE BACKS
Josh Bartley 12 RB Dos Pueblos
Rodney Stanley 12 QB Ventura
Leo Camacho 11 RB Ventura
Cheroke Cunningham 10 RB Santa Barbara
Andrew Martinez 12 RB Buena

RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
Nick Rudolph 12 WR Ventura
Hunter Winans 12 WR Ventura
Andrew Thayer 12 WR San Marocs

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Jungi Kang 12 OL Santa Barbara
Tyson Rising 11 OL Buena
Jason Schwartz 11 OL Dos Pueblos
Cory Pulido 12 OL Ventura
Devin Walker 12 OL Ventura

DEFENSE

LINEBACKERS
Jason Jimenez 11 LB Santa Barbara
Ryan Wilson 12 LB Buena
Anthony Spiritosanto 11 LB Dos Pueblos
Daniel Blanchard 12 LB Ventura
Niko Lopez 11 LB Ventura

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Kendrick Mathis 12 DB Buena
Marshall Moua 12 DB Dos Pueblos
Mason Mascorro 12 DB Ventura
Bradford Jellison 12 DB Santa Barbara

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Isaac Gomez 12 DL Dos Pueblos
Jacob Larson 12 DL Ventura
Elias Alvarado 12 DL Santa Barbara
Sean Cobos 12 DL Buena

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter
Nico Bornand 11 P Dos Pueblos

Kicker
Matt Medina 11 K Santa Barbara