Nicholas Gaoa and Iosefa Lealofi received player of the year honors, while 25 other local football players received All-CIF-Southern Section nods.
Nicholas Gaoa and Iosefa Lealofi were named the CIF-Southern Section Division 7 Player of the Year on Friday afternoon.
The Barstow High School football players highlight the All-CIF-SS selections, which were released Friday and included 25 other players from across the High Desert.
Gaoa received the Offensive Player of the Year honor after eclipsing the 2,000-yard rushing mark to end his career at Barstow.
The workhorse running back earned the Desert Sky League's Offensive Player of the Year award for the second year in a row, and was also named to the Daily Press All-Area team for a second time.
Gaoa ended his senior season with 358 carries for 2,199 yards and 29 touchdowns, while also catching 18 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns.
Lealofi, who was recently named the Daily Press Football Athlete of the Year, received the Defensive Player of the Year honor.
Lealofi, who is signed to continue playing at Sacramento State, ended his senior season with 120 tackles, including 86 solo, nine sacks, an interception, two caused fumbles and a fumble recovery.
The pair of players led the Aztecs to the CIF-SS Division 7 championship, and two weeks later to the CIF State Division 4AA title. Clayton Leleimene was announced as the Coach of the Year.
Six other schools from the High Desert were represented in the All-CIF-SS selections.
Barstow and Apple Valley, which played in the Division 7 championship game, lead the way with seven selections.
Here’s the full list of players to receive All-CIF-SS honors.
Division 3
- Oak Hills — Johnny Notarianni, Sione Felila.
Division 7
- Apple Valley — Brian Frye, Chase Higgs, Deshaun Kaeokahalioumi, Frankie Aguilar, Jaden Foster, Nathan Arceo, Noah Hardeman.
- Barstow —AJ Lealofi, Alan Wilder, Drelyn Brown, Elijah Leleimene, Kamari Maloy, TJ Epps, Xavier Collins.
- Serrano — Cade LaFever.
- Victor Valley — Nikolas Blocker, Terion Mathis.
Division 9
- Hesperia — Cainaan Safota, Da'lon Williams, Nathan Rodriguez, Xzavier Murgo, Zamar Malveaux.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: 27 players from the High Desert players receive All-CIF-SS honors
Category: General Sports
