FRESNO COUNTY – This past season, the County/Metro Athletic Conference once again ran through the Sanger Apaches. And after another season atop the CMAC totem pole, a few of Sanger’s best earned some all-conference recognitions.
A total of five Apaches were voted onto the All-CMAC First Team for their contributions and high-caliber play at their respective positions. And one particular running back, and the lineman who created many of his open lanes, were also voted the best at their positions.
Sophomore running back Miguel Salazar headlines the group of players that led Sanger (8-4/5-0) to their third consecutive CMAC title, and fifth overall since the 2020 season. Joining Salazar on the First Team are junior lineman Sharman Ghotra, sophomore linebacker Leo Quiroz, junior defensive lineman Joaquin Neri and junior linebacker Elias Gonzalez.
In his second season with the Apaches, Salazar rumbled his way to a tough 46.9 yards per game with 8 total touchdowns, according to stats in MaxPreps. Defensively, Salazar led Sanger in sacks (6.0) and also finished third on the team with 5 quarterback hurries. Ghotra helped anchor the o-line for Salazar and electric runner Kendale McGrew this past season. And when Ghotra flipped over to the defensive line, he managed 11 total tackles.
Quiroz, like Salazar, made quite an impression in his second season in a Sanger uniform. Quiroz, from his inside linebacker position, led the Apaches in tackles per game (8.4), ranked second in sacks (5.0) and also ranked first in quarterback hurries (8), according to stats in MaxPreps. Neri imposed his will on the defensive line, coming up with 54 total tackles and 3.0 sacks. Gonzalez was a true, super-utility star for Sanger, rushing for 209 yards, wrapping up 50 total tackles and gaining 25 yards on kick returns.
Another Sanger lineman, senior Jordan Rivera, dominated the line of scrimmage so well that he was voted as the CMAC Lineman of the Year. At 5 feet 11 inches and 272 pounds, Rivera helped create a comfortable passing pocket for quarterback Cenzo Calandra and gaping holes for star rusher McGrew.
Speaking of McGrew, his exciting playmaking abilities gave the opposition fits this past season. As a result, he was named the 2025 CMAC Most Valuable Player. Conjuring up memories of former Sanger studs such as Bryson Baker and Jalen Cropper, McGrew helped make the Apaches’ run game one of the most dangerous in the Central Section. According to stats in MaxPreps, McGrew rushed for an astounding 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns in his junior season.
Following another expected season at the top of the CMAC, Sanger’s lead chief, head coach Matt Logue, was named the CMAC Coach of the Year. In addition to winning a third straight conference title, Logue guided Sanger to within one game of the Central Section Division 1-A Championship. The Apaches fell to eventual champions Bakersfield Christian in a physical 16-7 loss in the Section Semifinals.
According to information in MaxPreps, Logue has compiled an overall record of 32-15 since the 2021 season with playoff appearances at the end of every season during that span.
