Plenty of postseason awards given for PAL all-league football teams

M-A senior linebacker/defensive end and University of Washington commit Devin Hyde was named Defensive Player of the Year. His 55 tackles was tied for third on the team and he had three sacks. But he was constantly doubled- and tripled-teamed this season, which enabled Anthony Van der meer to have a breakout season on the other side, as he finished with a team-leading 118 tackles and earned Linebacker of the Year honors.

Menlo School took Offensive Back and Utility Player of the Year honors in Jack Freehill and Jamie Forese, respectively. Freehill, the Knights’ starting quarterback, accounted for 2,644 yards of offense and 35 touchdowns. He completed 156 of 259 passes for 2,032 yards and 25 scores. But he was also the Knights’ second-leading rusher with 619 yards and 10 more TDs.

Forese led the Knights in receiving, hauling in 47 passes for 615 yards, averaging 51 yards per game and a team-high 11 receiving touchdowns. He was also Menlo’s second-leading tackler from his outside linebacker spot, finishing with 76 stops.

Sacred Heart Prep’s Aseli Fangupo — a four-year, two-way lineman — was voted Defensive Lineman of the Year. He was second on the Gators in tackles with 83, with four sacks and eight tackles for loss, total. His 35-yard scoop-and-score in the Central Coast Section Division IV championship game against Burlingame, gave the Gators a 14-3 lead on their way to a 21-10 victory.

Brayden Rosa, of Bay Division champion Wilcox, was named the Most Valuable Player, while teammate Kai Imahara was Offensive Player of the Year. Rosa rushed for 1,630 of the Chargers’ 3,679 rushing yards this season and scored 27 touchdowns on the ground. He also led the team in receiving with 33 catches for 338 yards and had a team-leading 111 tackles from safety/linebacker position. Wilcox head coach Paul Rosa was named Bay Division Coach of the Year.

Los Gatos took Special Teams (Jake Gerber), Wide Receiver (Beau Musser), Offensive Lineman (Leon Sarashki) and Defensive Back (Henry Masters) of the year honors.

De Anza Division

San Mateo County teams and players were well represented in the De Anza Division’s player of the year categories.

Capuchino’s Lucas Zayac was named Offensive Player of Year after the Mustangs finished as co-champs of the DeAnza Division. Teammate Will Hafer was Special Teams Player of the Year.

Hillsdale had three players win four awards, with running back Dante Allendorf winning both Utility Player and Offensive Back of the year honors after he rushed for 1,271 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 127 yards per game. He also had 172 receiving yards.

Hillsdale’s Jack Haywood was named Receiver of the Year, while Derek Holmes earned Defensive Lineman of the Year honors. Haywood led the Knights in both receptions (32), yards (585) and touchdowns (9). Holmes, who was also a standout offensive lineman, had a team-leading 75 tackles.

Burlingame, which advanced to the CCS Division IV title game, earned two defensive honors, while Isaac Reyes Sandoval was named Offensive Lineman of the Year. Cole Hardtke was named Linebacker of the Year after recording a team-high 110 tackles, 15.5 for loss. Luke Dimech earned Defensive Back of the Year honors after notching 38 tackles, two interceptions and two pass breakups.

King’s Academy, which tied for the co-championship with Capuchino, had the MVP in quarterback Reid Black, while teammate Justin Turner was Defensive Player of the Year. King’s Dante Perez was Coach of the Year.

Ocean Division

San Mateo dominated the players of the year awards, taking six of the available 10 honors.

Emmanuel Fitzgerald, a senior, and junior brother Yianni Fitzgerald, both won two awards. Emmanuel Fitzgerald took home Offensive Player and Running Back of the year honors after rushing for 1,331 yards in nine games, averaging 148 yards per game.

Yianni Fitzgerald earned Defensive Player and Linebacker of the year awards after leading the team with 97 tackles.

Cameron Palma, who also was the Bearcats’ starting quarterback, was named Defensive Back of the Year, while Diego Reyes was named Offensive Lineman of the Year after helping San Mateo rush for 3,640 yards this season.

Half Moon Bay’s Connor Heath and teammate Adler Halterman won awards on either side of the ball — Heath was named Utility Player of the Year, while Halterman was the Defensive Lineman of the Year.

Carlmont’ Daniel Mattioli was Special Teams Player of the Year, while Sequoia’s Frank Mems was named Coach of the Year after leading the Ravens to a division co-championship.

El Camino Division

South City, the outright division champion, took home MVP and Defensive player of the year honors in Darren Miller and Cisco Latu, respectively. Their coach, Kolone Pua, was named Coach of the Year.

Woodside also had two players earn recognition. Evan Usher was named Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 1,093 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Wildcats. Teammate Manny Navarro earned Special Teams Player of the Year honors.

Fremont-Sunnyvale’s Henry Buenrostro was named Utility Player of the Year.

Lake Division

Jefferson’s Michael Slugher was the only county player to earn a player of the year award, taking the Utility Player of the Year honor.

Gunn, which went undefeated during the regular season and winning the Lake Division title, had Sam Dellenbach win the MVP award, while Luke Hines was the Defensive Player of the Year. Their coach, Dethrick Slocum, was named Coach of the Year.

Monta Vista’s Emilliano Rodriguez was named Special Teams Player of the Year.

To see the first- second- and honorable mention teams for each division, go to smcoe.org, scroll down to the Peninsula Athletic League section, click on the “current league information” button and then the “all league teams” button.