Honkers head preseason All-TriCounty

With close to 10 starters back on both offense and defense this year, the Willows Honkers loom as the top team in the Tri-County area.

High school football practice began this week for most Tri-County area football teams, including the Honkers who will play under new head coach Jim Ward.

Ward replaces longtime coach Curtis Parks, who retired after last season. Parks led the Honkers to two Northern Section championships in his tenure that lasted close to a decade.

Ward inherits a team that advanced to the second round of the Northern Section Division 3 playoffs. Many of the players who started on that squad return this year, making the Honkers the favorite in the Sacramento Valley League.

The Honkers head this year’s preseason All-TriCounty team, placing six players on the team.

Hamilton, the defending Division 3 champion, places four players on the preseason honor squad, including last year’s TriCounty defensive MVP Ryan Schimke.

The Corning Cardinals also place four players on the team, led by second-year quarterback Tanner McIntyre.

Following is a close look at the players who figure to make a difference in the Tri-County area this year.

WR – Cody Pastorino, Willows – Pastorino was a standout on both offense and defense for the Honkers last year. Besides intercepting close to a half dozen passes on the season, Pastorino caught 25 passes during his junior year and was named to the all-league team.

WR – Anthony Ramirez, Orland – With the Trojans operating out of the spread for the second year in a row, Ramirez will be a key target in the passing game. Ramirez earned all-league honors last season.

TE – Daniel Cooper, Princeton – Cooper injured his knee in the semifinals against Big Valley and missed all of basketball and baseball season for the Eagles; however he is expected to play football his senior year. Cooper was a big play receiver for the Eagles who won the NorCal 8-Man League South Division title last year.

OL – John Davis, Maxwell – Davis will be a key player on both sides of the line for the Panthers. An all-league pick last year, Davis is also a standout at defensive end.

OL – Jarred Brooks, Los Molinos – Brooks gives the Bulldogs plenty of size on the line at 6-foot-4 and close to 280 pounds. Brooks is also a multi-sport athlete, earning all-TriCounty area honors in basketball last year.

OL – Dustin Boster, Hamilton – Boster saw some playing time last year on a Hamilton team that had plenty of depth on the offensive and defensive lines. Boster will try to help the Braves win their second straight Division 3 championship.

OL – Jake Zuppan, Corning – Zuppan earned all-league honors as a junior and fits the mold of Cardinal offensive interior linemen – small, fast and strong. Also an outstanding wrestler at Corning High.

OL – Brian Wunsch, Willows – Wunsch is one of four starters back on the line for the Honkers, however he is the only returning all-league lineman for Willows. The senior will also help out the Honkers on defense at linebacker.

QB – Tanner McIntyre, Corning – The Cardinals don’t pass a lot, but that might change now that McIntyre has a full year on the varsity under his belt. A gifted all-around athlete, McIntyre is a threat to run the ball as well as pass it.

RB – Fabian Gutierrez, Willows – Gutierrez gives the Honkers the quickness in the backfield that could provide plenty of highlights during the season. Gutierrez was the second leading rusher on the team last year with close to 500 yards on the ground.

RB – Zach Petty, Corning – Only a junior, Petty was a standout on Corning’s junior varsity squad last year. Expect Petty to be one of several solid running backs for the Cardinals this year.

RB – Guillermo Rodriguez, Princeton – The workhorse for the Eagles, Rodriguez ran for close to 2,000 yards last year and was one of the leading scorers in the state with over 200 points. He also had eight touchdowns in one game.

AP – Carlos Gutierrez, Colusa – Although he played only half the season last year, Gutierrez brought some speed to the Redskin lineup last year. Used more as a wingback, Gutierrez, who is just a junior, will likely be involved in more plays on offense this year.

K – Oscar Pineda, Hamilton – Pineda ranks as one of the top kickers in the state of California after booting nine field goals last year, including one from 57-yards out.

DL – Michael Chappell, Willows – Chappell gives the Honkers speed on the edge. Look for the senior defensive end to be in on a number of sacks this year.

DL – Carlos Corona, Pierce – Corona was routinely the leading tackler on the defense last year for the Bears.

DL – Elias Ligas, Hamilton – Ligas should emerge as one of the Braves’ top defensive linemen this year after seeing spot duty as a junior. He still managed 30 tackles last year as a part-time player.

DL – Adam Ogaz, Williams – Ogaz led the Yellowjackets in sacks last year with six. Good size and quickness make Ogaz a player to watch on the Williams defense this year.

LB – Tyler Kormos, Willows – Kormos was one of the leading tacklers for the Honkers last year, usually delivering bone-crushing hits on opposing ballcarriers. Earned all-league honors.

LB – Matt Candelaria, Willows – Missed all of last year after leading the Honkers in tackles during the regular season as a sophomore. Candelaria and Kormos will give the Honkers one of the best linebacking combos in the Northern Section.

LB – Gerardo Parra, Maxwell – Nicknamed “Grandma”, Parra was a force on the Panther defense last year as a sophomore, racking up close to 80 tackles. Earned all-league honors and will be the focus of the Maxwell defense this year.

LB – Ryan Schimke, Hamilton – The returning Tri-County area defensive MVP, Schimke earned All-Northern Section second team honors after racking up over 125 tackles and leading the Braves to the most dominating season in school history. The senior could be one of the top linebackers in the Northern Section this year.

LB – Hayden Meyers, Colusa – Meyers crushed opposing ballcarriers at the JV level last year and will likely do the same at the varsity level.

DB – Ricardo Mata, Willows – An all-around athlete, Mata was a defensive MVP in soccer and caught the game-winning touchdown in the playoffs against Trinity. He will help anchor the Honker secondary along with Pastorino.

DB – Ema Martinez, Williams – In his third year on the varsity, the speedy Martinez is not afraid to lay a hit on opposing receivers.

DB – Michael Burns, Mercy – Burns is the best athlete on a Mercy team that will play in the North Valley League this year.

DB – Casey Cleland, Corning – Like Petty, Cleland was a standout on the JV team last year. Look for Cleland to make his mark in the offensive backfield as well as on defense.

P – Humberto Guzman, Williams – One of the top soccer players in the Tri-County area, Guzman was an outstanding punter for the Yellowjackets last year.