The Bee’s A-to-Z guide to the Stanislaus District prep football season

A: He’s arrived. Junior quarterback Bobby Avina is the new face of the Gregori offense and he showcased his ability – and big arm – on the seven-on-seven circuit with Valley’s Got Talent.

B: Orestimba junior running back Tymon Bolden will help fill the void left by Austin Martins, the program’s all-time leading rusher and an all-state selection. Bolden shares the same genetic makeup and high ceiling as former Merced dynamo Bernard Bolden, his older brother.

C: The changeup. In the spring, Johansen first-year offensive coordinator Donnie Donaldson guided the Waterford softball team into The Bee’s small-school rankings. The Vikings hope he has the same impact on third-year starting quarterback Anthony Uresti and the offense.

D: Denied. At 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, Buhach Colony junior Lavon “LJ” Wallace is one of the top defensive backs in Northern California for the Class of 2018. He already has an offer from Fresno State.

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E: Oakdale goes to England, as in Austin England. The junior quarterback transferred from Enochs and is expected to fill the void left by Adam Olsen, a four-year varsity player and three-year starter.

F: Follow forward-thinking Downey. The four-time defending Modesto Metro Conference champion Knights have a unique digital presence. Download the football team’s app for schedules, updates, team information and more.

G: Traditionally a power-i offense, Manteca will use one-back sets to give junior quarterback Gino Campiotti more options downfield.

H: A hundred candles. The storied Sonora-Oakdale rivalry celebrates its centennial on opening night at Sonora’s modernized Dunlavy Field. Among the new features: artificial turf, all-weather track and a scoreboard at midfield.

I: In good hands. Sonora junior safety Kane Rodgers intercepted 12 passes last fall, most in the state and a program record.

J: Just hired. There are new head coaches at Hughson (Vince Brown), Ripon (Chris Musseman), Johansen (Scott Sacuskie), Atwater (Nelson Medeiros), Argonaut (Ricky Davis), Gustine (Mike Mendonca), Waterford (Lonnie Statzer), Stone Ridge Christian (Keith Borges) and Turlock Christian (Mike Turpin). Four of the nine qualified for the postseason last fall; Stone Ridge Christian won a Division VII title and hosted a regional bowl game.

K: With his big-game experience, Bryce Wade of Central Catholic headlines a deep class of kickers that includes Thomas Siditkun of Ripon, Alan Godinez of Patterson, Joseph Lema of El Capitan and A.J. De La Riva of Pitman.

L: Learning curve. Oakdale returns just two starters – Nico Sarale and Brandon Vierra – off an offensive line that paved the way for fullback Brad Aquino, who rushed for a school-record 1,874 yards and 37 TDs.

M: In the wake of Assembly Bill 30, which forced four California high schools to drop “Redskins” as their mascot, Calaveras has decided to move forward without one. The school will retain its logo, though.

N: Not forgotten. Former Gustine coach Russell McWilliams may have taken a new job at Enterprise in Redding, but his ties to the district remain strong. Many within this football community helped support and uplift the McWilliams family after they were run off the road and collided into a tree, an accident that sent McWilliams’ 4-year-old daughter to the hospital with a severe head injury.

O: Often overlooked. Modesto Christian’s Travis Oxley plays a position rarely glorified by media but invaluable to a coaching staff. Oxley is the Crusaders’ all-Trans-Valley League long snapper.

P: Passing marks for Central Catholic quarterbacks Cole Petlanksy and Theo Azevedo, who led the Raiders to a 5-0 mark at the De La Salle Passing Tournament. Read that again: “... 5-0 mark at the De La Salle Passing Tournament.”

Q: Quiet, please. Sierra, a 5-5 team going into the 2015 playoffs, silenced its detractors by winning its final six games, including the program’s first section, regional and state bowl championships. The emergence of returning quarterback Mark Vicente had a lot to do with that exciting finish.

R: The Sac-Joaquin Section’s first realignment meeting for the 2018-19 school year will be held Dec. 14 in Stockton. The future of the Modesto Metro Conference promises to be a hot topic.

S: The Stanislaus District welcomes back three Sac-Joaquin Section champions: Central Catholic, Sierra and Sonora. By virtue of its fourth straight section title, Central Catholic, a school of about 369, must compete at the Division II level this fall.

T: TDs on tap. The district’s top returning end-zone regulars are: Stone Ridge Christian’s Jonathan Collazo (23), Modesto Christian’s Chris Brown (17), Central Catholic’s Jared Rice (16) and Delhi’s Jesse Flores (15).

U: Uniforms. Central Catholic begins the first year of a sponsorship deal with Under Armour, the fastest-growing sports brand in the world. The five-time state champions are part of the “Undeniable” campaign, which includes about 40 prep teams nationwide.

V: East Union’s all-Valley Oak League quarterback, Jack Weaver, is in line to be the school’s valedictorian.

W: Manteca alum Seth Davis has turned Weston Ranch into a darkhorse in the VOL by developing road-grading linemen. The Cougars won the Delta Junior College Lineman Challenge by a wide margin, an event the Buffaloes had won two years running.

X: The exes. Carlos Iniguez rushed for 785 yards and 11 TDs last fall for Le Grand, but he’s transferred to nearby Chowchilla, a Division IV-A state finalist. In other transfer news: Delhi could see its former quarterback, Louie Avalos, on opening night at Livingston. Awkward.

Y: You again! Central Catholic opens the season Aug. 26 against Marin Catholic in a rematch of the CIF Northern California Open Division Small-School Bowl game. The Raiders won convincingly, 49-14.

Z: “Zzzz,” as in don’t sleep on him. Merced running back Ulonzo Gilliam Jr. had his junior year shortened by injury, but the dynamic two-way player enjoyed an MVP-caliber summer on the seven-on-seven circuit and could be poised for a monster season. The Bears have crowned the last three conference MVPs. Gilliam is fit to wear that crown.

This story was originally published August 25, 2016 at 3:38 PM with the headline "The Bee’s A-to-Z guide to the Stanislaus District prep football season."