L.A. Daily News All-Area Football Team for 2025

DAILY NEWS ALL-AREA FOOTBALL

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Richard Wesley, Sierra Canyon, Senior

From the first game of the season, it was evident that defensive end Richard Wesley was on a mission — to wreck any opposing offensive line he faced.

Double and even triple teams couldn’t stop Wesley this season, who used his strength, speed and agility to get to the opposing quarterback for a total of 8.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hurries. He was a tackling machine, adept at getting to running backs before they could get out of the backfield.

But it’s not just about the stats for the Texas commit. His presence on the line was such a factor that it opened avenues for his teammates to dominate defensively.

Sierra Canyon totaled 106 tackles for loss and 44.5 sacks as a team. The Trailblazers secured five shutout victories on the season and allowed a combined 43 total points in 10 games in the regular season.

While loaded with talent across the board, Wesley was the catalyst for a Sierra Canyon defense that crushed its opposition.

He even scored his first and only offensive touchdown in his high school football career, taking a designed run for 23 yards to the house in the team’s season opener.

“I told one of the assistant coaches, ‘Are we ever going to run this play?’” Wesley said after the season opener against Oaks Christian. “I probably envisioned that play happening 50 times. I practiced celebrations at home. That was a surreal moment.”

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OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Brian Bonner, Valencia, Senior

Valencia was the cream of the crop in the Foothill League for nearly two decades, led by head coach Larry Muir. The program featured a bevy of highly-skilled players who came through.

There was a two-year lull in 2021 and 2022 where the Vikings didn’t finish atop the Foothill League. Then a sophomore running back, Brian Bonner, came along in 2023 who helped Valencia return to the top. He has been a stalwart ever since.

In his senior campaign, Bonner rushed for 1,051 yards (averaging over 100 yards per game) and 13 touchdowns. He caught 18 passes for 525 yards and five touchdowns. He had a handful of multi-touchdown games.

When it came to league play, Bonner absolutely dominated, helping lead Valencia to the Foothill League crown and a CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoff berth.

The senior tailback recently signed with Washington at a school ceremony where Muir spoke about Bonner’s importance to the program.

“Brian Bonner has done an outstanding job representing Valencia High School over the last four years,” Muir said. “He’s been a great football player and an outstanding person on our campus and we wish him nothing but the best with the Washington Huskies. He’s gonna do great things at the University of Washington and continue representing Valencia High School (and) the Santa Clarita Valley in the Big Ten Conference.”

COACH OF THE YEAR

Tom Coate, Grace

The Grace football team, once a football powerhouse, had its season canceled in 2021. In disarray, the Lancers turned to Tom Coate, who helped rebuild the program from the ground up.

The next two seasons, Grace played 8-man football. Under Coate’s leadership, the Lancers returned to 11-man football, and returned to their winning ways.

Grace won the CIF Southern Section Division 12 championship this year, defeating Santa Paula 48-16 in the title game. The Lancers went 11-4, which included a berth in the state Division 6-A championship game.

The Lancers had just 28 players on their roster this season.

“This is absolutely the highlight of my coaching career,” Coate said earlier this season. “But these kids make me look good. They’re always together. They genuinely love each other.”

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

QB: Gavin Gray, Agoura, Sr.

222 of 342 passing, 3,520 yards, 45 TDs, 230 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs

RB: Deshonne Redeaux, Oaks Christian, Sr.

Marmonte League Offensive RB of the Year, 1,447 rushing yards, 15 TDs, 160 receiving yards, TD

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RB: Ty Hall, Saugus, Sr.

Foothill League first team offense, 1,273 rushing yards, 18 TDs, 176 receiving yards, TD

WR: Landon Cooper, Grace, Sr.

92 receptions, 1,643 receiving yards, 24 TDs, 335 rushing yards, 5 TDs

WR: Tron Baker, Sierra Canyon, Sr.

Mission League first team offense, 40 receptions, 626 receiving yards, 8 TDs

WR: Tyler Starling, Agoura, Sr.

56 receptions, 1,158 receiving yards, 14 TDs

OL: Ben Hatfield, Oaks Christian, Sr.

Marmonte League offensive lineman of the year

OL: Brody Ordelheide, Moorpark, Sr.

Channel League offensive lineman of the year

OL: Mateo Bilaver, Chaminade, Sr.

Mission League offensive lineman of the year

OL: Kasi Currie, Sierra Canyon, Jr.

Mission League first team offense

ATH: De’Markus Barnes, Sierra Canyon, Sr.

Mission League offensive player of the year, 205 rushing yards, 11 TDs, 700 receiving yards, 5 TDs

ATH: Jaxsen Stokes, Sierra Canyon, Jr. 

Mission League first team offense, 722 rushing yards, 12 TDs, 155 receiving yards, 2 TDs

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ATH: Matix Frithsmith, Hart, Jr.

Foothill League first team offense, 1,303 rushing yards, 16 TDs, 1,090 receiving yards, 7 TDs

K: Carter Sobel, Sierra Canyon, Jr.

9 of 12 FGs, 23 of 25 PATs

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DL: Mikhal Johnson, Sierra Canyon, Sr.

Mission League defensive lineman of the year, 51 tackles (35 solo), 16 TFL, 8 sacks

DL: Izak Simpson, Simi Valley, Sr.

Marmonte League defensive lineman of the year, 95 tackles (57 solo), 24 TFL, 11 sacks, TD fumble return

DL: Somto Nwude, Crespi, Sr.

Del Rey League defensive player of the year, 65 tackles (44 solo), 24.5 TFL, 14.5 sacks, 3 QB hurries

LB: Ronen Zamorano, Sierra Canyon, Sr.

Mission League first team defense, 60 tackles (39 solo), 7 TFL, 3 sacks, 5 QB hurries

LB: Patrick Hill, Sierra Canyon, Sr.

Mission League second team defense, 58 tackles (36 solo), 11 TFL, 3 sacks

LB: Carter Taylor, Newbury Park, Sr.

Conejo Coast linebacker of the year, 114 tackles (42 solo), 14 TFL, 6 sacks, 9 QB hurries

DB: Madden Riordan, Sierra Canyon, Sr.

Mission League defensive player of the year, 32 tackles (24 solo), 3 TFL, 4 INT

DB: Havon Finney, Sierra Canyon, Sr.

Mission League first team defense, 21 tackles (14 solo), 1 TFL, 2 INT, 2 TD INT return

DB: Davon Benjamin, Oaks Christian, Sr.

Marmonte League defensive back of the Year, 27 tackles (21 solo), 3 TFL, sack, 4 INT, 2 TD INT return

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ATH: Shane Anderson, Viewpoint, Jr.

81 tackles (36 solo), 2 TFL, sack, 8 INT, TD kickoff return

P: Sonny Jones, Oaks Christian, Sr.

Marmonte League special teams player of the year

HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE

QB: Jake Nuttall, Saugus, Sr.

Foothill League offensive player of the year, 233 of 323 passing, 2,778 passing yards, 29 TDs

RB: Jake Williams, Grace, Sr.

2,021 rushing yards, 21 TDs, 253 receiving yards, 3 TDs

RB: Kayne Miller, Calabasas, Sr. 

1,463 rushing yards, 17 TDs, 251 receiving yards, TD

WR: Hayden Vercher, Thousand Oaks, Sr.

57 receptions, 797 receiving yards, 9 TDs

WR: Paul Turner, Birmingham, Jr.

30 receptions, 734 receiving yards, 8 TDs

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OL: Braydenn Mercer, Sierra Canyon, Jr.

Mission League second team offense

OL: Shane Katz, Chaminade, Sr.

Mission League second team offense

OL: Jackson Hill, Chaminade, Jr. 

Mission League first team offense

ATH: Diego Montes, Kennedy, Sr.

116 of 203 passing, 1,757 yards, 16 TDs, 1,005 rushing yards, 17 TDs

HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE

DL: Michael Bonnet, Chaminade, Sr.

Mission League first team defense, 48 tackles (31 solo), 10 sacks, 17 QB hurries

DL: Chris Colon, Notre Dame, Jr.

Mission League second team defense, 32 tackles (21 solo), 8 TFL, 3 sacks

DL: Hudson Manning, Chaminade, Jr.

Mission League first team defense, 50 tackles (35 solo), 16 TFL, 5 sacks, 19 QB hurries

DL: James Moffat, Crespi, Sr.

Del Rey League defensive lineman of the year, 68 tackles (45 solo), 23.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 14 QB hurries

LB: Ronnell Hewitt, Chaminade, Sr. 

Mission League second team defense, 35 tackles (23 solo), 8 TFL, 2 sacks

LB: Darian Hawkins, Chaminade, Sr.

Mission League first team Defense, 38 tackles (27 solo), 7 TFL

DB: Brandon Lockhart, Sierra Canyon, Sr.

Mission League first team defense, 30 tackles (23 solo), 12 pass deflections

DB: Maxwell Martin-Beckmann, Notre Dame, Sr.

​114 tackles (83 solo), 3 TFL, sack, 4 INT, TD fumble return

DB: Preston Webb, Notre Dame, Sr.

Mission League second team defense, 58 tackles (48 solo), 2 TFL