Fortuna’s Jesus Herrera named H-DNL MVP in boys soccer

By barstoolfanatics on November 23, 2024 • ( Leave a comment )

Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Jesus Herrera (10) has been named MVP of the H-DNL.

By Ray Hamill — After playing a key role in leading the Fortuna Huskies back to the summit of H-DNL boys soccer, senior striker Jesus Herrera has been named league MVP for 2024.

And, according to his head coach Daniel Holmes, the award was well deserved for a player who earned the respect of his teammates and opponents both on and off the field.

“I took him as a freshman and I saw his potential even when he was young,” the longtime Fortuna head coach said. “And I think this year he definitely found his rhythm.”

Herrera was one of 11 Fortuna players to receive all-league recognition and one of five to be named to the all-league team, which was announced earlier this week.

The Huskies had to battle all the way to the final day of the regular season to clinch the title and they came into the final game as one of three teams still in contention.

But a 2-0 win at Arcata in their league finale secured the championship outright for the Huskies.

And Herrera, a senior team captain, played a bigger role than anyone in that championship run.

“He scored some huge goals for us,” Holmes said. “He scored whenever we needed it. He was a leader and he was our team captain, and he really grew into a solid striker for us.”

Herrera netted two particularly key goals in both league games against Del Norte.

But that wasn’t all be brought to the table in his final campaign with the program.

“He’s a great kid in and out of the classroom,” said Holmes, who also teaches Herrera at Fortuna High. “He’s grounded and he’s a solid young man.

“The kids looked up to him, and that’s why we made him captain.”

Herrera will likely take his talents to the college fields after graduation next year and is considering his options.

“He wants to play at the next level,” Holmes added. “And he realizes he has to work to continue to play at the next level.”

Joining Herrera on this year’s all-league team from the champions are Owen Wallace, Hector Diaz, Kaden Lodes and Payson Johnston, all of whom played key roles in the team’s big season.

Both Del Norte and Arcata pushed the league champs all the way to the final day of league play and both schools were also well represented on the all-league team.

The Warriors placed second and had three all-league selections, Brandt Pennington, Saxon Taylor and Lyon Rigden.

The Tigers would finish third in league play and had a pair of all-league selections, Izaiah Grosveld and Daniel Hernandez.

Eureka’s Makai Dennon also was named to the all-league team, along with South Fork’s Erick Villarreal and St. Bernard’s Billie Lee.

Officially there were no McKinleyville players named to the all-league team or listed as honorable mention due to some miscommunication between the school and the league.

However, the Panthers would have been in line for two all-league selections, and according to head coach Ryne Deppe the two players that would have been included are standouts Rylee Collart and Gaelen Creighton, each of whom enjoyed tremendous seasons and helped lead their team to the North Coast Section semifinals, which is further than any Mack team has ever gone before and further than any other H-DNL team went this season.

Goalkeeper Nick Maher also played a key role in the Panthers’ success this fall and likely would have been named the league MVP goalkeeper.

Maher, according to Deppe, was the best goalkeeper in the H-DNL this season and few people would have disagreed with that assessment.

Andy Garcia also would have received an honorable mention for the Panthers.