Hancock Football Collects League Honors; Chance Named Offensive Player of the Year, Dutra Earns Coach of the Year
Head Coach Kris Dutra and 16 student-athletes on the American Pacific League champion Allan Hancock College football team earned recognition from opposing coaches. The Bulldogs went unbeaten in league play at 5-0 to win the program's first outright conference title since 1997. Hancock hosted the American Championship Bowl and lost to Southwestern 35-14 to finish the season at 8-3 overall.
Dutra received the league's Coach of the Year award. In 17 seasons at Hancock, Dutra has guided the Bulldogs to eight bowl game appearances. He is tied with his mentor, Barney Eames, for most career wins in program history with 100 victories.
Sophomore Dominic Chance received the league's Offensive Player of the Year award. The Atascadero High School graduate played linebacker last season for Hancock and successfully transitioned to tight end this year. He finished with 10 catches for 168 yards and four touchdowns. He scored a 31-yard touchdown to seal Hancock's 21-7 victory at Antelope Valley to clinch the league title. He also caught a five-yard touchdown reception in the bowl game.
"Dominic's physicality had a major impact on the conference and our success. He is very strong, versatile and intelligent," said Kris Dutra, who completed his 17th season as head coach of the Bulldogs. "Our running game was a big reason why we won the league title, and we ran the ball behind him nearly every play."
Chance became the first Hancock player to win conference player of the year since Cameron Artis-Payne in 2012.
Six Bulldogs were named to all-conference first teams. Defensive end Osa Omokaro, linebacker Basiru Jobe and defensive back Lenny Roundtree, Jr., all sophomores, were named to the First Team Defense. Omokaro led the state this season with 13 sacks, 29.5 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles. He recorded 60 total tackles. Omokaro, an all-conference first team and all-California selection last year, finished his Hancock career with 98 tackles, 23 sacks and 44.5 tackles for loss. Jobe led the conference and ranked third in the state with 107 total tackles this season. The linebacker finished with 6.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. The transfer from Nassau Community College set a Hancock record for most tackles in a game with 20 stops against Santa Ana. Roundtree anchored the Hancock secondary and finished with 28 tackles, three interceptions and 11 pass breakups. He ended his Hancock career with seven interceptions and 19 breakups.
Sophomore offensive lineman Lesone Smith, freshman center Jacob Rothanzl and tailback Ryheem Skinner were named to the First Team Offense. Skinner led the Hancock running game with 749 yards rushing and seven touchdowns. He averaged 5.7 yards per carry and 83.2 yards per game. The freshman from North Carolina rushed for a season-high 145 yards in victories against L.A. Valley and L.A. Pierce. He scored three touchdowns against Pierce, a feat not accomplished by a Hancock running back in five seasons. He also set a Hancock record for longest rushing touchdown with a 90-yard score against L.A. Valley. Smith, a two-time all-conference first team pick, as well as Rothanzl, a Righetti High School graduate, anchored the Bulldogs' offensive line. The two helped Hancock average 236.7 rushing yards and 367 total yards per game.
Nine Bulldogs were named to all-conference second teams, including six on offense and three to defense. Sophomore offensive linemen Kobi Smith-Parrot and Jamil Viaud earned spots on the Second Team Offense for helping Hancock rank fifth in the state in rushing yards per game. Viaud was a first team pick in 2016. Joining them on the second team offense quarterback Jimmy Kelleher, wide receiver Nick Kimball, tailback Isaac Bausley and kicker Jordan Pollard. Kelleher threw for 1,392 passing yards, completed 49 percent of his passes and threw 11 touchdowns. The sophomore also scored four rushing touchdowns. Kimball led the Bulldogs with 29 receptions for 365 yards and one touchdown. The sophomore also rushed for 32 yards and one touchdown. A two-time all-conference pick, the Nipomo High School graduate ended his Hancock career with 54 receptions for 732 yards and five touchdown catches. Bausley, a freshman, rushed for 488 yards and five touchdowns. The Nipomo High School graduate averaged 5.3 yards per game. He scored two touchdowns and ran for 124 yards in Hancock's league-opening 31-3 win at Santa Barbara City College.Pollard ranked seventh in the state with 11 field goals. The Righetti High School graduate converted 61 percent of his attempts and accounted for 62 total points this season. He was a two-time American Pacific League's Special Teams Player of the Week winner.
Safety Ben Willkomm, defensive lineman Connor Epley and kick returner Markese Jackson were named to the Second Team Defense. Willkomm, a sophomore, ranked third on the Bulldogs with 59 total tackles. The Arroyo Grande High School graduate forced one fumble and picked off one pass. Willkomm made a career-high 15 total tackles against LA Pierce. Epley recorded 46 total tackles, five sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, forced a fumble and recovered two fumbles his sophomore season to earn his second-straight all-league honor. The Santa Ynez High School graduate applied constant pressure on opposing offenses, helping Hancock's defense rank second in the state with 46 sacks and fifth by allowing just 78.9 rushing yards per game. Jackson averaged 25.3 yards per kickoff return for the Bulldogs. He became the first Hancock player to return a kickoff for a touchdown in six years when he sprinted for a 91-yard touchdown against L.A. Pierce.
In the coming weeks, the California Community College Football Coaches Association will announce its All-America and All-California teams.