Rio Vista’s Marlowe, Vanden’s Williams lead All-Region football team

FAIRFIELD — With only one team with a winning record and two that made the playoffs, it wasn’t the best of years for central Solano County football.

But there were plenty of outstanding individual efforts and many who turned them in have been selected to the Daily Republic’s 2012 All-Region football team.

Here’s a look at this year’s squad;

Offensive Player of the Year

RB — Chace Marlowe, Rio Vista: Coming up big for one of the smallest schools around, the junior running back put up amazing numbers. According to Maxpreps.com, Marlowe led the area with 1,584 yards and 26 touchdowns, turning in 10 100-yard games and scoring seven touchdowns in a 57-8 win over Vacaville Christian.

Defensive Player of the Year

LB — Elijah Williams, Vanden: Even with having to play with a broken hand, the junior linebacker was a tackle-making machine, recording at least 10 in seven games with a high of 18 against West of Tracy and never fewer than eight, finishing with 111. No wonder he was the Solano County Athletic Conference’s co-Defensive Player of the Year.

Lineman of the Year

TE/DL Jeramy Sweany, Vacaville: The MEL’s pick at Lineman of the Year caught just five passes for 44 yards and a touchdown, but was a driving force as a blocker for the Bulldogs’ vaunted running game. Defensively, he made 32 tackles on defense, intercepted a pass and forced a fumble.

Coach of the Year

Mike Papadopoulos, Vacaville: Even with the Bulldogs playing two regular season games against teams that reached California state bowl games, no other team in the area came close to the Bulldogs’ eight wins. Under Papadopoulos, Vacaville has won four straight outright Monticello Empire League titles and 21 straight MEL games, both records.

Offense

QB — Jadon Brisendine, Vanden: After a rough start with five interceptions in the season opener, Brisendine threw for 1732 yards, the second-highest total in city history for a sophomore, and 19 touchdowns.

QB — Nic Ardave, Vacaville: The senior threw for 100 or more yards five times with a high of 184 and three touchdowns against Armijo.

RB — Curtis Goins, Vacaville: The MEL Player of the Year rushed for 1,210 yards and 12 touchdown with five 100-yard games and at least one TD in the team’s last nine games. He also caught 22 passes for 321 yards and three TDs.

RB — David Mewborn, Vacaville: Though he had as many as 10 carries just once, the junior speedster ran for 876 yards on the season, averaging a nifty 13.3 yards per carry.

RB — Ren Littlepage, Vanden: As the junior went, so went the Vikings as four of his five 100-yard games came the team’s four victories. He finished with 1,005 yards and 10 touchdowns.

G — Danny Delgado, Vacaville

C — Chris Lai, Vacaville

T — Eric Gabbard, Vacaville: Havin good linemen usually translates to good numbers and the Bulldogs averaged 329.9 yards rushing per game and 7.6 yards per carry with Delgado, Lai and Gabbard each helping to carry the load.

G —Danny Charos, Armijo: With Charos helping lead the way, the Indians improved their running game by 162.6 yards per game over 2011 to 226.3.

T — Kenny Brand, Vanden: The SCAC’s Lineman of the Year helped the Vikings average 150.1 yards rushing and 173.2 yards per game.

WR — Tyler Cummins, Vacaville: As Vacaville’s top threat among wide receivers, Cummins caught 21 passes for 331 yards and two TDs, averaging 15.8 yards per catch.

WR — Christian Basden, Vanden: Completing a stellar career with the Vikings, Basden led the team with 35 receptions and was second with 481 yards and five TDs.

WR —  Arron Short, Rodriguez: Despite having fewer than two catches per game (1.6), Short led area receivers with seven TDs and an average of 30.9 yards per catch, and was second with 495 yards.

WR — Dion Williams, Vanden: The junior led area receivers with 515 yards, catching 28 passes with six TDs and an average of 18.4 yards per grab.

K — Alberto Escobedo, Vacaville: With 61 conversion kicks, Escobedo had more PATs than the rest of the area kickers combined (55).

Defense

DL — Kenyon Clay, Vacaville: The senior recorded 52 tackles, 35 of them solo, and notched two sacks.

DL — Deontae Frank, Wood: Despite missing two games, Frank averaged 11.0 tackles each outing, recording 15 or more tackles three times and 10 or more six times. He also had 3 1/2 sacks, recovered two fumbles and caused one.

DL — John Stevenson, Vanden: The senior amassed 40 tackles, 16 solo, with two sacks and a forced fumble.

DL — Marcus Blanton, Fairfield: One of the few bright spots on an undermanned Fairfield squad that had few subs.

LB — Nick Lacey, Vacaville: To go along with 74 tackles, 46 of them solo, the senior had a team high three sacks.

LB — Josh Winters, Wood: The senior was the top tackler for the Bulldogs, leading team with 57 solo, 67 assisted and 124 total tackles. He also had two sacks, an interception return for 65 yards, four forced fumbles and three recoveries.

LB — Enrique Garrido-Ramirez, Armijo: The senior, who came back after suffering a serious neck injury in 2011, led the Indians with 64 solo tackles, finishing with 80 total. He also had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

LB — Tyler Gomes, Rio Vista: The junior led area players with 97 solo tackles, finishing with 107 overall.

DB — Jacob Te’o, Vacaville: The senior had 87 total tackles, 69 solo, and 7.3 tackles per game, all team highs. He also had a sack, an interception, three forced fumbles and three recoveries.

DB — Curtis Goins, Vacaville: Not just a force on offense, Goins had two interceptions, a fumble recovery and 26 tackles on defense.

DB — Cedric Taylor, Vanden: Taylor became the first player in city history to return a fumble and an interception in the same game by turning the trick against Wood. He finished the year with five interceptions, two fumble recoveries, 90 tackles, 43 of them solo, and two sacks.

DB — Kyle Canerday, Wood: In addition to being a running threat with 315 yards and six touchdowns, the senior had 64 tackles, 26 of them solo, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick.

DB — Tyler Ross, Fairfield: Like Blanton, the junior was one of few highlights for the Falcons in an otherwise difficult season.

P — Enrique Garrido-Ramirez, Armijo: A standout on special teams as well, the senior led area punters with an average of 42.7 yards per boot.

Reach Paul Farmer at 425-4646, ext. 264, or pfarmer@dailyrepublic.net. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pfarmerdr.