Sophomore William Lee will leave Gavilan with more than just the experience football has given him. He’s leaving as the Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Lee, the Rams starting defensive linemen, earned the honor after a standout season for Gavilan Thursday. Lee was the overall leader in fumble recoveries with five, four of which came in conference play. He had 76 tackles — 50 of which were solo — and seven sacks this season. He came up with 10 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble for the Rams in their 59-58 win over Cabrillo College in the season finale on Nov. 16.
“(The award) really shows the amount of the respect that he had in the conference from the opposing teams and coaches,” Rams coach Spencer Gilford said.
Out of the nine categories, Gavilan had players earning honors in eight.
The Coast Conference Offensive Team features six players: sophomore quarterback Nate Ellis, sophomore running back Jakari Johnson, freshman wide receiver Trevin Kelley, sophomore O-linemen Kevin Taylor and Joe Gularte and all-purpose player Johnson.
Gavilan players took three of the spots on the Coast Conference Defensive squad. Earning honors are freshman defensive back Mike Pirnik, freshman linebacker Dillion Babb and sophomore D-lineman Lee.
“They put the work in throughout the year and especially in the offseason,” Gilford said. “I thought it was good to see that they got recognized for some of their personal achievements that they made throughout the year. …We’re just very proud of them and we’re happy for their success.”
Gavilan finished it’s season with a 4-6 overall record and went 2-3 in conference play.
Offense
Quarterback:
Lucas Romanski, sophomore, Cabrillo — Valley Christian-Dublin.
Nate Ellis, sophomore, Gavilan — North Valley High School, Ore. (2040 yards, 19 TDs through nine games.)
Curt Cerealde, sophomore, Hartnell — North Salinas.
Running Back:
DeAndre Mann, sophomore, Hartnell — Killian H.S., Fla.
Jakari Johnson, sophomore, Gavilan — Castlemont (129 carries, 734 yards, nine TDs through nine games.)
Dre Hill, sophomore, West Valley — Palo Alto
Rod Nash, sophomore, West Valley — Menlo Atherton
Wide Receiver:
Tige McSwain Jr., sophomore, Cabrillo — Aloha, Ore.
Trevin Kelley, freshman, Gavilan — Shrewsburry, Mass. (48 receptions, 432 yards, six TDs through 10 games.)
DaQuan Smith, sophomore, Hartnell — Baltimore, Md.
Anthony Cannon, sophomore, Hartnell — Gunn
David Hightower, freshman, Monterey Peninsula — Monte Vista Christian
Lydell Williams, freshman, San Jose — High Tower, Texas
Offensive Line:
Dominic Adams, sophomore, Cabrillo — Palo Verde, N.M.
Kevin Taylor, sophomore, Gavilan — Ann Sobrato
Joe Gularte, sophomore, Gavilan — San Benito
Tim Branche, sophomore, Hartnell — Everett Alvarez
Tyler Isbill, sophomore, Hartnell — Salinas
John Irving, freshman, Monterey Peninsula — Monterey
Travis Grover, freshman, Monterey Peninsula — Valley Christian, San Jose
Isaac Mersburgh, sophomore, San Jose — Pearl City, Hawaii
Evan Rainey, sophomore, San Jose — Grauys Creek, N.C.
All Purpose:
Jakari Johnson, sophomore, Gavilan — Castlemont
Kicker:
Gil Camacho, freshman, Hartnell — King City
Defense
Defensive Back:
Mike Pirnik, freshman, Gavilan — Christopher (52 tackles, three interceptions, sack)
Anthony Smithson, freshman, Hartnell — Highlands, Utah
Nias Martin, freshman, Hartnell — Dunbar, Md.
Sheldon Wynn, sophomore, Hartnell — Braddock, Fla.
Akeel Marsh, freshman, Monterey Peninsula — Boys & Girls, N.Y.
Kahri Vanderbilt, freshman, San Jose — Independence
Linebacker:
Darrian Williams, freshman, Cabrillo — Faith Academy, Ala.
Dillion Babb, freshman, Gavilan — Christopher (72 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions through nine games.)
Rufino Calderon, freshman, Monterey Peninsula — North Monterey County
Cy Pana, sophomore, San Jose — Castle, Hawaii
Joe Pauli, sophomore, San Jose — Del Mar
Devailo Galeai, freshman, West Valley — Kahuku, Hawaii
Nikki Weber, freshman, West Valley — Live Oak
Defensive Lineman:
William Lee, sophomore, Gavilan — Steubenville, Ohio (76 tackles, 7 sacks, 5 forced fumbles through 10 games.)
Caleb Slaughter, freshman, Cabrillo — Pembroke Hill, Kan.
Chuntony Johnson, freshman, Hartnell — Valdosta, Ga.
David Birlem, sophomore, Hartnell —Alisal
Kapil Fletcher, sophomore, Hartnell — Performing Arts, Md.
James Karasek, sophomore, Monterey Peninsula — Pacific Grove
Joe Griffin, freshman, Monterey Peninsula — Wayne, Ind.
Jon Tuiolosega, freshman, Monterey Peninsula — Seaside
Kenau Fooki, freshman, San Jose — Farrington, Hawaii
Returner:
Dominic Bonner, freshman, Cabrillo — San Cruz
Mike Lopez, sophomore, Monterey Peninsula — North Monterey County
Punter:
Alex Elterman, freshman, Monterey Peninsula — Templeton
