Here’s a look at who turned out to be the top high school football players in the county this season. The Monterey Herald’s All-County team, offense.

Ty Arnold, Carmel, WR >> An unsung hero for the Padres, Arnold quietly caught a school record 88 passes for 1,325 yards and 14 touchdowns this past season for the State Division 5AA champions. The senior was a sure-handed receiver who grabbed balls in traffic, absorbed shots, while picking up yards after the catch. He also had seven interceptions on defense.

Kavon Collins, Monterey, WR >> Last year’s co-Offensive Player of the Year, Collins was met with double coverage most of the season. The senior still ended up with 52 catches for 841 yards and nine touchdowns for the Toreadores, while evolving into one of the better blocking receivers in the county. Collins, who has an offer on the table from Northern Arizona, also returned kickoffs and played defense. He led Monterey to a State Division IV basketball title last year.

Simeon Brown, Carmel, WR >> He will be remembered forever for the tackle at the 1-yard line as time expired on a 2-point conversation attempt in the Padres’ 42-41 win over Acalanes in the Northern California Division 5AA title game. But Brown put together one of the best receiving seasons in the county with 62 catches for 1,051 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also had seven interceptions on defense. A three-sport athlete, Brown was a member of The Herald’s All-County basketball team last winter.

Emarrcis Turner, Salinas, WR >> A difference maker with the ball in his hands, Turner caught a Gabilan Division-best 68 passes for nearly 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns. The 6-foot-1 Turner changed the dynamics of Salinas’ attack with what he did after the catch, with five of his touchdowns being 30 yards or longer. He also rushed for a touchdown and returned a fumble for a touchdown.

Hudson Rutherford, Carmel, QB >> One of a handful of repeaters on the all-county team, Rutherford threw for over 3,898 yards and 42 touchdowns. Rutherford’s accuracy was impeccable, completing nearly 70 percent of his passes, a number that rose to 75 percent in the playoffs. The senior multi-sport athlete finished with just six interceptions in more than 300 attempts.

Enobong Wirth, Monterey, RB >> A repeater on the all-county team, Wirth went over 100 yards on the ground six times, chalking up three 200-plus rushing efforts. The senior finished with 1,548 rushing yards on 221 carries, producing a team-high 14 touchdowns, averaging 7.1 yards each time he touched the ball.

Roman Garcia, Alvarez, RB >> The junior became the Eagles No. 2 single-season rushing leader after piling up 1,420 yards and eight touchdowns in 10 games. Garcia provided Alvarez with another option as a receiver out of the backfield, with 18 catches for 272 yards and two touchdowns, and completed three of four passes for a touchdown.

Eli Dukes, Palma, RB >> The sophomore became just the third player in county history to go over 2,000 yards, averaging 8.1 yards each time he touched the ball. Dukes rushed for a career-high 271 yards against Aptos, finishing the season with 17 rushing touchdowns for the CCS Division II finalists. He also caught 11 passes for 182 yards.

Ashton Rees, Carmel, RB >>Asked to become a full-time tailback this season meant Rees would sacrifice his role as a receiver and become a part-time safety. Embracing the role, Rees rushed 1,648 yards, capping it with a 208-yard effort in the state title game. He also produced a school-record 36 touchdowns either through the air, on the ground or on special teams, finishing with 18 catches. Defensively, he remained among the top safeties in the area, finishing among the Padres’ team leaders in tackles during the regular season. On special teams, Rees ran back two kickoffs and returned a punt for a touchdown.

Gabriel Garduno, Salinas, OL >>A Gabilan Division first-team selection, Garduno pounded opponents in his path with a nastiness on game days. Garduno opened holes for the ground game, while pancaking opponents in passing situations, often getting downfield to lay a second block for the Cowboys.

Job Barroso, Palma, OL >> Asked to not only play on both sides of the ball but to be a leader, the senior chose the path of leading by example for the CCS Division II finalists. Barroso anchored a youthful offensive line, pulling on runs, or creating holes for the inside running game. The senior also kept his quarterback upright as a pass blocker.

Elijah Fisher, Monterey, OL >> The heartbeat of the offensive line, the 265-pound center called all the line signals this past season for the playoff-bound Toreadores. Fisher, who doubles as a defensive tackle on defense, pulled on power and counter runs for the Toreadores, while helping his guards in pass protection, earning his share of pancake blocks.

Jackson Lloyd, Carmel, OL >> The Mission Division South Most Valuable Player, the 6-foot-7, 290-pound Loyd changed how defenses game planned for Carmel. Already enrolled at the University of Alabama, Lloyd punished opponents on runs, often pushing them 5 yards upfield. He did not allow a sack all season in protecting the quarterback’s blindside. He was also a demon on defense.

Hector Pantoja, North County, OL >> Calling all the line signals for North County, the 255-pound Pantoja went from an all-league guard in 2023 to a unanimous all-league center this past fall. Pantoja decided who pulled, identifying blitzers. Part of his identity was pancaking opponents, getting under an opponent’s shoulder pads and driving them to the ground in finishing a block.

Gideon Llantero, Pacific Grove, Utility >> Leading the team in rushing for the second straight year, Llantero piled up nearly 900 yards, while scoring a team-high 11 touchdowns. Llantero also caught 21 passes for 338 yards and four touchdowns. The senior spent time on the defensive side as a pass rusher, recording five sacks, an interception, while recording 4.3 tackles a game. The senior also returned kickoffs.

Honorable mention >> Rico Maturino, Salinas; Dayven Marquez, Salinas; Brady Ballesteros, Salinas; Preston White, Monterey; Abel Bailon, Alvarez; Abel Munoz, Alvarez, AJ Gomez, North County; Kenji Mellin, North County; Chris Rasmussen, North County; Xavier Jimenez, North County; Caleb Gabriel, Alisal; Josiah Escort, Seaside; Carson Tidwell, King City; Jagger Funk, King City; Garret Kuska, Pacific Grove; Isaac Sanchez, Pacific Grove; Brody Edmonds, Pacific Grove; Brooklyn Ashe, Carmel; Julio Camacho, Soledad; Fin Mink, Stevenson; Caden Olson, Stevenson; Ely Cisneros, Gonzales; Ray Blanco, Gonzales; Tony Garcia, Gonzales; Donovan Maben, Marina; Dylan Reynoso, North Salinas, Robert Lopez, North Salinas; Izaiah Gonzalez, North Salinas; Eric McKay, Palma; Lucas Milburn, Palma.