The Sacramento Bee’s Best: All-Metro football honors for schools small, medium and large
Very little felt right about high school football this season.
For starters, it was a spring sport, pushed out of the traditional fall months and into March and April because the pandemic pushed a lot of things out of order. But there were games, lessons learned, and there were spirited achievements worthy of All-Metro nomination, even if there were no Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.
In keeping with tradition dating back to the 1940s, The Bee’s 2021 All-Metro team (spring flavor) is reflective of the teams and talents that made for a unique season and experience. The playoffs are generally the deciding factor in picking players and coaches of the year. Instead of The Bee trotting out a first, second and honorable mention lineups per the norm, we rallied up one large team. We spread the wealth unlike any time before, including players of the year and coaches of the year for large-enrollment schools, medium, small and really small.
The Bee’s 2021 Spring Player of the Year is Chris Lands, the explosive Monterey Trail senior do-all star. He rushed for 612 yards and seven touchdowns in helping the Mustangs go 5-0. He accumulated 805 total yards, including returns on special teams. Lands, uncommitted to college at this time, also made tackles for loss, had interceptions, forced fumbles and jammed up every opponent.
The Mustangs finished No. 2 in the area behind Folsom.
“Chris Lands is a Swiss Army knife, the ultimate competitive gamer,” Monterey Trail coach T.J. Ewing said. “His football IQ and football instincts are off the charts. He will be an asset on any college team.”
The Bee’s Offensive Player of the Year is Vista del Lago running back Ethan Menezes. The senior set school career rushing records while also showing he can catch the ball as an all-around talent. Menezes rushed for 1,050 yards during a 4-1 season, averaging 210 yards, and he scored 13 touchdowns while also pulling in three touchdown catches. As a three-year starter, Menezes rushed for 3,637 yards over 27 games and ran for 31 touchdowns.
The Bee’s Defensive Player of the Year is Whitney linebacker Austin Hauptman. The senior led Whitney with 60 tackles, averaging 12.0 a game, and he had 16 tackles for loss over five games in being voted by coaches as the Sierra Foothill League’s Defensive Player of the Year. The SFL was the section’s top league, again.
The Bee’s Coach of the Year is Brian Lewis, who expertly and calmly kept his grieving Kennedy Cougars together in the light of tragedy. The season opener for Kennedy was marked by the stunning death of beloved senior center Manny Antwi, who collapsed late against Johnson and later died.
“What those kids did, to keep it all together, I’ll never forget it,” said Lewis, a graduate of the school. “Special young men, just like Manny was.”
In reaching back to start a new/old tradition, The Bee decided to go with a Lineman of the Year for the first time since the mid-1970s. Bobby Piland of Rocklin was so dominant at his craft, the honor seemed fitting. The junior two-way tackle who could also play end dominated teams for the 5-0 Thunder, and he never let up on campus, either. Piland regularly spoke to teachers about his studies, even as a 4.0 student, and he was often spotted in the library.
“Great player who really cares, and every play, he body slammed someone,” Rocklin coach Jason Adams said. “Every day, he wanted to get better. He’s a tremendously motivated guy.”
The Bee’s Large School Players of the Year are Folsom junior twins Josh and Tyler Tremain, one a dynamo on offense and the other on defense. They grew up in youth football in Folsom and cherished the chance to shine. Tyler Tremain passed for 2,024 yards and 27 touchdowns with four interceptions, and he ran for 178 yards and two scores during a 6-0 campaign. He started his season with a bang, engineering a late-game 90-yard drive to beat rival Oak Ridge 23-18 in an opener.
Josh Tremain led the Bulldogs in tackles with 57, averaging 11.4 a game, and he had 10.5 stops for loss. He also had two sacks and returned 41 kickoffs for 1,964 yards and he booted 28 point-after touchdowns.
The Bee’s Large School Coach of the Year is Mike Alberghini, who won Bee coaching honors his first head-coaching season at Grant in 1991 and in his final campaign. The Pacers, winners of one game last season, went 2-0 this season, with late-game heroics amid myriad stop-and-starts, and he bowed out as the section’s winningest coach with 282. He planned to return as head coach for another season but will not as Grant administration has invited him to remain as a mentor to the coaches. Longtime Grant assistant Carl Reed is the Pacers new head coach.
The Bee’s Medium School Player of the Year is D.J. Crowther of Christian Brothers. The junior rushed for 769 yards and 12 touchdowns during a 3-3 season, and he caught 286 yards worth of passes and reached the end zone three times. He had 1,205 all-purpose yards, averaging nearly 201 a game in scoring 17 times total.
“There isn’t anything Crowther couldn’t do for us,” said outgoing Christian Brothers coach John Wiley.
The Bee’s Medium School Coach of the Year is Mike Struebing of Vista del Lago, who led six playoff teams and had his best team this spring, highlighted by an inspiring win over talent-laden Inderkum.
The Bee’s Small School Player of the Year is Dylan Overstreet of Casa Roble. The senior running back rushed for 823 yards and 11 touchdowns in a 4-0 season, averaging 205.8 yards. He is a player, whom Rams coach Chris Horner said, “Can do it all and did it all. Great player.”
The Bee’s Small School Coaches of the Year are Bear River’s Terry Logue and Scott Savoie. This was more of a lifetime achievement award as they bow out together after three decades of coaching, including a string of championships.
The Bee’s Smallest School Player of the Year is Carson Lowrie of Winters, who played every down for the powerhouse program that went 4-1. Lowrie rushed for 865 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 173.0 yards a game. He also caught 18 passes for 209 yards and two scores, averaged 8.2 tackles a game and made two interceptions.
The Bee’s Smallest School Coach of the Year is Ryan Reynolds of Sutter. The Huskies of the Northern Section have been a longtime power, and they never let up during the shortened spring, going 5-0, including 4-0 in the competitive Butte View League.
* How the team was selected: The Bee’s All-Metro team was picked through coaching nominations and personal observation by Bee staffers.
Player of the Year: Chris Lands, All-Purpose, Monterey Trail, Sr.
Offensive Player of the Year: Ethan Menezes, RB, Vista del Lago, Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year: Austin Hauptman, LB, Whitney, Sr.
Lineman of the Year: Bobby Piland, Rocklin, Jr.
Coach of the Year: Brian Lewis, Kennedy
Large School Player of the Year: Josh Tremain, DB, and Tyler Tremain, QB, Folsom
Large School Coach of the Year: Mike Alberghini, Grant
Medium School Player of the Year: D.J. Crowther, All-Purpose, Christian Brothers, Jr.
Medium School Coach of the Year: Mike Struebing, Vista del Lago
Small School Player of the Year: Dylan Overstreet, RB, Casa Roble, Sr.
Small School Coaches of the Year: Terry Logue and Scott Savoie, Bear River
Smallest School Player of the Year, Carson Lowrie, All-Purpose, Winters, Sr.
Smallest School Coach of the Year: Ryan Reynolds, Sutter
Quarterbacks: Frank Arcuri, Monterey Trail, Jr; Terrence Ballard, Del Campo, Jr.; Tre Dimes, Vanden, So.; Aydan Edwards, Vista del Lago, Sr.; Jake Elorduy, Christian Brothers, Jr.; Quincy Gallon, Antelope, Sr.; Anthony Garica, Capital Christian, Jr.; Anthony Grigsby, Cosumnes Oaks, Sr.; Devin Hall, Pleasant Grove, Jr.; Martin Haswell, Placer, Sr.; Garrett Krupp, Woodcreek, Jr.; Kenny Lueth, Rocklin, Jr.; Matt Moore, Winters, Jr.; Wyatt Neumann, Colfax, Sr.; Sean Nixon, Sheldon, Sr.; Nick Poulos, Granite Bay, Sr.; Ryan Vaughan, Vacaville, Jr.; Richie Watts, Rocklin, Sr.; J.T. Willis, Lincoln, Sr.
Running backs: Linarius Agee, Vanden, Sr.; Ethan Archuleta, Elk Grove, Jr.; Joe Brijs, Roseville, Sr.; Jack Carner, Pioneer, SoIan Charles, Franklin, Sr.; Lavell Davis, Placer, Jr.; Jerale Griffin, River City, Sr.;Hunter Hatch, Roseville, Sr.; De’Magea Hogan, Antelope, Sr.; Darian Leon-Guerrero, Vacaville, Jr.; Dylan Logalin, Placer, Sr.; William Mapp, Valley, Sr.; Juliono Martello, Colfax, Sr.;Garrett McGriff, Jesuit, Jr.; Anthony Parker, Whitney, Jr.; Cole Roth, Granite Bay, Sr.; Ace Saca, Jesuit, Sr.; Kai Santos, Jesuit, Jr.; Otha Williams, Monterey Trail, Sr.; Logan Woodward, East Nicolaus, Sr.
Wide receivers: Justin Arnaz, Folsom, Jr.; Brandon Barthel, Oak Ridge, Sr. Dorian Blackwell, Folsom, Sr.; Xavier Calvin, Kennedy, Sr.; Kywan Cook, Kennedy, Sr.; Rico Flores, Folsom, So.; Bryan Garrett, Christian Brothers, Sr.; Kyrell Goss-Pruitt, Grant, So.; Jerry Huddleston, Antelope, Sr.; Jamauri Jackson, Monterey Trail, Sr.; Nathan Kent, Rocklin, Jr.; Kasson Kimbrough, Pleasant Grove, Jr.; Carson King, Vista del Lago, Sr.; Isaiah Mcmillan, Sheldon, Sr.; Scott Nixon, Sheldon, So.; Daniel Sloan, Valley, Sr.; Talsen Smith, Granite Bay, Sr.; Cincere Thomas, Franklin, So.; Jet Wiley, Christian Brothers, So.; Carlos Wilson Jr., Inderkum, So.
Tight ends: Nick Donlan, Capital Christian, Jr.; Donovan Laban, Grant, Sr.; Keleki Latu, Jesuit, Sr.; Walker Lyons, Folsom, So.; Cj McMillan, Capital Christain, Jr.; Michael Otterstedt, Vacaville, Sr.; Fata Puloka, Monterey Trail, So.; Cody Smith, Liberty Ranch, So.; Peyton Smith, Rocklin, Jr.; Matthew Soderlund, Wheatland, Sr.
Offensive linemen: Dean Abdullah, Antelope, Sr.; Manny Antwi, Kennedy, Sr.; Andreas Argumedo, Monterey Trail, Sr.; Jasdev Banwait, Monterey Trail, Sr.; Jayden Caranza, Cosumnes Oaks, Fr.; Noah Case, Vista del Lago, Sr.; Jacob Edmonds, Vacaville, Jr.; Brennan Ellison, Oak Ridge, Sr.; Chase Esty, Placer, Sr.; Zander Esty, Placer, So.; Ilasia Gonebure, Rocklin, Sr.; Sawyer Hays, Christian Brothers, Sr.; Tyler Keinath, Franklin, Sr.; Jaxon King, Union Mine, Jr.; Tyson King, Bella Vista, Sr.; Michael Lloyd, Franklin, Sr.; Kellen Murphy, Vista del Lago, Sr.; Josh Ngaluafe, River City, Sr.; Simione Pale, Elk Grove, So.; Xavier Powell, Monterey Trail, Sr.; Alex Rosales, Placer, Sr.; Tawon Sago, Sacramento, Jr.; Vinny Scalise, Folsom, Sr.; Isoa Takeifanga, Grant, Jr.; O’Shawn Williams, Valley, Sr.; Cody Wills, Casa Roble, Jr.
Defensive linemen: Malachi Ajayi, Del Campo, Sr.; Sam Baldoni, Colfax, Sr.; Jacob Bell, El Dorado, Jr.; Theo Bravos, Sutter, Sr.; Isaiah Carranza, Cosumnes Oaks, Sr.; Blake Garner, River Valley, Sr.; Elijah Hansen, Oak Ridge, Sr.; Jack Hemmert, Jesuit, Jr.; Kyle Hu, Yuba City, Sr.; Apollo Jeffs, Folsom, Sr.; Nick Johnson, Rocklin, Sr.; Gehrig Larrigan, Yuba City, Sr.; Jake Melander, Folsom, Sr.; Patton Miller, Davis, Sr.; James Murphy, Union Mine, Sr.; Ben Newman, Granite Bay, Sr.; Evan Niemi, Rocklin, Sr.; William Reyes, Monterey Trail, Sr.; Dylan Shaw, Casa Roble, Sr.; James Turrentine, Pleasant Grove, Sr.; Peyton Vota, Oak Ridge, Sr.
Linebackers: Nick Afato, Yuba City, So.; Jacob Birch, Del Oro, Sr.; Nekhi Broadway, Monterey Trail, Sr.; Zack Brooks, Davis, Sr.; Isaiah Byars, Cosumnes Oaks, Sr.; Noah Cardelli, Placer, Sr.; Justin Eklund, Folsom, Jr.; Ryan Enney, Oak Ridge, Sr.; Josiah Flores, Wood, Sr.; Dylan Hale, Whitney, Sr.; Hunter Houser, Rocklin, Sr.; Aiden Jones, Casa Roble, Sr.; Dubee Lopa, Grant, So.; Garrett McCray, East Nicolaus, Jr.; Emiliano Murillo, Yuba City, Sr.; Hunter Nabers, Oak Ridge, Sr.: Giovanni Pifferini, El Dorado, Jr.; Niko Santana, Cordova, Sr.; Mitchell Sarmento, Woodcreek, Jr.; Tanaki Tonga, Monterey Trail, Jr.; Maui Uhatafe, Inderkum, Jr.; Lemisio Vaea, Christian Brothers, Sr.; Pita Vi, Elk Grove, Jr.; Evan Ward, El Dorado, Jr.; Karson Wheeler, Pleasant Grove, Sr.; Brandon Wong, Whitney, Jr.; Vincent Wright, Inderkum, Jr.
Defensive backs: Gio Bellecci, Elk Grove, Jr.; Michael Chavez, Folsom, Sr.; Logan Ellner, Pleasant Grove, Sr.; Jackson Hagopian, Jesuit, Jr.; Daniel Hughes, Vanden, Jr.; Avante Lee, Christian Brothers, Jr.; Austin McMillan, Folsom, Jr.; Elias Mullican, Rocklin, Jr.; Tochi Nnoruka, Cosumnes Oaks, Sr.; Christian Perry, Granite Bay, Sr.; Xaiver Powe, Monterey Trail, Sr.; Tyler Roberts, Woodcreek, Sr.; Xzavier Sablan, Kennedy, Sr.; Dorsey Sanders, Yuba City, So.; Curly Washington, Burbank, Sr.
All Purpose: Kyler Abramowicz, Vacaville, Sr.; Gabe Baker, Nevada Union, Jr.; Michael Belk, Vanden, Jr.; Christian Benham-Wilson, Inderkum, Jr.; Caelan Bonniksen, El Dorado, Sr.; Raelen Bruce, Natomas, Sr.; Ronnie Brutus, Monterey Trail, Jr.; Lamont Burrell, Sacramento, Jr.; Reese Catchings, Oak Ridge, Jr.; Aidan Cruz, Winters, Sr.; Daniel Cummings, Sutter, Sr.; Dylan DeCelle, Casa Roble, Sr.; Steven Duran, Cosumnes Oaks, Jr.; Cole Errecart, Roseville, Sr.; Donovan Garvin, Davis, Sr.; Daniel Groves, Union Mine, Sr.; Jake Hall, Jesuit, Sr.; Bryan Henkel, Bella Vista, Sr.; Antonio Henry, Yuba City, Sr.; Peni Kaufusi, Grant, Sr.; Donovan Laban, Grant, Sr.; Amir Lemmons, Inderkum, Sr.; Malcolm McGlothin, Sheldon, Sr.; Joseph Minor, Wood, Sr.; Sean Myles, Oakmont, Sr.; Danny Myles, Oakmont, Jr.; Jaylen Pickens, Rocklin, Sr.;Corie Radcliffe, Sacramento, Fr.; Lamar Radcliffe, Sacramento, Fr.; Ronnie Ramos, Woodcreek, Sr.; Ethan Rappa, Lincoln, Sr.; Kyle Remigio, Lincoln, Sr.; Alex Riffie, Woodcreek, Jr.; Jackson Rush, Cosumnes Oaks, Jr.; Cameron Sampson, Capital Christian, Jr.; Akil Sohan, Grant, Sr.; Nick Tawney, Whitney, Sr.; Ken Tilford, Wood, Jr.; Falagi Va’A, Florin, Sr.; Kyle Watson, Sutter, Sr.; Anthony Wiley, Vacaville, Jr.; Malik Williams, Del Campo, Sr.; T.J. Willson, Del Oro, Sr.; Cooper Young, Woodcreek, Jr.
Specialists: David Arias, Christian Brothers, Jr.; Lucas Ascroft, Capital Christian, Sr.; Cole Becker, Rocklin, Sr.; Eric Deldago, Pioneer, Sr.; Roman Floyd, Whitney, Sr.; James Mintmier, Oakmont, Sr.; Carson Nichols, Oak Ridge, So.; Joe Repass, Union Mine, Jr.; Alejandro Rojas, Jesuit, Jr.; Justin Sampson, Granite Bay, Sr.; Diego Soto, Monterey Trail, Sr.; Jake Tremain, Folsom, So.; Ariel Trill, Vacaville, Jr.; Nick Verdugo, Del Oro, Jr.
This story was originally published June 13, 2021 at 5:00 AM.