LA Daily News All-Area Football Team for 2025 – Daily News

DAILY NEWS ALL-AREA FOOTBALL

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Richard Wesley, Sierra Canyon, Senior

From the first game of the season, it was evident that defensive end Richard Wesley was on a mission — to wreck any opposing offensive line he faced.

Double and even triple teams couldn’t stop Wesley this season, who used his strength, speed and agility to get to the opposing quarterback for a total of 8.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hurries. He was a tackling machine, adept at getting to running backs before they could get out of the backfield.

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Oaks Christian quarterback Trey Towns Jr. (15) is pressured by Sierra Canyon’s Richard Wesley (99) during their football game at Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

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But it’s not just about the stats for the Texas commit. His presence on the line was such a factor that it opened avenues for his teammates to dominate defensively.

Sierra Canyon totaled 106 tackles for loss and 44.5 sacks as a team. The Trailblazers secured five shutout victories on the season and allowed a combined 43 total points in 10 games in the regular season.

While loaded with talent across the board, Wesley was the catalyst for a Sierra Canyon defense that crushed its opposition.

He even scored his first and only offensive touchdown in his high school football career, taking a designed run for 23 yards to the house in the team’s season opener.

“I told one of the assistant coaches, ‘Are we ever going to run this play?’” Wesley said after the season opener against Oaks Christian. “I probably envisioned that play happening 50 times. I practiced celebrations at home. That was a surreal moment.”

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Brian Bonner, Valencia, Senior

Valencia was the cream of the crop in the Foothill League for nearly two decades, led by head coach Larry Muir. The program featured a bevy of highly-skilled players who came through.

There was a two-year lull in 2021 and 2022 where the Vikings didn’t finish atop the Foothill League. Then a sophomore running back, Brian Bonner, came along in 2023 who helped Valencia return to the top. He has been a stalwart ever since.

In his senior campaign, Bonner rushed for 1,051 yards (averaging over 100 yards per game) and 13 touchdowns. He caught 18 passes for 525 yards and five touchdowns. He had a handful of multi-touchdown games.

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Brian Bonner of Valencia runs for a touchdown against Palos Verdes during a CIF-Southern Section Division 3 playoff football game at Valencia High School in Valencia on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)

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When it came to league play, Bonner absolutely dominated, helping lead Valencia to the Foothill League crown and a CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoff berth.

The senior tailback recently signed with Washington at a school ceremony where Muir spoke about Bonner’s importance to the program.

“Brian Bonner has done an outstanding job representing Valencia High School over the last four years,” Muir said. “He’s been a great football player and an outstanding person on our campus and we wish him nothing but the best with the Washington Huskies. He’s gonna do great things at the University of Washington and continue representing Valencia High School (and) the Santa Clarita Valley in the Big Ten Conference.”

COACH OF THE YEAR

Tom Coate, Grace

The Grace football team, once a football powerhouse, had its season canceled in 2021. In disarray, the Lancers turned to Tom Coate, who helped rebuild the program from the ground up.

The next two seasons, Grace played 8-man football. Under Coate’s leadership, the Lancers returned to 11-man football, and returned to their winning ways.