The Herald's All County Defensive Team

Here is a peak at the rest of the best with The Herald's All-County Defensive football team.
 Mateo Martinez, Palma: A lock down defensive back, opponents were hesitant to test Martinez, who intercepted three passes and knocked down a handful of others.
 Martinez was solid against the run when called upon. He also returned a kickoff 99 yards for six and had a 30-yard rushing touchdown in a playoff game.
 Zachary Robison, Salinas: A physical defensive back, Robison finished with 108 tackles this past fall for the Gabilan Division co-champions.
 Robison had his best efforts in Salinas' biggest games, recording 54 tackles in the final four games of the season. A starter on offense as well, the senior caught 63 passes for 815 yards.
 Zach DeZee, Carmel: A three-year starter for the Padres, the senior came up from his strong safety position to record 78 tackles this past fall for the Mission Division champions.
 A tenacious defender with uncaning instincts, DeZee broke up a handful of passes and intercepted a pair, solidifying the Padres secondary. He also scored four two-point conversions.
 Riley Anderson, North County: The junior safety put together arguably the best defensive season in school history with over 200 tackles this past fall for the Condors.
 The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Anderson averaged 13.1 tackles a game for North County. He also picked off three passes, recovered a fumble and forced five. Offensively, he had 460 yards in total offense.
 Javier Espinal-Perez, Monterey: The Toreadores revival on defense started with the linebacker, who finished among the team leaders in tackles last fall.
 Espinal-Perez was a run-stopper for Monterey, solidifying the front seven. He also had a pick six, returning an interception 45 yards.
Nathan Martorella, Salinas: Lining up on the outside, Martorella was a pass rushing demon with 13 sacks last season -- three in arguably Salinas' biggest win over Palma.
 A member of The Herald's All-County baseball team, the Cal bound slugger compiled 51 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown this season. He also recovered a fumble.
 Sam Lathos, Palma: The senior turned two interceptions into pick six's for the Chieftains last fall, anchoring a defense that posted two shutouts and held four other teams under 14 points.
 Lathos finished among the team leaders with 80 plus tackles and recorded three sacks. Finding the field on offense as well, he caught 17 passes for the Gabilan Division co-champions.
 Nick Marquez, Salinas: The senior linebacker had a breakout season for the Cowboys, leading the team in tackles with 122.
 Marquez was an assassin on defense with a nose for the football. He forced a pair of fumbles and recovered one for the two-time Gabilan Division champions.
 Tristan McCallister, Carmel: At times overshadowed by a teammates dominance, McCallister had a season to remember, finishing with 98 tackles for the Padres.
 The senior linebacker forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, recorded an interception and broke up three passes last fall. He also spent time on the offensive line.
 Joshua Gomez, Salinas: The senior had a hidden impact on the Cowboys, quietly recording seven sacks and 112 tackles as a defensive lineman.
 Overshadowed at times by his teammates, Gomez made a name for himself with his ability to find the football, igniting the Salinas defense with a motor that didn't stop.
 Sebastian Gomez, Salinas: The Gabilan Division's Defensive Player of the Year, Gomez recorded six sacks and 78 tackles for the Cowboys last fall.
 The defensive tackle was a disruptive force on the interior line for Salinas. If Gomez wasn't being double teamed, opponents were running in the opposite direction.
 Pablo Villasenor, Gonzales: The 6-foot-5, 260 pound senior lineman was a physical force for the Santa Lucia champion Spartans, recording 83 tackles, 23 for losses this past year.
 An all-leaguer in three sports last year for Gonzales, the defensive tackle also recorded six sacks and had five pass breakups. Villasenor also recovered five fumbles.
 Robert  Brown, Carmel: The Mission Division Defensive Player of the Year, the 265-pound Brown recorded a team high 118 tackles last fall -- 21 for losses.

 Despite lining up as a defensive tackle, Brown was a pass rushing demon with 14 sacks. He broke up five passes, had three fumble recoveries and forced three fumbles.
 Alex Murray, Stevenson: Chosen as a utility player, the senior lite up opponents as a strong safety, recording 78 tackles, while leading the Pirates in interceptions with six.
 The former quarterback compiled over 1,000 rushing and receiving yards, scoring eight touchdowns last fall, leading the Pirates in all three categories.
 Art Berlanga, Gonzales: In two years, Berlanga has not only resurrected the Spartans program, but took them into uncharted waters this past fall.
 Gonzales won its first league title in 16 years, captured its first playhoff game in 22 years and posted its first ever 11-0 start before falling in the CCS Division V semifinals.

Honorable mention: Matthew Morales, Palma, DB; Manuel Camberos, North Salinas, DB; Marco Pezzini, Palma, DB; Israel Corona, Alisal, DB; Kefu Leander, Seaside; DL; Jose Lomeli, Alvarez, DL; Darius Garrard, Monterey, DL; Victor Ocampo, Soledad, LB; Yungjae Chee, Carmel, LB; Alex Villasenor, King City, LB; Janias Thomas, Monterey; LB; Blake Moore, Pacific Grove, DB; Nael Vasquez, Gonzales; LB; Connor Adams, Stevenson, LB.