Prized Six-Shooter

Cody Henwood knows what it means to wear the Orange Green of Porterville High football. So to Henwood, the fact that he has been named as the Orange Belt Player of the Year is more of an honor for PHS than it is for himself.

The all-Orange Belt Football Team as selected by The Recorder is composed of players from Porterville, Monache, Granite Hills, Lindsay and Strathmore High Schools.

Henwood helped lead PHS to an 8-4 record and a Valley Division III quarterfinal playoff berth this season. In the process, Henwood threw for more than 2,500 yards and was named to the all-East Yosemite League first team.

The two-year starter at quarterback has risen his grade point average to 3.7 at PHS, so he obviously plans on continuing his education in college and hopes that football will help him do so. Henwood could potentially play at the Division II or NAIA level and among the schools who have shown interest in Henwood is NAIA University of Redlands.

While he doesn’t rule it out, Henwood said it’s not likely he’ll go the junior college route in order to play football. “I don’t think I want to go to junior college just to play football,” he said. “I’m just looking to get a better education and if football can do that... But if not, then I’ll just focus on school.”

The standards are high at PHS, so admittedly an 8-4 season was somewhat of a disappointment, especially after Henwood helped lead PHS to a 12-1 mark and the Valley Division III finals as a junior.

“I feel it went well for me personally,” said Henwood about this past season. “I feel we could have done better as a team.”

But Henwood kept the year in perspective when he said, “We had a good season.”

And Henwood believes that PHS can compete for a Valley title next season. “I think we have the talent to win the title,” he said. “Hopefully we can pick it back up and get Porterville back where it should be.”

Even though, he won’t be playing any more, Henwood says “we,” as he says he’ll always be a Panther. “It’s an honor to wear the Orange and Green,” Henwood said. “Hopefully my kids end up coming to Porterville. The school’s been around for 100-something years. It’s a big deal in this town.”

Here’s the rest of the Orange Belt team:

OFFENSE

Joe Duran, Specialist of the Year, PHS. Duran was an all-EYL second team choice as a defensive back and arguably should have been an all-EYL first team choice. He was also a versatile, all-around performer for PHS, with highlights including a kickoff return for a touchdown against Tulare Union and a punt return for a score against Granite Hills.

Julio Arellano, QB, Strathmore. Arellano threw for 17 touchdowns and just four interceptions and ran for eight scores in being named to the all-East Sequoia League first team.

Miguel Rivas, QB, Monache. Rivas was a dual threat as a runner and a passer and was named to the all-EYL first team along with Henwood.

Michael Forrester, RB, PHS. Forrester rushed for more than 1,200 yards and scored 27 touchdowns and was an all-EYL first team choice.

Juan Medrano, RB, Strathmore. Medrano rushed for 1,665 yards, averaging 7.2 yards a carry while accounting for 28 touchdowns (24 TD runs, 3 TD catches, 1 TD pass) and was named the ESL Player of the Year.

Dante Cunningham, WR, Granite Hills. An all-EYL first team choice.

Cristian Moreno, WR, Strathmore. An all-ESL first team choice, Moreno caught 10 touchdown passes this season.

Jorge Ibarra, TE, Strathmore. Ibarra actually made his mark at defensive end as he was named the ESL’s Defensive Player of the Year, but he was also an important part of Strathmore’s offense as a receiver and blocker at tight end.

Isaac Gonzales, OL, PHS. An all-EYL second team choice.

Anthony Cardona, OL, Monache. An all-EYL first team choice.

Raul Mata, OL, Granite Hills. An all-EYL first team choice.

Stephen Reyes, OL, Lindsay. Reyes made the all-ESL first team as an offensive and defensive lineman.

Jaime Vazquez, OL, Strathmore. Another all-ESL first team choice as an offensive and defensive lineman.

DEFENSE

Gio Gonzalez, DL, PHS. An all-EYL first team choice.

David Alcantar, DL, Granite Hills. An all-EYL first team choice.

Roberto Lopez, DL, Monache. An all-EYL first team choice.

Logan Couch, DL, Strathmore. A two-way starter, was the ESL’s co-Lineman of the Year with Lindsay’s Robert Reeves.

Robert Reeves, DL, Lindsay. Also a two-way starter, the ESL’s co-Lineman of the Year with Couch.

Dustin Martine, LB, PHS. A two-time EYL Defensive Player of the Year.

Ivan Castillo, LB, Lindsay. An all-ESL first team choice.

Nas Abdulla, LB, Granite Hills. An all-EYL first team choice as a linebacker, Abdulla was also a key player on offense, especially as a lead blocker, at fullback. Adbulla will play in the Blue-Grey National All-Star Football Game on Jan. 14 in Tampa, Fla.

Courtland Duckworth, DB, PHS. An all-Orange Belt choice as a tight end last year, Duckworth picked up where he left off with 47 receptions for more than 800 yards this season. He was an all-EYL choice as a tight end and safety this season.

Nasar Abdulla, DB, Granite Hills. Abdulla’s younger brother, “Little Nas,” made four interceptions during the regular season in being named to the all-EYL first team.

Elias Bravo, DB, Strathmore. An all-ESL first team choice.

Hector Duran, DB, Lindsay. An all-ESL first team choice.