The Modesto Bee’s 2023 All-District Football 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.
Defensive Player of the Year: Derrick Kirkendall, Senior, Downey
During the preseason, Downey coach Jeremy Plaa noted the strength of the 2023 Knights squad was its defensive line. He was right, and at the head of the attack was defensive end Derrick Kirkendall. A four-year varsity player, he had his best season as a senior, recording 80 tackles with 18 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks, 12th in the Sac-Joaquin Section. His defensive efforts helped the Knights secure their first playoff win since 2018.
He opened the season with an impressive 11-tackle, five-tackle for loss and three-sack showing in a blowout win over Lincoln-Stockton that only set the tone for a dominant year. He recorded at least five tackles in all but two games, recorded a tackle for loss in all but four and had at least .5 sacks in seven outings. The Knights also brought him in on short yardage offensive situations. Kirkendall rushed for 79 yards and nine touchdowns on 23 carries. He also had a receiving touchdown.
His outstanding season has put him in Downey High’s record books. Kirkendall’s 11.5 sacks this year tied a program record. He holds the single-season record for sacks in a season with John Kreifels, who did it in 2011. Kirkendall has 18 career sacks across the 2022 and 2023 seasons, which is a new school record. He is the Knights’ career sacks record holder over Xavier Lewis (15.5) and Kreifels (15).
DL — Jack Hinchey, Senior, Downey
Another of Downey’s dynamic pass rushers, Hinchey recorded 18 tackles for loss and five sacks in 2023. He was one of five Knights to record at least 15 tackles for loss this season. He also added 75 tackles. Hinchey was named the CCAL Outstanding Defensive Lineman and helped the Knights earn a playoff win over Tracy, recording four tackles, a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery.
DL — Tresor Mulumba, Junior, Patterson
A First Team All-CCC defensive end, Mulumba finished the season with 57 total tackles. He really made his mark as one of the area’s best pass rushers and run stoppers. His 22 tackles for loss was one of the best marks in the area and his 10 sacks made it tough for any quarterback the Tigers faced. Mulumba also returned a fumble recovery 14 yards for a touchdown against Central Valley. Once again, Patterson won more than 10 games this season, advancing to the Division IV section title game.
DL — Logan Durkee, Senior, Turlock
Durkee spent most of his time in the opponent’s backfield, recording 11 tackles for loss, five sacks and 28 total tackles for the CCAL champion Bulldogs. The league’s Defensive Player of the Year, Durkee brought energy for a defense that allowed an average of just 11 points during league play.
DL — Ryne Moore, Junior, Downey
Moore was one of five players to record 25 or more tackles for loss this season, taking players down behind the line of scrimmage a team-high 30 times. Moore recorded 88 tackles in 12 games this season, an average of 7.3 per game, finished second on the team in sacks (9) and forced a team-high three fumbles. After a strong junior season, he found himself on the All-CCAL first team at defensive line.
DL — Ryan Lewis, Junior, Escalon
Lewis impressed as one of Escalon’s go-to targets on offense at tight end. He caught six touchdown passes and turned a number of clutch third and fourth down plays into first downs during Escalon’s run to a fourth consecutive section championship. He was just as impressive on defense, taking home TVL Outstanding Defensive Player honors. He recorded 72 total tackles, a team high six tackles for loss and a team high 8.5 sacks. He also had a pick-six and recovered a fumble.
LB — David Burns, Senior, Hughson
For the second straight season, Burns finished inside the top 10 in the Sac-Joaquin Section in tackles. After finishing third last season with 152 tackles, he recorded 131 tackles in 2023, good for ninth. An all league first team inside linebacker, Burns added six tackles for loss and an interception. He also played offense as a fullback, producing 405 yards and four touchdowns for the back-to-back section champions.
LB — Noah Cruz, Senior, Downey
Cruz flew around for the Knights’ defense. He was the only Downey defensive player to record over 100 tackles, finishing 23rd in the section with 114 takedowns. An All-CCAL First Team linebacker, Cruz finished second on the team with 19 tackles for loss, added 3.5 sacks and ended the season with a team-high three interceptions with a fumble recovery and two forced fumbles.
LB — Preston Zuidervaart, Senior, Ripon Christian
Zuidervaart’s 114 tackles this season ranked 25th in the Sac-Joaquin Section. He was one of the most consistent players on the Knights defense that recorded nine shutouts during the 2023 season. Ripon Christian beat Orestimba twice this season for Southern League and Division VII section championships, allowing just 12 and 14 points, respectively. The Southern League first team all league linebacker recorded 17 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, one sack and one interception. As a fullback on offense, he recorded 229 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
LB — Owen Miller, Senior, Turlock
An All-CCAL First Team linebacker, Miller led the Bulldogs with 44 tackles and two tackles for loss this season. He added an interception and a pair of fumble recoveries in his senior season. Miller recovered a fumble and forced a safety with a tackle for loss in a dominant first quarter against Sheldon in the Division I section playoffs. He finished the contest with a team-high seven tackles.
DB — Brooklyn Cheek, Senior, Central Catholic
A Cal-bound defensive back, Cheek was named the VOL Co-Outstanding Defensive Player. He was the Raiders’ leader in tackles (71) and two tackles for loss. The safety recorded one interception and 13 passes defensed for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I semifinalists. He was also the team’s leading receiver after recording 900 yards and 13 touchdowns on 46 receptions, all team highs.
DB — Noah Cozart, Junior, Patterson
Cozart is a two-way standout for the Tigers. As a receiver, he led the team in receiving yards (743) and receiving touchdowns (9). On the other side of the ball at defensive back, he recorded a team-high three interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. Cozart returned an interception against Atwater 101 yards and had a season-high eight tackles against Merced. He was named First Team All-CCC at receiver and defensive back.
DB — David Delgado, Senior, Hughson
Delgado’s interception in the section championship against Bradshaw Christian helped lead the charge in the Huskies’ comeback win. He also recorded 10 of his 61 tackles in the championship game to go with six catches for 133 yards and a touchdown. Delgado was named an All-TVL First Team defensive back but showed his versatility with 700 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
DB — Amos Cady, Sophomore, Ripon Christian
Cady was one of two sophomores named to the All-Southern League First Team Defense after an impressive season for the back-to-back Division VII section champions. Cady finished in the top 10 in the section in interceptions with seven and added 66 tackles, good for fourth on the team. Cady also added three pick-sixes, a pair of fumble recoveries and forced a fumble. Offensively as a receiver, he caught a touchdown pass.
All-Purpose — Joseph Delte, Junior, Oakdale
Voted the VOL’s top utility player, Delte lined up at linebacker, receiver and running back for the Mustangs, helping lead the team to yet another playoff appearance. The junior recorded 332 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground and was the team’s leading receiver, tallying 400 yards and six touchdowns.
All-Purpose — Talan Reider, Senior, Escalon
Reider rarely left the field, playing offense, defense and special teams for the Cougars. The senior was part of three section championships and a state title. He was the team’s third-leading rusher, finishing with 624 yards and three touchdowns on 81 carries and added 180 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, he recorded 41 tackles, one interception and was named to the defensive first team as a linebacker. He was also the team’s kicker, drilling a number of clutch field goals and extra points during his career, including a game-winner this season to knock off Buchannan on the road. He finished with 46 kick points and made 43 of 49 field goals.
All-Purpose — Seth Van Dyk, Senior, Central Catholic
Van Dyk played on both sides of the ball for the Raiders, recording 58 tackles and two interceptions as a linebacker, finishing in the top 2 on the team in both categories. Van Dyk also showed his versatility on offense. He started the season at tight end, moved to the offensive line, taking on inside blocking responsibilities for injured linemen, then moved back to tight end for the season’s final few weeks. He earned All-VOL First Team honors at tight end.
All-Purpose — Grant Sonke, Senior, Ripon Christian
Sonke was named the Southern League’s Defensive Player of the Year after recording 84 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, four sacks and a pair of forced fumbles for the Southern League champion and Sac-Joaquin Section Division VII champion Knights. Offensively, Sonke was Ripon Christian’s leading rusher. The senior recorded 1,030 yards on 110 carries. He also scored 16 touchdowns.
