REDLANDS, Calif. - The Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) announced their 2021 All-Conference Football teams recently, with the University of Redlands landing 12 amongst the First and Second Teams.
These athletes significantly contributed to the team's 8-2, 6-0 SCIAC record, while also helping lead the conference in scoring, points per game, yards per rush, rushing touchdowns, 3rd Down Percentage, 4th Down Percentage, Kick-Return Average, Punt Return Yardage, Punt Return Average, Red-Zone Touchdowns, Fumbles Recovered, Interceptions, and Tackles.
The Bulldogs have had an All-SCIAC member every year (minus 2020 with no season due to Covid-19 and no seasons from 1943-45 during WWII) since 1932. Headlining the awards is Nathan Martinez (Redlands, CA) who was named the 2021 SCIAC Offensive Athlete of the Year and Jim Good and his staff, who were named the 2021 SCIAC Coaching Staff of the Year.
This season the Maroon and Grey saw eight land on the 1st Team and four on the 2nd Team.
Stats are from SCIAC season (rank)
Martinez sees himself land on the 1st Team for the second time in his career (1st Team - 2019). Within conference he finished with 1,205 yards passing (No. 2), averaging 9.9 yards per attempt (No. 1), with 10 Passing Touchdowns (No. 1), a 70.5 completion percentage (No. 1), and a 170.2 Pass Efficiency (No. 1). He also had 163 yards rushing and another three scores.
Kai Thompson (Murrieta, CA) finds himself on the 1st Team for the first time in his career after posting 377 Rushing Yards (No. 3), averaging 62.8 yards per game along with six rushing touchdowns (No. 3). Out of the backfield he also caught eight passes for another 58 yards and added in a passing touchdown that went for 12-yards. At the start of the season he was also selected as the SCIAC Offensive Athlete of the Week.
Anthony Vargas (Grand Terrace, CA) lands on the All-SCIAC 1st Team for the first time as an Offensive Lineman. This season he played in all six conference games helping the Bulldogs offense average 42.7 PPG (No. 1), with a 207.8 Yards Rushing Average (No. 1), while owning Time of Possession Per Game at 35:11 (No. 2).
Calhoun Helmberger (Tacoma, WA) anchors the offensive line as the starting center. He is a four-year starter and this season lands on the All-SCIAC 1st Team for the first time in his career but has been an All-Conference performer three-times landing on the 2nd Team in 2018 and 2019. This year he started all six games within conference not allowing a sack and helped an offensive line that protected the offensive athlete of the year (Nathan Martinez | 1,205 Passing Yards, 163 Rushing Yards, 13 Touchdowns), blocked for a 1st Team All-SCIAC rusher and contributed to 22 rushing touchdowns within conference.
Brandon Serrano (Chino, CA) was a big piece for the Bulldog defensive unit finding himself on the 1st Team as a defensive end for the first time in his career after landing on the 2nd Team in 2019. This year he totaled 19 tackles within SCIAC (No. 45), added three sacks (No. 2) and 5.5 Tackles for Losses (No. 2). He was also selected by the SCIAC as the Defensive Athlete of the Week.
Jacob Harrold (Lake Havasu City, AZ) also landed on the 1st Team as a Linebacker for the first time in his career. He totaled 35 tackles (No. 12) with 1.5 Tackles for Losses, an interception, and a pass break-up.
Michael MacDonald (Chino Hills, CA) was another 1st Team Linebacker earning accolades for the first time in his career after totaling 24 tackles (No. 33).
Scott Tinsley (Capitola, CA) is the last Bulldog to grab a spot on the All-SCIAC 1st Team after he was in the running for the SCIAC Defensive Athlete of the Year. He put up career numbers and was selected to the All-Conference team for the first time in his career after totaling 38 tackles (No. 8) with four tackles for losses (No. 8), and six interceptions (No. 1). This season he was named to the d3football.com Team of the Week for his performance against California Lutheran University and was named the SCIAC Athlete of the Week twice.
Kai Kang (Sammamish, WA) sees himself on the 2nd Team for the first time in his career after putting up career numbers receiving. He had 10 receptions (No. 22) for 173 yards (No. 17) with a long reception being for 50 yards (No. 9). He averaged 34.6 Yards Per Game and 17.3 yards per catch.
Cody Paul (Castaic, CA), after being named 1st Team All-SCIAC in 2019 sees himself on the 2nd Team here in 2021 as a tackle. He played in all six conference games not allowing a sack and helped an offensive line that protected the offensive athlete of the year (Nathan Martinez | 1,205 Passing Yards, 163 Rushing Yards, 13 Touchdowns), blocked for a 1st Team All-SCIAC rusher and contributed to 22 rushing touchdowns within conference.
Solomon Iosefa (Riverside, CA) lands on the 2nd Team for the first time in his career after playing all six games as a defensive lineman. He was a run-stopper totaling seven tackles, a sack (No. 16), and two Tackles for Losses (No. 26).
Vicente Garcia (Fontana, CA) rounds out the All-SCIAC performers earning 2nd Team All-SCIAC accolades for the first time. He accumulated 29 points within conference (No. 7), which was 3rd among kickers, added 23 extra points (No. 2), a long field goal of 40 yards (No. 3), and made two field-goals (No. 4). He also provided punting duties for the Bulldogs totaling nine punts for a 40.8 average with two landing inside the 20. On the year he was also named the SCIAC Specialist of the Week three times.