WATSONVILLE—Monte Vista Christian School football senior standout Brendan Doyle was everywhere his coaches needed him to be this season, both on and off the field. His hard work and dedication to the game didn’t go unrecognized as coaches within the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League named him the Most Valuable Player of the league’s A Division.
The Gilroy resident shined on both sides of the ball as the starting quarterback and a linebacker on defense in the Covid-19 shortened season. He helped the Mustangs finish with a 4-1 overall record and placed second with a 3-1 record in the A Division.
Doyle passed for nearly 665 yards and eight touchdowns, but he also rushed for six touchdowns and nearly 677 yards for the Mustangs.
“Doyle was a phenom, he’s a beast,” MVC coach Jeremiah “JB” Williams said. “He stands out on the football field both on offense and defense.”
Williams said that Doyle was a unanimous decision for MVP of the league. He said that anyone who had the chance to watch him play knew how special of an athlete he was.
MVC senior Nathaniel Fernandez, who shined on both the offensive and defensive line, was named Lineman of the Year. A three-year starter on the defensive line, Fernandez made the switch to nose tackle this season.
Fernandez, who was also a stud on the wrestling team, went from 220 pounds to 280 over the summer. He led the team in sacks and tackles for loss for two years straight.
Williams said that Fernandez dominated the middle and finally understood everything that he needed to know about football: how to tackle, how to move, how to get off the line.
“I called him a black hole, he just gobbled up everything in the middle,” Williams said.
Aptos High’s Nicco Riccabona was named Defensive Player of the Year. The senior linebacker had a school-record 89-yard interception return for a touchdown against MVC. The defense allowed just 19 points in four games, not including a forfeit win against San Lorenzo Valley High.
Aptos coach Randy Blankenship saw his career win total climb to 295, giving him Coach of the Year honors. The Mariners finished unbeaten with a 5-0 overall record and 4-0 in the A Division.
Santa Cruz junior wide receiver Caleb Womack was named Offensive Player of the Year for the Cardinals (3-2, 2-2), who finished ahead of Soquel High (1-4, 1-3) and Watsonville High (1-4, 0-4) in the A Division.
2021 All-SCCAL Football – A Division
MVP: Brendan Doyle (MVC), Sr.
Offensive POY: Caleb Womack (Santa Cruz), Jr.
Defensive POY: Nicco Riccabona (Aptos), Sr.
Lineman of the Year: Nathaniel Fernandez (MVC), Sr.
Coach of the Year: Randy Blankenship (Aptos)
FIRST TEAM
Offense
QB: Brendan Doyle (MVC)
RB: Andrew Manning (Aptos)
RB: Seamus Carey (Aptos)
RB: Aiden Keegan (MVC)
RB: Qwentin Brown (Santa Cruz)
WR: Caleb Womack (Santa Cruz)
WR: Darius Bedford (Soquel)
TE: Riley Moller (MVC)
OL: Levi Slay (Aptos)
OL: Matt Vrechek (MVC)
OL: Alberto Gutierrez (Santa Cruz)
OL: Andy Hendrickson (MVC)
OL: Stephan Nama (Santa Cruz)
Defense
DL: Myles Williams (Aptos)
DL: Nathaniel Fernandez (MVC)
DL: Dumonte Bolden (Aptos)
DL: Alberto Gutierrez (Santa Cruz)
LB: Nicco Riccabona (Aptos)
LB: Riley Moller (MVC)
LB: Flavio Cornejo (Aptos)
LB: Brendan Doyle (MVC)
DB: Vito Riccabona (Aptos)
DB: Caleb Womack (Santa Cruz)
DB: Tanner Jones (Soquel)
DB: Mark Spohn (MVC)
SECOND TEAM
Offense
QB: Nick Forbes (Aptos)
RB: Adrian Arevalo (Watsonville)
RB: Corydon Lidner (MVC)
RB: Jaime Ledesma (MVC)
RB: Caden Prichard (Aptos)
WR: Fisher Johnson (Aptos)
WR: Edgar Albor (Aptos)
TE: Collin Mennie (Aptos)
OL: Derek Brown (MVC)
OL: Pablo Moran (Watsonville)
OL: Jordan Sawyer (Aptos)
OL: JJ Ohara (Aptos)
OL: Jack Bacon (Santa Cruz)
OL: Clayton King (MVC)
Defense
DL: Matt Vrechek (MVC)
DL: Oscar Ortiz (Watsonville)
DL: Aidan Williams (MVC)
DL Clayton King (MVC)
LB: Landon Hiley (Santa Cruz)
LB: Sam Murillo (Aptos)
LB: Tyler Loftis (Santa Cruz)
LB: Anthony Lozano (Watsonville)
DB: Kelly McGinn (Aptos)
DB: Aiden Keegan (MVC)
DB: Myles Reber (Santa Cruz)
DB: Andrew Whitmeyer (Santa Cruz)
All-SCCAL Football – “B” Division
MVP: Isaiah Velez (Scotts Valley), Jr.
Offensive POY: Brock Siechen (Scotts Valley), Jr.
Defensive POY: Nolan Smith (Scotts Valley), Jr.
Lineman of the Year: Andre Nice (Scotts Valley), Sr.
Coach Of The Year: Louie Walters (Scotts Valley)
FIRST TEAM
Offense
QB: Davin Avila (St Francis)
RB: Isaiah Velez (Scotts Valley)
RB: Brock Siechen (Scotts Valley)
RB: Brodie Brownlee (SLV)
RB: Isaac Ortiz (Pajaro Valley)
WR: Danny Carrillo (Harbor)
WR: Desmond Litel (St. Francis)
TE: Nolan Smith (Scotts Valley)
OL: Andre Nice (Scotts Valley)
OL: Matthew O’brien Rojo (Scotts Valley)
OL: Austyn Crispell (Scotts Valley)
OL: Carlton Keegan (Scotts Valley)
OL: Michael Lang (SLV)
Defense
DL: Andre Nice (Scotts Valley)
DL: Broderick Cusimano (SLV)
DL: Austyn Crispell (Scotts Valley)
DL: Jack McHatton (Scotts Valley)
LB: Nolan Smith (Scotts Valley)
LB: Johrdan Garibay (St. Francis)
LB: Nick Erickson (Scotts Valley)
LB: Ladis Silva (Pajaro Valley)
DB: Isaiah Velez (Scotts Valley)
DB: Brock Siechen (Scotts Valley)
DB: Charlie Valencia (St. Francis)
DB: Dylan Arroyo (SLV)
SECOND TEAM
Offense
QB: Jaden Hunter (SLV)
RB: Martin Gonzalez (Pajaro Valley)
RB: Justin Sizemore (SLV)
WR: Michael Manley (SLV)
WR: Dylan Arroyo (SLV)
TE: Nick Erickson (Scotts Valley)
OL: Jack McHatton (Scotts Valley)
OL: Cooper Austin (SLV)
OL: Josh Alvarez (St. Francis)
OL: Leo Garcia (Pajaro Valley)
OL: Lucas Collins (SLV)
Defense
DL: Michael Lang (SLV)
DL: Noel Aquino (St. Francis)
DL: Carlton Keegan (Scotts Valley)
DL: Caleb Johnson (Harbor)
LB: Brodie Brownlee (SLV)
LB: Lucas Collins (SLV)
LB: Cooper Austin (SLV)
LB: Daniel Nava (Scotts Valley)
LB: Manny Rodriguez (Pajaro Valley)
DB: Caden Stratton (Scotts Valley)
DB: Garrett Lee (St. Francis)
DB: Alejandro Guzman (Harbor)
DB: Alan Bedolla (Pajaro Valley)
