Best of Sacramento Bee’s best: 2010’s All-Decade Prep Football Team
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Ten seasons, nearly 100 schools and thousands of players to ponder.
How does one pick a Sacramento Bee All-Decade Football Team for this decade without the perception of hurling so much expired egg nog on everyone’s holiday cheer?
You pass on the project and reach for more egg nog. No, not us. We went all in on on this one and attacked like taking on a blocking sled. And then we sought help. We asked coaches for nominations, went to social media to drum up names, scratched our own foggy memory banks and pored over scores of All-Metro teams for starters.
And then we decided that the list would be based on high school achievements only, not who played better in college or in the pros. And then you boil it down even more to those who were at least twice named first team All-Metro. Now we prepare for the email inbox and social media to be bombarded by the jilted mother or aunt who bellows on her keyboard, “You have ruined our New Year! Shame on you!” or even the ex-player who may fire off “still hating on me!”
Hopefully, time cools those hot passions.
Folsom led the charge on this all-decade group. It was the clear team of the decade, led by the The Bee’s Player of the Decade, the Coach of the Decade and players for any era.
Folsom was the most elite program in the region for any decade. The Bulldogs amassed more wins (138), more section championships (seven) and more CIF State banners (four) than any other program for any decade, not to mention more national recruits.
Folsom’s record-setting quarterback Jake Browning is The Bee’s Player of the Decade, and he was more than just a guy with a golden arm. His coach, Kris Richardson, is The Bee’s Coach of the Decade. Folsom’s 2014 juggernaut that went 16-0 is The Bee’s Team of the Decade, an outfit that had 16 consecutive running-clock wins. This team wins a lot of arguments about its place in history as perhaps the area’s greatest team.
Browning was the clear choice for Player of the Decade. In his first varsity start as a sophomore in 2012, Browning tossed a regional record 10 touchdown passes. He never slowed down. Browning became the most prolific player in national high school history with a record 229 touchdown passes, including a national record 91 his senior season in 2014.
His 16,689 yards are a state record and one of the highest totals in national history.
At Washington, Browning was a four-year starter who set scores of program passing marks. He is now with the Minnesota Vikings.
This list also includes others who reached the NFL as first rounders with stories beyond blocking and tackling, including Grant’s Shaq Thompson, now with Carolina, tackle Kolton Miller with the Raiders, tackle Jonah Williams with the Bengals and defensive lineman Arik Armstead with the 49ers. Williams was the most dominant player I have observed at the prep level and the best player in regional history, according to several area coaches.
This list also has something of a family generational feel to it, sure to incite bragging rights at the next family feed.
Thompson’s older brother Syd was a member of The Bee’s All-Decade 2000s team for Grant, both inspired by their mother, Patty, who died earlier this fall. Tucker Fisk of Davis made this All-Decade team after his father Jason did so for Davis on The Bee’s 1990s team. Damen Wheeler of Sacramento High landed on our list this decade 20 years after his dad, also Damen, made The Bee’s All-Decade 1990s team in the secondary for Valley.
And brothers Joe and Daniyel Ngata of Folsom are on this All-Decade Team.
Dig in, and someone round up a game at the local park.
The Bee’s All-Decade 2010’s Football Team
Player of the Decade: Jake Browning, Folsom
Coach of the Decade: Kris Richardson, Folsom
Team of the Decade: Folsom, 2014 (16-0)
QB: Jake Browning, Folsom, 2014
RB: Elijah Dotson, Antelope, 2016
RB: Cameron Skattebo, Rio Linda, 2019
TE: Wes Preece, Rocklin, 2015
TE: Spencer Webb, Christian Brothers, 2017
WR: Elijhah Badger, Folsom, 2019
WR: Joe Ngata, Folsom, 2018
WR: Alex Van Dyke, Cosumnes Oaks, 2013
OL: Gavin Andrews, Granite Bay, 2011
OL: Kolton Miller, Roseville, 2013
OL: Steven Moore, Elk Grove, 2013
OL: Darrin Paulo, Grant, 2014
OL: Jonah Williams, Folsom, 2015
DL: Arik Armstead, Pleasant Grove, 2011
DL: Jessie Brown, Monterey Trail, 2010
DL: Will Craig, Granite Bay, 2017
DL: Chase Hatada, Rocklin, 2015
DL: Eddie Vanderdoes, Placer, 2012
LB: Jordan Kunaszyk, Roseville, 2013
LB: Bailey Laolagi, Folsom, 2014
LB: Josh Letuligasenoa, Elk Grove, 2012
LB: Cameron Smith, Granite Bay, 2013
LB: Shaq Thompson, Grant, 2011
LB: Tanner Vallejo, Nevada Union, 2012
DB: Marcel Brown, Rio Linda, 2014
DB: Mason Hurst, Del Oro, 2018
DB: Lamar Jackson, Franklin, 2015
DB: Jordan Richards, Folsom, 2010
DB: Isaiah Rutherford, Jesuit, 2018
DB: Justice Shelton-Mosley, Capital Christian, 2014
AP: Kaiden Bennett, Folsom, 2018
AP: Ian Book, Oak Ridge, 2015
AP: Zach Claiborne, Oak Ridge, 2012
AP: DeShawn Collins, Grant, 2015
AP: Trajon Cotton, Inderkum, 2016
AP: Josh Falo, Inderkum, 2016
AP: Tucker Fisk, Davis, 2016
AP: Nate Iese, Sheldon, 2012
AP: DJ Johnson, Burbank, 2016
AP: Tyler Mateer, Del Oro, 2013
AP: Brandon Monroe, Del Oro, 2012
AP: Zach Larrier, Monterey Trail, 2018
AP: Daniyel Ngata, Folsom, 2019
AP: Ryan Robards, Elk Grove, 2015
AP: Thomas Sperbeck, Jesuit, 2012
AP: Damen Wheeler, Sacramento, 2013
* AP means All-Purpose player
All-Decade Coaching Staff (longtimers who won section titles or won a ton): Kris Richardson/Troy Taylor, Folsom; Mike Alberghini, Grant; Greg Benzel, Rocklin; Marlon Blanton, Jesuit; Dan Carmazzi, Jesuit/Christian Brothers; Joe Cattolico, Pleasant Grove/Sheldon/Roseville; Eric Cavaliere, Oak Ridge; Ernie Cooper, Granite Bay; Larry Cunha, Roseville; Mike Dimino, Del Campo; Jeff Evans, Granite Bay; TJ Ewing, Monterey Trail; Jack Garceau, Rio Linda; Mike Johnson, Franklin; Terry Logue/Scott Savoie, Bear River; John Heffernan, Burbank/Elk Grove; Dave Humphers, Nevada Union/River Valley; Tony Martello, Colfax; Joey Montoya, Placer; Chris Nixon, Elk Grove; Mike Papadopoulos, Vacaville; Drew Rickert, Bradshaw Christian; Terry Stark, Inderkum; Casey Taylor, Del Oro/Capital Christian.
This story was originally published December 30, 2019 at 4:00 AM.
