Enterprise’s Justin Abney breaks into the clear during CIF D2 state bowl game behind the blocking of graduated players Bob Gillespie (left) and Skyler Ferguson. Photo: Scott Kurtz.
This is the sixth preseason all-section or all-area football team we have compiled and covers schools from the entire CIF Northern Section. Naturally, Enterprise of Redding, which has a lot of skill players back off last year’s team that won the CIF NorCal D2 bowl game, has the most honorees.
Attention all Northern Section football fans: We have just posted the most complete, up-to-date all-time state football team records ever compiled. It is for Gold Club members only. This is the best time of the year to sign up for a one-year subscription so you can check out everything we do. To sign up, CLICK HERE.
Note: Writeups by T.J. Holmes of the Redding Record-Searchlight. Thanks T.J. for helping us again with this year’s preseason teams.
MORE PRESEASON HONORS SQUADS: CIFSS/Inland Empire | Central Section | L.A. City Section | Central Coast Section | San Diego Section
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
WR – Miles Fishback (Chico) 5-8, 165, Sr.
He will be the top target in Chico’s aerial attack. His 698 receiving yards last year was third in the NSCIF and he added seven touchdowns.
WR – Tyjuan Prince (Sutter) 6-0, 185, Sr.
Prince’s speed makes him a threat to score any time he touches the ball. He racked up 827 total yards and 13 TDs last season in Sutter’s Wing-T scheme.
TE – Alex Talladino (Enterprise, Redding) 6-4, 205, Sr.
Talladino’s 13 receiving TDs was tops in the NSCIF. He caught 26 passes for 695 yards and has received interest from FCS programs including UC Davis, Sacramento State and Eastern Washington.
Izzy Matthews is one of the top returning running backs in Northern California. Photo: Scott Kurtz.
He’s the only returner on the Hornets’ offensive line but started all 14 games last season, including the CIF Division II State Bowl Game against Chaminade.
OL – Andre Martinez (Orland) 5-10, 245, Sr.
One reason that Orland should contend for a section title in 2014 is a strong offensive line that will be anchored by Martinez.
OL – James McBride (Sutter) 6-5, 285, Sr.
He’s a returning all-section lineman who helped the Huskies average 465 offensive yards per game.
OL – Nathan McFarland (Paradise) 5-11, 210, Sr.
He paved the way for the Bobcats’ Wing-T rushing attack, which led the Northern Section with 357 yards per game.
OL – Justin Nunez (Red Bluff) 6-5, 320, Jr.
Monster two-way lineman should dominate competition this season with his size and strength. He’s received an offer from Southern Oregon but has interest from Pac-12 programs Washington and Oregon State.
QB – Clayton Welch (Chico) 6-5, 214, Sr.
After setting the NSCIF single-season record for total yards rushing and passing (3,711) last season, Welch showed legit skills at the NorCal Elite 11 camp. He accounted for 51 TDs in 2013 and could be the first NSCIF passer to surpass 3,000 yards.
RB – Cameron Alfaro (Chico) 5-9, 160, Jr.
He’s a returning 1,000-yard back who scored 10 TDs on the ground and can catch for the NSCIF’s second-highest scoring offense in 2013. Alfaro should reach 1,500 total yards 20 TDs in 2014.
RB – Izzy Matthews (Enterprise, Redding) 6-0, 200, Sr.
He carried the Hornets to a NorCal D-II Regional Bowl Game win last season behind his school-record 2,200 yards and 32 TDs. He has five FBS offers so far, including one from Colorado of the Pac-12. He is No. 6 among the state’s top running back prospects and is No. 64 in the Cal-Hi Sports Hot 100 for seniors.
PK – Riley Meredith (Hamilton, Hamilton City) 5-11, 208, Jr.
There weren’t many field goals, but Meredith was a perfect 3-for-3 – all of at least 30 yards – with a long of 50 yards and was 36 of 42 (85.7 percent) in PATs. He also serves the Braves as an offensive lineman and linebacker where he had 30 tackles and a sack.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL – Cesar Buenrostro (Colusa) 6-1, 245, Sr.
Here is one player from the NSCIF this season who already has put his name into the Cal-Hi Sports state record book. For Buenrostro, it’s for most sacks in the season with 23 that he has been reported with for his junior season. Twenty-two doesn’t make the book. Twenty-three does.
DL – Wyatt Clement (Red Bluff) 6-5, 235, Sr.
Clement is an edge rusher who uses his talents as a basketball player to blow past linemen with his strength and speed. He doubles as a tight end who can be split out wide and is a big target in the red zone. He’s receiving interest from Washington, Oregon State and Sacramento State.
Arthur Flynn and the Orland Trojans could be nasty on defense once again this season. Photo: NCSASports.org.
DL – Tanner Gallion (Fall River, McArthur) 6-1, 195, Sr.
A force on both sides of the ball, Gallion had 63 tackles and 11 sacks, earning him Cal-Hi Sports all-state honors last season. He also led the section in receiving with 839 yards and seven TDs for the section runner-up Bulldogs.
LB – Arthur Flynn (Orland) 6-4, 225, Sr.
He averaged 7.1 yards per carry while rushing for 1,027 yards and 13 TDs in 2013. Flynn is a returning all-section pick at DE but is moving to MLB this season for the Trojans.
LB – Nick Tomasin (Enterprise, Redding) 6-0, 235, Sr.
The reigning NSCIF Defensive MVP, Tomasin has had two straight 150-tackle, three-sack campaigns while helping Enterprise to repeat as NSCIF D-I champs. He’s receiving interest from a handful of FBS programs, including Arizona and Washington of the Pac-12.
LB – Jeremy Williams (West Valley) 6-0, 190, Sr.
A fierce inside linebacker with size, Williams helped the Eagles to the No. 1 defensive ranking in the section last year with 82 tackles, seven sacks and two forced fumbles.
LB – Riley Vickner (Sutter) 5-11, 185, Sr.
Vickner’s 197 tackles led the NSCIF last season and should be the defensive leader for Sutter, which is an early favorite to reach the NSCIF D-III finals in 2014.
DB – Justin Abney (Enterprise, Redding) 5-10, 150 Sr.
Abney is a two-time all-NSCIF cornerback with six INTs in two seasons. He’s also a triple-threat on offense where he will see some time at QB, running sweeps and receiving and should easily account for 1,000 total yards and 10 TDs this year.
DB – Chance Nelson (Corning) 5-11, 165, Sr.
He finished third in the division with four INTs against primarily run-heavy offenses. Nelson also totaled 1,000 yards and 11 TDs on offense.
DB – Jace Neugebauer (Fall River, McArthur) 5-8, 175, Jr.
Neugebauer picked off four passes in 2013 for the section runner-up Bulldogs. He also doubles as a QB where he threw for 1,800 yards and 23 TDs. He could break all school career records for passing this season as a junior.
DB – Ethan Rupert (Sutter) 5-10, 145, Sr.
He’s not too big, but Rupert was an all-section safety last year so we had to get him onto this team. He had 83 tackles and three INTs.
P – Rashaan Broomfield (Weed) 5-11, 160, Sr.
A returning all-section punter, Broomfield averaged 35.56 yards per kick last year with a long of 62. He also registered 1,859 total yards and 19 TDs.
FIRST TEAM MULTI-PURPOSE
RB/LB – Alex Davila (Corning) 6-0, 187, Jr.
Davila surpassed 1,000 yards on the ground to go with 11 TDs as a sophomore. He also doubles as a linebacker where he had 31 tackles and two sacks last year.
QB/DB – Kade Lewis (Red Bluff) 6-0, 165, Sr.
He’s expected to be one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the section who also should play both ways for the Spartans as a safety.
QB/LB – Jacob Lowrie (Winters) 5-10, 175, Sr.
This dual-threat signal caller led Winters to a D-III section title last year after being one of two players in the section to rush and pass for at least 1,000 yards. He racked up 3,307 total yards and accounted for 41 TDs.
WR/DB/KR – Izzy Perea (Enterprise, Redding) 5-7, 155, Sr.
Perea is a sure-tackler with 75 stops and added three INTs for the reigning NorCal D-II champs. He returns kicks and is an offensive threat with his speed where he averaged 15.6 yards per touch and totaled 11 TDs last year.
RB/LB Trevor Ray (Winters) 5-9, 155, Sr.
Ray is one of three 1,000-yard rushers for the Warriors and had 2,137 all-purpose yards and 14 TDs in 2013. He also grabbed a pair of INTs on defense.
WR/FS/P Ryan Terras (Foothill, Palo Cedro) 6-0, 170, Jr.
Regarded as a true outside receiver, Terras also has the athleticism to carry the ball out of the backfield or on sweeps. He also led the Cougars in tackles as a sophomore last year.
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE, DEFENSE & MULTI-PURPOSE
(12 who almost made it)
DL/LB Zach Zambrana (West Valley) Sr.
QB Randy Post (Sutter) Sr.
C/LB Chad Young (Hamilton, Hamilton City) Sr.
RB/LB Case Bennett (Lassen, Susanville) Jr.
WR/DB Mario Valdez (Shasta, Redding) 5-7, 160, Sr.
LB Nic Ariagno (Shasta) 6-0, 215, Sr.
LB Tyler Van Iderstine (Paradise) 5-10, 175, Sr.
QB/DB Ricky Pompa (Hamilton) 6-1, 160, Sr.
WR/DB DJ Norton (Paradise) 5-11, 175, Sr.
OL/DL Ricky Riise (Winters) 6-4, 235, Sr.
FB/LB/P Ryan Steindorf (Pleasant Valley, Chico) 6-2, 195, Sr.
QB/DB Ty Currie (Yreka) 6-2, 185, Sr.
Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports
