Bee’s Best: Meet the 2025 All-Metro Football teams and Players of the Year
There is an old story about Ryder Lyons that speaks to his enduring legacy of competition and compassion.
Well before his rise as a nationally recruited quarterback for the Folsom Bulldogs, Lyons played soccer. When he was about 8 years old, eager for a youth game several hours from home, Lyons jumped out of the family vehicle carrying a ball and high energy. But he was missing one thing: his cleats. He had misplaced them.
He tried to persuade his parents that he could play barefoot — and maybe no one would notice. Lyons eventually played in someone else’s cleats, and the game continued without issue.
Fast forward to Lyons’ senior season at Folsom. He never forgot his cleats, never forgot his role, and never forgot his teammates. He won everything there was to win. Lyons is The Sacramento Bee’s 2025 All-Metro Football Player of the Year for his leadership and production. The honor could double as a legacy award.
Along the way, Lyons showcased what a good teammate is all about. He was one, the best compliment a coach could give a player. After leading Folsom to a CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship — his third in succession as the starting quarterback — Lyons missed the next four quarters of his senior season. He still delivered a kind of swan song.
After suffering a shoulder injury against Riordan of San Francisco in a CIF Northern California title game, Lyons encouraged junior backup quarterback and pal Brody Rudnicki to seize the moment. Rudnicki did, engineering a fourth-quarter rally to beat Riordan, then starred in the CIF State Division 1-AA championship, guiding a 42-28 victory against Cathedral Catholic of San Diego at Orange County’s Saddleback College.
As time was running out in the NorCal final, Lyons joyously head-butted Rudnicki, and he immediately found Rudnicki as the clock hit zero in the state finale to embrace him. Lyons played part of the fourth quarter, to hand the ball off and not risk that shoulder, as Bulldogs coach Paul Doherty wanted his 10,000-yard career passer to enjoy this moment, too.
“Ryder Lyons is a great player, the best in the state, a great winner, and I know he wanted to play this game, but more than anything, he wanted us to win,” Doherty said.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Lyons is already onto his next venture. He graduated early at Folsom, and the lifelong 4.0 grade-point student, is set to start his one-year Mormon mission in Florida before beginning his collegiate career at BYU in Utah.
Lyons was reflective after his final game in Folsom blue, thanking teammates, coaches, family and friends.
“I can’t believe it’s gone by so fast,” Lyons said. “I’ve had a blast. It’s been great. I’ll remember my teammates the most.”
A two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year and the No. 1 recruit in California for this season, Lyons passed for 3,485 yards and 36 touchdowns. Despite laboring through a bad ankle for much of the season, Lyons rushed for 410 yards and 15 touchdowns.
For his three-year varsity career, Lyons passed for 10,074 yards and 125 touchdowns, and he rushed for 1,948 yards and 53 scores for teams that went unbeaten in Sierra Foothill League play and went 38-5 overall. He was The Bee’s Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2023 after leading a late drive to win the CIF State championship, and he was The Bee’s 2024 Offensive Player of the Year.
Lyons bows out as one of the all-time regional greats, and he powered through despite monstrous expectations and opposing crowds or teams that tried to get under his skin with taunts. Lyons never buckled.
“I heard it all,” Lyons said of the ribbing. “I had fun with it. Sometimes, people don’t want to see people succeed. I just went out and played.”
He also signed autographs for people of all ages, at home games and away. He signed a shoe, an arm, a shirt — anything, if someone did not have a piece of paper for him to ink.
Casa Roble’s Lopez dazzled
Aidan Lopez had a good junior season once he settled into his new setting, and he was superb in his final campaign for the Casa Roble Rams of Orangevale. He is The Bee’s Offensive Player of the Year for more than his statistics, as he showcased championship grit in setting scores of passing mark.
Lopez passed for a section-leading 3,489 yards and 36 touchdowns with just four interceptions for a team that reached the section Division V finals. In a Week 10 showdown at Sutter to decide the Golden Empire League championship, Lopez was blasted on a play, bounced up, shook it off and later tossed the go-ahead touchdown to key a 22-9 victory over Sutter to clinch the Golden Empire League championship.
Sutter won the rematch, 42-27, to take the section crown, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort from the 6-foot-2, 175-pound senior, who passed for 375 yards and two scores in the title game.
Oak Ridge’s Womack was defensive ace
A four-year starter in the secondary who doubled as a playmaker on offense for the Oak Ridge Trojans of El Dorado Hills, Jasen Womack is The Bee’s Defensive Player of the Year.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior, who has signed with Cal Poly, earned Sierra Foothill League Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors. He recorded 80 tackles and four interceptions as a senior for a team that finished No. 2 in The Bee’s final rankings.
For his career, Womack totaled 241 tackles, 13 interceptions, and 22 pass breakups. On offense, he scored 60 touchdowns and accumulated 6,577 total yards, appearing in four CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship games.
Granite Bay’s Ene was a four-year force
They called him the “Pied Piper” in Placer County —a symbol of production and leadership for the Granite Bay Grizzlies. A four-year varsity starter at running back and on defense, Isaiah Ene is The Bee’s Large School Player of the Year.
He shared Sierra Foothill League Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors with Oak Ridge’s Jasen Womack, earning a reputation for relentless effort and a shock of hair that spilled from the back of his helmet. Ene rushed for 1,795 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2025, leading Granite Bay to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II finals. He also recorded 72 tackles on defense.
The 5-foot-10, 210-pound Sacramento State signee set multiple school records, including 4,788 career rushing yards and 71 total touchdowns. He also proved dominant on defense, finishing with 325 tackles and 12 interceptions in 50 varsity games.
Melendez fuels Woodcreek’s finest season
With a new coach, a new offense and a new look, Josiah Melendez upped his game — elevating the Woodcreek Timberwolves of Roseville along the way.
He is The Bee’s Medium School Player of the Year for his fine quarterback play and for spearheading the program to its first CIF section championship in the 31-year history of the Placer County school. Woodcreek finished 12-2, powered by the speed and accuracy of Melendez, who passed for 2,602 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for 827 yards and 10 scores.
A four-year varsity player, the 6-2, 190-pound Melendez keyed the most victorious team in program history, with the season ending in a CIF NorCal final at eventual CIF State champion Sonora.
Bringgold was solid gold for Sutter
Max Bringgold could do it all for the storied Sutter Huskies, and he could do it all in the biggest games, too.
A four-year varsity starter, Bringgold is The Bee’s Small School Player of the Year for putting the finishing touches on perhaps the finest team in the history of the program. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V title game against rival Casa Roble passed for a touchdown, ran for one and caught one — and he made plays on defense — to key a 42-27 victory.
He didn’t slow down in the CIF NorCal title win against a Ferndale High team of Humboldt County that roared in at 13-0. Bringgold rushed for 149 yards and a score in a 21-7 victory for the program’s first NorCal crown. Sutter lost the CIF State 4-AA title game to Barstow of San Bernardino County, 17-7. That capped a 13-2 season.
Bringgold rushed for 870 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior, had 29 receptions for 617 yards and eight scores and made 55 tackles and four interceptions.
Brown powered Winters to CIF State title
Lane Brown was the focal point for the Winters Warriors of Yolo County, a throwback sort-of player for a throwback sort-of program, and the quarterback is The Bee’s Smallest School Player of the Year.
The 6-2, 190-pound Brown made history in becoming the first player in the history of the CIF Northern Section to pass for and rush for 2,000 yards in a single season, doing so as he powered the Warriors to the CIF State 6-A championship. Brown passed for 2,272 yards and 26 touchdowns, and he rushed for 2,279 and 27 scores in becoming just the fourth prep player in the state to do so, according to Mark Tennis of Cal-Hi Sports.
In total, Brown accumulated 8,866 career yards and 101 touchdowns, setting multiple single-season and career records.
Winters went 14-1, the capper being the 28-7 victory over Morse of San Diego in the state finals in Orange County, a game in which Brown passed for a touchdown and rushed for 161 yards and three scores.
Keys was key for Mira Loma’s 8-man championship run
Deangelo Keys often reminded people that 8-man football isn’t the traditional 11-man game — but it’s still about blocking, tackling, hitting and winning.
A 6-foot, 150-pound junior quarterback for the Mira Loma Matadors of the San Juan Unified School District, Keys passed for 1,652 yards and 30 touchdowns, and he rushed for 587 yards and eight scores to guide Mira Loma to the section’s first 8-man section championship and a 12-0 season.
That marked the first section crown for the storied program since the Arden Arcade school opened in 1960. In a 48-14 win against Foresthill of Placer County in the section finals, Keys passed for a touchdown, and he rushed 12 times for 179 yards and two scores.
Doherty caps finest season with Coach of Year honor
Yes, the Folsom Bulldogs entered the 2025 season top-ranked by The Bee and in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section, and they were ranked second in Northern California to De La Salle of Contra Costa County, so this was a team that was supposed to have a banner season.
It still takes coaching and leadership to make it all come together, and Paul Doherty pulled it off amid a season of promise and expectations, including hearing the talk that this Folsom team could not possibly be better than the 2024 team. It was better.
Doherty is The Bee’s Coach of the Year for his renowned strength and conditioning program, for game-and-season preparation and for in-game calls and adjustments. Doherty regularly credited players and his stellar staff for team success, including top assistants such as Jordan Banning and Jordan Irsik.
Folsom won the top league in Northern California in the Sierra Foothill League, won another CIF NorCal crown and yet another CIF State banner, the second for Doherty in three seasons. Folsom went 14-1 this season, overcoming injuries and meeting lofty expectations to keep the machine rolling through the meat of the schedule. Doherty had backup quarterback Brody Rudnicki ready and good to go after a playoff injury to Ryder Lyons.
Other coaches considered included: Adam Reinking of Roseville, who led the Tigers to the school’s first section championship since 1987; Jason Stowers, who guided Woodcreek to the program’s first section crown in the 31-year history of the school; Daniel Ward, who led Winters to its first NorCal and CIF State title; Ryan Reynolds, who led Sutter to its first NorCal championship; Joe Cattolico, who engineered Granite Bay’s march to the section Division II finals; Casey Taylor, whose Oak Ridge team overcame injuries to reach the section Division I final for the fourth consecutive season; Justin Reber, who guided an Inderkum team gutted by graduation to a 9-2 season; Warren Schroeder, who led Liberty Ranch of Galt to an 11-1 season; and Jesse Collins, who directed Mira Loma to a 12-0 season and the program’s first section title, doing so in the first year of 8-man football in this section.
2025 Sacramento Bee All-Metro Football Teams
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ryder Lyons, QB, Folsom, Sr.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Aidan Lopez, QB, Casa Roble, Sr.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jasen Womack, Oak Ridge, Sr.
LARGE SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Isaiah Ene, RB/DB, Granite Bay, Sr.
MEDIUM SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Josiah Melendez, QB, Woodcreek, Sr.
SMALL SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Max Bringgold, DB/AP, Sutter, Sr.
SMALLEST SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Lane Brown, QB, Winters, Sr.
8-MAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Deangelo Keys, QB, Mira Loma, Jr.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Paul Doherty, Folsom
How the teams were selected: The Bee’s All-Metro football teams include the 100 schools in The Bee’s coverage area and were picked through personal observation, consultation with area media and especially through conversations and/or emails with area football coaches with an emphasis on playoff team success.
OFFENSE
FIRST TEAM
QB: Mason Susnara, Roseville, Sr.
RB: Losi Asiata, Sutter, Sr.
RB: Odie Jefferson, Monterey Trail, Sr.
RB: Joe Lara, Liberty Ranch, Jr.
WR: Rob Larson, Folsom, Jr.
WR: Jameson Powell, Folsom, Sr.
WR: Koby Shabazz, Grant, Jr.
TE: Gus Bailey, Rosemont, Jr.
TE: Luke Galer, Del Oro, Sr.
OL: Lucio Dominguez, Grant, Sr.
OL: Malachi Coleman, Folsom, Jr.
OL: Vlad Dyakonov, Folsom, Sr.
OL: Troy Fleming, Oak Ridge, Jr.
OL: Colton Hogge, Twelve Bridges, Sr.
OL: Trevor Kirby, Roseville, Sr.
OL: Ronnie Noa, Grant, Sr.
K: Kyle Boeker, Oak Ridge, Sr.
P: Johnny Mactzul, Antelope, Jr.
AP: Devion Corley, Pioneer, Sr.
AP: Dominic Cattolico, Granite Bay, Jr.
AP: Ryan Eddy, Laguna Creek, Sr.
AP: Gage Esty, Placer, Jr.
AP: Carson Floyd, Whitney, Sr.
AP: Connor Frontiera, Twelve Bridges, Sr.
AP: Isaiah Hunt, Woodland Christian, Sr.
AP: Kaden Love, Monterey Trail, Sr.
AP: Trace Murchison, Woodcreek, Jr.
AP: Braden Scritchfield, Sutter, Sr.
AP: Reeve Slone, Rocklin, Sr.
AP: Darnell Turner, Granite Bay, Sr.
AP: Isaiah Williams, Folsom, Sr.
AP: Colton Wolfe, Roseville, Sr.
AP: JJ Yong, Roseville, Sr.
* AP=All-Purpose
SECOND TEAM
QB: Nolan Sauve, Del Oro, Sr.
RB: Rhyder Eelkema, Nevada Union, Sr.
RB: Dvaughn Norwood, Bella Vista, Jr.
RB: Cordell Radcliffe, Sacramento, So.
WR: Zo Edwards, Grant, Jr.
WR: Jordan Cole, Inderkum, Sr.
WR: Felix Rodriguez, Casa Roble, Sr.
TE: Andrew Axtell, Destiny Christian, Sr.
TE: Landen Parry, Del Oro, Jr.
OL: Trey Conner, Granite Bay, Jr.
OL: Brandon Davis, Laguna Creek, Sr.
OL: Max Gredvig, Oak Ridge, OL
OL: Dylan Gregg, Woodcreek, Sr.
OL: Mason Hanner, Pleasant Grove, Sr.
OL: Zach Ramirez, Folsom, Jr.
OL: Henry Talakai, Monterey Trail, Jr.
K: Austin Chang, Roseville, Sr.
P: Casey Hegna, Granite Bay, Sr.
AP: Cruise Cole, Inderkum, Jr.
AP: Wyatt Corriea, Liberty Ranch, Jr.
AP: Eli Duff, Lincoln, Sr.
AP: Hekili Hernandez, Pleasant Grove, Sr.
AP: Noah Hinkle, Woodland Christian, Sr.
AP: Nick Hunt, Oak Ridge, So.
AP: Gavin Lavoie, Sutter, Sr.
AP: Sosaia Noa, Grant, Sr.
AP: Mason Pisarski, Bradshaw Christian, Sr.
AP: Preston Pitts, Inderkum, Fr.
AP: Laron James-Radcliffe, Sacramento, Jr.
AP: Braylon Robinson, Franklin, Jr.
AP: Danny Sanchez-Harlow, Placer, Sr.
AP: Damarie Taylor, Sacramento, Sr.
* AP=All-Purpose
DEFENSE
FIRST TEAM
DL: Lua DeBerry, Folsom, Jr.
DL: Troy Bowens, Sutter, Jr.
DL: Duncan Broughton, Jesuit, Sr.
DL: Dominic Coelho, Rocklin, Sr.
DL: Ian Guerrero, Monterey Trail,. Jr.
DL: Blake Meggers, Oak Ridge, Jr.
DL: Roger Vanderhoef, Grant, Sr.
LB: Julian Bruno, Grant, So.
LB: Zander Freitag, Casa Roble. Sr.
LB: Ben Rivas, Oak Ridge, So.
LB: Jack Walker, Roseville, Sr.
LB: Nick Wegner, Folsom, Jr.
LB: Justen Womack, Oak Ridge, Jr.
LB: Chase Wyhlidko, Twelve Bridges, Sr.
DB: Alex Dewar, Jesuit, Sr.
DB: Justin Fischer, Roseville, Sr.
DB: Jason Hill Jr., Folsom, Sr.
DB: Ethan Keim, Woodcreek, Jr.
DB: Matsen, Wurm, Folsom, Sr.
AP: Dylan Amos, Twelve Bridges, Jr.
AP: Jayden Blackburn, Winters, Sr.
AP: Aldo Calvillo, Casa Roble, Sr.
AP: King Concepcion-Copeland, Inderkum, Jr.
AP: Brock Galer, Lincoln, Sr.
AP: Giovanni Hodge, Grant, Jr.
AP: Stevie Hughes, Jesuit, Sr.
AP: Deshaun Jackson, Liberty Ranch, Jr.
AP: Tanner McSweeney, West Park, Sr.
AP: Roman Conner-Owens, Vacaville, Sr.
AP: Alex Rodriguez, Rosemont, Sr.
AP: Dunedin Tupou, Casa Roble, So.
AP: Andrew Quinn, Liberty Ranch, Jr.
* AP = All-Purpose
SECOND TEAM
DL: Christopher Ledell, Granite Bay, Sr.
DL: Demare Marange, Jesuit, Sr.
DL: Davin Markle, Twelve Bridges, Sr.
DL: Elijah Paul, Granite Bay, Sr.
DL: Isaiah Stephen, Grant, Jr.
LB: Subhan Barakzai, Monterey Trail, Jr.
LB: EJ Coleman, Folsom, Jr.
LB: Devin Davis, Lincoln, Sr.
LB: Brayden Molloy, Oak Ridge, Jr.
LB: Nick Pajcin, West Park, Sr.
LB: Brayden Quinn, Jesuit, Jr.
DB: Josiah Andrews, Rocklin, Sr.
DB: Raymond Conrad, Inderkum, Jr.
DB: Sam Danilyuk, Bradshaw Christian, Sr.
DB: Eric Eaton, Casa Roble, Sr.
DB: Myles Houston, Pleasant Grove, Sr.
DB: Jake Williams, Vacaville, Sr.
AP: Esi Campos, Casa Roble, Sr.
AP: Karter Coss, Casa Roble, Jr.
AP: Raymar Griffith, Rio Americano, Sr.
AP: Blake Hastings, Woodcreek, Jr.
AP: Mason Higby, Casa Roble, Sr.
AP: Gunnar Marsh, Christian Brothers, Jr.
AP: Kenny McClure, Roseville, Sr.
AP: Alphonzo Moore, Jr., Elk Grove, Sr.
AP: Vincent Navarro, Foresthill, Sr.
AP: Riccy Phienemanh, Lindhurst, Sr.
AP: Izacc Ramirez, Inderkum, Sr.
AP: Brock Sherman, Del Oro, Sr.
AP: Craig Statler, Nevada Union, Sr.
AP: Gary Tia, Grant, Sr.
AP: Justice White, Sutter, Sr.
* AP=All-Purpose
Honorable Mention
Quarterbacks: Joe Abarca, Woodland, Sr.; Adam Amatangelo, Colfax, So.; Jordan Constancio, Pioneer, Sr.; Jayden Debbs, Laguna Creek, Jr.; Brendan Jackson, Vacaville, Sr.; Walter Lewis, Highlands, Sr.; Chase Parkinson, Delta, Sr.; Brody Rudnicki, Folsom, Jr.; Coleton Shipley, Dixon, Sr.; Elijah Stevens, Oakmont, Jr.; Ryder Trantham, Rio Americano, Sr.; Logan Wohlers, Rosemont, Sr.
Running backs: Jaylan Barcenas, Casa Roble, Sr.; Jay Cummings, Christian Brothers, Jr.; D’Marcis Gresham, Roseville, Sr.; Graeson Howard, Colfax, Jr.; Robert Jackson III, McClatchy, So.; Joe Mendez, Pioneer, Sr.; Andrew Salguero, Marysville, Sr.; Cash Stevens, Whitney, Jr.; Brandon McCallum, Nevada Union, Sr.
Receivers: Connor Bow, Rocklin, Sr.; Caden Bowers, Franklin, Jr.; Kyle Cromwell, Vista del Lago, Sr.; Jovan Harper, Franklin, Jr.; Zealand Jenks, Ponderosa, Jr.; Keion Kado, Mira Loma, Fr.; Braxton Martinez, Oak Ridge, So.; David Massey II, Burbank, Sr.; Ocean Munoz, Oakmont, Jr.; Devin Pointes, Rio Americano, Sr.; Greyson Smith, Rocklin, Sr.; Keian Smith, Laguna Creek, Sr.; Josh Squaglia, Rio Americano, Sr.; Christian Taylor, Bella Vista, So.; Mason Volzer, Lincoln, So.; Brayden Zozaya, Wheatland, Sr.
Offensive linemen: Jacob Biggs, Pleasant Grove, So.; Finn Burth, Del Oro, Sr.; Jaden Calvan, Monterey Trail, Sr.; Cyrus Coffee, Monterey Trail, Sr.; Hunter Dean, El Dorado, Sr.; Lincoln Paschke, Woodland Christian, Sr.; Joseph Fales, Granite Bay, Sr.; Paul Esquivel, Granite Bay, Jr.; Juan Gutierrez, Lindhurst, Sr.; Felipe Villagomez, Sutter, Sr..
Defensive linemen: Breyden Dehner, Rocklin, Sr.; Julian Drahn, Cordova, Sr.; Liam Forsyth, West Park, Sr.; Ionatana Heine, Grant, So.; Anthony Matamoros, Winters, Sr.; Garrett Moon, Pleasant Grove, Sr.; Brody Rogers, Vacaville, Jr.; Asher Runnion, Rocklin, Sr.; Jace Salazar, Sacramento, Jr.
Linebackers: Aschlei Andrade, Oak Ridge, Sr.; Andrew Barker, Sutter, Jr.; Ean Barraza, Yuba City, So.; Jesiah Brewer, West Park, Jr.; Colton Burns, Wheatland, So.; Konley Cova, Wheatland, Sr.; Steven Dobson, Destiny Christian, Sr.; Luke DeLyser, Jesuit, Sr.; Max Graef, Dixon, Sr.; Hugo Lopez, Bella Vista, Jr.; Mateo Martinez, Roseville, Jr.; Adrian Mendoza, Woodcreek, Sr.; Damien Panteloglow, Rocklin, Jr.; Max Pineda, Pioneer, Sr.; Austin Putnam, Nevada Union, Sr.
Defensive backs: King Blackshire, McClatchy, So.; Jerel Green, Destiny Christian, Sr.; Ashton Greenhalgh, Del Oro, Sr.; Robert Hamel, Monterey Trail, Sr.;Angelo Luopa, Antelope, Sr.; Brent Minnifield, Monterey Trail, Fr.; Carson Fitzpatrick, Bradshaw Christian, Sr.; Macguirre Plitt, Winters, Sr.; Ryan Reeves, Jesuit, Sr.
All-Purpose: Imara Bell, Rio Linda, Sr.; Wesley Besseghini, Dixon, Jr.; Alarain Conteh, Rosemont, Jr.; Kylan English, Rosemont, Sr.; Luke Felsen, Winters, Sr.; Nigel Flowers, Monterey Trail, Fr.; Joseph Franklin, Wheatland, Jr.; Devin Hatcher, Bradshaw Christian, Sr.; Oliver Holleman, Woodland Christian, Jr.; Cody McCoard, Golden Sierra, Jr.; Evan Rickert, Bradshaw Christian, Jr.; Mason Towne, Franklin, So.; Dominic Vasquez, Elk Grove, Sr.
This story was originally published December 28, 2025 at 5:00 AM.