Ventura’s Tyler Smith hands off to running back Broc Mortensen. (Presidio Sports Photo)
Ventura’s Tyler Smith, Brandon Gooding and the Cougars coaching staff earned the Channel League’s top football awards along with Buena linebacker Dru Mathis.
Smith, who quarterbacked the Cougars to an undefeated league season, was named the Offensive MVP while Gooding and Mathis shared the Defensive MVP honors. Ventura head coach Tim Garcia and his assistants were recognized as Coaching Staff of the Year for leading a program that has won 13 consecutive league games dating back to 2012 and three straight league titles.
Among the three local schools, Santa Barbara High placed six players on the First Team. Dos Pueblos had five and San Marcos three.
First-team selections included Santa Barbara High quarterback Brent Peus, who led the league in passing stats with 1274 yards and 14 touchdowns in four games. His primary receivers, Christopher Jellison and Mason Bigelow, claimed two of the four First Team roster spots for pass catchers. Bigelow compiled 403 yards receiving and five touchdowns. Two-way player Junior Garcia, offensive lineman Andy Lopez, and defensive back Jeremiah Nicholson also made the First Team for the Dons.
Dos Pueblos’ Manny Nwosu totaled 399 yards rushing and 231 yards receiving while scoring six touchdowns in the Chargers’ four league games. The six TDs weren’t enough for the league lead in that department, however, as Ventura’s Broc Mortensen found paydirt seven times.
Dos Pueblos also had junior slot receiver Blake Erwin earn First Team honors along with linebacker Chris Noggle and linemen Erik Botello and Marcellous Gossett.
Representing San Marcos on the First Team are seniors Ivan Reyes, Paul Gularte and D’Shaun Vines.
FIRST TEAM
Name Grade Position Team OFFENSIVE MVP Tyler Smith 12 QB Ventura Co – DEFENSIVE MVP’s Brandon Gooding 11 LB Ventura Dru Mathis 12 LB Buena VARSITY STAFF OF THE YEAR Ventura OFFENSIVE BACKS Broc Mortensen 11 RB Ventura Martin Mijares 12 QB Buena Manny Nwosu 12 RB Dos Pueblos Brent Peus 12 QB Santa Barbara Ivan Reyes 12 RB San Marcos RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS Mason Bigelow 12 WR Santa Barbara Blake Erwin 11 WR Dos Pueblos Christopher Jellison 11 WR Santa Barbara Christian Shaifer 12 WR Ventura OFFENSIVE LINEMEN Erik Botello 12 OL Dos Pueblos Austin Litten 12 OL Ventura Andy Lopez 12 OL Santa Barbara Jacob Lyle 11 OL Buena Ruben Santillan 12 OL Ventura LINEBACKERS Mason Beling 12 LB Buena Junior Garcia 12 LB Santa Barbara Paul Gularte 12 LB San Marcos Connor McDermott 10 LB Ventura Chris Noggle 11 LB Dos Pueblos Justin Rios 11 LB Buena DEFENSIVE BACKS Jeremiah Nicholson 11 DB Santa Barbara Tyler Oliveras 11 DB Buena Rico Stubbs 11 DB Ventura D’Shaun Vines 12 DB San Marcos DEFENSIVE LINEMEN Jaden Crawford 11 DL Ventura Marcellous Gossett 11 DL Dos Pueblos Robert Jansson 11 DL Buena
SECOND TEAM
Name Grade Position Team OFFENSIVE BACKS Sean Babcock 12 RB Santa Barbara Juan Gaytan 11 RB Buena Roan Moran 12 RB Ventura Kellen Roberts 11 RB Dos Pueblos RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS Andrew Bergum 11 WR Buena Jack Gutierrez 11 WR Ventura Blake Kelley 11 WR Santa Barbara OFFENSIVE LINEMEN Erick Nisich 10 OL Dos Pueblos David Orozco 11 OL Buena Zeke Ortega 12 OL Ventura Edwin Rivera 11 OL Santa Barbara Jackson Steiner 12 OL Ventura LINEBACKERS Charles Acuna 12 LB San Marcos Henry Hepp 10 LB Santa Barbara Boomer Marin 12 LB Ventura Carter Soto 12 LB Santa Barbara Anthony Tennison 12 LB Buena Carter Woodruff 12 LB Ventura DEFENSIVE BACKS Anthony Castillo 12 DB Buena Cruz Conboy 10 DB Ventura Josh Davila 12 DB Buena Anthony Meza 11 DB Dos Pueblos Donnavan Zavaleta 11 DB Santa Barbara DEFENSIVE LINEMEN AJ Duffner 12 DL Buena Josh Harrah 11 DL San Marcos Josiah Swim 12 DL Ventura Colton Takis 11 DL Santa Barbara HONORABLE MENTION
Name Grade Team Andrew Conchas 12 Buena Xavier Jimenez 11 Ricky Lopez 11 Oscar Olmos 12 Grayson Rocha 11 Connor Sagendorf 12 Frank Sandoval 12 Brian Yanez 11 Kyle Biskner 12 Dos Pueblos Orion Ehrlich 12 Josh Flores 12 Isahi Melendez 12 Irvin Miguel 11 Mark Carroll 12 San Marcos Anthony Diaz 11 Roberto Miranda 12 Anthony Pico 12 Anthony Ramirez 12 Hugo Ronces 12 Abraham Barazza 11 Santa Barbara Emmett Reese 11 Daniel Rivera 11 Angel Velasquez 11 Freddie Zavala Aric Austin 12 Ventura Daniel Castro 11 Ethan Godsey 12 Isaac Hernandez 12 Steven Hernandez 12 Justin Neathery 10 Keawe Pele-Mendoza 11 Zach Sourwine 12
