Year two of Big West football is in the books and the biggest take away for us, in the Valley News Sports Department was, the term “Upper”, and the term “Lower”, when referring to divisions, are out. Instead, the two-tiered league will be referred to as the “Big West Conference – North Division”, and the “Big West Conference – South Division”. Phew, now we can move on from that debate.
The other notable takeaway, at least from the Big West Upper…or sorry…still getting used to it, ahem, the Big West Conference – North Division, is, yes, Centennial was that good! The Huskies dominated the BWN and solidified their place in the newly formed history books by going undefeated in league play. Centennial also took on the heavy hitters of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs where the Huskies faced two Trinity League foes in Orange Lutheran and St. John Bosco. The latter would get the best of them in the semifinal round in a heartbreaking 43-42 loss.
As for the more local representation, the North Division also includes Norco, Roosevelt, Chaparral, Murrieta Valley, and Vista Murrieta. The South Division was comprised of Corona, King, Santiago, Great Oak, Murrieta Mesa, and Temecula Valley. Of the six former Southwestern league teams, five made it to the playoffs again this season. Great Oak, with a back-to-back top of the standings finish, took the league title outright this past year with their 5-0 finish, but it would be the 2022 co-champion, Murrieta Mesa, going the furthest in the post season. The second-place Rams battled all the way through the CIF Southern Section Division 6 playoffs, making it to the semifinal round where they ultimately fell to Mira Costa, 34-24.
This past year we also put out the request to the other area Athletic Directors to send their All-League selections and the Manzanita and Mesquite League’s happily obliged. The Mesquite League has only one local team which involves Linfield Christian with their second-place finish at 4-1, 8-4 overall, as they advanced through to the CIF Southern Section Division 11 playoffs, making it to the quarterfinal round where they ultimately fell to Quartz Hill, 40-16.
The Manzanita League has quite a few area teams with Temecula Prep, Nuview Bridge, California Military Institute, San Jacinto Valley Academy and Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac Catholic School all having to get past one another during the season. Temecula Prep had the best finish at third place behind Silver Valley and The Webb Schools but fell in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 14 playoffs to Artesia, 56-23.
So, without further ado, it’s time to recognize the top student athletes from the 2023 football season that were selected to the All-League teams. As always is the case, we are highlighting First Team selections only, with Player of the Year nods, MVP’s, and the Coach of the year as it relates to the local players. These lists were given by the area Athletic Directors associated with the affiliated league. Second Team selections are only given out by the school’s program to their own players and are not voted on, unlike the First Team selections which come down to the approval of the league’s coaches as a whole.
Big West Conference – North Division
Corona Centennial swept all top-league awards, including Coach of the Year.
OFFENSE FIRST TEAM (area teams only)
Dash Beierly, Chaparral (11)
Jacob Alvarez, Chaparral (11)
Jayce Venable, Chaparral (11)
Bear Bachmeier, Murrieta Valley (11)
Dorian Hoze, Murrieta Valley (11)
Brandon Gilbert, Murrieta Valley (11)
Drew Nichols, Murrieta Valley (11)
Bryson Beaver, Vista Murrieta (10)
Brody Guinn, Vista Murrieta (12)
DEFENSE FIRST TEAM (area teams only)
Blake Lowe, Chaparral (12)
Justin Selway, Chaparral (11)
Shane Klingelberg, Chaparral (11)
Aiden Alefosio, Chaparral (12)
Corbin Frutos, Chaparral (11)
Gio Monge, Murrieta Valley (11)
Hunter Letua, Murrieta Valley (12)
Derrick Johnson, Murrieta Valley (10)
Jake Hogue, Vista Murrieta (12)
Ryan Vergara, Vista Murrieta (12)
Big West Conference – South Division
Offensive MVP: Cole Vasquez, (12), Great Oak
Defensive MVP: Craig “CJ” Moran, (12), Murrieta Mesa
Offensive Line MVP: Raul Santana, (12), Great Oak
Defensive Line MVP: Cole Walker, (12), Great Oak
Special Teams MVP: JT Trevino, (12), Great Oak
OFFENSE FIRST TEAM (area teams only)
Great Oak
Jefferson Roberts (12)
Jake Schuck (12)
Salvador Zuniga (11)
Tavious Truitt (12)
Ryder Smith (10)
Murrieta Mesa
Julian Silva (12)
Mason James (12)
Lorenzo Evans (12)
Triston Vialpando (11)
Temecula Valley
Trip Dickerson (12)
Crew Allen (11)
DEFENSE FIRST TEAM (area teams only)
Great Oak
Brandon Thai (12)
Talon Solis (12)
Caden Chapin (12)
Damariae Larkins (12)
Connor Smith (11)
Murrieta Mesa
Ifeanyi Onye (12)
Chiko Orji (12)
Isaiah Casillas (11)
Lance Vitte (12)
Temecula Valley
Noah Watkins (11)
Vincent Evans (10)
Manzanita League
The Manzanita League, an eight-team grouping, includes Silver Valley, California Military Institute, Sherman Indian, Webb, San Jacinto Valley Academy, Temecula Prep, Nuview Bridge and St. Jeanne de Lestonnac.
Sportsmanship Award – California Military Institute
Player of the Year – Offense
Aidan Fritz, Temecula Prep
Player of the Year—Special Teams
Bailey Lebrun, Temecula Prep
OFFENSE FIRST TEAM (area teams only)
Vince Warren, Temecula Prep
Oliver Pironti, Temecula Prep
Matt Hernandez, Temecula Prep
Carlos Valenzuela, Nuview Bridge
Frank Rodriguez, Nuview Bridge
Manuel Velasquez, California Military Institute
Jonnathan Morales, California Military Institute
Brennon Carol, San Jacinto Valley Academy
James Henderson, San Jacinto Valley Academy
Adrian Ortiz, St. Jeanne de Lestonnac
DEFENSE FIRST TEAM (area teams only)
Nic Stein, Temecula Prep
Alex Grasso-Martins, Temecula Prep
Salih Antoine, Temecula Prep
Keelai Hiscock, Nuview Bridge
Josh Rodriguez, Nuview Bridge
Carlos Candelario, Nuview Bridge
Anthony Sanabria, California Military Institute
Santiago Frias, California Military Institute
Andrew Guajardo, California Military Institute
Sonny Shores, San Jacinto Valley Academy
Kaleb Culpepper, San Jacinto Valley Academy
Josh Stahl, St. Jeanne de Lestonnac
Julian Waite, St. Jeanne de Lestonnac
Mesquite League
The Mesquite League features six teams, which includes Arrowhead Christian, Riverside Prep, Capistrano Valley Christian, Linfield Christian, Trinity Classical Academy and Western Christian.
Player of the Year – Defense
Braden Sotis, Linfield Christian
OFFENSE FIRST TEAM (area teams only)
Carter Jiminez, Linfield Christian
Dylan Cane, Linfield Christian
Braylen Munson-McDowell, Linfield Christian
DEFENSE FIRST TEAM (area teams only)
John Reynoso, Linfield Christian
Thomas Pascal, Linfield Christian
Matthew Bick, Linfield Christian
Any missing All-League info, as well as local sports tips, photos, scores, stats, or highlights, can be submitted to the Valley News Sports Department by emailing sports@reedermedia.com.
