APTOS — Aptos High junior running back Marcos Reyes and senior guard Alex Austen were recently recognized as the Monterey Bay League Gabilan division co-Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Year and co-Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman of the Year, respectively.
With Reyes carrying the ball and Austen leading the way, Aptos wowed the rest of the MBL-G in its first season in the league by finishing second behind champion Salinas High with a 6-1 record.
Aptos, which qualified for the Central Coast Section playoffs for the eighth straight season, finished 7-4 overall.
Reyes, a 5-foot-7, 176-pound bruiser, ran for more than 1,000 yards and had 13 touchdowns in seven league contests. He tied the program’s single-game rushing record against Monte Vista Christian, running for 292 yards and four touchdowns in a 49-28 victory over the Mustangs, and his 1,276 yards rushing on the season were third most in program history.
Reyes, who is now just 325 yards away from the program’s career-rushing record, also starred at inside linebacker for a stout Aptos defense.
Aptos head coach Randy Blankenship said Reyes was the best pound-for-pound player in the league this season.
Salinas High dual-threat quarterback Brett Reade was ultimately named the MBL-G Most Valuable Player after guiding the Cowboys to the league crown.
“I thought Marcos was the best player in the league because he played on both sides of the ball,” Blankenship said. “You can’t argue with those stats.”
Austen, a beefy 6-foot-5, 311-pounder, was often the main reason for Reyes’ success. Playing guard and pulling several times over the course of a game, Austen not only pushed people out of the way with his gigantic size but also opened eyes with his athleticism.
“There’s a reason why Marcos rushed for 10 yards a carry,” Blankenship said. “He opened up the holes for our guys.”
Blankenship said UC Davis, Cal Poly and Fresno State have all shown interest in Austen over the course of the season and the coach hopes other schools will give him a look in the coming weeks.
“The thing about Alex is his best playing days are ahead of him,” Blankenship said. “He’s so young and he’s only going to get better as he matures and grows up physically. His top end is out of sight still.”
Reyes shared his honor with Seaside High senior running back Demarcus Hawkins, who ran for 1,444 yards and 23 touchdowns in 11 games this season.
Austen, meanwhile, was honored with Salinas senior lineman Cody Gentry.
Salinas senior linebacker Drew Schuler earned the MBL-G Most Valuable Defensive Player of the Year, Salinas senior defensive tackle Noah Habes was named the Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman of the Year and Palma sophomore running back Anthony Villegas was named the Rookie of the Year.
Reyes and Austen also earned a spot on the MBL-G First Team along with three teammates: senior lineman Justin Torres, junior linebacker Shane Modena and senior safety Blake Wheeler.
Torres was a steadying force on the offensive line.
Modena led the Mariners in interceptions (4) this season and played well against the run.
Wheeler was a big hitter in the secondary and also a ball hawk, finishing with three interceptions.
M.V.C., which finished sixth in the MBL-G at 2-5, had junior receiver Nick Bautista and senior defensive lineman Cory Margo make the league’s first team.
Bautista made 68 receptions for 1,102 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Margo led the Mustangs in sacks with 4 1/2.
Eleven locals made the MBL-G Second Team: Quarterback Sean White (Sr., M.V.C.), running back Josh Powell (So., Aptos), tight end Darian Gutierrez-Lee (Sr., Aptos), offensive lineman Hayden Mennie (Jr., Aptos), offensive lineman Joseph Gutierrez-Lee (Sr., Aptos), linebacker Jacob Cunha (Sr., M.V.C.), linebacker Desmond Mendoza (Sr., Aptos), defensive back Garret Laine (Sr. M.V.C.), defensive back Nick Arroyo (Sr., M.V.C.), defensive back Bubba Gallardo (Jr., Aptos) and defensive lineman Titan Garland (Sr., Aptos).
