Ceres High's Bret Durossette was named coach of the year of the Modesto Metro Conference. He shared the award with Modesto High's Rod Long.
Durossette and Long guided their teams to a share of the league championship. The Bulldogs and Panthers went 4-1.
Durossette praised all of his assistant coaches (Brett Johnson, John Aiello, Bret Silveira, Mike Palomino, George Mitsopolous, Mike Jones, Nick Marchy) and players.
"It's a great thing," Durossette said. "It shows the effort those guys put forth as a team and staff."
Ceres High's Cruz Flores, A.J. Ball, Luis Malagon, Brian Borges, Brandon Gresham, Derrick Goblirsch, Ray Robles, Rafael Valencia, Adam Kent, Nick Eudy, Zack Wiedenbeck, Daniel Smith and Ryan Leazer earned all-league honors.
"I have 13 players from my team that are being recognized," Durossette said. "That's impressive."
Flores and Ball earned first-team, all-MMC honors on offense.
Flores ranked second in the Stanislaus District and MMC in receiving. The 6-foot-4, 170-pound senior had 60 catches for 659 yards and three touchdowns.
"He was always that go-to guy," Durossette said. "He had great numbers for two years."
Ball, a 5-10, 225-pound senior offensive lineman. started at left guard for the past two years.
Malagon, Borges and Gresham earned first-team, all-league honors on defense.
Malagon, a 5-8, 175-pound junior linebacker, had 119 tackles, three sacks, one interception, which he returned 89 yards for a score, and a fumble recovery. He registered a career-high 21 tackles against Franklin in the playoffs.
"He wasn't the biggest, strongest or fastest guy but he was always around the ball," Johnson said. "That's what matters."
Borges, a 6-2, 195-pound senior safety, ranked fourth in the District and first in the MMC with six interceptions, five of which came in the final six games. He also had 90 tackles and one fumble recovery.
"Brian was like an extra coach on the field," Johnson said. "He helped the other guys in the secondary. Plus, he was an intimidating force back there and he was a great run stopper. He was a playmaker."
Gresham, a 6-1, 185-pound senior, was the top punter in the MMC. He averaged more than 40 yards per punt. He also had a host of punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
"He had an unbelievable year," Johnson said.
Goblirsch, Robles, Valencia and Kent earned second-team, all-league honors on offense.
Goblirsch ranked second in the District and first in the MMC in passing. The 6-4, 210-pound senior quarterback had 1,938 yards passing and 13 touchdowns.
"He had an exceptional year," Durossette said. "His numbers could have been much greater if we didn't drop a lot of passes."
Robles, a 5-10, 205-pound senior running back, gained 537 yards on 118 carries and scored five touchdowns in eight games. He also had six catches for 96 yards and one touchdown.
"He did an outstanding job," Durossette said. "He averaged over four yards per carry."
Valencia ranked 11th in the District and fifth in the MMC in receiving. The 6-3, 175-pound senior had 33 catches for 277 yards and three touchdowns.
Kent, a 6-2, 210-pound junior offensive lineman, played center.
Eudy, Wiedenbeck and Smith earned second-team, all-league honors on defense.
Eudy had 80 tackles and four sacks. The 5-11, 210-pound senior defensive lineman was double teamed most of the year.
"I thought he should have been a first-team, all-league selection," Johnson said.
Wiedenbeck, a 6-4, 205-pound senior defensive lineman, had 51 tackles, six sacks, including two for safeties, one interception and one forced fumble. He also recovered a fumble for a touchdown.
"He was a force out there on the end," Johnson said.
Smith, a 5-11, 155-pound senior cornerback, had 39 tackles, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He also scored two touchdowns. Smith returned an interception 20 yards and a fumble 28 yards for a score.
"He got the job done," Johnson said.
Leazer was an honorable-mention selection.
The 5-11, 155-pound senior cornerback/tailback had 57 tackles, one sack and three touchdowns, including two rushing and one receiving.
"He did so much for us," Johnson said. "Whatever we asked him to do he would do.
"He could have easily been a first-team guy." - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier
Durossette and Long guided their teams to a share of the league championship. The Bulldogs and Panthers went 4-1.
Durossette praised all of his assistant coaches (Brett Johnson, John Aiello, Bret Silveira, Mike Palomino, George Mitsopolous, Mike Jones, Nick Marchy) and players.
"It's a great thing," Durossette said. "It shows the effort those guys put forth as a team and staff."
Ceres High's Cruz Flores, A.J. Ball, Luis Malagon, Brian Borges, Brandon Gresham, Derrick Goblirsch, Ray Robles, Rafael Valencia, Adam Kent, Nick Eudy, Zack Wiedenbeck, Daniel Smith and Ryan Leazer earned all-league honors.
"I have 13 players from my team that are being recognized," Durossette said. "That's impressive."
Flores and Ball earned first-team, all-MMC honors on offense.
Flores ranked second in the Stanislaus District and MMC in receiving. The 6-foot-4, 170-pound senior had 60 catches for 659 yards and three touchdowns.
"He was always that go-to guy," Durossette said. "He had great numbers for two years."
Ball, a 5-10, 225-pound senior offensive lineman. started at left guard for the past two years.
Malagon, Borges and Gresham earned first-team, all-league honors on defense.
Malagon, a 5-8, 175-pound junior linebacker, had 119 tackles, three sacks, one interception, which he returned 89 yards for a score, and a fumble recovery. He registered a career-high 21 tackles against Franklin in the playoffs.
"He wasn't the biggest, strongest or fastest guy but he was always around the ball," Johnson said. "That's what matters."
Borges, a 6-2, 195-pound senior safety, ranked fourth in the District and first in the MMC with six interceptions, five of which came in the final six games. He also had 90 tackles and one fumble recovery.
"Brian was like an extra coach on the field," Johnson said. "He helped the other guys in the secondary. Plus, he was an intimidating force back there and he was a great run stopper. He was a playmaker."
Gresham, a 6-1, 185-pound senior, was the top punter in the MMC. He averaged more than 40 yards per punt. He also had a host of punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
"He had an unbelievable year," Johnson said.
Goblirsch, Robles, Valencia and Kent earned second-team, all-league honors on offense.
Goblirsch ranked second in the District and first in the MMC in passing. The 6-4, 210-pound senior quarterback had 1,938 yards passing and 13 touchdowns.
"He had an exceptional year," Durossette said. "His numbers could have been much greater if we didn't drop a lot of passes."
Robles, a 5-10, 205-pound senior running back, gained 537 yards on 118 carries and scored five touchdowns in eight games. He also had six catches for 96 yards and one touchdown.
"He did an outstanding job," Durossette said. "He averaged over four yards per carry."
Valencia ranked 11th in the District and fifth in the MMC in receiving. The 6-3, 175-pound senior had 33 catches for 277 yards and three touchdowns.
Kent, a 6-2, 210-pound junior offensive lineman, played center.
Eudy, Wiedenbeck and Smith earned second-team, all-league honors on defense.
Eudy had 80 tackles and four sacks. The 5-11, 210-pound senior defensive lineman was double teamed most of the year.
"I thought he should have been a first-team, all-league selection," Johnson said.
Wiedenbeck, a 6-4, 205-pound senior defensive lineman, had 51 tackles, six sacks, including two for safeties, one interception and one forced fumble. He also recovered a fumble for a touchdown.
"He was a force out there on the end," Johnson said.
Smith, a 5-11, 155-pound senior cornerback, had 39 tackles, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He also scored two touchdowns. Smith returned an interception 20 yards and a fumble 28 yards for a score.
"He got the job done," Johnson said.
Leazer was an honorable-mention selection.
The 5-11, 155-pound senior cornerback/tailback had 57 tackles, one sack and three touchdowns, including two rushing and one receiving.
"He did so much for us," Johnson said. "Whatever we asked him to do he would do.
"He could have easily been a first-team guy." - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier