The Modesto Bee’s All-District Team — Defense

Note: The Bee factored in individual statistics, team success, level of competition, all-league honors, and submissions from readers and coaches in creating its All-District team.

DL: Zach Brouwer, Senior, Ripon Christian

Brouwer was a terror in the Knights’ opponents’ offensive backfields. He finished with 64 tackles and a team-leading 12 tackles for loss. The Southern Athletic League’s Defensive Lineman of the Year helped Ripon Christian to a 7-3 record and a No. 2 seed in Division VII at the end of the regular season.

DL: Ashton Baucom, Senior, Turlock

Baucom was one of the bright spots in Turlock’s season, earning the Central California Athletic League’s Outstanding Defensive Lineman award. He helped lead a Bulldogs defense that allowed an average of 10 points a game in its four wins.

DL: Ethan Day, Senior, Ripon

Day was a terror for opposing offenses all season. The Trans-Valley League’s Outstanding Defensive Player led Ripon in fumbles caused (5) and tackles (70). Day also made an impact on special teams, blocking a field goal against Escalon. He also played sparingly on offense, but recorded one receiving and two rushing touchdowns.

DL: Jericho Machado, Senior, Central Catholic

A Valley Oak League first-team defensive lineman, Machado filled up the stat sheet. The 6-foot-2 senior tallied a team-high 64 tackles and finished third in the Sac-Joaquin Section in sacks (8.5). He helped the Raiders go undefeated in the VOL, win a Division II section title and advance to the Division 2-AA state championship. Machado finished second on the team in tackles as a sophomore with 38.

LB: Richard Williams, Junior, Downey

Voted CCAL Defensive Player of the Year as a junior, Williams has had games with 10, eight and seven solo tackles. He finished the season with 74 tackles, a team-high three sacks, one pass break up, and recovered one fumble.

LB: Ryker Peters, Junior, Escalon

A two-way starter for the Cougars, Peters ran for over 1,000 yards and finished with 10 touchdowns, but his impact was felt even more on the defensive side. In a league filled with outstanding, physical linebackers, he earned the TVL’s Outstanding Linebacker award after tallying 89 tackles and one interception. Just a junior, Peters will be back making plays for Escalon for one more season.

LB: Romeo Eteaki, Senior, Central Catholic

Eteaki’s impact was felt all over the field for the Raiders. He finished with 51 tackles, 2.5 sacks for a total of 27 yards lost, recovered two fumbles and caused another. One of the most versatile linebackers in the Stanislaus District, Eteaki helped lead a defense that allowed 21 points a game. He was named VOL All-League First Team at outside linebacker.

LB: Broc Perry, Senior, Hilmar

A first-team TVL honoree at inside linebacker, Perry was the leading tackler on a defense that allowed just 13 points a game. His 146 tackles ranked third in the section. The senior racked up an average of 10 tackles a game and had nine games of 11 or more tackles. Perry also played running back for the Yellowjackets, finishing with 687 yards and 10 touchdowns.

DB: Adam Barrera, Senior, Ripon

Voted the TVL’s Outstanding Defensive Back, Barrera helped lead the Ripon secondary with six passes defensed one fumble recovery and one interception. He also filled in at quarterback and rushed for 217 yards and four touchdowns. Barrera and the Ripon defense allowed just 18 points a game.

DB: Kola Babalola, Senior, Enochs

At 6-foot-4, Babalola caused problems for quarterbacks trying to throw his way. Head coach Tracey Traub said he often used the senior as his shut-down corner because of his athleticism and height. An All-CCAL first-team selection at defensive back, he also earned second-team honors at wide receiver.

DB: David Jones, Senior, Downey

Jones was a ball hawk for the Knights. The 6-foot-1 senior finished the season with six passes defensed, 32 tackles and a team-leading seven interceptions. He was named to the CCAL’s defensive first team and had a season-high three interceptions in the Knights’ 38-14 win over Turlock.

DB: Jake McBay, Senior, Gregori

A CCAL second-team selection at defensive back, McBay served as one of the team’s best tacklers. He led the Stanislaus District and finished third in the section in tackles among defensive backs, with 89. He also had 376 yards receiving and four touchdowns.

All-Purpose: Fayzon Allen, Senior, Downey

Allen served as a two-way player for the Knights. At receiver, he faced double teams a number of times and finished with 12 catches for 259 yards and was one of three Downey receivers to tally five touchdown receptions. On defense, he led the team at defensive back with 87 tackles and had two interceptions.

All-Purpose: Jaelen Nichols, Junior, Central Catholic

A three-year varsity player, Nichols raised his level of play in his junior season. He helped the Raiders on both offense and defense. Offensively, he filled in at running back during Julian Lopez’s absence with 98 rushing yards and 99 receiving yards with a touchdown. Defense is where he made his biggest impact this season. Nichols racked up 48 tackles, eight pass breakups, one forced fumble and four interceptions. He had one interception in each of the Raiders’ state bowl games.

------

2021 Modesto Bee All-District Team: Defense

Quinton Hamilton

The Modesto Bee

Quinton Hamilton covers high school sports for The Modesto Bee. He is a Southern California native and received his bachelor’s degree from Pacific Union College and a master’s in journalism from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. Quinton has worked at the Record-Journal in Meriden and helped on projects at Hearst Connecticut.