All-Bay Area News Group high school football: Linebackers
ALL-BAY AREA NEWS GROUP LINEBACKERS
First team
Bubba Vargas, De La Salle, 5-9, 210, senior
Defensive heartbeat of the Spartans finished with 65 tackles, 10 1/2 for loss, two sacks and an interception. EBAL Mountain defensive player of the year.
Chase Cahoon, St. Francis, 6-1, 215, senior
Stanford commit anchored Lancers’ defense during a reset year, distinguishing himself with 91 tackles (five for loss), half a sack and one pass broken up. WCAL linebacker of the year.
Zachary Kleppin, Archbishop Riordan, 6-3, 220, senior
Finished with 53 tackles, 21 for loss, 20 quarterback hurries, an interception, a pass deflection and 14 sacks to lead Riordan’s defense as the Crusaders reached the CIF NorCal 1-AA championship game against Folsom.
Oc Lehner, Bishop O’Dowd, 6-2, 220, junior
Finished with 71 tackles, three for loss, a fumble recovery and an interception in leading O’Dowd to the CIF 5-AA state championship.
Second team
Santino Barragan, Wilcox, 5-9, 180, senior
Finished with 83 tackles, nine for loss, five sacks and a fumble recovery. Also contributed on offense with 174 yards and three TDs, plus a fumble return score.
Deonte Littlejohn, Acalanes, 6-2, 220, senior
Physical presence for Acalanes team that had 10-0 regular season and made NCS Open/Division I semifinals, losing to Cardinal Newman. Finished with 47 tackles, 8 1/2 for loss, 7 1/2 sacks, 641 rush yards, 13 TDs and two blocked field goals.
Aaron Maier, Serra, 6-2, 200, senior
Finished with 46 tackles, 5 1/2 for loss, and one pass deflection while helping the Padres capture the CCS Division I championship.
Jared Newman, Los Gatos, 5-11, 195, junior
Tackling machine compiled 124 stops for the PAL Bay champs, adding 10 tackles for loss, a sack, four quarterback hurries and an interception.
Honorable mention
Richard Arechiga, Santa Teresa, senior; Ethan Castaneda, Castro Valley, senior; Ethan Chase, Archbishop Mitty, senior; James Elliott, Sacred Heart Cathedral, senior; Xavier Fatu, Pittsburg, senior; Carson Fife, Clayton Valley, senior; Theodore Gaoteote, James Logan, senior; Isaiah Grant, Archbishop Riordan, sophomore; Christopher Hanley, Overfelt, senior; Cameren Hubler, Antioch, junior; Caden Kelly, Archbishop Mitty, senior; Austin Krug, Los Gatos, senior; Nathaniel Mendoza, Heritage, junior; Andrew Miller, Bellarmine, senior; Dylan Modena, Serra, junior; Isaac Pech, Woodside, senior; Tyler Purcell, Los Gatos, senior; Urian Ramirez, Lincoln-San Jose, junior; Anthony Rocha, Live Oak, senior; Anden Rogers, Live Oak, senior; Cole Scott, San Ramon Valley, sophomore; Matei Tau, Menlo-Atherton, senior; Skylar Tiatia, Archbishop Riordan, senior.
All-BANG football online publication schedule
Monday, Jan. 5
Coach of the year
Alameda County player of the year
Contra Costa County player of the year
Tuesday, Jan. 6
Peninsula player of the year
Santa Clara County player of the year
Bay Area News Group player of the year
Wednesday, Jan. 7
Kickers/punters
Offensive line
Defensive line
Athletes
Thursday, Jan. 8
Linebackers
Running backs
Utility
Friday, Jan. 9
Defensive backs
Wide receivers/tight ends
Quarterbacks
Sunday, Jan. 11
Entire team in one article
Those eligible for all-BANG honors come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The news organization’s high school sports staff chooses the players and coaches.