Bonita’s Noah Mikhail was one of the top linebackers in the country this season and also contributed at running back and wide receiver for the Sierra League champion Bearcats. He has been chosen as SGV Varsity’s player of the year, an honor that goes to the overall MVP for the area covered by the Southern California News Group’s three local papers — San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News and Whittier Daily News.

Mikhail was one of five finalists for the Butkus Award that goes to the nation’s top high school linebacker. He was the Sierra League’s athlete of the year and signed to play football at Texas A&M. Mikhail is a four-star linebacker who ESPN ranked as the No. 4 recruit in California for the Class of 2025. He is the most heralded San Gabriel Valley recruit in the last decade.

Mikhail was the most influential player on arguably the top team in the San Gabriel Valley. Bonita was a perfect 11-0 with him on the field. That included a victory over Angelus League champion Cathedral in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs. An injury forced Mikhail to miss the Bearcats’ loss in the quarterfinals to Edison, which went on to win the Division 3 title and a state championship.

Mikhail was among the area leaders with 103 tackles, six sacks and two forced fumbles. On offense he rushed for 184 yards and five touchdowns and had 17 receptions for 264 yards and two touchdowns.

Mikhail was the San Gabriel Valley’s defensive player of the year as a sophomore and has been a San Gabriel Valley first-team selection four straight years.

Here are the Regional Players of the Year:

PASADENA STAR-NEWS

Noah Penunuri, Rio Hondo Prep, Junior: The running back is the first Kares player to be named the Pasadena Star-News player of the year. Penunuri had his some of best games in the playoffs and championship games.

Penunuri rushed for 1,965 yards and 31 touchdowns overall. He ran for 203 yards and three touchdowns in the victory over Warren in the CIF-SS Division 7 final. Penunuri was chosen as the Division 7 player of the year.

In the regional championship game, Penunuri rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Poway. He capped his season with 232 yards rushing and five touchdowns in an overtime loss to Vanden in the state finals.

WHITTIER DAILY NEWS

Kaimana Tufaga, La Serna, Senior: Two-way standout Tufaga was the Del Rio League most valuable player. He has signed with San Diego State. In what was supposed to be a rebuilding season for the Lancers, Tufaga led them to another Del Rio League title and the CIF-SS Division 5 semifinals.

Tufaga was the Lancers’ leading receiver with 43 receptions for 693 yards, seven touchdowns and also ran for two scores. As a defensive back he was second on the team in tackles with 99 and was among the area leaders with four interceptions.

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE

Noah Mikhail, Bonita, Senior: Mikhail is the SGV Varsity player of the year and Tribune player of the year.

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

Isaiah Arriaza, Damien, Junior: For the second straight season, Arriaza is sharing the area’s offensive player of the year honors.

Arriaza led the Spartans to the their first Baseline League title in more than a decade and to the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs. He was chosen as the league’s offensive player of the year after setting school single-season records for passing yards and passing touchdowns.

Arriaza completed 60% of his passes to finish with 3,090 yards with 28 touchdowns. He also ran for four scores. He threw for over 200 yards nine times and had three 300-yard plus games. To clinch the Baseline League title, Arriaza threw for 262 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-31 victory over Rancho Cucamonga.

Corin Berry, Charter Oak, Junior: The quarterback was named the Sierra League offensive player of the year. He led one of the area’s top teams to the CIF-SS Division 4 playoffs and an 8-3 record.

Berry, who is committed to Boston College, was among the area’s passing leaders. He completed 198 of 307 passes for 3,034 yards and 33 touchdowns. He also rushed for 284 yards and four scores.

He threw for 287 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-21 victory over Chino Hills and the following week he threw five touchdown passes in a 38-21 win over Muir. Berry threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-14 victory over Glendora late in the season.

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

Austin Coronado, Glendora, Senior: A defensive end and linebacker, Coronado earned Sierra League defensive player of the year honors. He was among the CIF-SS leaders in sacks with 15 1/2.

He was also among team leaders with 101 tackles and had an interception.

On offense, he rushed for 517 yards and 13 touchdowns.

His two-way efforts helped the Tartans defeat Dana Hills 25-21 in the CIF-SS Division 6 semifinals.

Cole Cogshell, Muir, Senior: Cogshell had an amazing three-year run. He won a CIF-SS title his sophomore year at Muir and earned a scholarship to UCLA. The defensive end/linebacker will go down as one of the best defensive players in Mustangs history.

The Pacific League player of the year was among the area leaders with nine sacks, two fumble recoveries and finished with 83 tackles. The Mustangs won their second straight league title and reached the CIF-SS Division 6 quarterfinals. Cogshell also rushed for five touchdowns.

The Mustangs’ season ended with a 28-27 loss to St. Francis in the playoffs.