FRESNO COUNTY – Now that the 2025 football season has officially come to an end, awards season is finally here. In the Tri-County-Kings Canyon, Kingsburg and Kerman stood heads and heels above everyone else in the All-Conference honors.
The Vikings and the Lions flexed their muscles, and played with nasty appetites as two of the most complete teams in the TCKC this season. As a result, 13 players from both rosters shared first- and second-team All-League honors, with both teams also producing the Lineman of the Year and Most Valuable Player.
Kingsburg Running back Drew Lunde, wide receiver Cooper Holt and offensive lineman Maddox Verners all shared spots on the Offense 1st Team list. Lunde was part of a running-back-by committee that kept the chains moving for the Vikings, averaging nearly 330.8 yards per game, according to stats in MaxPreps. Holt hauled in 59 catches for 915 yards and 8 touchdowns. Verners anchored an O-line that opened the holes for the running game and provided pass protection in the pocket.
Jackson Leibee, Lunde’s backfield mate, shared Offense 2nd Team honors with wide receiver Levi Wilson, tight end Jesse Canaday and offensive lineman Luke Carrasco.
Linebackers Jonathan Muxlow and Dylan Darling shared All-Defense 1st Team honors with defensive back Adam Villagomez and Holt, who also garnered special teams honors. In addition, Wilson also shared 2nd Team honors with Paxton Palomar in the defensive backfield.
Reedley High’s linebacker Richie Badilla found his way on the All-Defense 2nd Team after totalling 40 tackles per loss, according to MaxPreps. Fellow Pirates’ defensive mate Kyle Dewey earned a spot on the All-Defense 1st Team list after racking up 11.0 sacks, according to Max Preps.
The Pirates’ Will Bacon is the only member of the All-Purpose 1st Team for his talents as a passer, runner and receiver.
At the head of the class is Emilio Ayala, who made a lot of noise on the Vikings’ defensive line this season. Ayala played like a true Viking warrior, coming up with 62 total tackles, 16 for losses and 3 sacks. For his excellence on the line, Ayala was named as the TCKC Lineman of the Year.
For Kerman, tight end Emmanuel Chavez and offensive linemen Sean Arvance and Jorge Vargas grabbed spots on Offense 1st Team. Sharing 2nd Team honors are wide receiver Steven Luna and Diego Contreras and Jorge Lopez on the O-line. On the other side of the ball, the trio of Seth Meyers, Xavier Mantalvo and Logan Castro earned spots on the Defensive 1st Team. Fellow D-lineman Anthony Batres and linebacker Jesse Lazano shared 2nd Team honors.
Quarterback Adrian Torres was at the center of Kerman’s offensive attack this season. With Torres under center, the Lions amassed a staggering 4,717 total yards, according to MaxPreps. Torres played like a true king of the jungle, throwing for 2,843 yards and 32 touchdowns. And with his elusiveness outside the pocket, he made life difficult for opposing defenses.
Torres’s phenomenal play earned him the Most Valuable Player Award in the TCKC for this past season.
Defensive teammate Vaughn Blunt delivered hits like a blunt instrument this season. A dual tight end/middle linebacker, Blunt roamed mostly on the defensive side, totalling 59 tackles, with 11.5 for losses, according to MaxPreps. For his outstanding play, Blunt earned the TCKC’s Defensive Player of the Year.
