Stopping the run is a high priority for any defense in the Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division, which is why Christopher football coach Timothy Pierleoni is glad to have Jake Moen on his side.
Moen, a sophomore middle linebacker, was rewarded for his prolific season when coaches recently voted the 6-foot-4, 220-pound tackling machine the league Sophomore of the Year.
Moen logged 161 tackles this season, including 92 solo, and helped the Cougars (2-8) conclude the season with a 44-17 victory at Gilroy High in the Severance Bowl.
“He was our guy all year on defense,” Pierleoni said of Moen. “We knew he was special last year as a freshman.”
Moen was the Cougars’ leading tackler over the final four games of the 2011 season, and his role as a leader only grew as a sophomore. He was the only sophomore to receive all-league honors.
“Jake is like the quarterback of our defense. He’s an extremely bright young man,” Pierleoni said. “Having a kid like that in the middle, it’s very exciting for us.”
Christopher also had junior wide receiver Rayshon Mills receive first-team honors.
“He played every skill position for us,” Pierleoni said of Mills.
Second-team honors went to: Christopher senior offensive linemen Tomas Zamaora and Tyler DeCarlo, Christopher senior linebacker Isaiah Campois, Gilroy senior offensive lineman Gianfranco Fortino and Gilroy senior receiver Brendan Holler, Gilroy senior linebacker Joe Madalora and Gilroy senior defensive lineman John Aguilar.
Christopher also won the Elgie Bellizio Sportsmanship Award. Christopher junior lineman Andre Arroyo and Gilroy’s Holler were among the all-league sportsmanship honorees.
