ALL-BANG SPRING FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Hassan Mahasin, Serra OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Daytuawn Pearson, Pittsburg DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Lu-Magia Hearns, De La Salle COACHES OF THE YEAR: Justin Alumbaugh, De La Salle and Patrick Walsh, Serra. Without these coaches, there may not have been a spring season to speak of. Their efforts were pivotal in bringing back high school football, and eventually almost all sports, to California. After fighting the state and winning, both coaches went on to lead undefeated campaigns for the Nos. 1 and 3 teams in the final Bay Area News Group Top 25.
OFFENSE QUARTERBACK Dorian Hale, De La Salle, 6-0, 175, senior: Three-year starter for Bay Area’s top program. One coach called him a “stud, very accurate and extremely fast! Runs offense perfectly.”
Brady Huchingson, Acalanes, 6-1, 180, senior: Preferred walk-on at Oregon State. Threw for 1,381 yards, 15 TDs this spring. Said one coach: “We lost to them by 6 and he was the reason.” Dominique Lampkin, Serra, 6-1, 175, junior: Led one of the Bay Area’s most explosive offenses to an undefeated record. Passed for 792 yards, added 192 more on the ground and scored 12 total TDs RUNNING BACK
Adam Garwood, Los Gatos, 5-10, 185, senior: Described as “probably (the) best offensive player in the league” by another De Anza division coach and proved it his season statline: 11 rushing TDs rank second among recorded stats in the CCS with an average of 9.9 yards per carry. Committed to play at Cal Poly.
Matteo Perez, Marin Catholic, 5-10, 180, senior: Another superb season for Marin Catholic included heavy production from the UC Davisbound Perez. He had 184 yards rushing and three TDs against Tamalpais.
Nico Torrez, De La Salle, 5-10, 195, senior: Starred in the Spartans’ backfield when not doing similar on the baseball diamond. Scored 10 TDs and totaled 679 yards on the ground, both among the top three in recorded stats in the NCS.
WIDE RECEIVER Jurrion Dickey, Valley Christian, 6-2, 205, sophomore:: Widely considered among the region’s top offensive prospects
in Class of 2023. As a sophomore:, caught 14 passes for 239 yards and 5 TDs. Drew praise from three opposing WCAL coaches, including one who called him “key for them in their victory over us.”
Tsion Nunnally, Cardinal Newman, 6-3, 190, senior: Top target on unbeaten Cardinal-Newman, caught 7 of QB’s 10 TD passes to tie for NCS lead among recorded stats. Averaged 5 receptions, 104 yards and at least one touchdown in five wins. Committed to play at Washington State.
Matthew Quesada, Pittsburg, 6-2, 180, senior: First-team BVAL honoree for two schools past two years. Transferred from Freedom to become No. 1 WR for a highpowered offense that averaged 52.6 points per game. Caught 19 passes for 308 yards, 4 TDs. TIGHT END
JP Murphy, San Ramon Valley, 6-4, 230, senior: San Diego State-bound tight end consistently made big plays, leading the NCS in yards per catch (23.7) among players with at least 10 receptions. ALL-PURPOSE Hassan Mahasin, Serra, 5-10, 180, junior: The Bay Area News Group Spring 2021 Player of the Year. No word better describes Mahasin than “explosive,” which multiple coaches used to hail the play of this multipurpose back, who totaled 745 yards and 10 touchdowns, split equally between the ground and the air. Daytuawn Pearson, Pittsburg, 5-8, 160, senior: The Bay Area News Group Spring 2021 Offensive Player of the Year. Averaged 12.5 yards per carry and 127.6 per game while also hauling in 14 passes out of the backfield for more than 100 yards. Totaled 8 TDs, including one as a kick returner. Noah Short, King’s Academy, 6-0, 175, senior: An impact player in all three phases of the game, few players drew more praise from coaches on the other sideline. “Best player we saw all year,” said one coach, who described him as an “explosive” and “multifaceted.” Hailed another coach: “Can single-handedly beat you. Need to know where he is on every play.” Committed to play at Navy. OFFENSIVE LINE Jackson Brown, San Ramon Valley, 6-6, 280, junior: Helped anchor one of Bay Area’s top offensive lines. Returns next season already with a handful scholarship offers from Division-I schools.
Matai Bell, Campolindo, 6-4, 320, senior: Leader of
6-0 Campo’s offensive line who was a standout in both trenches. Committed to play at Army.
Tyler Charbonneau, Clayton Valley Charter, 6-3, 280, senior: Described by coach Tim Murphy as the best lineman in the EBAL with a 95% blocking rating. Committed to play at Cal Poly.
Kyle Ecker, San Ramon Valley, 6-5, 275, senior: Committed to play at San Diego. Hudson Mesa, St. Francis, 6-2, 270, senior: An offensive captain for St. Francis and a leader of Lancers’ offensive line as their starting center. Committed to play at San Jose State.
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
Joey Carrillo, Acalanes, 6-4, 225, senior: Constant presence in the backfield with 14.5 tackles for loss, including 3.5 sacks, in six games to lead Acalanes’ (5-1) defense.
John Carter, Sacred Heart Prep, 6-0, 170, senior: Averaged more than a sack per game, including four in a close loss to crosstown rival MenloAtherton. Led SHP with 29 tackles, 7 sacks.
Sioeli Helu, Serra, 6-3, 315, senior: Committed to play at New Mexico State. Only one player made a bigger impact on Serra’s defense, coach Patrick Walsh said.
Dominic Oliver, Valley Christian, 6-3, 220, senior: Committed to play at San Diego State. Made 10.5 tackles for loss in four games. LINEBACKER aleb Branscomb, Bishop O’Dowd, 5-10, 205, senior:
A constant source of thunderous hits in the backfield who averaged more than 10 tackles per game.
Maurice Jamison, Pittsburg, 6-2, 225, senior: Named the BVAL Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous firstteam selection. A “very smart” player who makes plays in the run games and in coverage, according to coach Vic Galli. Dylan Seeley, Clayton Valley Charter, 6-1, 220, senior: Led a dominant defense with three interceptions in six games and an average of more than eight tackles per contest. Fynn Williams, Serra, 6-0, 205, senior: An “alpha-male” who led Serra’s defense, according to coach Patrick Walsh. Made a team-high 41 tackles, including two sacks, and pulled in an interception. DEFENSIVE BACK
Zeke Berry, De La Salle, 6-0, 195, junior: Has offers from 75% of the Pac-12. Played both ways with 164 receiving yards and two touchdowns but was also a shutdown corner with an interception and forced fumble.
Robert Freeman, El Cerrito, 5-8, 150, junior: Threestar junior with an offer from Arizona State, according to 247Sports. Helped lead Gauchos to a 5-0 record this spring. Was a threat on offense, defense and special teams. Said one coach: “His skill set made it very difficult for defenses to stop him.” Isaac Greene, Bishop O’Dowd, 6-2, 165, junior: Four interceptions in five games came close to leading the NCS. Allowed less than one reception per game. Lu-Magia Hearns, De La Salle, 5-11, 160, senior: Committed to play at Cal. Contributed in all facets of the game with 189 yards and three touchdowns as a receiver and 42.6 yards per kick return but was most dominant as defensive back, with two interceptions. UTILITY
Gary Alexander III, El Cerrito, 6-1, 210, senior: Three-year varsity player was a team captain and play-caller on defense. Had 78 tackles and 11 sacks. Also started at fullback for a team that finished the spring 5-0. Said his coach, Jacob Rincon: “His physicality blocking and running the ball intimidated defenses.”
Will Cuddie, Valley Christian, 5-8, 190, junior: Middle linebacker, fullback, kicker finished with 28 tackles, 1.5 for loss. Also was 7 for 7 on PATs and 4 for 4 on field-goal attempts, with a long of 44. Had eight touchbacks on 18 kickoffs.
Za’Darion Nardi, San Ramon Valley, 6-0, 175, junior: One opposing coach called Nardi a “special talent! Spin move is unreal, so smooth. Acceleration is freakish, one of the most explosive athletes we played.” Ran for a team-high 486 yards and five TDs. Also caught six passes for 62 yards and a TD.
KICKER/PUNTER Cade Whitson, Leland, 6-0,
165, junior: Finished the season 13 for 13 on extrapoint attempts and was 4 of 7 on field-goal tries, with a long of 45. Also has numerous touchbacks on kickoffs.