The San Gabriel Valley Varsity All-Area football team for the 2023 season includes players for the areas covered by the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News and Whittier Daily News.
SGV VARSITY ALL-AREA FOOTBALL TEAM 2023
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Owen Long, La Serna, Senior
There was no player more impactful this season than La Serna’s Owen Long, who starred on both sides of the football for the Lancers as they won CIF Division 2-AA state and regional titles, and the CIF Southern Section Division 4 championship.
Long has been selected as SGV Varsity’s first player of the year, an honor that goes to the overall MVP for the area covered by the Southern California News Group’s three local papers — San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News and Whittier Daily News.
Owen Long #1 of La Serna catches a pass in the end zone for a touchdown over Marquay King-johnson #4 of Grant Union in the fourth quarter of a CIF State Division 2-AA football championship game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Friday December 8, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jayden Northrup #2 hugs teammate Owen Long #1 of La Serna after defeating Grant Union 21-19 to win the CIF State Division 2-AA football championship game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Friday December 8, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Owen Long #1 of La Serna runs for yardage against Grant Union of in the first half of a CIF State Division 2-AA football championship game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Friday December 8, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Owen Long #1 of La Serna runs for a first down against Orange Vista in the first half of a CIF State Southern California Division II-A regional championship at California High School in Whittier on Friday, December 1, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
La Serna’s Owen Long (1) evades a tackle by Corona del Mar linebacker Emerson Tingley (32) during fist half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
La Serna’s Owen Long (1) runs the ball for a touchdown against Corona del Mar during fist half of the CIF-SS Division 4 championship prep varsity football game at California High School in Whittier, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
La Serna’s Owen Long (1) is congratulated after scoring a touchdown against Santa Fe in their Del Rio League football game at California High School in Whittier on Thursday October 5, 2023. La Serna defeated Santa Fe 62-14. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
La Serna running back Owen Long (1) is stopped by a Santa Fe defender in their Del Rio League football game at California High School in Whittier on Thursday October 5, 2023. La Serna defeated Santa Fe 62-14. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
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He is the Del Rio League MVP, a two-time All-CIF-SS selection and has a 4.5 GPA.
Long rushed for 1,461 yards and 26 touchdowns this season. He caught a 19-yard touchdown pass in the state championship game. In the Lancers’ victory over Corona del Mar in the CIF-SS Division 4 final, Long rushed for four touchdowns.
COACHES OF THE YEAR
Andy George, La Serna
The Lancers’ coach finished the season with a trio of titles. He led La Serna to the CIF State Division 2-AA championship with a 21-19 victory over Sacramento’s Grant, the school’s first state title. The Lancers won their first CIF-SS championship since 2013 by beating Corona del Mar for the Division 4 title. They defeated Orange Vista with a thrilling comeback to claim the Division 2-AA regional championship. The team finished 13-3 overall and also won the Del Rio League title.
Mark Carson, Rio Hondo Prep
Carson guided the Kares to their 15th CIF Southern Section title, the most in the area, and it was arguably their most impressive crown. In the CIF-SS Division 9 final, they pulled off a 29-27 victory over Santa Monica. The Kares stopped Santa Monica’s potential game-tying 2-point conversion in the final seconds. The Kares’ other 14 championships came in 8-man football or Division 13. Winning a single-digit division at a school with 66 boys was an amazing feat. The Kares finished the season 13-2.
OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
John Sanders, St. Francis, Junior
Sanders was the area’s best dual-threat quarterback and led one of the area’s best teams. St. Francis shared the Angelus League title and advanced to the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs. Sanders was named the Angelus League’s most valuable offensive player after throwing for 2,032 yards and 21 touchdowns. He rushed for 647 yards and 15 touchdowns, and five times he rushed for over 100 yards in a game.
Isaiah Arriaza, Damien, Sophom*ore
If there was a comeback player of the year award, Arriaza would win that too. He was a major reason why the Spartans rebounded from back-to-back losing seasons to go 8-3 and advance to the Division 2 playoffs. Arriaza, an All-Baseline League first-team selection, passed for 2,892 yards and 29 touchdowns, and he rushed for six touchdowns. In the loss to Murrieta Valley in the playoffs, Arriaza threw for 438 yards and four touchdowns.
DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Caden Arellano, Damien, Senior
The junior middle linebacker was the Spartans’ best defensive player on arguably the area’s best defensive team. He led the team in tackles with 78 while and recovered two fumbles. The Spartans finished 8-3, beat La Serna during the regular season and by advanced to the Division 2 playoffs. Arellano was named to the All-Baseline League first team.
Richie Munoz, Bishop Amat, Senior
Munoz, who was named to the Mission League’s first team for a third consecutive season, was the Lancers’ best defensive player, whether at linebacker or safety. Munoz was second on the team in tackles with 61 and also had two interceptions. Last year he was an all-league quarterback, and he will leave Amat as one of the best all-around players in SGV history. As a sophom*ore, Munoz was named the Mission League’s defensive player of the year.
REGIONAL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
WHITTIER DAILY NEWS
Owen Long, La Serna, Senior
Long is the SGV Varsity player of the year.
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE
Ayden Gutierrez, Damien, Senior
The electrifying receiver is the Tribune player of the year after a dominant season for the 8-3 Spartans. He was the player that defenses planned against the most. Often double-teamed, Gutierrez still finished with 53 receptions for 1,036 yards and 10 touchdowns. One of his best games came in a win over La Serna, where he hauled in seven catches for 152 yards and two touchdowns. Gutierrez, who was an All-Baseline League first-team selection, is headed to Eastern Washington University.
PASADENA STAR-NEWS
Jason Hong, South Pasadena, Senior
Hong carried the Tigers on his back at times. He led the area in rushing and was among the rushing leaders in the CIF-SS with 2,063 yards and 39 touchdowns. The Tigers were co-champs in the Rio Hondo League and finished 9-2. Hong was the Rio Hondo League MVP. He scored four or more touchdowns in a game seven times, and his best game came against La Canada as he rushed for 327 yards and four touchdowns.
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Isaiah Arriaza, Damien, So.
QB: John Sanders, St. Francis, Jr.
QB: Brian Salazar Jr, Monrovia, Sr.
QB: Jake Duronslet, Covina, Jr.
TE: Decker DeGraff, Glendora, Sr.
RB: Jason Hong, South Pasadena, Sr.
RB: Keanu Tauvao, Northview, Jr.
RB: Noah Peninuri, Rio Hondo Prep, So.
RB: Tariq Bush, Santa Fe, Sr.
RB: Christian Melendez, St. Paul, Sr.
RB: Joaquin Barragan, Covina, Sr.
WR: Talen O’Dell, Bishop Amat, Sr.
WR: Preston Jernegan, St. Francis, Sr.
WR: Jayden Montenegro, Bonita, Sr.
WR: Jayden Northrup, La Serna, Sr.
WR: Turran Williams, Muir, Sr.
OL: Mitch Mooney, San Marino, Sr.
OL: RJ San Jose, Damien, Jr.
OL: Phillip Ocon, St. Francis, Sr.
OL: Marko Luera, Glendora, Jr.
OL: Jesse Madrid, La Serna, Sr.
OL: John Rodriguez, Bishop Amat, Sr.
K: Mitchell Gibbens, Charter Oak, Jr.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
All-Purpose: Owen Long, La Serna, Sr.
All-Purpose: Noah Mikhail, Bonita, Jr.
All-Purpose: Angel Barraza, Northview, Sr.
All-Purpose: CJ Ceron, La Serna, Sr.
DB: Brandyn Wetherspoon, Bishop Amat, Sr.
DB: Kaimana Tufa*ga, La Serna, Jr.
DB: Gavin Wiliams, Damien, Fr.
DB: Jamie Lawyer, St. Francis, Jr.
DB: Kai Jenkins, Diamond Bar, Sr.
DB: Dylan Robinson, Bonita, Jr.
DL: Gavin Welling, La Serna, Sr.
DL: Emre Law, La Serna, Jr.
DL: Caden Arellano, Damien, Jr.
DL: Trinidad Wilson, Diamond Ranch, Sr.
DL: Michael Brown, Schurr, Sr.
LB: Richie Munoz, Bishop Amat, Sr.
LB: Adrian Castro, La Serna, Sr.
LB: Matthew Galvan, Diamond Bar, Jr.
LB: Lavar Arrington Jr., Charter Oak, Jr.
LB: Noah Faapito, Bishop Amat, Jr.
LB: Austin Coronado, Damien, Jr.
LB: Joseph Rangel, Covina, Sr.
P: Alex Mustain, Rio Hondo Prep, Sr.
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Daniel Mielke, Bonita, Fr.
QB: Frankie Villalbazo, Bishop Amat, Jr.
QB: Erik Jimenez, Northview, Jr.
QB: Brandon Valencia, Muir, Sr.
TE: Camden Jones, Maranatha, Sr.
RB: Miles O’Malley, Maranatha, Jr.
RB: Zander Requena, West Covina, Jr.
RB: Dominic Ezeonye, Wilson Sr.
RB: Demetrius Stampley, Walnut, Sr.
RB: Martin Aguilera, La Mirada, Sr.
RB: Adam Huizar, Arroyo, SR.
WR: Dwayne Thompson, Northview, Sr.
WR: Eli Bechtel, Damien, Sr.
WR: Cameron Vasquez, Bishop Amat, So.
WR: Legend Lyons, Charter Oak, Jr.
WR: Orlando Zepeda, St. Paul, Sr.
WR: Adrian Rachal, Covina, Sr.
WR: Tony Aguilar, South El Monte, Jr.
OL: Erik Ramos, West Covina, Jr.
OL: Vincent Gonzales, Northview, Sr.
OL: Manuel Ortiz, Cantwell-Sacred Heart, Sr.
OL: Robert Bush, Monrovia, Sr.
OL: Thomas Carter, South Pasadena, Sr.
OL: Alfredo Rodriguez, Schurr, Jr.
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
All-Purpose: Nate Curtis, Rio Hondo Prep, Jr.
All-Purpose: Caden Holcomb, Rio Hondo Prep, Jr.
All-Purpose: David Titone-Perez, Los Altos, Sr.
All-Purpose: Curtiss Taylor, Charter Oak, Sr.
All-Purpose: Christian Bozeman, Muir, Sr.
DB: D’Mariya Thomas, Diamond Ranch, Sr.
DB: Alex Miler, Muir, Sr.
DB: Julian Vigil, San Dimas, Jr.
DB: Fabian Escamilla-Sanchez, Schurr, Sr.
DB: Donovan Perez, Northview, Sr.
DB: Greg Leon, La Mirada, Sr.
DL: Daniel Carillo Jr., West Covina, Sr.
DL: Isaiah Ramos, La Serna, Sr.
DL: Aquarius Moore, St. Paul, Jr.
LB: Isaiah Ruiz, West Covina, Jr.
LB: JD Sanchez, Charter Oak, So.
LB: Aaron Escarcega, Damien, Sr.
LB: Jacen Alcarez, La Serna, Sr.
LB: Julian Navarro, St. Francis, Jr.
LB: DeVaughn Garner-Egans, St. Paul, Sr.
LB: Coleman Morning, San Marino, Sr.
LB: Gabriel Sulaiman, Arroyo, Jr.
LB: Isaiah Martinez, South El Monte, Jr.
