Merced High standout named top defensive player by Central California Conference coaches
Last spring Merced High standout Jaylen Thao-Booth was named the Central California Conference Lineman of the Year. The Bears senior can add another major award to his resume.
The conference coaches named Thao-Booth the Defensive Player of the Year this fall after Thao-Booth racked up 16 sacks.
“Defensive Player of the Year is a nice reward after all the work I put in,” said Thao-Booth, who helped lead the Bears to a second-place finish in the CCC and an appearance in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV championship game. “I’m glad that work didn’t go unnoticed. I worked hard to make plays all over the field.”
Winning those awards in back-to-back years shows Thao-Booth’s versatility as one of the top lineman in the conference and his emergence as the top defensive player.
“He’s been a fun guy to coach,” said Merced coach Rob Scheidt. “I can’t say enough about him and his love for the game. Playing as hard as he does, I’m glad he was recognized for his body of work.”
‘After winning the CCC championship, Patterson swept the other CCC major awards.
Tigers quarterback Jacob Guevarra was named the CCC Most Valuable Player. Teammates Sean Hansen was named the Offensive Player of the Year, Marcus Simien was named the Lineman of the Year and Johan Mendoza was named Kicker/Specialist of the Year.
Patterson’s Rob Cozart was named Coach of the Year.
The all-CCC first team offense was comprised of linemen Simien, Buhach Colony’s Aden Lara, Golden Valley’s Brandon Davis, Merced’ Thao-Booth and Ethan Perez and Patterson’s Josh Espinoza. The running backs were Buhach Colony’s Jaxson Percoats and Golden Valley’s Jabari Phillips.
The quarterbacks were Guevarra and Merced’s Seth Scheidt, along with receivers Evahn Perez of Merced and Javier Huizar of Patterson and tight end Jamarcus Phillips of Golden Valley.
The defensive first-team selections included: defensive linemen Ezekiel Trevino of Golden Valley, Jalonn Booth of Merced, Jack Dunbar of Merced and TJ Levu of Patterson. The defensive ends/outside linebackers were Merced’s Thao-Booth, Jamarcus Phillips and Patterson’s Jonathan Delgadillo.
The inside linebackers were Scheidt and Patterson’s LoLo Mataele and the defensive backs were Percoats, Merced’s Chase Smith, and Patterson’s Huizar and Armin Perez. Mendoza was named the kicker and Atwater’s Marco Rivera was selected at punter.
The second-team offensive selections included: offensive linemen Christian Macias of Atwater, Zeke Meza of Golden Valley, Cornell Gilkey of Buhach Colony, Osvaldo Pelayo of Central Valley and Isaac Haro of Merced.
The running backs were James Thomas of Atwater and Mataele and the quarterback was Eleazar Garza.
The receivers were Golden Valley’s Jonah White and Patterson’s JJ Lawson and the tight end was Levu.
The defensive players included defensive linemen Buhach Colony’s Cornell Gilkey, Buhach Colony’s Jacare Gray and Central Valley’s Adrian Perez.
The defensive ends/outside linebackers selected were Miguel Rivera of Atwater and Jordan Colbert of Buhach Colony. The inside linebackers were Golden Valley’s Josiah Gonzalez and Patterson’s Brian Saravia
The defensive backs were Atwater’s Xavier Cardenas, Buhach Colony’s Kailin Frade, Golden Valley’s Ethain Vang and Merced’s Phoenix Lawrence.
Southern League
It was a special year for the Le Grand High football team as the Bulldogs won their fifth Sac-Joaquin Section championship in school history.
Junior Fermin Villegas picked up one of the top awards handed out by the Southern League coaches. Villegas was named the SL Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Le Grand coach Aaron Martinez has often said Villegas is one of the top lineman to ever play for Le Grand.
Mairposa’s Tyler Crockett was named the SL Defensive Player of the Year.
Waterford quarterback Aaron Adams was named the league Most Valuable Player. Delhi running back Angel Ramirez was named the SL Offensive Player of the Year.
Ripon Christian’s Zach Brouwer was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year.
Waterford’s Adam Hilton was picked as the Coach of the Year.
The all-Southern League first-team selections included: offensive linemen Christian Naranjo of Waterford, Jay Hoelstra of Ripon Christian, Evan Gonzalez of Orestimba, Villegas and Dejon Davenport of Orestimba.
The running backs were Ramirez and and Waterford’s Ryan Hilton, Adams at quarterback and receivers Jayden Vargas of Orestimba and Javier Nusom of Waterford.
The tight end was Thys Van Der Hoek of Ripon Christian and utility players were Gustine’s Danny Hernandez and Orestimba’s Vince Lopez.
The defensive linemen were Villegas, Brouwer, Moses Gutierrez of Waterford and Joseph Flores of Orestimba. The defensive end/outside linebackers were Waterford’s Blake Wetherington and Orestimba’s Gerardo Torres and the inside linebackers were Mateo Gallicheo of Gustine and Kai Brazil of Orestimba.
The four defensive backs chosen were Orestimba’s Nathan Richards, Waterford’s Caleb Hilton, Mariposa’s Corey Fletcher and Gustine’s Gio Torres. The utility defenders were Grant Sonke of Ripon Christian and Julian Perez of Orestimba.
The second-team offensive linemen were Delhi’s Anthony Flores, Mariposa’s Devon Burrell, Waterford’s Jaret Ruiz, Ripon Christian’s Jacob Kowes and Denair’s Colton Webster.
The second-team running backs were Mariposa’s Ayden Lopes and Denair’s Harley Padilla and the quarterback was Mariposa’s Wyatt Green. The receivers were Le Grand’s Carlos Castaneda and Mariposa’s Landon Robinson and the tight end was Gallichio.
The offensive utility players were Castaneda and Delhi’s Alek Fuentes.
The second-team defensive linemen were Gustine’s Christian Garcia, Mariposa’s Jacob House, Le Grand’s Cameron McClosky and Denair’s Jeremiah Barton. The defensive end/outside linebackers were Delhi’s Alex Cardenas and Ripon Christian’s Michah Dejong and the inside linebackers were Ripon Christian’s Colton Bryan and Le Grand’s Raul Sanchez,
The defensive backs were Kale Herrod of Waterford and Alex Ramirez of Gustine and the utility defensive player was Mariposa’s Ty Holt.
