Merced High star two-way lineman named Central California Conference MVP

Wherever Merced High School senior Jalonn Booth lined up, he found a way to impact the game.

On offense or defense.

The Bears star saw time at guard and tackle when on the offensive line, as well as at defensive tackle and defensive end.

Central California Conference coaches noticed how he dominated at every spot.

After helping lead Merced to a CCC championship, Booth was selected by the coaches as the CCC Most Valuable Player.

“Every coach felt he was our MVP and I felt that way, too,” said Merced coach Rob Scheidt, who was named the CCC Coach of the Year. “From his position, he dominated the game and that’s hard to do. He chased guys down when he was playing inside and even when he played outside, he made some amazing plays.”

This season, Booth became the first four-year varsity player at Merced under Scheidt.

Booth’s experience helped him understand the game and execute the game plan each week.

“He executed at a high level,” Scheidt said. “He also has a willingness to be coached. When he made a mistake or things weren’t going well, he took to being coached. I don’t think I’ve had a guy who practiced as hard as he did.”

Booth was surprised when he found out he was named MVP.

“To be honest, I was shocked,” Booth said. “I don’t think I made that much of a difference on offense or defense. I just felt I had a job to do, and I tried to get it done.

“I don’t think I did anything amazing. I just played hard and tried to do what coach Scheidt asked of me.”

Bears teammate Chase Smith was named the CCC Defensive Player of the Year. The Merced senior was named the MVP as a junior last year.

“If you asked me, I think Chase could have been the Offensive Player of the Year,” Scheidt said. “I felt he was the most dominant player on offense. He’s also a lockdown corner who played against the best player on the other team.

“He’s a great tackler, and when he wasn’t on the field, we weren’t the same defense.”

Patterson quarterback Max Medina was named the Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 1,389 yards and 21 touchdowns in six CCC games.

Golden Valley senior receiver/defensive back Jonah White was named the Specialist/Utility Player of the Year. White hauled in 43 catches for 727 and eight touchdowns in league play.

Patterson’s Quincy Simien was named the Lineman of the Year.

The all-CCC first-team selections on offense were linemen Alejandro Duran (Golden Valley), Daniel Mataele (Patterson), Maxwell Coleman (Atwater), Nate Lozano (Patterson), Booth and Anthony Nixon (Merced). They were joined by running backs Smith and Patterson’s Jeremiah Lugo, Merced quarterback Quintell Dupree, receivers Noah Cozart (Patterson), Jeremy Garcia (Merced) and tight end Jiovanni Perez (Golden Valley).

The first-team defensive selections were defensive linemen Nixon, Lozano and Jacob Coronado (Golden Valley), outside linebackers Tresor Mulumba (Patterson) and Jordan Sandoval-Lopez (Patterson). They were joined by inside linebackers Royale Tago (Patterson), Anthony Mendoza (Merced), defensive backs Romeo Mano (Patterson), Cozart, White and Diego Ultreras (El Capitan).

Buhach Colony punter Justus Pinasco and Merced kicker Logan Harsh also earned first-team honors.

The second-team offensive selections included linemen Andrue Olivas (Central Valley), Andrew Busko (Merced), Trytin Gastelum (Golden Valley), Leonardo Monroy (Central Valley), Jose Martinez-Tomayo (Atwater) and Joel Ramos-Avila (Buhach Colony). Other offensive picks were running backs Tyrell Johnson (Golden Valley) and Jeremiah Price (El Capitan), quarterback James Bell (Atwater), receivers Ultreras and AJ Banks (Atwater) and tight end Ryan Miligi (Atwater).

The second-team defensive picks were linemen Anthony Pulliam (Merced), Coleman, and Adal Navarette (El Capitan). They were joined by outside linebackers Adrian Valentine (Atwater), Ethan Richards (Golden Valley), inside linebackers Perez, Luis Orozco (Atwater) and defensive backs Adarias Morales-Saetern (Merced), Lugo, Grayson Soto (Atwater) and Cesar Padilla (Central Valley).

The sportsmanship award winners were Pulliam, Ernesto Beltran (Buhach Colony), Drew Lomelli (Patterson), Austin Mello (Golden Valley), Brian Carlson (El Capitan), Nohnathan Macias-Pulido (Atwater) and Josiah Sandoval (Central Valley).