MARTY JAMES
COUNTY FOOTBALL INSIDER
It was another big week for Brock Bowers.
The 2021 Napa High graduate, a rookie tight end for the Las Vegas Raiders, was named to the AFC roster for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games, the NFL announced at nfl.com on Jan. 2.
The 2025 Pro Bowl Games are a "week-long celebration of player skills that is highlighted by a flag football game between the AFC and NFC," the website reported.
The 7-on-7 flag football game is Feb. 2 at the at the University of Central Florida's Nicholson Fieldhouse in Orlando.
It marks the third year of the Pro Bowl Games "after the NFL eliminated its full-contact all-star game and replaced it with weeklong skills competitions and a flag football game," The Associated Press reported at apnews.com.
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"It's pretty awesome," Bowers told the Las Vegas Review-Journal at reviewjournal.com on Jan. 2. "I'm honored to have the invite and be going. I couldn't be happier with the way things have gone this year, other than (the Raiders' 4-13 record)."
The Raiders Media Relations department announced Jan. 2 on X, @RAIDERS_PR, that Bowers is now the seventh rookie in #Raiders history to earn Pro Bowl honors, joining Amari Cooper (2015), Charles Woodson (1998), Tim Brown (1988), Marcus Allen (1982 ), Ray Guy (1973) and Raymond Chester (1970).
"Normally when you see a player who's consistent throughout the week, you can rely on them in the games," Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell said at raiders.com on Dec. 29. "He's very routine. I see him having breakfast around the same time every day. Just sticking to his routine and working hard to make sure his body feels right, his mind is right. We ask tight ends to do a lot. I think tight end is one of the hardest positions to play. You've got to learn a lot in the run game and the pass game. Super proud of him. I really can't say enough good things about the guy."
Bowers caught four passes for 50 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown pass and a longest reception of 21 yards, during the Raiders' 34-20 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Jan. 5.
His fifth career touchdown reception ranks him tied for the third most in a single season by a rookie in Raiders history, according to Raiders Media Relations.
Bowers ended the season with 112 receptions for 1,194 yards and five TDs.
Raiders Media Relations announced on X on Jan. 5:
* TE Brock Bowers now has 110 catches in 2024, passing Malik Nabers (109) to officially secure the NFL record for most receptions by a rookie at any position in #NFL history.
* Bowers has also become one of five tight ends of any experience level in #NFL history to record 110 receptions in a single season. Bowers is the first player in #Raiders history to accomplish the feat.
* Bowers has now passed Travis Kelce (110 in 2022) and Jason Witten (110 in 2012) for the third most receptions by a tight end of any experience level in a single season in #NFL history.
Bowers was also voted to the 2025 NFL Player's Association's "The Players' All-Pro Team," it was announced at raiders.com on Jan. 8.
"This particular All-Pro list is decided by every active NFL player casting their vote. Each player was allowed to vote for their own position group and position groups they line up against and could not vote for themselves or for their teammates," the report said.
All-Metro honors for Napa County players
Five Napa County players, including American Canyon High's Mason Harris, have been named to the San Francisco Chronicle's 2024 All-Metro team, it was announced at sfchronicle.com on Jan. 4.
Harris, the Wolves' quarterback, and Gabe Casanovas, the quarterback for St. Vincent de Paul High School-Petaluma, were named as the North Bay Regional co-Players of the Year.
"The dual threat signal-callers each led their teams to state titles and split the award for the region," the report said.
Harris did it all, combining his running with his passing to lead American Canyon (13-2 overall, 4-2 Redwood Empire-Valley League) to the 2024 CIF State Division 5-A Championship Bowl Game title. In the highest scoring game in CIF championship bowl history, the Wolves beat Palmdale, 68-47, on Dec. 14 in the state final at Long Beach City College's Veterans Stadium.
"Harris (6-1, 185) was more of a runner with 1,684 rushing yards and 25 TDs, though he added 1,229 yards and 14 scores through the air for the 13-2 Wolves. He orchestrated the team's high-powered rushing attack that piled up 523 yards and eight TDs in the highest-scoring bowl game ever, a 68-47 5-A win over Palmdale," the Chronicle said in the report.
Harris, a "major dual threat for state champs," was also named First team offense at All-Purpose on the All-Metro football team, the Chronicle reported.
Harris took to x.com to thank the Chronicle and both the Wolves' offensive line and coaching staff.
"Thank you SF Chronicle for selecting me as North Bay Player of the Year and 1st Team AllMetro. Thank you to the incredible O-Line and @ACHS_Wolves_FB coaches," Harris said, @MasonHarris2025 and x.com/MasonHarris2025, on Jan. 5.
Named as honorable mention All-Metro from the North Bay, according to sfchronicle.com, are four Napa County players:
* Andre Lopez, a running back from American Canyon.
* Webster Burks, a wide receiver from American Canyon.
* Colby Jensen, an offensive lineman/defensive lineman from Vintage.
* Phoenix Perry, an offensive lineman/defensive lineman from American Canyon.
American Canyon High head coach Trevor Hudson is among nine coaches who were honored in the report as "Coaching first team," according to sfchronicle.com.
The others are Justin Alumbaugh of De La Salle-Concord, Tee Hendrix of Oakland, Trent Herzog of St. Vincent de Paul-Petaluma, Mark Krail of Los Gatos, Keith Minor of Moreau Catholic-Hayward, Max Pond of Sonoma Valley, Charlie Ramirez of Pittsburg, and Fred Velasquez of Balboa-San Francisco.
Hudson directed American Canyon to the CIF North Coast Section Division 4 title, as the Wolves beat Redwood-Larkspur, 35-28 in the finals, and to the CIF Northern California Regional Division 5-A Championship Bowl Game title, with the Wolves beating Lassen-Susanville, 43-20.
American Canyon ended the season on a five-game winning streak.
Vintage High grad Canepa recognized in reports
Offensive lineman Louie Canepa, the 2022 Vintage High graduate who transferred to Oklahoma State after his sophomore season at New Mexico State, continues to get mentioned on various websites.
"After appearing in 27 games over three seasons -- including 14 starts -- Canepa is following his position coach, Andrew Mitchell, from New Mexico State to OSU. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound native of Napa, California, primarily played on the interior of the line this past season. He has two years of eligibility remaining," The Oklahoman reported at oklahoman.com on Jan. 6.
Canepa was named All-Conference USA by College Football Network, it was announced at nmstatesports.com on Dec. 13. He was named Honorable Mention All-CUSA by College Football Network.
Canepa's "versatility makes him a valuable player for the offensive line," according to Pokes Report at pokesreport.com on Dec. 21.
"His tape shows he is a masher at the guard position but has the feet to pass protect at offensive tackle. The communications major said he is ready to get to Stillwater in two weeks and roll up his sleeves and get to work," the report said.
"The 6-4, 320-pound combo offensive lineman played in all 12 games this past season and started four of those at right guard. In 2023, Canepa played in 14 of the 15 games for New Mexico State and started 10 of those games."
Canepa talked about his visit to Oklahoma State.
"It was amazing. I was blown away with all the facilities and how great they are and all the new people they had brought in," he said in the report.
Email Marty James at martyjames. sports@gmail.com or follow him on X at @marty_nvsports
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