10The high school football Division IV All-League awards were released last week, and Mineral County quarterback Tyshawn Bonner took home the league’s second most prestigious award, offensive MVP.
Bonner led a Serpent team that had one of its most impressive seasons in years despite missing out on the postseason.

The team finished 6-2 overall on the year, with its only losses coming by a combined 14 points to Virginia City and Whittell at home. The Mineral County offense posted 60-plus points in five of its six wins, including a 92-14 pounding of Smith Valley in early October.

Bonner was more than deserving of the award after accounting for 41 of his team’s touchdowns during the season and not turning the ball over once.

Another key part of the Serpents success was senior wide receiver Brady Cardenas, who earned Division IV first team honors on offense. Cardenas finished the season with over 1,300 receiving yards and reached the end zone 15 times in the final season of his high school career.

“It feels great to be recognized by your opponents for the individual honors, but I would’ve traded it in a second for a chance to reach the playoffs with our team,” Cardenas said.

Other Mineral County players that received offensive awards were running backs Tristan Reynolds and Spencer Benjamin, who were selected to the second team, while running back Paul Rodriguez earned honorable mention honors.

On the other side of the ball, Mineral County’s Reynolds was also selected to the second team defense at the linebacker position. Defensive back Wattie Balderama and lineman Benjamin took home honorable mention awards.

Whittell’s Phil Bryant won the coach of the year award in the conference and Virginia City’s Christian Lindsay Sr. was named league MVP.

The winners were voted in by the head coaches of the league after the season ended.