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CLASS 4A HONORS: Foothill’s Buck measures up as Southeast Defensive MVP

Foothill’s Keegan Buck put up gaudy numbers as an outside linebacker for the Falcons this season.

But the biggest measure of his value to the Falcons might have come from opposing coaches.

“A lot of people seemed like they started to design their defense to go away from him,” Foothill coach Martin Redmond said. “That’s the kind of impact he had.”

Even the coaches that didn’t redesign their offense because of Buck recognized his impact, and he was named the Southeast League's Defensive Most Valuable Player.

Buck led the area with 21½ sacks, but was more than just a pass rusher. He also had 125 tackles and an interception.

Buck forced six fumbles, recovered three fumbles and blocked three field goals.

“He was huge for us,” Redmond said. “Whenever we needed a big play it seemed like he was the guy that came up with it. He was always around the football, so he created a lot of turnovers. He always had his hands on the ball.”

Buck wasn’t the only Foothill player honored by league coaches. Quarterback Parker Riggin took Southeast Offensive MVP honors after completing 66.2 percent of his passes for 2,384 yards and 21 touchdowns.

“He gets rid of the ball really quick and makes great decisions,” Redmond said of his quarterback. “He’s just extremely accurate.”

Liberty’s Rich Muraco, who guided the Patriots to the Sunrise Region title and an appearance in the state semifinals, was named Southeast League Coach of the Year.

In the Northeast League, Eldorado didn’t make the playoffs this fall, but that didn’t stop the coaches from naming Sundevils quarterback JaQuorrey Williams as Offensive MVP.

Williams was a dual threat, passing for 1,149 yards and 13 TDs and rushing for 878 yards and nine scores.

Las Vegas High linebacker Jason Stetson was the Northeast Defensive MVP, and his coach, Chris Faircloth, took the league’s coaching honor.

Palo Verde players took the top awards in the Northwest League. Running back Brandon Wright (1,632 rushing yards, 25 TDs) was the Offensive MVP, and linebacker Demetrius Ballard was the defensive MVP.

Arbor View coach Dan Barnson earned Northwest Coach of the Year.

In the Southwest League, Bishop Gorman quarterback Jarrett Solomon didn’t make first team all-league, but the sophomore still was selected as the league’s Offensive MVP.

Solomon has passed for 2,233 yards and 38 TDs with only four interceptions while leading the Gaels into Saturday’s Class 4A state title game at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Gorman linebacker Ronald Lyles and Desert Oasis defensive tackle Angelo Bianco shared the Defensive MVP award.

Gorman coach Tony Sanchez was the league’s Coach of the Year.

All-Northeast League
First Team Offense
QB–JaQuorrey Williams, Eldorado. RB–Shamel David, Rancho; Farrell Victor, Las Vegas. FB–Ri’Chard Green, Desert Pines. WR–Cameron Rogers, Las Vegas; Marquan Major, Las Vegas. TE–Adam Tuala, Canyon Springs. ATH–JaQuorrey Williams, Eldorado. C–Ishmael Olo, Chaparral. OG–Tala Atimalala, Desert Pines; Jovanni Escobar, Las Vegas. OT–Galyn Graham, Canyon
Springs, Tony Verdugo, Las Vegas. KR–Dee Hall, Las Vegas. K–Jay Mattox, Las Vegas.
First Team Defense
DE–Jose Cerriteno, Las Vegas; Michael Williams, Eldorado. DT–Graham, Canyon Springs, William Johnson, Las Vegas; Atimalala, Desert Pines. ILB–Derrick Shaw, Desert Pines; Jason Stetson, Las Vegas. OLB–Chase Bush, Canyon Springs; Darryl Brown, Las Vegas. CB–Diante Rainwater, Rancho; Marquon Webster, Canyon Springs. S–Leon Hayes, Desert Pines; Trey Evans, Canyon Springs. P–Cody Trapp, Sunrise Mountain.
MVP Offense–JaQuorrey Williams, Eldorado
MVP Defense–Jason Stetson, Las Vegas
Coach of the Year–Chris Faircloth, Las Vegas
Second Team Offense
QB–Hasaan Henderson, Las Vegas. RB–Donnel Pumphrey, Canyon Springs; Malik Brown, Canyon Springs. FB–Tariq McCoy, Canyon Springs. WR–Brett VanOrden, Eldorado; Evans, Canyon Springs. TE–D’Andre Mason, Rancho. ATH–Pumphrey, Canyon Springs. C–Abel Perez, Desert Pines. OG–Angel Gomez, Rancho; Fabian Leos, Canyon Springs. OT–Jeremiah Poutasi, Desert Pines; Shahn Richardson, Canyon Springs. KR–Brown, Canyon Springs. K–Pumphrey, Canyon Springs.
Second Team Defense
DE–Olo, Chaparral; Allen Vaiao, Desert Pines. DT–Wilbar Claros, Eldorado; Braden Davis, Rancho; Richardson, Canyon Springs. ILB–Derick Eliason, Rancho; James Jones, Canyon Springs. OLB–Green, Desert Pines. CB–Davion Toney, Desert Pines; Mike Glenn, Las Vegas. S–Cody Hafen, Rancho; Brian Brunson, Valley; Dee Hall, Las Vegas. P–D’Vante Howard, Canyon Springs.
All-Southeast League
First Team Offense
QB–Parker Riggin, Foothill. RB–Chris Marshall, Del Sol; Connor Afoa, Foothill. FB–Jordan Kapeli, Liberty. WR–Darien Spencer, Basic; Kyle Keplinger, Foothill. TE–Josh Curtis, Silverado. ATH–Jeremy Lagasca, Liberty. C–Seth McDermott, Liberty. OG–Eric Noone, Silverado; Tuli Fakauho, Liberty. OT–Sy Peko-Hansell, Del Sol; Daniel Filimona, Liberty. KR–Dwayne Kirkland, Del Sol. K–Marcos Rivera, Liberty.
First Team Defense
DE–Bennie Harris, Silverado; Sam Tai, Liberty. DT–Brandin Card, Silverado; Teu Tai, Liberty; Cameron Thurman, Foothill. ILB–Corey Iwata, Silverado; Teddy Efthemeou, Liberty. OLB–Ryan Lopez, Green Valley; Keegan Buck, Foothill. CB–Ladale Jackson, Silverado; Miles Killebrew, Foothill. S–Steven Scamorza, Silverado; Lagasca, Liberty. P–Ryan Call, Foothill.
MVP Offense–Parker Riggin, Foothill
MVP Defense–Keegan Buck, Foothill
Coach of the Year–Rich Muraco, Liberty
Second Team Offense
QB–Vince Carducci, Basic. RB–Aaron Love, Green Valley; Niko Kapeli, Liberty. FB–Steven Scamorza, Silverado. WR–Andrew McGovern, Green Valley; Darius Gates, Foothill. TE–Fateh Gill, Del Sol. ATH–Keplinger, Foothill. C–Roque Covarrubias, Del Sol. OG–Mario Herera, Del Sol; P.J. Taeao, Liberty. OT–Nthan Thomas, Green Valley; Brian Van Gorder, Foothill. KR–Cody Mucino, Coronado. K–Dylan Lindemann, Del Sol.
Second Team Defense
DE–David Overstreet, Green Valley; Kevin Bayes, Basic. DT–Marquise Schneider, Foothill; Seth Bohman, Silverado; Nick Fowler, Basic. ILB–Connor Denkin, Green Valley; Dominic LaRocco, Foothill. OLB–Spencer Hill-Hale, Liberty; Call, Foothill. CB–Rakeem Griffin, Green Valley, Ty Byrd, Liberty. S–Sean Ferarro, Green Valley; Blaze Galardy, Basic. P–Rivera, Liberty.
All-Northwest League
First Team Offense
QB–Joe Portaro, Faith Lutheran. RB–Donnie Gaskin, Arbor View; Brandon Wright, Palo Verde. FB–Christian Rodriguez, Arbor View. WR–Don Pearson, Faith Lutheran; Zack Ducksworth, Shadow Ridge. TE–Brett Lubbe, Faith Lutheran. ATH–Kenneth Counts, Cheyenne. C–Lenicio Noble, Cheyenne. OG–Brett Ridenour, Arbor View; Francisco Andrade, Palo Verde. OT–Elijah George, Arbor View; Myles Elgaard, Palo Verde. KR–Ryan Beaulieu, Palo Verde. K–Garrett Dunlap, Palo Verde.
First Team Defense
DE–Ray Brito, Arbor View; Chaisson Prescott, Palo Verde. DT–Jurrien Coleman, Arbor View; Ozell Brown, Cheyenne; Austin Lane, Centennial. ILB–Brandon Baker, Arbor View; Jordan Kurth, Shadow Ridge. OLB–Willie White, Centennial; Demetrius Ballard, Palo Verde. CB–Marco Crete, Arbor View; Beaulieu, Palo Verde. S–Steve Burns, Arbor View; Isiac Catmull, Centennial. P–Logan Yunker, Arbor View.
MVP Offense–Brandon Wright, Palo Verde
MVP Defense–Demetrius Ballard, Palo Verde
Coach of the Year–Dan Barnson, Arbor View
Second Team Offense
QB–Cody Clark, Centennial. RB–Taj Cole, Centennial; Christian Brown, Cimarron-Memorial. FB–Michael Tootle, Shadow Ridge. WR–Najeem Popal, Centennial; Bryant Lewis, Mojave. TE–Dylan Shanteau, Palo Verde. ATH–Roderick Eason, Arbor View. C–Mitch Geib, Palo Verde. OG–Brandon Morsell, Cheyenne; Kurth, Shadow Ridge. OT–Adam Ferman, Centennial; A.J. Kaplan, Faith Lutheran. KR–Dadrian Green, Mojave. K–Yunker, Arbor View.
Second Team Defense
DE–Jerod Cody, Centennial; Doug Stultz, Palo Verde. DT–Kaplan, Faith Lutheran; Joshua Symonette, Palo Verde; Dillon Chaisson, Palo Verde. ILB–Demarlo Lewis, Cimarron-Memorial; Austin Whalen, Palo Verde. OLB–Alec Key, Arbor View; Michael Tootle, Shadow Ridge. CB–Eason, Arbor View; Marquis Holliday, Cheyenne. S–Mario Fines, Legacy; Shanteau, Palo Verde. P–Jonathan Maxwell, Palo Verde.
All-Southwest League
First Team Offense
QB–Sterling Sprau, Bonanza. RB–Julio Mora, Durango; Dasean Martin, Bonanza. FB–Devin Fortenberry, Desert Oasis. WR–Brandon Lopez, Spring Valley; Ryan Smith, Bishop Gorman. TE–Jovan Palmer, Desret Oasis. ATH–Chris Jackson, Clark. C–Patrick Gruttadauria, Durango. OG–Loni Fonua, Desert Oasis; Ron Scoggins, Bishop Gorman. OT–Aleks Vekic, Durango; Ronnie Stanley, Bishop Gorman. KR–Martin, Bonanza. K–Collin Ditsworth, Bishop Gorman.
First Team Defense
DE–Palmer, Desert Oasis; Jalen Grimble, Bishop Gorman. DT–Angelo Bianco, Desert Oasis; Jacob Holmstrom, Clark; Jaylon Jackson, Bishop Gorman. ILB–Kyle Henry, Desert Oasis; Ron Lyles, Bishop Gorman. OLB–Aaron Buckley, Western; Judas Smith, Durango. CB–Donovan Smith, Durango; Togasii Peko, Bishop Gorman. S–Greg McKinney, Clark; Mark Philippi, Bishop Gorman. P–Aaron Buckley, Western.
MVP Offense–Jarrett Solomon, Bishop Gorman
Co-MVP Defense–Angelo Bianco, Desert Oasis; Ron Lyles, Bishop Gorman
Coach of the Year–Tony Sanchez, Bishop Gorman
Second Team Offense
QB–Jarrett Solomon, Bishop Gorman. RB–Brandon Andrews, Desert Oasis; Justin Sweet, Bishop Gorman. FB–Jordan Welte, Bishop Gorman. WR–Jordyn Compehos, Desert Oasis; Martin, Bonanza. TE–Trey Perry, Bishop Gorman. ATH–D. Smith, Durango; Evan Zeger, Bishop Gorman. C–Holmstrom, Clark. OG–Bing Lin, Durango; Nick Strehlow, Bishop Gorman. OT–Nick Overcast, Spring Valley; Michael Lugo, Durango. KR–D. Smith, Durango. K–Antonio Becerra, Durango.
Second Team Defense
DE–Brett Lawson, Durango; Anthony Euwing, Clark. DT–Javell Valley, Spring Valley. ILB–Tyler Lavin, Durango; Jordan Foster, Sierra Vista. OLB–Ray Waters, Bishop Gorman; Zach Hutchins, Bishop Gorman. CB–Angelo Foschi-Gioelli, Spring Valley; Jackson, Clark. S–Jossaiah Raval, Desert Oasis; Zeger, Bishop Gorman. P–Ditsworth, Bishop Gorman.
 
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