Andre Flores had a breakout year while starring on Central Valley’s football team this fall.

The Central Valley senior receiver earned all-league honors, along with fellow Hawk standouts Cesar Pimentel, Andrue Olivas, Pahulu Anitelea and William Montez during the Western Athletic Conference’s year-end head coaches’ meeting last month in Los Banos.

“I’m proud of myself,” Flores said. “They saw what I could do when I was on the field. I’m just glad I filled my role and contributed to the team. I just wish we could have won more games.”

“When Andre was healthy, he was the guy we went to offensively,” Central Valley leader Derrick Goblirsch said. “He’s definitely a special player. He was a joy to coach all year. He worked his butt off.”

Flores was selected to the WAC Second Team.

He managed to earned conference despite missing two-plus games with a left knee injury sustained while returning a kickoff versus Johansen.

“If he would have played all 10 games, he would have had a chance to be First Team,” Goblirsch said. “It’s unfortunate he wasn’t able to finish the year.”

Flores caught 27 passes for 365 yards and four touchdowns on the season.

He ran for 69 yards and one score on 19 carries.

Flores led last-place Hawks (0-7) in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and all-purpose yards.

“I exceeded my expectations,” he said. “It was my first year playing high-school football. I wasn’t shooting for the stars. I’m just happy I was able to help my team.”

Four-plus years removed from fracturing the tibia and fibula in his right leg while playing youth football, Flores finally got to experience competing on the gridiron at the prep level.

“Coming back was a lot of fun,” he said. “I’m glad I did. It would have been cool to play my junior and sophomore years but I don’t know if I would have been ready. After the injury, I wasn’t the same. I had titanium screws and plates for about a year. It took me two-and-a-half years to recover.”

Pimentel, a junior safety, and Andrue Olivas, a senior offensive lineman, were both selected to the WAC Second Team.

Pimentel had 110 tackles, two interceptions and three pass deflections this year.

“Cesar led the league in tackles by quite a bit,” Goblirsch said. “He was the backbone of our defense. He played nearly every down. He always gave his best effort.”

A three-year starter, Olivas contributed at left guard for the first time this fall.

“He’s a guy we were able to lean on. He’s a good athlete. He’s our most vocal leader. He’s a fiery kid. He’s definitely a guy we’ll miss up front.”

Anitelea, a senior linebacker, and Montes, a junior offensive lineman, were honorable-mention selections.

Anitelea had 85 tackles, two sacks and one pass deflection during his final year with the Hawks.

“He was our leader on defense in terms of calling the plays. When he wasn’t on the field, you could definitely see the difference in our defense.”

Montes had a successful first season competing at the varsity level.

He started at left tackle.

“William is such a raw talent—big and strong. Once he learns how to use that, he’ll be a really good player for us. He has a lot of potential.”