Ali, Martinez land on All-EYL top squad

A year after getting just one player on the All-EYL first team, the Porterville Panthers, who finished with the same record in the league (5-1) as in 2008, were the squad that took the most top-team spots away from the league’s Goliath.

Tulare Union (12-0, 6-0 EYL), which is still alive as the No. 1 seed in the Division II playoffs, pummeled everyone in the league by more than 34 points and topped last year’s first-team allotment (11), getting 13 players on the first team.

Porterville (9-3, 5-1 EYL) is also still fighting for a Valley championship and it infiltrated the Redskin cocktail party with five players getting first-team recognition.

Junior running back David Ali, who’s rushed for more than 100 yards in 11 of the 12 games en route to a school-record 1,686 on the season, joined Xavier Stephens (Union) on the first team.

An Ali blocker, senior guard Diego Paniagua, was the only non-Redskin to be named first-team offensive line. On the other side of the line, defensive lineman Jake VanWinkle, linebacker Brandon Gonzalez, who has more than 160 tackles in 12 games, and junior safety Matt Clark represented the Panther defense on the EYL’s No. 1 team.

Monache got two members on the first team, its potent passing combo of quarterback Pablo Martinez and Sabastian Bates. The seniors hooked up 43 times for 751 yards and nine touchdowns.

Martinez passed for 1,643 yards and 15 touchdowns in his second season as the Marauders’ signal-caller.

Granite Hills sophomore safety Brandon Avalos was the lone Grizzly recognized as a first-teamer.

On the second team, Porterville landed two seniors, tight end Tre Davis and outside linebacker Kevin Hulse, and a junior, offensive tackle Casey Ray, with Monache getting two offensive linemen, guard Rene Macias and center Richard Barella, a defensive lineman, Max Alcantar, and two members of its secondary, Martin Moreno and James Reneau.

Hulse has more than 140 tackles in his final season with the Panthers.

Moreno led the Marauders in tackles with 90 from his safety position while Alcantar paced the team in sacks with five.

Tulare Union quarterback Trevor Jones, a transfer from Mt. Whitney, was named the league’s Offensive Player with teammates Jacob Guerrero and Edward Dillihunt, who has committed to Fresno State, getting Defensive Player of the Year and Specialist of the Year honors, respectively.

Cesar Chavez guard Noel Gomez was a repeat selection as the Lineman of the Year.

2009 All-EYL Football Teams

Offensive Player of the Year: Trevor Jones, Sr. QB - Tulare Union

Defensive Player of the Year: Jacob Guererro, Sr. LB - Tulare Union

Lineman of the Year: Noel Gomez, Sr. G - Cesar Chavez

Specialist of the Year: Edward Dillihunt, Sr. RB/WR - Tulare Union

First Team

Quarterback: Pablo Martinez, Sr., Monache

Running Back: Xavier Stephens, Soph., Tulare Union

Running Back: David Ali, Jr., Porterville

Wide Receiver: Marquess Wilson, Sr., Tulare Union

Wide Receiver: Sabastian Bates, Sr., Monache

Tight End: Riley Barnes, Sr., Tulare Union

Offensive Tackle: Paul Sicks, Sr., Tulare Union

Offensive Tackle: William Whatley, Sr., Tulare Union

Offensive Guard: Paul Perez, Sr., Tulare Union

Offensive Guard: Diego Paniagua, Sr., Porterville

Center: Sergio Sevilla, Sr., Tulare Union

Defensive Line: Jose Rivera, Sr., Delano

Defensive Line: Jake VanWinkle, Sr., Porterville

Defensive Line: Mikial Choboian, Sr., Tulare Union

Defensive Line: Brandon Tillman, Sr., Cesar Chavez

Linebacker: Joey McCrae, Sr., Tulare Union

Linebacker: Brandon Gonzalez, Sr., Porterville

Linebacker: Ross Rodarte, Sr., Delano

Linebacker: Ean Martinez, Sr., Tulare Western

Defensive Back: Zach Perigo, Soph., Delano

Defensive Back: Carson Sousa, Sr., Tulare Union

Defensive Back: Matt Clark, Jr., Porterville

Defensive Back: Francisco Badilla, Jr., Cesar Chavez

Second Team

Quarterback: Josh Garcia, Sr., Delano

Running Back: Andy Martin del Campo, Sr., Delano

Running Back: Peter Markham, Sr., Cesar Chavez

Wide Receiver: Curtis Ricks, Jr., Tulare Western

Wide Receiver: Victory Anaya, Sr., Delano

Tight End: Tre Davis, Sr., Porterville

Offensive Tackle: Casey Ray, Jr., Porterville

Offensive Tackle: Rafael Deniz, Sr., Cesar Chavez

Offensive Guard: Chris Hernandez, Sr., Delano

Offensive Guard: Rene Macias, Sr., Monache

Center: Richard Barella, Sr., Monache

Defensive Line: Sola Felemi, Sr., Tulare Union

Defensive Line: Max Alcantar, Sr., Tulare Union

Defensive Line: Mario Walle, Sr., Tulare Western

Defensive Line: Rey Maldonado, Jr., Tulare Union

Linebacker: Christian Cano, Sr., Cesar Chavez

Linebacker: Kevin Hulse, Sr., Porterville

Defensive Back: Martin Moreno, Sr., Monache

Defensive Back: James Reneau, Sr., Monache

Orange Belt Honorable Mentions: Blas Roman, Soph. QB (GH), Richie Coppenbarger, Sr. QB (POR),

Jordan McIntire, Sr. RB (POR), Joel Jacuinde, Sr. RB (GH), Greyson Henderson, Sr. WR (MON), Andrew Priego, Sr., TE (MON), David Alcantar, Soph. OG (GH), Mitchell Kurz, Jr. OG (POR), Russell Thornhill,

Sr. C (POR), Esteban Gaspar, Jr. C (GH), Clayton Henschel, Sr. DL (POR), Jose Coronel, Sr. DL (GH),

Danilo Lara, Sr. DL (MON), Joel Smithey, Jr. CB (POR), Jovan Rosalez, Soph. DB (MON)