Football: Falcons sweep conference awards

Ray Price was named the division's Defensive Player of the Year
Ray Price was named the division's Defensive Player of the Year

After winning the National Division Northern Conference championship and qualifying for the Southern California Regional Playoffs, the Cerritos College football team swept the top conference awards. The result of their success came in the form of Falcons being named the Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the year. Additionally, head coach Frank Mazzotta was named the division's Coach of the Year.

On offense, record-breaking sophomore wide receiver De'Jai Whitaker (Santa Monica HS) was named the Offensive Player of the Year and was joined by a pair of teammates on the 1st Team. A quartet of players earned 2nd Team recognition. Defensively, sophomore defensive tackle Raymon Price (Long Beach Poly HS) received the Defensive Player of the Year honor, and saw three others named to the 1st Team. Three more other players received 2nd Team honors.

Whitaker concluded his Falcon career with new school records in receptions in a season (60), receiving yards in a season (1,331), receiving touchdowns in a season (15), most career receptions (84), most career receiving yards (1,710) and most touchdown receptions (19). He was also recognized as the state's Male Athlete of the Month for October.

Sophomore wide receiver Steven White (Manchester, VA HS) finished second on the team with 36 receptions for 661 yards (18.4 average) and five touchdowns. Also earning 1st Team honors was sophomore offensive tackle David Sykes (Lynwood HS), who helped the team average 433.5 yards and 34 points a game. Sophomore guard Jeremiah Frost (Edison HS) was another member of an offensive line and suffered numerous injuries, was a steady force for the team and earned 2nd Team honors.

Record-breaking quarterback Jimmy Walker (Redlands HS) was also named 2nd Team, as was freshman running back Kishawn Holmes (Vista Murieta HS) and freshman tight end Elijah Rodgers (East Jefferson, LA HS). Walker set new school records for most passing yards in a season (2,997), most passing yards in a season (5,320), most passing touchdowns in a career (55), while his 30 scoring strikes this season were one shy of tying the school record. Holmes assumed the starting running back role midway through the season and finished with 968 yards on 171 carries (5.7 average) and nine touchdowns, with Rogers pulling in 11 passes for 157 yards and was a steady blocker.

As for Price, he finished the season with 49 tackles and led the team with 10.5 quarterback sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. He also led the team with three forced fumbles. Sophomore linebacker Keith Walker (Mayfair HS), who was named the Southern California Bowl Defensive Player of the Game, led the team with 92 tackles on the season and earned 1st Team honors. He added 10 tackles for loss, while contributing four sacks, three pass breakups and intercepted one pass. Sophomore defensive tackle David Fangupo (Kealakehe, HI HS) had 49 tackles, with 12.5 tackles for los, 7.5 sacks and forced a pair of fumbles. He also had seven hurries, blocked two kicks, broke up three passes and picked off a pass. Sophomore punter Corey Bojorquez (Mayfair HS), who led the state with a 43.8 average on 44 punts, was a unanimous 1st Team selection. He dropped 14 of his punts inside the 20-yard line.

Earning 2nd Team honors were sophomore defensive end Danny Harry (John Adams, NY HS), along with sophomore safety Anthony Murray (Cherkoee Trail, CO HS) and sophomore cornerback Deon Smalls (Fitzgerald, GA HS). Harry tied for second on the team with 64 tackles and also added 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He also led the team with eight quarterback hurries. Murray led the team with five interceptions on the season and contributed 36 tackles, four pass breakups and three tackles for loss. Smalls was fourth on the team with 62 tackles and broke up five passes. He also recorded five tackles for loss and picked off one pass.