Nine Hancock Football Players Named All-Conference
Nine players from the Allan Hancock College football team received National Northern Conference honors from the Southern California Football Association on Wednesday. Six defensive players and three from the offensive-side of the ball received the postseason recognition.
Wide receiver Shane Henderson was a unanimous selection to the First Team Offense. The sophomore led the SCFA with 74 receptions for 1,069 receiving yards. He added 7 touchdown catches and served as the team's punter and placekicker. The Indiana-native finished his Bulldog career as the program's all-time leader in career receptions with 134, career receiving yards with 2,173 yards and 19 career touchdown catches. He also set the program's single-season record for most receptions in 2013. Henderson was also a First Team Offense selection in 2011.
Sophomores Ryan Masters and Joel Enriquez were named to the Second Team Offense. Masters, a 6-foot-3, 255 pound sophomore, earned the honor as an offensive lineman. Masters played the first three games of the season at tight end for the Bulldogs before he moved to guard after several teammates suffered injuries. Masters helped the Bulldogs average 175 yards rushing this season.
Enriquez led the team with 751 rushing yards on 124 carries with 4 touchdowns. The Santa Maria High School graduate averaged 6 yards per carry and 94 yards per game.
Santa Maria High graduate Mershad Dillon was one of three Bulldogs named to the First Team Defense. Dillon, a 6-foot-2, 285 pound defensive tackle, finished with 31 tackles, including 12.5 for lost yardage. He tallied 6 sacks, 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery.
Outside linebacker Demetrius Johnson and safety Troy Garland, both sophomores, were also named to the First Team Defense. Johnson led the Bulldogs with 100 tackles, which also ranked second in the Northern Conference. Johnson forced two fumbles, recovered one fumble and tallied 5.5 tackles for loss. Garland broke up four passes, returned an interception for a 58 yard touchdown, as well as registered 25 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Defensive tackle Aaron Pringle, safety Darryl Smith and Lompoc High graduate William Iribarren earned spots on the Second Team Defense. Pringle, a 290 pound freshman, recorded 5.5 tackles for loss and 29 tackles. He also blocked two kicks and broke up two passes. Smith ranked second on the team with 70 total tackles and four forced fumbles. The 6-foot, 210 pound sophomore also broke up two passes.
Iribarren recorded 59 tackles in nine games as a freshman. He forced two fumbles and intercepted two passes. He also broke up three passes.
The Bulldogs completed the season on a high note with a 34-29 upset over Canyons, the conference champion and 8th-ranked team in California. Hancock finished the season 3-7 overall and 2-4 in conference.