Mt Diablo running back Herschel Turner (2) runs the ball in the first quarter. Alhambra and Mt. Diablo played a high school football game at Alhambra High School in Martinez, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023 (Joseph Dycus/Bay Area News Group)
ALL-BAY AREA NEWS GROUP FOOTBALL 2023
RUNNING BACKS
First team
Kingston Keanaaina, St. Francis, 6-0, 190, junior
Running back of the year in the WCAL. Ran for 1,309 yards and 16 touchdowns in 208 attempts for a team that finished second to Serra in the league standings.
Boxer Kopcsak-Yeung, Los Gatos, 5-10, 170, senior
PAL Bay’s offensive back of the year. Helped lead the Wildcats to section and regional titles, rushing for 1,653 yards and 26 TDs. Also caught 29 passes for 360 yards and a TD.
Herschel Turner, Mt. Diablo, 5-10, 190, senior
Ran for a North Coast Section regular-season record 2,957 yards and was named offensive MVP in DAL Valley. Finished with 3,027 yards and 42 TDs on the ground.
Second team
Josh Gagni, Live Oak, 5-6, 185, senior
BVAL Mt. Hamilton MVP. Rushed for 1,417 yards and 17 touchdowns as the Acorns captured the league championship.
Kamarri Robinson, Livermore, 5-8, 175, junior
First-team all-EBAL Valley. Had one of California’s all-time great games, rushing for 534 yards and five touchdowns on 29 carries in a 45-34 victory over Dublin.
Noah Taylor, Sobrato, 6-1, 190, senior
BVAL Santa Teresa-Valley MVP. Ran for 2,548 yards and 27 touchdowns in 213 carries for a team that tied for second in the league standings.
Honorable mention
Monte Beam, Concord, senior
Jaxon Bell, Liberty, sophomore
Derrick Blanche, De La Salle, junior
Elijah Bow, Pittsburg, junior
Aidan Cisneros, Oak Grove, senior
Elijah Fields, South San Francisco, junior
Emmanuel Fitzgerald, San Mateo, junior
Jai’on Gary, Deer Valley, senior
Tajir Golden, McClymonds, senior
Jake Goldworthy, Amador Valley, senior
Arturo Hernandez, Mountain View, senior
Arvin Hosseini, Cupertino, senior
Braeden Kumer, Carlmont, senior
Aaron Lipscomb, Fremont-Oakland, junior
Malik Martinez, James Lick, senior
Ivan Nisa, Aragon, senior
Jordan Pagaduan, Independence, senior
William Rizqallah, Christopher, senior
Curtis Tucker, Antioch, junior
Evan Usher, Woodside, junior
Elijah Walker, Wilcox, senior
Maddox Wu, Pinole Valley, senior
ALL-BANG football 2023
Wide receivers-tight ends
Athletes
Quarterbacks
Those eligible for all-BANG honors come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The news organization’s high school sports staff chooses the players and coaches.
Originally published at Darren Sabedra, Joseph Dycus