Nearly 20 Modesto-area football players earn state, section awards. See who made lists
Nearly 20 Stanislaus District football players earned honors from Cal-Hi Sports and MaxPreps for their performances during the 2023 high school season.
Players from schools small and large earned All-State and All-Sac-Joaquin Section awards.
Central Catholic offensive lineman Mana Itete was the only Stanisluas District player named First Team All-State by Cal-Hi Sports, earning a spot on the offensive team. Jeremiah Bernard at Modesto Christian was one of two players in the state to repeat as an All-State small schools first team honoree. Max Medina of Patterson was named MaxPreps Sac-Joaquin Section Sophomore Player of the Year. The TVL was well represented on the Cal-Hi Sports and MaxPreps small school All-State teams. Here is the full list of players who received postseason awards:
WR — Jeremiah Bernard, Modesto Christian, Senior
The Modesto Christian wide receiver is the only Stanislaus District football player to repeat as a Cal-Hi Sports All-State small schools offensive first team honoree, winning the award for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He also earned MaxPreps All-State third team offense and Sac-Joaquin Section first team offense honors. He will attend Cal Poly next year.
OL — Navi Arretche, Hughson, Senior
Arretche was named to the Cal-Hi Sports All-State small schools first team at offensive line and the MaxPreps All-State small town teams.
TE/DL — Ryan Lewis, Escalon, Junior
Lewis earned Cal-Hi Sports All-State football honors for small schools, earning first team multipurpose honors. He also was named to the Cal-Hi Sports All-State junior team on the third team as a multipurpose player. From MaxPreps, he received All-State small town honors at defensive line.
QB — Donovan Rozevink, Escalon, Senior
Escalon’s signal caller was named to the Cal-Hi Sports All-State small schools second offensive team and was honored by MaxPreps with All-State small town all-purpose honors and All-Section first team quarterback honors.
RB — Juan Esquivez, Orestimba, Senior
Orestimba’s premier back was one of three running backs on Cal-Hi Sports All-State small schools second team. He also earned second team All-Section honors by MaxPreps at all-purpose.
LB — David Burns, Hughson, Senior
Burns was among the section’s leaders in tackles two straight seasons and earned Cal-Hi Sports All-State small schools second team defense honors as a senior. MaxPreps named Burns to its All-State small town and All-SJS second team defense teams.
DB/WR — Sam Jimenez, Escalon, Junior
One of the section’s leaders in interceptions and one of the Stanislaus District’s two-way stars, Jimenez was named to the Cal-Hi Sports All-State small schools second team defense. He also was named All-State defensive back and first team All-Section ATH by MaxPreps.
K — Jared Carrete, Patterson, Sophomore
Carrete was one of the state’s top specialists. He made the Cal-Hi Sports All-State sophomores team’s first team offense.
RB — Wes Burford, Oakdale, Sophomore
Oakdale’s top rusher this season, Burford was named one of the top in his class by Cal-Hi Sports after being named to the Cal-Hi Sports All-State sophomore second team offense. MaxPreps named him to its All-Section second team offense.
OL — Manasse Itete, Central Catholic, Senior
Itete is a Florida State signee who was one of the VOL’s top linemen. He earned All-State first team honors from Cal-Hi Sports. Itete was named to a pair of MaxPreps teams, earning All-State second team honors and All-SJS first team offense honors. He made both teams as an offensive lineman.
QB — Robert McDaniel, Hughson, Junior
McDaniel broke a pair of single-season passing records at Hughson High this season. He was named to the MaxPreps All-State small town team and the All-Sac-Joaquin Section second team offense.
RB — Caden Bailey, Hilmar, Junior
Bailey was Hilmar’s leader out of the backfield and MaxPreps named him to its All-State small town team at running back.
QB — Max Medina, Patterson, Sophomore
The Patterson High quarterback in his second year was named the MaxPreps Sac-Joaquin Section Sophomore Player of the Year after leading the Tigers to the Division IV section title game.
DB — Brooklyn Cheek, Central Catholic, Senior
Cheek is a Cal Berkeley signee and a ball hawk and great tackler who has a knack for making a big play. He was the Raiders’ best defensive back and receiver and was named Cal-Hi Sports All-State third team multipurpose. He was also named to the MaxPreps All-Section first team defense.
RB — Tek Garcia, Johansen, Senior
Garcia broke a Johansen high school rushing record and was one of the top touchdown scorers in the section. He was named to the MaxPreps All-Section offensive second team.
DL — Derrick Kirkendall, Downey, Senior
A record holder at Downey, Kirkendall was named All-State third team defense by Cal-Hi Sports. MaxPreps also named him an All-State third team defense and MaxPreps Sac-Joaquin Section first team defense player.
QB/DL/DB — TP Wentworth, Central Catholic, Senior
Wentworth is a three-year starting quarterback who also played defensive back and defensive line during his senior season. He was named Cal-Hi Sports All-State third team multipurpose and earned a spot on MaxPreps’ All-SJS second offensive team.
DB — Amos Cady, Ripon Christian, Sophomore
Cady was among the section’s interceptions despite being just a sophomore. MaxPreps named him to its All-Section second team defense at defensive back.
