Richard T. Estrada@BlackHatFootbal
Here’s the bad news: Black Hat Football’s founder Richard T. Estrada died of a massive heart attack this Sunday morning.
The good news is that Saturday night he had picked his 209 Black Hat Football Players of the Year for 2025.
Anybody who knew The Hat knew he had terrible handwriting. But thanks to the help of his friend and long-time sports writing colleague Will DeBoard (the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section’s current assistant commissioner), his messy notes were transcribed.
Estrada launched Black Hat Football in December 2012, and this is his 14th and final high school football team of the year for the 209 area code.
Most Valuable Player — Wes Burford, Oakdale
Offensive Player of the Year – Kenneth Moore III, St. Mary’s
Defensive POY –- Steven Morfoot, Sonora
Lineman of the Year – Avery Michael, Turlock
Junior of the Year - Nikko Juarez, RB, Manteca
Sophomore of the Year – Elijah Walker, QB, Chavez
QB – Eli Ingalls, Sonora
QB – Jaden Galvan, St. Mary’s
RB – Elias Haynes, Downey
RB – Brayden Camara, East Union
RB – Darnell Holmes, Stagg
RB – Cash Byington, Sonora
WR – Ivan Huerta, St. Mary’s
WR – Yuvraj Balagan, Kimball
WR – Langdon Horace, Edison
WR – Sylas Austin, Atwater
OL – Mason Dunn – St. Mary’s
OL – Broden Bush, Oakdale
OL – Daniel Mataele, Patterson
OL – Leo Morfin, Central Catholic
OL – Brodie Lundgren, St. Mary’s
K – Rigo Estrella, Sonora
Utility – Jackson Fay, East Union
DL – Maxwell Moore, Tracy
DL- Francis Taamu, Edison
DL – Nathan Mockey, Downey
DL – Jake Lucatello, St. Mary’s
DL – Xyloh Kuresa, Manteca
LB – Fallon Barquet, Lincoln
LB – Brandon Peel, Merced
LB – Donovan Muirbrook, Turlock
LB – Damarion McDonald, Chavez
LB – Mathieu Evans, Manteca
LB – Royale Tago, Patterson
LB – Desmond Sanders, Edison
LB – Case Borges, Tracy
LB – Gavin Wyatt, Oakdale
DB – Jaden Harris, Manteca
DB – Beau Kesterson, Oakdale
DB – Mason Eagal, St. Mary’s
DB – Chase Perino, Central Catholic
DB – Amos Cady, Ripon Christian
