Brief: Valley Football players named to SportsNetUSA all-conference team

Broadcaster Noah Alvarez selected four Monarchs among American Pacific League’s best.

David Francis Jr. (57), one of four players to be honored by SportsNetUSA, interlocks helmets with Michael Crowder (55) after Francis successfully stops Brahma running back Dennis Jones from advancing the ball down the field on Saturday. (Stephen Castaneda/The Valley Star)

Ending the season on a high note, Saturday also delivered Monarchs’ football some celebratory news.

During the broadcast of Valley College’s 58-9 win over Pierce College, SportsNetUSA, the online network covering Southern California Football Association (SCFA) action, named four Monarchs to its American Pacific League's all-conference team. Broadcaster Noah Alvarez delivered his selections throughout the final two quarters of Saturday night’s contest. Alvarez’s selections included sophomore wide receiver Dupree Fuller Jr., freshman edge defender David Francis Jr., freshman linebacker PJ Trusty and freshman defensive back Shawn Wilson.

Valley athletes stuffed the stat book during coach Lester Towns’ second season with the program. Up to this week, Fuller Jr. led the conference in receptions, Francis Jr. led the conference in sacks and Wilson led the conference in interceptions.

The four players arrived from local high schools; Francis Jr., in particular, played at Grant High School, which borders Valley’s campus.

The selections made by SportsNetUSA are preliminary to the choices made by the SCFA within the next few months, which are viewed as official by both the school and Valley athletics. While some could consider this honor as just words, Trusty is excited by the notion.

“It’s really an honor to be considered among the top [of the conference],” said the business management major. “I work hard, and so do those guys, so for us to get that recognition is great.”

— Matthew Royer