Heritage's Hifo, Takitaki Named All-CIF Players of the Year

Heritage High running Limihai Hifo rushed for 2,103 yards en route to CIF Player of the Year honors.

Heritage High School swept the top awards among its six players honored and three Paloma Valley High players also were recognized on the All-CIF Southern Section Central Division football team.

Running back Limihai Hifo of Heritage was named Offensive Player of the Year. The 5-foot-11, 230-pound senior rushed for 2,103 yards and 21 touchdowns in leading the Patriots to the Central Division championship. He is headed for San Jose State on a football scholarship.

Hifo's cousin and teammate, Sione Takitaki (left), was named All-CIF Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound senior, headed for BYU on a football scholarship, led the team with 81 total tackles from his linebacker position.

Kraig Broach, who led the Patriots to a 13-1 record and the CIF title, was named Coach of the Year.

Senior Matthew Palmer represents Heritage on the defensive team. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound defensive back had 10 interceptions -- one of the top totals in the state. He is one of the most heavily recruited football players in the Southland.

Heritage defensive back Matthew Palmer had 10 interceptions this season.

Junior linebacker Christian Decker-Wieble also was named to the defensive team for the Patriots. Lineman Caleb Marquez and wide receiver Evan Rodriguez were named to the offensive team.

Paloma Valley was represented by wide receiver Michael Valencia (right) on the offensive team. The senior caught 33 passes for 586 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Wildcats, who posted a 10-2 record this season.

Lineman Kre Webb and utility player Felix Bogroff of the Wildcats were named to the defensive team.

Heritage's Hifo and Palmer also excelled in the recent Inland Empire All-Star Classic, in which Hifo was named MVP for the Riverside team.