The Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) office announced the 2019 All-Conference Football Teams, with the University of Redlands earning 15 individual awards amongst the First and Second Team. These athletes significantly contributed to the team's 6-1 record in SCIAC play, while also leading the conference in points, total offense, touchdowns, field goals, point-after-attempts, kickoffs, turnover margin and many more.
Among the offense, junior quarterback Nathan Martinez (Redlands, CA), first-year running back Mason Carvalho (Menifee, CA), sophomore offensive lineman Cody Paul (Castaic, CA), senior/graduate student Joey Caffaro (Jackson Hole, WY), and senior kicker/punter Alex Raya (Jamul, CA) each garner their inaugural First-Team awards. In addition, senior tight end Blake Roy (Camas, WA) hauls in this award in back-to-back seasons.
In seven conference games, Martinez completed 68.5% of his passes to rank first among the SCIAC and produced 13 touchdowns in the process. He totaled 1,160 yards through the air while connecting with 19 different receivers. He also provided critical yards on the ground with 47 carries and 217 rushing yards to go along with a team-high six touchdowns. Martinez supplied four scores through the air against Pomona-Pitzer Colleges and then repeated this feat on the ground against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges.
Carvalho broke onto the scene as a tenacious, First-Team running back for the Bulldogs. While competing in only five conference games, he paced the Maroon and Gray with 392 yards off 70 carries for 5.6 yards per rush, which places him second in the conference. He entered the end zone on four occasions and never fumbled the ball. His long of 34 yards came in the Bulldogs' 33-14 win at Cal Lutheran University.
Roy served as Martinez's top target with 17 receptions over six conference games played. He racked up 164 yards for an average of 27.3 yards per catch. During SCIAC competition, he tallied a team-high four touchdowns, including two against Pomona-Pitzer. Furthermore, he provided key plays off the ball with his size and strength as an effective blocker.
Caffaro, Paul, and Second-Team offensive lineman Calhoun Helmberger (Tacoma, WA) stepped up as key components to the Bulldogs' front five that allowed Redlands to lead the SCIAC with 44.4 points per game. This came off 18 rushing touchdowns and 17 receiving scores in a very balanced attack. With their help, Redlands ranks second in the conference with 1,564 rushing yards and 2,980 yards of total offense over the seven games.
After last year's Second-Team nod as a punter, Raya now owns First-Team awards for kicking and punting. During the conference season, he split the uprights on eight field goals, including a school-record long of 56 yards. In addition, he made 35-of-37 PATs to total 59 points and rank second in the SCIAC in scoring. As highlighted by a long of 69 yards, he racked up 640 yards off 14 punts for an average of 45.7 yards. He landed six inside the 20-yard line and forced five fair catches.
Defensively, senior defensive backs Jeff Hector (Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA) and Vincent Vanhorne (Henderson, NV), junior linebacker Matthew Betancourt (San Bernardino, CA), and senior defensive lineman Elias Hackney (Santa Monica, CA) garner First Team All-SCIAC recognition. In addition, junior Khory Day (Fresno, CA) landed on the First Team for his performance on special teams.
Hector and Vanhorne have helped the Bulldogs to their SCIAC-leading 23 interceptions. Hector has wreaked havoc against the throw, snagging five interceptions in conference play for 174 return yards and three touchdowns to go along with four pass breakups. Hector has 26 tackles to his name, 20 of them solo tackles. Vanhorne registered 17 solo tackles, 25 total tackles, and four tackles combined for an 11-yard loss. He also has grabbed four interceptions, one that he returned for 11 yards in addition to one pass breakup. He also sits second in the conference with three forced fumbles while recovering two of them.
Betancourt leads the team with 27 total tackles against SCIAC competitors. His best game came against Chapman where he registered seven solo tackles and a huge sack for a three-yard loss on the Panthers third and two. He also has three pass breakups to his name.
Day has been a spark on special teams, hauling in 14 punts and returning them for 284 yards for a 20.3- yard return average. His longest came at 65 yards for a touchdown on La Verne's first drive of the game. He also has returned three kickoffs for 50 yards with his longest coming at 19 yards.
Next is Hackney who receives his second consecutive All-SCIAC award. Hackney and the rest of the defensive line put an immense amount of pressure on opposing quarterbacks in the trenches. He sits in fourth in SCIAC with 4.5 sacks for a combined 38-yard loss. He also tallied 7.5 tackles for 48 yards lost.
Following is defensive lineman Brandon Serrano (Chino, CA) who etched his name onto the Second Team. He has recorded 15 tackles including nine solo tackles against SCIAC opponents. His stats also include 5.5 tackles for a combined eight-yards lost. Serrano's best game came against Whittier where he totaled seven tackles, 2.5 tackles for a four-yard loss, and a sack for a one-yard loss.
Last but certainly not least, making his All-Conference debut on the Second Team is sophomore linebacker Joe Bennett (San Diego, CA). He has totaled 25 tackles with half coming by himself. Bennett made one interception, running it back 25 yards to solidify the 33-14 win at Cal Lutheran on a high note.
Based on their weekly contributions, Hector, Betancourt, Day, and Raya have all been named SCIAC Athlete's of the Week at least once this season.
For a complete list of the All-SCIAC honorees, please visit the conference website.
Redlands (9-1, 6-1 SCIAC) heads to Belton, TX to take on The Crusaders of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor for the first round of the NCAA DIII Football Championships on Saturday, November 23, at 10 a.m. PST