Knights place Eleven Players on All-Metro Teams

The Sacramento Bee prep sports writers published their All-Metro teams for the 2019 season today. The Rio Linda Knights placed seven players on the first and second teams and another four received Honorable Mention honors.

First Team Offense

RB Cameron Skattebo, Senior
What can be said about Skattebo that hasn’t already been published? Last year’s SacBee All-Metro Offensive Player of the Year and All-League MVP had big plans for 2019. Those plans didn’t materialize, but the 2019 season can hardly be called a disappointment. Skattebo finished up the season with 1,650 rushing yards, just 68 yards behind the league-leading Hans Grassmann of Placer (who also placed on the All-Metro team) with one less game played. Skattebo outclassed the FVL running back field in nearly every other statistic, leading the league in yards per game, yards per carry AND passing yardage. Cameron has committed to Sacramento State for 2020.

AP Abraham Banks, Senior
A career year for the natural receiver and defensive back, Abraham Banks was pressed into service as the Knight’s starting quarterback in 2019. Banks was such a deadly kick return threat that teams completely stopped kicking to him halfway through the season. He led the league in kickoff return yardage with 380 yards on only 8 opportunities. He was so dangerous with the ball in his hands that he finished the season as the 3rd leading rusher in the FVL, behind only Grassmann and Skattebo. Banks gathered up 1467 rushing yards in 2019, averaging 122 yards per game and 10 yards per carry, outscoring Skattebo by three touchdowns. Banks had 972 yards passing (in a running offense!) and went 46 for 86 with 9 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

Second Team Offense

WR Kyle Deloney-Spencer, Senior
Kyle Deloney-Spencer spent time at Wide Receiver, Free Safety, and Quarterback this year, but the fragmentation of his playing time didn’t prevent him from outperforming most of the league’s receivers. Kyle finished the season as the league’s third leading receiver, with 605 yards total, and averaging 50 yards per game. Among players with more than 20 receptions, Kyle led the league averaging 23 yards per catch.

Second Team Defense

DL Cody Thompson, Senior
Thompson flew under the radar but gave outstanding performances in just 11 games played. 70 total tackles on the year, with 10 tackles for a loss, and 4 sacks.

DB Lashawn Collins, Senior
Collins ended the season with 4 interceptions for 66 yards, 3rd in the league. He also had 41 solo tackles.

AP Thomas Froberg, Junior
In just 10 games played, Froberg had 116 total tackles, with 10 tackles for a loss. Most notably, he had 3 tackles for a loss versus the behemoth Placer offensive line league-leading running backs. Thomas also blocked two punts and had three sacks. Best of all, Thomas is a junior and will return to lead the Knights defense in 2020.

AP Ben Pau, Senior
The soul of the Knight’s State Champion defense in 2018, Ben quietly goes about his business menacing the running backs who slip past the defensive line and receivers who dare run short crossing routes. Ben was second in the league with 146 total tackles, including 81 solo efforts. He had 7 tackles for a loss with one sack and one interception.