The winter holiday presents came early and the more the merrier it seems when it came to the selections for the 2019 All-SCFA American Pacific League Football Team. Pasadena City College's 6-4 season and second place showing resulted in 15 Lancers being picked to the First and Second Teams. In all, 75 players were chosen from the six teams in the league.
APL champion Allan Hancock had 16 players chosen while LA Harbor also picked up 15 selections.
Unanimous picks to the First Team from PCC were quarterback Edward Norton at all-purpose and wide receiver David Telles on offense and linebacker Mark Navarro, cornerback Kaydon Spens, and safety Andy Reyes at punt return. Joining them on First Team were tight end Alex Herrera, wide receiver-linebacker Drew Pendleton at utility, defensive tackle Omar Delgado, and inside linebacker Hector Palacios.
Making Second Team for the Lancers were center Randy Ruano, running back Salman Gurung, and quarterback Kade Wentz on offense and defensive end Craig Francois, outside linebacker Darren Meyers, and safety Shane Andrews on defense.
The fleet-footed, lefty throwing freshman Norton was the team's top offensive player as led PCC in passing (835 yards), rushing (714 yards) and scoring (six touchdowns on the ground while passing for a team-best 11). Letterman Telles becomes a 2-time, All-SCFA First Team choice after leading the team in receiving with 40 receptions for 446 yards and five TDs. Telles led the team in all-purpose yardage for the second straight year with 810 yards (312 on kick/punt returns and 52 rushing).
Herrera, a freshman, didn't make a catch at tight end but was a primary blocker that helped the team's rushing attack. The sophomore Pendleton was a dual threat as he was second on the team in tackles with 58 (plus two forced fumbles and three sacks) and caught 10 passes as a receiver. Navarro, a sophomore, led PCC in tackles with 63 and had two interceptions. Spens made a freshmen-high 42 tackles, intercepted three passes and broke up four attempts. Reyes, who made 50 tackles with an interception and had a team-high six pass breakups, was outstanding on punt returns with 14 for an 18.9 yards average. Palacios, another 2-time, All-SCFA choice, made 29 tackles, 7.5 sacks and forced two fumbles while Delgado added 22 tackles and 2.5 sacks as a strong interior lineman.
Ruano did a good job at a tough role as the only offensive lineman selected. Gurung rushed for 339 yards, most among running backs, and a 5.7 per carry average. Wentz complemented Norton as the two often switched from quarters to series in some cases in a two-man QB tandem. The first-year Wentz passed for 455 yards and five TDs and rushed for 276 and three scores. Francois was the team leader in sacks with 10 and 18 of his 28 tackles were behind the line of scrimmage. The 2-year Meyers often was used on blitz plays as he totaled 39 tackles, three sacks and an interception. Andrews, a letterman, made 45 tackles and broke up five passes.
The Lancers all-league players were guided by head coach Steven Mojarro.
Allan Hancock tight end Jerome Afe was the APL Offensive Player of the Year while Santa Barbara City's Jacob Shultz was Defensive Player of the Year.