The Daily News All-Area football team for 2024.
DAILY NEWS ALL-AREA FOOTBALL
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Brady Smigiel, Newbury Park, Junior
As an eighth-grader, Brady Smigiel didn’t know where he was going to play football in high school. But he knew where he wanted to go.
“Some people’s dream is to go to the NFL, play college football,” Smigiel said in late October. “My dream was to play Newbury Park football.”
Smigiel just completed his third year as the starting quarterback for Newbury Park, breaking multiple school records as the Panthers became the Conejo Coast League champion and the CIF Southern Section Division 2 champion.
He broke two school records, for passing touchdowns (52) and completions (282) in a season, while throwing for 3,521 yards and 49 touchdowns with three interceptions.
In terms of career records, the four-star recruit is at the top of the school’s list for passing yards (11,222), passing touchdowns (147), completions (729) and total offense (11,900 yards).
“I’m so grateful for the team that I’ve had. This staff is amazing,” Smigiel said. “I’m so grateful for the offensive line over the last three years. You play public school football you don’t really expect to have a consistent, really good offensive line. They’re really well-coached and they really want to win.”
Smigiel is a Florida State commit but recently posted a photo of the University of Washington’s stadium on X. Where he’ll play his senior year of high school football, however, is a little more certain.
“So proud of this entire team and staff,” Joe Smigiel, Brady’s father and Panthers head coach posted on X. “Newbury Park is our home and ALL of us can’t wait to come back and do it again next year!!!”
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Madden Riordan, Sierra Canyon, Junior
Sierra Canyon safety Madden Riordan knows that if he can be the smartest player on the field, he can make plays.
It helped him come up with a third-down tackle against Orange Lutheran’s running back this season as well as a pick-six against Loyola. In all, Riordan returned 10 interceptions for 153 yards and broke up 14 passes in his junior year in addition to 43 tackles.
“I pride myself on being the smartest player on the field, so that allows me to play a lot faster than a lot of people,” he said. “Even though I’m not the fastest or the biggest, I’m playing way faster than everyone else I’m going against. And just priding myself and knowing what’s going to happen before it happens.”
Riordan, who plans to enroll early at USC, switched from cornerback to safety this season so that he could have a more vocal role within the defense.
He helped the Trailblazers go undefeated in the Mission League and win the league title this season. They also reached the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinals as the defense held opponents to 10 points or less in five games.
“We made a new change just so I could be more of a talkative guy in the defense and tell everybody what I’m thinking and what’s gonna come,” he said. “Our D-line was great. If you have a great D-line, your secondary job is way easier. Just allowing you to fly around and make plays. We had a great energy, a great team bond on defense.”
COACH OF THE YEAR
Shawn Johnson, Chatsworth
Shawn Johnson was put into a difficult position when he was handed the reins of the Chatsworth football team in the second week of the season.
He seized the opportunity and rallied the players to a history-making season. The Chancellors won the L.A. City Section Division II championship game on a last-second field goal and went on to become the first Chatsworth football team to play in a CIF regional final.
“He made the game really fun,” Chatsworth running back Jesse Leon said during the season. “He listens to us, he works us hard, everything. He’s just a solid coach overall.”
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Steele Pizzella, Notre Dame, Sr.
Mission League first team; 183-for-301, 2,610 pass yds, 29 pass TDs; 1,040 rush yds, 8 rush TDs
RB: Brian Bonner, Valencia, Jr.
Foothill League Offensive Player of the Year; 1,493 rush yds, 25 TDs; 498 rec. yds, 4 TDs
RB: Brice Hawkins, Simi Valley, Sr.
Marmonte League first team; 1,660 yds, 32 TDs, 235 carries; 529 rec. yds, 6 TDs
WR: Parker Maxwell, Hart, Sr.
Foothill League first team; 1,216 yds, 14 TDs, 73 catches
WR: Hayden Vercher, Thousand Oaks, Jr.
Conejo Coast League first team offense; 1,011 yds, 11 TDs, 70 catches
WR: Luc Weaver, Notre Dame, Jr.
Mission League first team; 1,024 rec yds, 10 TDs, 53 catches
WR: Stevie Amar, Oaks Christian, Sr.
Marmonte League Receiver of the Year; 567 yds, 8 TDs, 46 catches
OL: Ashdon Wnetzrak, Sierra Canyon, Sr.
Mission League first team
OL: Arrie Beavers, Chaminade, Sr.
Mission League first team
OL: Max Piccolino, West Ranch, Jr.
Foothill League lineman of the year
OL: Kevin Ilano, Simi Valley, Sr.
OL: Angelo Saroukos, Newbury Park, Sr.
Conejo Coast League co-offensive lineman of the year
ATH: Jaxsen Stokes, Sierra Canyon, So.
Mission League Most Valuable Offensive Player; 537 rush yds, 9 TDs; 341 rec yds, 1 rec TD
K: Ashton Zamani, Sierra Canyon, Sr.
43-for-44 PATs, 7-for-10 FGs
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Mikhal Johnson, Sierra Canyon, Jr.
Mission League Most Valuable Lineman; 69 tackles (32 solo), 16 TFL, five sacks
DL: Richard Wesley, Sierra Canyon, So.
Mission League first team defense; 44 tackles, 16 TFL, nine sacks
DL: Hayden Lowe, Oaks Christian, Sr.
Marmonte League Defensive Lineman of the Year; 59 tackles, 18 TFL, 16 sacks, 2 blocked field goals
DL: Izak Simpson, Simi Valley, Jr.
102 tackles, 20 TFL, 15 sacks, blocked FG
LB: Ronen Zamorano, Sierra Canyon, Jr.
Mission League Most Valuable Defensive Player; 113 tackles (71 solo), four TFL, sack
LB: Christian Knoos, Oaks Christian, Sr.
Marmonte League linebacker of the Year; 162 tackles, 19 TFL, four sacks, two INT
LB: Cory McEnroe, Thousand Oaks, Sr.
Conejo Coast League Linebacker of the year; 114 tackles, eight TFL, eight sacks
LB: Balen Betancourt, Newbury Park, Jr.
Conejo Coast League first team; 115 tackles, 15 TFL, seven sacks, three INT
DB: Drew Cofield, Newbury Park, Sr.
Conejo Coast League DB of the Year; 51 tackles, INT, forced fumble
DB: Davon Benjamin, Oaks Christian, Jr.
Marmonte League Defensive Back of the Year; 45 tackles, five TFL, six INT; 404 rec yds, two TDs
DB: Jae’on Young, Sierra Canyon, Sr.
Mission League first team defense; five INT, forced fumble
DB: Logan Carpenter, Chaminade, Sr.
Mission League first team defense; 78 tackles, two INT, fumble recovery, three forced fumbles
ATH: Shane Rosenthal, Newbury Park, Sr.
Conejo Coast League MVP; 1,576 rec yds, 24 TDs, 84 catches; 52 tackles, seven INT
P: Dylan Gomez, West Ranch, Sr.
Foothill League first team defense; 45.6 yds/punt, seven inside 20-yard line
HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE
QB: Brady Bretthauer, Valencia, Jr.
Foothill League Player of the Year; 170-for-250 passing, 2,566 pass yds, 22 TDs; 307 rush yds, six rush TDs
RB: Dane Dunn, Sierra Canyon, Sr.
Mission League first team offense, 612 yds, 11 TDs, 109 carries
RB: DeShonne Redeaux, Oaks Christian, Jr.
1,263 yds, 17 TDs, 180 carries
WR: Devin Olmande, Chaminade, Jr.
Mission League first team; 618 rec. yds, seven TDs, 33 catches
WR: Cooper Cronquist, Moorpark, Sr.
Channel League co-receiver of the year; 1,076 rec. yds, 12 TDs, 68 receptions
WR: Nico Mastrippolito, Oak Park, Sr.
Channel League co-receiver of the year; 1,101 yds, 13 TDs, 62 catches
WR: Nick Seymour, Valencia, Sr.
Foothill League first team; 1,093 rec. yds, 9 TDs, 52 catches
OL: Will Simic, Oaks Christian, Sr.
OL:Mick Gradle, Moorpark, Sr.
Channel League offensive lineman of the year
OL: Mateo Bilaver, Chaminade, Jr.
Mission League first team
OL: Jiovanni Andrade, Calabasas, Sr.
Conejo Coast League co-offensive lineman of the year
OL: Konnor Quitevis, Valencia, Sr.
Foothill League first team offense
ATH: Diego Montes, Kennedy, Jr.
140-for-220 passing, 2,508 pass yds, 24 pass TDs; 1,400 rush yds, 25 rush TDs, 90 carries
K: Noah LaBerge, Oaks Christian, Sr.
40 kickoffs, 23 touchbacks, 6-for-13 FGs, 33-for-36 on PATs
HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE
DL: Isaac Thomas, Oak Park, Sr.
Channel League co-defensive lineman of the year; 120 tackles, 30 TFL, 12 sacks
DL: Kingston Williams, Chaminade, So.
Mission League first team; 4.5 sacks, 11 QB hurries
DL: Brett Williamson, Moorpark, Sr.
Channel League first team defense; 63 tackles, six TFL, two sacks
DL: Blake Bryce, Newbury Park, Sr.
Conejo Coast League Defensive Lineman of the Year; 40 tackles, 11 TFL, 7.5 sacks
LB: Andy Bailon, Birmingham, Sr.
69 tackles, 17 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 14 QB hurries
LB: Ehimen Oyamendan, Notre Dame, Sr.
Mission League first team defense; 90 tackles (72 solo), 6.5 TFL, three sacks
LB: Seth Knight, Simi Valley, Sr.
93 tackles (49 solo), nine TFL, two sacks, two INT
LB: Zach Abergel, Oak Park, Sr.
Channel League first team defense; 116 tackles, (83 solo), four TFL, blocked punt
DB: Havon Finney, Sierra Canyon, So.
Mission League first team defense; four INT, 16 PBU, forced fumble
DB: Rossie Cherry, Castaic, Jr.
Foothill League first team defense; 86 tackles, eight TFL, sack, three forced fumbles
DB: Jayden Graham, Simi Valley, Sr.
150 tackles, five TFL, three INT, nine forced fumbles
ATH: Kingston Celifie, Calabasas, So.
First team Conejo Coast League; 270 rush yds, three rush TDs; 757 rec. yds, 10 rec TDs, 55 catches
ATH: Kayin Booker, Newbury Park, Sr.
Connejo Coast League first team defense; 50 tackles; 202 rush yds, two rush TDs; 411 rec. yds, eight rec TDs
P: Alessandro Garrett, Chaminade, Sr.
42.83 yards per punt, 12 inside 20-yard line