All-State first team medium schools multi-purpose player Michael Smith (left) leads group of Bakersfield Christian players out to the field before CIF D2-AA state final. At right is record-breaking receiver Jack Cunningham of Ventura, who had more than 2,000 yards receiving on the season plus 27 TD catches. Photos: X.com.
The 48th annual Cal-Hi Sports All-State Football Teams now adds the top selections from schools that were deemed medium schools from the 2025 season. Among the schools that have landed more than one player on first or second team are Bakersfield Christian, Ventura, Downey, Tustin, Oak Hills of Hesperia, Barstow and McClymonds of Oakland. It didn’t take too long after we finished up with the small schools. Next up will be the large schools/overall and we guarantee they all will be out before the Super Bowl next week.
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CIF D2-AA state runner-up Bakersfield Christian and CIF D3-A state runner-up Ventura were two of three schools that were able to place two players each on first team on this year’s Cal-Hi Sports All-State Medium Schools Football Teams.
Bakersfield Christian, which lost to St. Mary’s of Stockton (large schools) in the state final, placed senior defensive end Arnez Lee and senior wide receiver/defensive back Michael Smith on the first team. Lee led the state in quarterback sacks with 25 in 14 games, which also is a total that gains a listing in the single season state records. He also had 36 tackles for loss. Smith shined on both sides of the ball in the state final and ended the season with 60 receptions 1,430 yards and 16 TDs plus he had 66 tackles and five interceptions on defense. Eagles’ senior QB Lincoln Adame also has gained a third team all-state honor.
Ventura also lost in its state final to a school designated as large schools for state rankings and all-state honors, which for the Cougars was to St. Ignatius of San Francisco (a member of the powerful West Catholic Athletic League). Wide receiver Jack Cunningham of Ventura had one of the best pass catching seasons in state history from a historically statistical standpoint. He wound up with 124 catches in 16 games for 2,140 yards and 27 TDs. Jack’s catches total will go down at No. 5 on the all-time state list while the yardage will be third. His TD catch total will rank in a tie for 16th. Ventura also had another no brainer first teamer in linebacker Tristan Phillips. The University of Oregon signer led the team in tackles with 127 and had eight sacks with one interception. Ventura QB Derek Garcia didn’t quite make it onto the first team all-state, but the UNLV-bound standout is on second team multi-purpose. He rushed for 813 yards and 12 TDs to go with passing for 3,595 yards and 38 TDs.
QB Oscar Rios of Downey had numerous D1 college offers but eventually decided on Arizona State. Photo: Hudl.com.
The third school to have two on first team and one on second team for medium schools all-state this year is Downey. The Vikings clearly have a large school enrollment but their league (currently Gateway) and their arch-rivals from Warren of Downey have been medium schools in recent years based on competitive equity. Like Ventura, Downey had two rather easy first team medium picks with the two Oscars — Oscar Rios, dual threat QB, and Oscar Aguilar, linebacker. Rios, who has signed with Arizona State, and Aguilar, who has signed with Arizona, have been leading the Downey team since their sophomore seasons. The Vikings also had a 300-pound offensive linemen, Miguel Andrade, sneak on to the second team. Miguel has been all-league the past two seasons.
Medium Schools State Player of the Year Wes Burford of Oakdale, who capped his career with 2,867 yards rushing in 13 games that pushed his career totals to 7,364 yards and 106 total touchdowns scored, has been joined on first team offense by running back Jace Demacabalin from Kennedy of Delano. He led the Thunderbirds to the CIF D3-AA state title vs McClymonds of Oakland and ended his season with 2,640 yards rushing in 16 games with 37 TDs. Jace also capped his career with lofty totals of 7,159 yards and 101 total touchdowns scored.
For single season touchdowns scored, however, the state leader was neither Burford or Demecabalin. That would be San Francisco Balboa’s Mekai Smith. He led the Bucs to their second straight CIF D7-AA state title and scored 53 touchdowns (mostly as a running back). While Balboa won its title in D7-AA, its enrollment is too high to be considered small schools so Smith had to be considered for all-state for medium. He has made it on first team multi-purpose.
Keep in mind that several other leading players who are all-state medium schools named below also can be selected later this week for all-state first team overall. We may even have one or two who are on small schools who may be that high as well. We do not duplicate any of the medium school or small school honorees, however, below the first two overall/elite all-state teams. Those spots are reserved for the graduating seniors from large schools.
Note: Schools broken down into large, medium and small based on section playoff divisions but also on where they’ve been traditionally. We also will not generally consider a school close to or above 1,500 enrollment small school at all no matter what section or state playoff division that school is placed. This means a school like Balboa of San Francisco, which has won CIF state titles in the lowest CIF division, can’t ever be a “small” school. Medium, yes. Small, no. Many of the CIF L.A. City Section playoff teams, including D2 and D3, can’t be small schools, either, for same reason.
Cal-Hi Sports All-State Football
Medium Schools
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Mekai Smith from Balboa of San Francisco led the state in touchdowns scored with 53. He had one TD on defense with five that came on kickoff or punt returns. Photo: X.com.
WR Romeo Carter (Point Loma, San Diego) 6-2, 180, Sr.
WR Jack Cunningham (Ventura) 5-10, 175, Sr.
TE Jude Nelson (Millikan, Long Beach) 6-4, 220, Sr.
OL Carson Bahruth (Bonita, La Verne) 6-3, 290, Sr.
OL Garrett Bertsch (Los Gatos) 6-4, 265, Sr.
OL Nikolas Edwards
(Mater Dei Catholic, Chula Vista) 6-2, 300, Sr.
OL Colton Hogge (Twelve Bridges, Lincoln) 6-5, 260, Sr.
OL Jarvis Williams
(Valley View, Moreno Valley) 6-6, 330, Sr.
QB Caden Jones (Crean Lutheran, Irvine) 6-3, 185, Jr.
RB Wes Burford (Oakdale) 6-0, 210, Sr.
RB Jace Demacabalin (Kennedy, Delano) 6-1, 205, Sr.
PK Mateo Arancibia (Cerritos) 6-2, 170, Sr.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL Malik Brooks
(St. Pius X-St. Matthias, Downey) 6-3, 330, Sr.
DL Sione Felila (Oak Hills, Hesperia) 6-3, 290, Sr.
DL Arnez Lee (Bakersfield Christian) 6-1, 220, Sr.
LB Oscar Aguilar (Downey) 6-3, 215, Sr.
LB Taylor Johnson (Cajon, San Bernardino) 6-1, 210, Sr.
LB Tristan Phillips (Ventura) 6-3, 215, Sr.
LB Koa Rapolla (Palm Springs) 6-0, 220, Sr.
DB Brandon Arrington (Mt. Miguel, Spring Valley) 6-2, 185, Sr.
DB Justin Fischer (Roseville) 6-0, 170, Sr.
DB Isaiah Lucero (Northview, Covina) 6-1, 180, Sr.
DB Khalil Terry (Tustin) 6-0, 185, Jr.
P Carlos Alcala (Costa Mesa) 6-0, 175, Sr.
FIRST TEAM MULTI-PURPOSE
RB/WR/DB Caleb Clark (Arroyo Grande) 6-2, 195, Sr.
QB/ATH Brady Edmunds (Huntington Beach) 6-5, 220, Jr.
QB/RB Josiah Melendez (Woodcreek, Roseville) 6-1, 195, Sr.
QB/RB Oscar Rios (Downey) 6-3, 185, Sr.
RB/KR Mekai Smith (Balboa, San Francisco) 6-2, 215, Sr.
WR/DB Michael Smith (Bakersfield Christian) 6-0, 170, Sr.
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
If Paraclete of Lancaster’s Adrian Jones had been able to play more than 12 games, he would have threatened the state record total of 34 season TD catches. He still had 29 and will be added to the record book. Photo: Paraclete HS Athletics / MaxPreps.com.
WR Adrian Jones (Paraclete, Lancaster) 5-10, 165, Sr.
WR Brayden Stevenson (Tulare) 5-9, 170, Sr.
OL Miguel Andrade (Downey) 6-1, 315, Sr.
OL Daniel Mataele (Patterson) 6-5, 360, Sr.
OL Johnny Notarianni
(Oak Hills, Hesperia) 6-3, 285, Sr.
OL Brody Ordelheide (Moorpark) 6-4, 240, Sr.
OL Hector Saavedra
(Cajon, San Bernardino) 6-4, 260, Sr.
QB Jordan Crisp (Tulare) 5-9, 195, Sr.
RB Brian Bonner (Valencia) 6-1, 185, Sr.
RB Nicholas Gaoa (Barstow) 5-8 170, Sr.
RB Jhadis Luckey
(Clayton Valley, Concord) 5-10, 195, Sr.
PK Samuel Gonzalez (Garces, Bakersfield) 6-1, 175, Sr.
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL Iosefa Leolofi (Barstow) 6-0, 230, Sr.
DL Koi Taiese (McClymonds, Oakland) 6-3, 295, Sr.
DL Dekoven Washington (Perris) 6-4, 240, Sr.
LB Taven Epps (Tustin) 6-4, 230, Jr.
LB Geremy Molett (Bakersfield) 6-1, 205, Sr.
LB J.D. Sanchez (Charter Oak, Covina) 6-1, 215, Sr.
LB Vili Trollinger (Montgomery, San Diego) 5-11, 215, Sr.
LB Zachariah Winters (Lynwood) 6-2, 195, Sr.
DB King Butler (Norte Vista, Riverside) 6-4, 190, Sr.
DB Pai Polamalu (St. Augustine, San Diego) 5-10, 175, Jr.
DB Grant Ricker (Acalanes, Lafayette) 6-2, 190, Sr.
P Oscar Sanchez (Barstow) 5-10, 170, Sr.
SECOND TEAM MULTI-PURPOSE
QB/RB Derek Garcia (Ventura) 6-3, 190, Sr.
QB/RB Jaden Jefferson (Cathedral, Los Angeles) 5-9, 170, Jr.
RB/LB Kevika Mata’uita-Martinez (La Habra) 6-0, 210, Jr.
RB/WR/DB Kyan Phillips (Lincoln, San Jose) 6-0, 190, Sr.
WR/DB Maryon Sloan (Shafter) 6-0, 195, Sr.
QB/ATH Berell Staples (McClymonds, Oakland) 6-2, 185, Sr.
DL/FB Jeremiah Williams (Tustin) 6-1, 310, Jr.
THIRD TEAM OFFENSE
WR Bryce Coleman (Crean Lutheran, Irvine) 6-3, 180, Sr.
WR Jackson Fay (East Union, Manteca) Sr.
WR Troy Foster (Huntington Beach) Sr.
WR Quentin Hale (Cathedral, Los Angeles) Jr.
WR Braedon Miller (Beaumont) Sr.
WR Gio Robles (Imperial) Sr.
WR Demaje Riley (Tulare) Jr.
WR Tyler Starling (Agoura, Agoura Hills) Sr.
WR A.J. Logan (Mt. Miguel, Spring Valley) Sr.
TE Max Leeper (Claremont) Sr.
OL Daniel Aguirre (Troy, Fullerton) Sr.
OL Michael Hester-Black (Roosevelt, Fresno) Sr.
OL David Medina (San Pedro) Jr.
OL Justin Rivas (Torrance) Sr.
QB Jack Thomas led Palisades to a 10-1 season in the aftermath of the horrible fire one year ago. Pali head coach Dylen Smith also has been honored as a Don Shula Coach of the Year by the NFL and will be going to the Super Bowl. Photo: X.com.
QB Khalil Abdul-Azziz (Orange Vista, Perris) Sr.
QB Lincoln Adame (Bakersfield Christian) Sr.
QB Brady Annett
(Corona del Mar, Newport Beach) Sr.
QB Corin Berry (Charter Oak, Covina) Sr.
QB Gavin Gray (Agoura, Agoura Hills) Sr.
QB Deshaun Laporte (Burbank) Jr.
QB Aidan Lopez (Casa Roble, Orangevale) Sr.
QB Ezekiel Osborne (Shafter) Sr.
QB Jack Thomas (Palisades, Pacific Palisades) Sr.
RB Titus Andrade (Pleasant Valley, Chico) Sr.
RB Troy Freking (South Pasadena) Sr.
RB Hammie Lopez (Wasco) Sr.
RB Darnell Miller (Santee, Los Angeles) Sr.
RB Kayne Miller (Calabasas) Sr.
RB Ethan Mundt (Troy, Fullerton) Sr.
RB Lorenzo Sims (Ramona, Riverside) Sr.
PK Zach Brien (Bishop O’Dowd, Oakland) Jr.
THIRD TEAM DEFENSE
DL Ryder Barnes (Crean Lutheran, Irvine) Sr.
DL Jason Brown (Muir, Pasadena) Jr.
DL Kingston Coates (Foothill, Palo Cedro) Sr.
DL Frank Fontua (Mt. Miguel, Spring Valley) Sr.
DL Crosby Kelly (Campolindo, Moraga) Sr.
DL Benji Mathews (Poly, Riverside) Sr.
DL Jon Ioane (Tustin) Jr.
DL Juan Raygoza (McLane, Fresno) Jr.
DL Kingston Sula (Carson) Soph.
LB Xavier Allen (Carson) Sr.
LB Jerrek Buckley (Rancho Cotate, Rohnert Park) Jr.
LB Thompson Foulger (Dana Hills, Dana Point) Sr.
LB John McClellan (Rancho Cotate, Rohnert Park) Sr.
LB Carter Taylor (Newbury Park) Sr.
LB Chase Wyhlidko (Twelve Bridges, Lincoln) Sr.
DB Jaret Bridwell (Red Bluff) Jr.
DB Bobby Brooks (La Habra) Sr.
DB Carson Diehl (La Jolla) Sr.
DB Rahsjon Duncan (McClymonds, Oakland) Sr.
DB Tivan Jones (Lakewood) Sr.
DB Dawan Scott (Westchester, Los Angeles) Sr.
THIRD TEAM MULTI-PURPOSE
RB/DB/KR Jacob Arbuckle (Tahquitz, Hemet) Sr.
RB/DB Bo Ausmus (Redondo, Redondo Beach) Sr.
QB/RB Jeremiah Duhu (Beaumont) Sr.
QB/RB Chris Fields (Carson) Jr.
WR/DB Nicholas Fonseca (South Gate) Sr.
RB/DB Superior Garror (Morse, San Diego) Sr.
WR/DB Chaz Gilbreath (Mayfair, Lakewood) Sr.
TE/DE Yasser Jackson (Oakland) Sr.
WR/LB Kristian Leslie (Hamilton, Los Angeles) Jr.
RB/LB Deonte Littlejohn (Acalanes, Lafayette) Sr.
QB/RB D.J. Mitchell (La Habra) Jr.
QB/RB Diego Montes (Kennedy, Granada Hills) Sr.
RB/DB Zaiveon Patrick (Chico) Sr.
QB/DB Charlie Reyes (Aquinas, San Bernardino) Sr.
RB/LB Joeisha Ryan Tirado (Valley Center) Sr.
QB/RB Tyler Winkles (Acalanes, Lafayette) Jr.
MEDIUM SCHOOLS STATE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
(previously announced):
Wes Burford (Oakdale)
MEDIUM SCHOOLS STATE COACH OF THE YEAR
(previously announced):
Frank Mazzotta (La Habra)
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
2 Comments
Acalanes has 1200 enrollment and considered medium?
Cardinal Newman has 580 enrollment (co-ed), and is considered large? I assume cause they have no all state players on small or medium list. YOUR OWN CRITERIA CLAIMS THE LEVELS ARE BASED ON SECTION PLAYOFFS and Cardinal Newman beat Acalanes 52-17 in the D1 NCS section playoffs.
Make it make sense…..
Cardinal Newman has been NCS Open the past two years. It wasn’t in the medium schools state rankings at any point this season. This shouldn’t be considered a surprise. Yes, Acalanes is medium and has been for many years. We didn’t know they were going to be moved up to NCS D1 until later in the season and obviously it shouldn’t have been. Don’t see them getting players from Australia, either. It’s not about enrollment. Cardinal Newman is just like Central Catholic of Modesto, which used to be small & medium and is now considered open/large.