Cordova High School football players Unique Perez and Devin Baldwin have been recognized by Sierra Valley Conference head coaches and Lancer teammates.

Perez, the Lancers’ quarterback the last two seasons, was named the SVC’s Most Valuable Player. The signal caller completed 193 passes out of 297 attempts for 3,085 yards, which is a new school record, 35 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. He finished with a combined 4,744 yards and 51 touchdowns.

“Unique was the clear choice for (the SVC’s) player of the year,” said Cordova head coach Darren Nill, who guided the Lancers to a 2-3 mark in the SVC and 5-5 overall this season. “He put it all together.”

Baldwin, a wide receiver, earned the conference’s co-Best Offensive Player with Galt running back Zach Orman. Baldwin pulled in 88 receptions for 1,760 yards and 20 touchdowns. Both Baldwin and Perez are seniors.

“Unique and Devin were two of five choices for MVP, and deservedly so,” said Nill of the duo.

On Tuesday night, Perez and Baldwin were also honored by Lancer teammates at the program’s banquet held at Mills Middle School. The duo was named the team’s co-MVPs.

Another Lancer who was named to the all-SVC’s first team offense was junior wide receiver Angel Garcia, who finished with 46 receptions for 573 yards and six TDs.

On defense, Cordova linebacker Kenny Haney, defensive back Aaron Giles and strong safety Terrill Johnson were recognized. All juniors, Johnson led the team in tackles with 100, followed by Giles at 75 and Haney 58.

Three more Lancer players were also honored on the SVC’s second team and honorable mention lists. On the second team, wide receiver Isaac Black and free safety Nate Williams, a junior, were tapped. Black had 29 receptions for 338 yards and five touchdowns. Williams had 49 tackles.

Cordova linebacker Jason Johnson rounded out the SVC selection, named to the conference’s honorable mention list. He had 68 tackles for the season.

More team awards:
Joining Perez and Baldwin in winning team awards were Giles, Defensive MVP; Williams, Most Improved; Michael Gonzalez, Lineman of the Year; and Seth Trujillo, Lancer Award.

“He (Trujillo) was the guy who held us together,” said Nill of Trujillo.

Cordova Football 2016
Out of the 10 Lancers who were named to the SVC’s first, second and honorable mention teams, eight are juniors.

That gives Nill and his coaching staff many reasons to smile when juniors and sophomores who were part of the Cordova junior varsity football team that posted an 8-2 record this season hit the weight room in January.

“They are going to be leaders,” Nill said.