November 22, 2016

Eleven Hancock Football Players Named All-Conference, Including Six First Team Picks

Eleven Allan Hancock College football players have scored All-Conference honors from coaches in the Pacific Division. Eight of the Bulldogs are freshmen, six of the 11 are first team selections, and five are Central Coast natives.

Defensive lineman Anthony Miller, defensive end Osa Omakaro and safety Thomas Leggett were named to the First Team Defense. Wide receiver Chris Barganier, and offensive linemen Lesone Smith and Jamil Viaud earned spots on the First Team Offense. Linebacker Easton Coy and defensive end Connor Epley were named to the Second Team Defense. Tailback Jajuan Lankford, wide receiver Nick Kimball and running back/receiver Alex Cecchi earned spots on the Second Team Offense.

Defensively, Omokaro led the league with 10 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. The freshman from New Jersey recorded eight tackles and 4.5 sacks in Hancock's 16-6 win at San Bernardino Valley.

Miller, freshman lineman from Florida, was credited with 3.5 sacks and 35 tackles. He also forced and recovered one fumble for the Bulldogs.

Leggett, a freshman from Florida, led the Bulldogs with 50 tackles, and he ranked second with four pass breakups and two interceptions.

Coy, a Templeton High School graduate, earned an increased in playing time throughout the season. The sophomore finished tied for second on the team with 41 total tackles, including a career-high nine in the season finale at Citrus.

Epley, a freshman defensive end, provided consistent pressure on the quarterback for the Bulldogs. The Santa Ynez High School graduate tallied 37 tackles, including 3.5 sacks, and 9.5 tackles for loss. Epley forced one fumble and intercepted one pass.

The trio of Omokaro, Miller and Epley helped the Hancock defense shut down opponents' ground games all season. The Bulldogs allowed just 64 rushing yards per game, which was the top defense against the run among California's 69 community college football teams. They set a program record in the team's 60-0 win over L.A. Pierce by allowing only 23 rushing yards.

On the offensive side of the ball, Barganier led the Bulldogs with 35 receptions for 511 yards and six touchdown catches. The St. Joseph High School graduate caught at least one pass in every game. He enjoyed a streak of five straight games with a touchdown reception.

Lankford led Hancock with 710 rushing yards on 143 carries and nine touchdowns. He averaged 4.97 yards per carry, and ran for a career-high 171 yards and a touchdown in the team's 38-17 win over Antelope Valley College.

Cecchi received praise from coaches as an all-purpose player. The Arroyo Grande High School graduate led the team with 955 all-purpose yards, including 302 rushing yards, which ranked third on the team; 284 receiving yards, third-best on the team; a team-high 116 punt return yards; and 253 yards on kickoff returns. Cecchi caught a career-high seven passes against Santa Ana. During his first game in the regular rotation at running back, he rushed for 133 yards on just 14 carries and scored three touchdowns against L.A. Pierce.

Kimball ranked second on Hancock with 367 receiving yards on 25 receptions, including four touchdowns. Among the Nipomo High School graduate's season highlights were five catches against LA. Valley, a 50-yard touchdown against East Los Angeles, and a 42-yard touchdown grab against L.A. Pierce.

Viaud and Smith were recognized for helping anchor the offensive line in the trenches all season. Viaud, a freshman from New York, and Smith, a freshman from Louisiana, created holes for the Hancock ground game and priceless seconds for quarterback Matt Albright. The Bulldogs ranked fourth in the state by averaging 229.1 yards rushing per game.

The Bulldogs ended the season on a three-game winning streak to finish 5-5 overall and 3-2 in Pacific League play under head coach Kris Dutra.