The CIF Southern Section earlier this week released the awards for the 2023 high school football season, and six Inland athletes were among those selected players of the year in their team’s respective divisions.
Orange Vista swept the honors in Division 5, as senior running back Sire Gaines was chosen the offensive player of the year and junior edge rusher Iese Magalei was selected the defensive player of the year. Gaines, who already has enrolled at Boise State, ran for 1,685 yards, caught 16 passes for 351 yards and scored 31 total touchdown to help the Coyotes win the program’s first section championship. Magalei was a defensive force for Orange Vista, recording 71 tackles (18 1/2 for losses) and 12 1/2 sacks.
Jurupa Hills senior quarterback Caleb Ruiz was chosen the Division 8 offensive player of the year for helping the Spartans claim the program’s second section championship. Ruiz passed for 2,432 yards and 25 touchdowns and ran for another 531 yards and 12 touchdowns. Jurupa Hills junior defensive back Michael Ephraim shared the division’s defensive player of the year award with Charter Oak’s LaVar Arrington Jr. Ephraim finished the season with 100 tackles, two interceptions and seven passes defensed.
Ramona junior running back Sincere Tolbert was selected the offensive player of the year in Division 11 for helping the Rams win the program’s first section championship since 1989. Tolbert ran for 1,952 yards on 265 carries and also scored 24 touchdowns.
California School for the Deaf-Riverside sophomore Gio Visco was selected as the Division 2 player of the year in 8-man football for helping the Cubs win a second consecutive section championship. Visco played multiple positions and finished the season with 685 passing yards, 767 rushing yards, 581 receiving yards, and 257 kick return yards. He accounted for 36 total touchdowns.
Greg Zomalt from Orange Vista, Citos Marinez from Jurupa Hills, Ken Mushinskie from Ramona, and Keith Adams from CSDR all were recognized as divisional coaches of the year for leading their teams to section championship.
An additional 163 Inland players — 157 in 11-man football and six more in 8-man football — were selected to divisional first teams.
CIF SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL
Division 1
Offensive player of the year: Elijah Brown, Mater Dei, Sr.
Defensive player of the year: Nasir Wyatt, Mater Dei, Jr.
Inland players on first team: Husan Longstreet, Centennial, Jr.; Cornell Hatcher II, Centennial, Sr.; Wade Helton, Centennial, Sr.; Jonathan McKinley, Centennial, So.; Bryce Granger, Centennial, Sr.; Tayten Beyer, Centennial, Sr.
Division 2
Offensive player of the year: Vance Spafford, Mission Viejo, So.
Defensive player of the year: Jaden Williams, Mission Viejo, Jr.
Inland players on first team: Blake Lowe, Chaparral, Sr.; Aiden Alefosio, Chaparral, Sr.; Isaiah Arriaza, Damien, Jr.; Bear Bachmeier, Murrieta Valley, Jr.; Dorian Hoze, Murrieta Valley, Jr.; Drew Nichols, Murrieta Valley, Jr.; Hunter Letua, Murrieta Valley, Sr.; Trey Wilson, Rancho Cucamonga, Sr.; Rahim Wright II, Rancho Cucamonga, Sr.; Trestin Castro, Upland, Jr.; AJ Matelau, Upland, Jr.; Brody Guinn, Vista Murrieta, Sr.
Division 3
Offensive player of the year: Koen Glover, St. Bonaventure, Jr.
Defensive player of the year: Max Peters, St. Bonaventure, Sr.
Inland players on first team: Christopher Cooper, Beaumont, Sr.; Asaad Chapman, Cajon, Sr.; Jered Rennick, Cajon, Jr.; Sean Saavedra, Cajon, Jr.; Dawson Martinez, Citrus Valley, Jr.; Michael Counce, Citrus Valley, Sr.; Jezniah Thurston, Citrus Valley, Sr.; Jordyn Harris, Citrus Valley, Sr.; Dermaricus Davis, Etiwanda, Sr.
Division 4
Offensive player of the year: Owen Long, La Serna, Sr.
Defensive players of the year: Adrian Castro, La Serna, Sr.; Christian Brooks, Corona del Mar, Sr.
Inland players on first team: Marquis Monroe, Ayala, Sr.; Nicholas Partida, Ayala, Sr.; Ryder Smith, Great Oak, So.; Taejon Henderson, Norte Vista, Sr.; Damon Iosefa, Norte Vista, Sr.
Division 5
Offensive player of the year: Sire Gaines, Orange Vista, Sr.
Defensive player of the year: Iese Magalei, Orange Vista, Jr.
Inland players on first team: Jojo Solis, Aquinas, Jr.; Noah Mikhail, Bonita, Jr; Dylan Robinson, Bonita, Jr.; Carson Bahruth, Bonita, So.; Armon Hornsby, Colony, Sr.; Kekoa Josiah, Colony, Sr.; Kaleb Tulloss, Colony, Sr.; DeShaun Benton, Eisenhower, Sr.; Eddie Smith III, Liberty, Sr.; Dionte West, Orange Vista, Jr.; Khalil Abdul-Aziz, Orange Vista, So.; William Matthew, Orange Vista, Sr.; Corey Johnson, Orange Vista, Sr.; Calvin Moore, Orange Vista, Sr.; Jesse Anderson, Orange Vista, Sr.; Malachi Brown, San Jacinto, Sr.; CJ Tautolo, San Jacinto, Jr.; Dillon Gresham, San Jacinto, Sr.; Malakhy Siitia, San Jacinto, Jr.
Division 6
Offensive player of the year: Reese Leonard, Mira Costa. Sr.
Defensive player of the year: Carter Jones, Crean Lutheran, Jr.
Inland players on first team: Julian Silva, Murrieta Mesa, Sr.; CJ Moran, Murrieta Mesa, Sr.; Lorenzo Evans, Murrieta Mesa, Sr.; Chiko Orji, Murrieta Mesa, Sr.; Ifeanyi Onye, Murrieta Mesa, Sr.; Isaiah Casillas, Murrieta Mesa, Jr.; Hayden Slegers, Ontario Christian, Sr.; Marquis Bradley, Ontario Christian, Jr.; Dylan Riley, Rancho Verde, Sr.; Tyler Price, Yucaipa, Sr.
Division 7
Offensive players of the year: Chaz Gilbreath, Mayfair, So.; Jeremiah Calvin, Mayfair, Jr.
Defensive player of the year: Mac Wolf, El Dorado, Sr.
Inland players on first team: Diego Ogata, Chino, Sr.; Nathan Blanco, Chino, Sr.; D’Mariya Thomas, Diamond Ranch, Sr.; Blake Bowen, King, So.; Sam Green, King, Sr.; Joshua Harper, King, Sr.; Andrew Dixon, King, Jr.
Division 8
Offensive player of the year: Caleb Ruiz, Jurupa Hills, Sr.
Defensive players of the year: Michael Ephraim, Jurupa Hills, Jr.; LaVar Arrington Jr., Charter Oak, Jr.
Inland players on first team: Damien Ortiz, Jurupa Hills, Sr.; Jordan Pernillo, Jurupa Hills, Sr.; Jaylen Ephraim, Jurupa Hills, Sr.; Devin Colen, Jurupa Hills, Jr.; Arthur Gonzalez, Jurupa Hills, Jr.; Joseph Murillo, Jurupa Hills, Jr.; Daniel McCharles, Jurupa Hills, So.; Durand Johnson, Jurupa Hills, Jr.; Roque Dominguez, San Dimas, Sr.; Mark Mitchell, Summit, Jr.; Jesse Vega, Summit, So.; Do’Janni Bryant, Tahquitz, Sr.
Division 9
Offensive player of the year: Noah Penunuri, Rio Hondo Prep, So.
Defensive player of the year: Caeden Holcomb, Rio Hondo Prep, Jr.
Inland players on first team: Matt Galvan, Diamond Bar, Jr.; Nolan Kim, Diamond Bar, Sr.; Terrell Holmes Jr., Kaiser, Sr.; Ryan Guerrero, Kaiser, Sr.; Zak Afutiti, Kaiser, Sr.; Ki’yel Shyne, Kaiser, Sr.; Mason Overacker, Los Osos, Sr.; Lucas Chapman, Los Osos, Jr.; Cooper Suess, Los Osos, Jr.; Larry Joyce, Vista del Lago, Sr.; Kaleb Brockington, Vista del Lago, Sr.; Tyler Cortez, Vista del Lago, Jr.; Fabian Bolanos, Vista del Lago, Jr.
Division 10
Offensive player of the year: Ryan Young, Torrance, Sr.
Defensive player of the year: Jake Silverman, Torrance, Jr.
Inland players on first team: Joey Garcia, Elsinore, Sr.; Julian Santoyo, Elsinore, Sr.; Caden Maxfield, Elsinore, Sr.; Daniel Mendoza, Hemet, Sr.; Tanner Fye, Hemet, Sr.; Moises Amezcua, Hemet, Sr.; Brady Nelson, Paloma Valley, Sr.; Jacob Torres Hornbeak, Paloma Valley, Sr.; Jonathan Alexander, Rancho Christian, Sr.; Thomas Dalton, Rancho Christian, Sr.; Julien Scarbrough, Redlands, Jr.; Elijah Segura, Redlands, Sr.
Division 11
Offensive player of the year: Sincere Tolbert, Ramona, Jr.
Defensive player of the year: Jayden Baer, Quartz Hill, Jr.
Inland players on first team: Christian Benitez, Hillcrest, Sr.; Matthew Ramos, Hillcrest, So.; Braden Sotis, Linfield Christian, Sr.; Jeremy Maloney, Linfield Christian, Sr.; Thomas Paschal, Linfield Christian, Jr.; Isaiah Miramontes, Patriot, Sr.; Josiah Felix, Patriot, Jr.; Nicholas Godoy, Patriot, Sr.; Jake Valenzuela, Ramona, Sr.; Royce Mendoza, Ramona, Sr.; Peter Mesa, Ramona, Sr.; Jeremiah Acosta, Ramona, Sr.; Angel Torres, Ramona, Sr.; Aaron Diaz-Ledesma, Ramona, Sr.; Troy Long, Ramona, So.; Talan Samosky, Riverside Poly, Sr.; J’Shaun Thomas, Riverside Poly, Sr.; Benji Matthews, Riverside Poly, So.; Keone Timo, Riverside Poly, Sr.; Jeremiah Luna, Riverside Poly, Sr.; Keaton Stokely, Riverside Poly, Sr.; Jaevin Sawyer, San Gorgonio, Sr.; Payton Clark, San Gorgonio, Sr.
Division 12
Offensive player of the year: Aaron Ramirez, Coachella Valley, Jr.
Defensive player of the year: Nathaniel Crawford, Cerritos, Jr.
Inland players on first team: Stephen Ramirez, Arrowhead Christian Academy, Sr.; Reuben Kok, Arrowhead Christian Academy, Sr.; Ronald Weathers, Arroyo Valley, Sr.; Gavin Hrynezuk, Don Lugo, Sr.; Kalib Pacheco, Don Lugo, Jr.; Anthony Martinez, Don Lugo, Jr.; Christian Granger, Rim of the World, Jr.; David Marin, Rim of the World, Sr.; Darryl Booker III, Western Christian, Sr.; Jared Doolittle, Western Christian, Sr.; DeAndre Jackson, Western Christian, Sr.
Division 13
Offensive player of the year: Josh Barnes, St. Monica, Sr.
Defensive player of the year: Dequan Carter, St. Monica, Fr.
Inland players on first team: Eric Copeland, Miller, Sr.; Vili Paama, Miller, Sr.; Diego Fraembs, Bloomington, Sr.; David Davila, Garey, Sr.; Moises Laguna, Jurupa Valley, Sr.; Jonathan Esqueda, Jurupa Valley, Jr.; Elijah Tehe, Montclair, Sr.; Anthony Cervantes, Montclair, Sr.; Brian Clemente, Montclair, So.; Jayden Bryan, Montclair, Fr.; Miking Cash, San Bernardino, Sr.; Henry Hernandez, San Bernardino, Sr.; Alejandro Davalos, San Bernardino, Sr.;
Division 14
Offensive player of the year: Daniel Tovar, Bell Gardens, So.
Defensive player of the year: Johnny Rojas, Whittier Christian, Sr.
Inland players on first team: Conner Peterson, Santa Rosa Academy, Sr.; Daniel Marlow, Santa Rosa Academy, Jr.; Adrian Ortiz, St. Jeanne de Lestonnac, So.; Vince Warren, Temecula Prep, Sr.; Troy Seanoa, Webb, Sr.
8-Man, Division 1
Player of the year: Josh Goodman, Chadwick, Sr.
Offensive player of the year: Jacob Sanders, Valley Christian Academy, Sr.
Defensive player of the year: Chet Major, Chadwick, Jr.
Inland player on first team: None
8-Man, Division 2
Player of the year: Gio Visco, California School for the Deaf-Riverside, So.
Offensive player of the year: Jackson Simon, Faith Baptist, Jr.
Defensive player of the year: Connor Klein, Milken Community, Jr.
Inland players on first team: Xavier Gamboa, CSDR, Jr.; Kaden Adams, CSDR, Jr.; Logan Wickwire, Cornerstone Christian, Sr.; Devin Jarrett, Cornerstone Christian, Sr.; Ren Ukai, Cal Lutheran, Sr.; Lucas Hooper, Calvary Baptist, So.
