The Modesto Bee’s 2024 All-District Football Team — Defense
Note: The Bee factored in individual statistics, team success, level of competition, all-league honors and submissions from coaches in creating its All-District team.
Defensive Player of the Year: Noah Sacuskie, Senior, Downey
Sacuskie made game-changing plays on defense and special teams for the Knights, helping them finish with 10 wins for the third straight season. He was the Stanislaus District’s sacks leader, posting 11.5, and finished second on the Knights in total tackles, with 95. A disruptive force in the backfield, he added 23 tackles for loss to his impressive sacks numbers. The senior also forced two fumbles and recovered one. He recorded a single-game career-high 12 total tackles against Modesto, with 10 solo tackles. He never recorded fewer than four tackles in a game and had a tackle for loss in every game except the Division I quarterfinals against eventual section champion Folsom.
Sacuskie drew Division I college interest during a season where he posted career highs across every defensive category while making an impact on special teams. He blocked two punts in the Knights’ season opener against Lincoln of Stockton and added one more the next week. In a league matchup against Enochs, he blocked a field goal.
While he was a terror on defense, Sacuskie also helped the Knights on offense. In short yardage situations, the Downey coaching staff called on the 6-foot-3, 230-pound defensive end to power run up the middle. Sacuskie carried the ball six times for 11 total yards. Of his six carries, three were for touchdowns.
Modesto Bee 2024 All-District Defense
DL — Ryan Lewis, Senior, Escalon
The TVL’s Outstanding Defensive Player for the second straight season and a four-year varsity player, Lewis shined despite Escalon’s injury struggles in 2024. He finished his senior season with an impressive 71 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and seven sacks to go with a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. As a tight end, he led the Cougars in receiving yards (354) and added three receiving touchdowns.
DL — Max Mankins, Senior, Hughson
An Air Force commit, Mankins was one of Hughson’s leaders this season. He finished the year with 56 tackles, eight tackles for loss and a team-high 7.5 sacks. While his long reach made him a sought-after prospect at defensive line, it also helped him as a tight end on offense. He caught 20 passes for 365 yards and four touchdowns. Mankins finishes his career a three-time section champion, NorCal champ and a state champ.
DL — Malachi Modesto, Senior, Oakdale
An All-VOL first-team selection at defensive line, Modesto was on the front line of a defense that held opponents under 25 points in seven of its nine wins this season. The senior recorded 69 tackles and led the Mustangs with 17 tackles for loss and four sacks. Modesto and the Mustangs finished third in a competitive Valley Oak League and reached the D-III Sac-Joaquin Section championship game for the first time since 2021.
DL — Ryne Moore, Senior, Downey
Moore fought through injuries at times this season but still was a terror any time he lined up for the Knights. In just eight games, he finished with 61 tackles and was second on the Downey defense with 14 tackles for loss. An All-CCAL first-team defensive lineman, he also forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and had 2.5 sacks.
DL — Tresor Mulumba, Senior, Patterson
Mulumba has been one of the most disruptive defensive linemen for the past two seasons. In his senior year, he helped lead the Tigers to their second straight section title game thanks in large part to his 75 tackles and 10 sacks. The first-team All-VOL defensive lineman also added a career-best 28 tackles for loss. Of the section’s top 100 tackle leaders, just three finished with more tackles for loss than Mulumba.
DL — Kaeden Patterson, Senior, Turlock
Patterson was named the CCAL’s Outstanding Defensive Lineman after spending his senior season disrupting opponents’ offenses. He led a defense that allowed an average of just eight points a game in wins.
LB — Nicolas Cuevas, Senior, Orestimba
Named the TVL Outstanding Linebacker, Cuevas displayed his nose for the ball all season. He tallied 84 tackles in six league games and finished ninth in the section with 132 tackles overall. He finished with an impressive 11 tackles per game average and also added 11 total tackles for loss in his senior season. He also played running back, tallying career highs in every category including carries (82), rush yards (566) and touchdowns (8). He helped the Warriors make the playoffs coming out of a stacked TVL schedule.
LB — Wyatt Dragoo, Senior, Central Catholic
Dragoo always was in the right place at the right time for the Raiders, who earned a top-four seed and a first-round bye in the Division I playoffs. He was named the co-Outstanding Defensive Player of the VOL and led the Raiders with 80 total tackles. The senior also led the team with two fumble recoveries. On offense, he finished second on the team in rushing yards (510), rushing touchdowns (9) and carries (83).
LB — Daley Holmes, Senior, Downey
Holmes was selected to the CCAL’s first team at outside linebacker and made an impact on defense for the Knights. He recorded three interceptions with one pick six, a 99-yard return against Edison of Stockton. Holmes also recovered two fumbles and forced a fumble. He recorded 41 tackles, with three tackles for loss, to help lead the Knights to their second straight CCAL second-place finish.
LB — Royale Tago, Junior, Patterson
For the second straight season, Tago led Patterson in total tackles. The linebacker flew around the field defensively for the Tigers and was a big reason they went to back-to-back section title games. As a junior, he was named an All-VOL first-team outside linebacker after recording 97 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and six sacks. He also forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and had an interception that he returned for 50 yards.
LB — Tyler Stroup, Senior, Oakdale
An All-VOL first-team inside linebacker for the second straight season and section finalist, Stroup led the Mustangs and finished in the top 35 in the section with 106 tackles. He also recovered a fumble and forced a fumble on the season. Stroup played in all 13 games for the Mustangs, who reached the section championship in D-III.
DB — Bradlee Green, Senior, Turlock
Greene was named the CCAL’s Outstanding Defensive Back/Linebacker after spearheading a Bulldogs defense that did not allow more than 14 points during league play. In the first round of the playoffs, Turlock held Laguna Creek to just 12 points and in the D-I quarterfinals, Green and the defense held Central Catholic to just a first-half touchdown before pulling out a win in overtime.
DB — Scotty Hallmon, Senior, Central Catholic
Hallmon led the Raiders in interceptions (3) and passes defensed (9) on the season. A senior who saw his role expand in his second varsity season, Hallmon posted career highs across the board en route to a year when he was named an All-VOL first-team safety/defensive back.
DB — Antwain Harper, Junior, Downey
An All-CCAL first-team selection at defensive back, Harper recorded tackling career highs across the board in his season on varsity for the Knights. He tallied a team-high 98 tackles, an average of 8.2 per game, with 69 solo and 29 assisted tackles. He also intercepted one pass, recovered a fumble and forced a pair of fumbles.
DB — Carter Meeks, Junior, Central Catholic
Meeks was named to the All-VOL first-team defense at defensive back after a productive season playing one of the Stanislaus District’s toughest schedules. He recorded 45 total tackles and finished tied for a team-high nine passes defensed with Hallmon. Meeks was also productive on offense, rushing for 459 yards and seven touchdowns on 70 carries.
DB — Cesar Pimentel, Junior, Central Valley
The Hawks struggled this season, but Pimentel was one of the few bright spots. He was the only Central Valley player on one of the WAC All-League defense teams after finishing top 30 in the section with 110 tackles. The second-team All-League selection recorded 10 or more tackles for seven straight games and did not have a game with fewer than four tackles. He also added a pair of interceptions.
P — Logan Martin, Senior, Gregori
Martin, one of the few specialists in the Stanislaus District, was named to the CCAL’s first-team offense as a kicker and defense as a punter. In 24 recorded punts, he averaged 34.7 yards per punt with a long of 62 yards. He pinned three punts inside opponents’ 20-yard line and tallied a total of 832 yards. He made 17 of 19 extra points and drilled a 38-yard field goal.
All-Purpose — Elias Haynes, Sophomore, Downey
Haynes is one of the area’s 2024 breakout performers, improving as the season progressed until he was a contributor on a playoff team. He led Downey with four picks and one pick six. He was one of three Stanislaus District players to finish with more than three interceptions on the season. He also added 93 tackles, one forced fumble and two blocked field goals defensively and on offense rushed for a team-high six touchdowns. He was named a second-team All-CCAL defensive back.
All-Purpose — Reis Smith, Senior, Ceres
Smith was always making plays for the Bulldogs. He was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year and made the WAC All-League first-team defense as a defensive back. He helped lead Ceres to a second-place league finish, tallying 539 yards and eight touchdowns on 40 catches. Defensively, he tallied 39 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
All-Purpose — Malakai Sumter, Senior, Hughson
Sumter, one of the area’s top two-way players, was named the TVL’s Outstanding Receiver and Outstanding Defensive Back after helping lead the Huskies to their third straight section championship. As a sophomore, he played valuable snaps in a state championship season. Sumter caught 37 passes for 775 yards and nine touchdowns. Defensively, he had 53 tackles, two interceptions and forced a fumble.
