Only one player in the past two decades, current Denver Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams, has won Mr. Football State Player of the Year honors after winning state junior player of the year honors the season before. Read below for some of the reasons the state's best underclass players over the last twenty years haven't been able to avoid the Cal-Hi Sports Junior Jinx. Can last year's winner, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame quarterback Ryan Kasdorf, buck the trend?

By Ronnie Flores, Senior Editor

Note: CalHiSports.com will kick off its preseason football coverage for the 2009 season beginning on July 6. We'll first review the past quarter century of prep football in the Golden State with a detailed look at each season dating back to 1985. We'll then move on to our team previews -- coaches can email ronnie@studentsports.com or call (800) 660-1334 Ext. 4414 for details on how to get your team included -- release our various preseason all-section teams and finally our preseason state rankings for 2009. It's the kind of prep football coverage you just can't kind anywhere else of the Internet.

Following the 2007 season, quarterback Matt Barkley from Mater Dei High School of Santa Ana was not only named the Gatorade National Player of the Year, he was also named the Gatorade National Male Athlete of the Year. He was the first non-senior ever to win either prestigious award.

While the media attention bestowed on Barkley following a junior campaign that saw him throw for 3,560 yards and 35 touchdowns in only 11 games was a bit over the top, he definitely deserved state junior player of the year honors from CalHiSports.com. But, if you follow California prep football as close as we do, it would have been hard to make an argument he was the best player in the state two seasons ago. Perhaps if the Monarchs had won the CIF Southern Section Pac-Five title, he could have been the choice. Still it would be hard to convince a die-hard California football fan or a prep sportswriter that Barkley was more important to his team that season anymore than Corona Centennial's Ryan Bass, Napa's John Boyett or eventual Mr. Football Milton Knox of Van Nuys Birmingham.

Going into Barkley's senior season in 2008, Mater Dei had to replace a talented group of receivers and its offensive line wasn't nearly as strong. Despite Barkley's obvious talents, he struggled throwing the ball to his new crop of receivers, partly because he had less time to throw and partly because he pressed to make the spectacular happen on many of his passes. The result was a 23-touchdown, 18-interception campaign that again came to an end in the CIFSS Pac-Five quarterfinals. Barkley was not chosen for the all-state team and wasn't an all-Orange County selection, either.

Barkley, for various reasons, was the latest victim of the Cal-Hi Sports Junior Jinx. Since 1999, every player named state junior player of the year has not been selected Mr. Football the next year. In fact, only one player in the last 20 seasons has won he coveted award and we think that particular player, De La Salle of Concord running back-linebacker D.J. Williams, is the best all-around player in the state since the dawn of the Internet. In fact, Williams was class player of the year in each of his three seasons at De La Salle between 1997 and 1999. Even as an underclassman, Williams showed signs of becoming what he is today: a starting linebacker for the NFL's Denver Broncos.(Read full post)

This isn't an announcement of finalists and there's still plenty of games left to play, but here's who looks strong right now.

By Mark Tennis & Ronnie Flores

(Listed in alphabetical order;Includes results from Friday night, Oct. 31; The CalHiSports.com Mr. Football Player of the Year honor has selections that date back to 1890, thanks to research by our founder, the late Nelson Tennis.)

Matt Barkley (Mater Dei, Santa Ana)
The state junior player of the year and Gatorade national choice in 2007, Barkley doesn't have as much offensive talent and a weaker line protecting him and it shows in the amount of interceptions he's thrown (11 so far). Don't look now, but Mater Dei is currently in first place in the tough Trinity League and Barkley is still a viable candidate. He sometimes tries to do too much, which leads to poor throws, but Barkley can still put up points on any defense when he's on. On Friday, he passed for 228 yards and two touchdowns in a 57-28 victory over Santa Margarita. For the season, he now has passed for 2,149 yards and 20 TDs and for his career has gone over the 8,700-yard mark (8,712).

Vontaze Burfict (Centennial, Corona)
One of nation's top linebackers, some say he's the best but Centennial's offense is so good it could hurt Burfict's chances. His team has played some quality competition, but they're usually so far ahead that Burfict hasn't had that signature game or play to get people talking about how great a high school player he is. We know how great of a college prospect he is, but the last true defensive player to win our Mr. Football award was DT Travis Kirschke of Anaheim Esperanza in 1992 and he did have that signature game in the Southern Section playoffs when the Aztecs shut down 2,000-yard rusher and electrifying talent Saladin McCullough of Pasadena Muir to the tune of -1 yard.

Tyler Gaffney (Cathedral Catholic, San Diego)
He could actually be a leading contender for this honor right now. He's 6-1, 215 pounds and deciding between Stanford, Notre Dame and USC to be a running back. He has led Cathedral Catholic to an 8-0 record and there's a good chance the Dons will finish unbeaten partly because they are in a playoff division in which they won't play Oceanside. After running for 210 yards on just 12 carries on Friday night in an easy 62-6 win over Patrick Henry of San Diego, Gaffney already has 1,507 yards rushing plus 20 catches for 275 more yards and he has scored 30 touchdowns. Gaffney could be in line for final totals of 2,500 yards rushing and 45 TDs.

Jamie Jensen (Gilroy)
The 6-3, 215-pound senior broke through last year with more than 4,000 yards passing for a squad that played in the CIF Central Coast Section Open Division final. Jensen's totals so far this year have been down from last year, but on Friday night he had a huge game to lead the Mustangs past Palma of Salinas, 34-28. It was a game the locals in Monterey County had been waiting for all season and in it Jensen shined by completing 28 of 38 passes for 415 yards and three TDs. He pushed his season totals to 2,203 yards and 23 TDs and Gilroy improved to 8-0. The Mustangs aren't considered a favorite for the CCS open crown with the likes of Oak Grove (defending champ) and others, but if they do win it and Jensen is the one leading the way, then he'll be a major contender for the highest postseason honors. An unbeaten Gilroy team on the board at the CIF state bowl game selection meeting also might be enough to get Jensen a final game at the Home Depot Center.

Malcolm Jones (Oaks Christian, Westlake Village)
He was the state sophomore and freshman player of the year and is in good shape to be state junior of the year this season. A few things are going to have to go his way, however, in order for him to win the state's most prestigious individual honor. Oaks Christian doesn't play the toughest of schedules and Jones rarely plays in the second half of games. Another factor that hurts him is a junior hasn't won Mr. Football honors since 1967, when Calvin Jones of San Francisco Balboa took home top honors before moving on to UCLA. On Halloween, Jones scored five first half touchdowns as the Lions routed Oak Park of Agoura Hills, 54-0. For the season Jones how has 19 TDs  and is averaging over 10 yards per carry (1,096 yards/109 carries). This upcoming week his candidacy could take a huge step when Oaks Christian takes on Santa Clara of Oxnard in a regionally televised game where he'll be matched up against Cierre Wood, a Notre Dame recruit that also could catapult himself into the Mr. Football conversation with a big game.

Ryan Kasdorf (Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks)
No player has emerged more since the beginning of the season than this junior signal-caller. Veteran coach Kevin Rooney has always executed a run-first offense but he's smartly adjusted to take a advantage of his personnel on hand. His candidacy got a major boost on Friday night in a showdown against Serra League rival Crespi of Encino as he completed 22 0f 28 passes for 325 yards and four touchdowns in a 37-17 victory over the Celts. Both teams are CIFSS Pac-Five title contenders, but Notre Dame is now 8-0 and Kasdorf has already passed for 2,406 yards and tied the school record of 26 touchdowns. The yardage mark broke the school record of Elite 11 QB Dayne Crist, now at the University of Notre Dame and Kasdorf will probably play in at least four more games, depending on how well the Golden Knights perform in the postseason.

Cameron Loeffler (Exeter)
You have to put Loeffler into the mix just from a statistical standpoint alone. On Friday night, he tallied five more touchdowns in a 42-14 win by Exeter over Coalinga and upped his reported state-leading total to 34 for the season. Loeffler also is among the state leaders in rushing with 1,947 yards, including the 202 he had against the Horned Toads. A 6-1, 195-pounder, Loeffler also plays linebacker on defense. He had an interception vs. Coalinga and tends to make plays on both sides of the ball.

Keith Price (St. John Bosco, Bellflower)
He might just be the most electrifying talent of this group and there is no doubt his team needs him to perform at a high-level each game in order to compete against the teams they face on a weekly basis. Against tough competition he has passed for 1,856 yards and 21 TDs, including 290 yards and three touchdowns on Halloween in a 33-6 victory over JSerra of San Juan Capistrano. Like Reggie Jackson when he hit a home run or struck out, Price can excite a crowd whether he's passing 50 yards downfield on a broken play or dodging defenders just to get back to the line of scrimmage. Two big Trinity League games against Servite of Anaheim and Mater Dei to close out the regular season will be key to his candidacy.

Cierre Wood (Santa Clara, Oxnard)
The 6-1, 210-pounder with sprinter speed was the state sophomore player of the year two years ago (picked ahead of Matt Barkley) and was a strong contender behind Barkley for top junior honors a year ago. Wood has committed to Notre Dame and is ranked by many as one of the top running back prospects in the nation. As a junior, he had 2,612 yards rushing and scored 34 TDs. So far this year, he has 122 carries for 1,522 yards and 20 scores. This Friday, Wood's unbeaten team plays Malcolm Jones and unbeaten Oaks Christian. As that game goes on, keep in mind that Jones has a lot more talent around him.

Jordan Wynn (Oceanside)
He doesn't have the passing stats of the others, but he is certainly on the watch list because he potentially could end his career with back-to-back CIF Div. II state titles. The Colorado-bound Wynn has passed for 2,051 yards and 18 TDs so far this season. In limited action in Friday's easy 62-6 win over Orange Glen of Escondido, Wynn completed 9 of 10 passes for 170 yards and three TDs.

Others: Usua Amanam (Bellarmine, San Jose) RB-DB, Richard Brehaut (Los Osos, Rancho Cucamonga) QB, Patrick Hall (St. Bonaventure, Ventura) RB-DB, Cameron Marshall RB-LB (Valley Christian, San Jose).

Comments or corrections? Email mark@studentsports.com and feel free to leave a comment so others can check out what you have to say. 

(For additions, corrections or to report a statistical standout we may have missed, email mark@studentsports.com. To inquire about a section or state record, please email Senior Editor Ronnie Flores at ronnie@studentsports.com or call (800) 660-1334 Ext. 4414; For games played Sept. 18-20; Writeups by Ronnie Flores, Harold Abend, Paul Muyskens, Tom Shanahan, Mark Tennis & Bob Barnett)

Jordan Agnew (Chadwick, Palos Verdes): Firebaugh of Lynwood was looking for its first win, but Agnew and the Dolphins didn't want to be a footnote in that school's history as Agnew riddled Firebaugh's defense to the tune of 354 yards and five touchdowns. He completed 11 of 15 and also scored on a 25-yard touchdown run in Chadwick's 63-26 victory.

Josh Amster (Brentwood, Los Angeles): Accounted for a whopping 427 of the Eagles' 431 total yards in a 28-26 victory over Rio Hondo Prep of Arcadia. He completed 12 of 26 passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 105 yards on 20 carries. To top it all off, he added a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Matt Barkley (Mater Dei, Santa Ana): Threw for 414 yards and three touchdowns, but it wasn't enough in the state's top showdown as the Monarchs were on the wrong side of the scoreboard in a 47-35 loss to Centennial of Corona. Barkley completed 23 of 45 passes, but he's thrown nine interceptions in his last four games. There's no doubt he's quite a talent, but you have to wonder if he can ever live up to the ridiculous hype that used to be reserved just for prep-to-pro basketball players.

Dominic Betts (Banning): Scored on a 98-yard kickoff return and a 61-yard run to rally the Broncos late in the game, but it wasn't quite enough as they lost 40-38 to Vista del Lago of Riverside. Betts finished the game with four touchdowns and 258 yards rushing.

Matt Botello (Pioneer, Norwalk): The Titans dropped a wild 49-40 contest to South El Monte, but it wasn't because of a lack of effort on Botello's part. He scored four touchdowns and rushed for 211 yards on 235 carries. He also had a 92-yard kickoff return that was reduced to a 77-yarder because of a penalty. In all, he returned five kicks for an additional 156 all-purpose yards.

Eric Bowcock (San Pasqual, Escondido): He may have been lined up as a quarterback, but showed he can run like a tailback, taking off seven times for 210 yards and four touchdowns as the Golden Eagles defeated Orange Glen, 49-28. He also added 133 yards and a touchdown on four passes.

James Boyd (Jordan, Los Angeles): Although the Bulldogs lost to state-ranked St. Bonaventure of Ventura on the road, Boyd put on an absolute show in defeat. He's always had a solid arm, but he was so big in his Pop Warner days that coaches placed him on the defensive line. Against the Seraphs, he collected 23 tackles and also had a solid game under center. He completed 37 of 58 passes for 373 yards with three touchdowns, as an undermanned Jordan club with 25 players fell, 38-20. Robert Lewis hauled in 13 passes for 115 yards and talented Deshawn Beck added two touchdown receptions. This week, Boyd will be looking to sack his future USC teammate, Mater Dei's Matt Barkley.

DeMetrius Brinson (Dinuba): Junior standout ran for 259 yards on 32 carries and scored two touchdowns of 30 and 2 yards against Hanford West. Dinuba won, 41-14.

Timothy Brown (Riverdale): Returned two kickoffs for touchdowns (75, 78) and scored two other times on short runs (3, 3) but it was all the touchdowns Riverdale would get in a 44-28 loss to Mendota.

Arthur Burns (Centennial, Corona): Had a huge game running the ball for the Huskies in their big 47-35 win over Mater Dei. An understudy to all-state RB Ryan Bass as a junior, he had his coming out party against the Monarchs with 233 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries.

Jesse Callier (Warren, Downey): Churned for 278 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Bears to a 42-14 victory over Whittier. He scored on jaunts of 62, 34, and seven yards and picked off two passes on defense for good measure. Callier has rushed for 545 yards and seven TDs after three games so far this season.

Carlton Callaway (Lawndale): It was an easy 74-21 victory for the Cardinals over Sierra Vista of Baldwin Park and Callaway did his thing with 11 carriers for a whopping 305 yards and four touchdowns. He scored on run of 26,70, one and 84 yards as Lawndale racked up 504 yards on the ground.

Max Carmona (Tennyson, Hayward): After his team's starting running back went down with a knee injury in the first half, the 6-0, 175-pound senior quarterback took charge and led the Lancers (2-0) to a come-from-behind 21-20 intersectional victory over Overfelt of San Jose. He finished with 292 yards passing and all three of his team's touchdowns.

Derek Carr (Bakersfield Christian): Brother of current NFL QB David Carr led the Eagles to a come from behind win at Central Valley Christian of Visalia, as Shawn Garrett caught a 15-yard touchdown from Carr to regain the lead for a 27-22 win. Carr finished the night with 343 yards passing. He completed 26 of 41 passes and had two touchdowns.

Chase Collins (Liberty, Madera Ranchos): Quarterback threw for five touchdowns of 19, 67, 42, 25 and 2 yards in a 36-7 win against Reedley. Collins only completed four other passes in the game and had 186 yards overall.

Sean Conrad (Malibu): During a 23-8 victory over Bell-Jeff of Burbank, Conrad played like Conan the Barbarian, scoring on a 95-yard run on Malibu's first play from scrimmage. He finished with 313 yards rushing, a career-high, and two touchdowns on 26 carries.

Chase Danska, Kenny Shrader & Ryan Spare (College Park, Pleasant Hill): The Falcons had three runners over 100 yards, and a quarterback who accounted for six touchdowns in a 69-47 victory over Washington of Fremont. It was an offensive explosion where the two teams combined for a near record 1,140 total yards. Danska was 4-for-4 passing for 124 yards and two touchdowns. He had 133 yards rushing on eight carries and scored four times. Shrader came up with the Bay Area's biggest rushing numbers last week. Of the 691 total yards his team rolled up, he had 281 of them on the ground with three touchdowns on 18 carries. Spare had 22 carries for 147 yards and scored a touchdown.

Dylan Danso (Dana Hills, Dana Point): Was a bright spot in the Dolphins' 48-20 loss to state-ranked Edison of Huntington Beach. He caught eight passes from QB Sean Schroeder and finished with 231 yards receiving and two touchdowns. He scoring receptions came from 70 and 52 yards out.

A.J. Dawkins (Encina, Sacramento): Not very often will a player run and throw for over 200 yards in a game but that's what Dawkins did during a 60-50 win over North Hills Christian. He passed for 227 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 208 yards and three touchdowns to help Encina end its 21-game losing streak.

Derrick Dison (Burroughs, Ridgecrest): Both offenses started out slow with a scoreless first quarter before the game turned into an offensive showcase. Dison, just a sophomore, finished with 323 yards passing and five touchdowns in Burroughs' 48-32 win over Apple Valley.

Deon Eley (Weston Ranch, Stockton): He got into the end zone once, but Eley's 25 carries for 238 yards set up two other short plunge scores and led the Cougars to a 48-20 triumph over Brookside Christian of Stockton.

Clark Evans (Los Alamitos): One of the state's top dual-threat quarterbacks continues to shine, as he led the state-ranked Griffins to a 48-0 intersectional victory over Fremont of Los Angeles with 160 yards passing and 66 yards rushing. He also accounted for five touchdowns, with four passing and one on the ground. Three of his scoring strikes went to Darryl Jenkins, who finished with 115 yards receiving.

Andre Forch (Eastside, Lancaster): Picked off two passes, including one he returned for an interception, during Eastside's 35-14 victory over Paraclete of Lancaster at Knight High in Palmdale. Teammate Deon Gray also had a big night, as the defensive lineman finished with four sacks.

Deshawn Gaisie (Bishop Amat, La Puente): He scored five touchdowns and accounted for 229 all-purpose yards as the Lancers routed West Covina 42-6. The margin of victory was somewhat of a surprise to prep football fans in the San Gabriel Valley and serves notice that the Lancers might indeed be back among the state's elite. Gaisie was a reserve defensive back last year, but tied a school record for touchdowns shared by Eric Bieniemy, the school's all-time leading rusher, and 1994 Mr. Football Daylon McCutcheon, who is on the Amat coaching staff.

Jeremy Gallard (Valley View, Moreno Valley): Thanks to Eric Johnson of the Riverside Press-Enterprise for this one as Gallard rushed for 285 yards on 27 carries and scored all six touchdowns in Valley View's 42-22 victory over Temecula Valley. He had touchdown runs of 1, 10, 16, 13, 1 and 75 yards. Gallard also had an interception on defense.

Jose Garay (South El Monte): This returning all-area player did it all for the Titans in a wild 49-40 shootout win over Pioneer of Norwalk, as he three three touchdown passes and added a fourth in the closing seconds of the win. Pioneer trailed by a point with four minutes to play when Garay returned an interception 34 yards to pay dirt to seal the win. As a quarterback, his touchdown passes went for six, 47 and 46 yards.

Timothy Gilmore (Wilson, Hacienda Heights): Gilmore missed Wilson's first game due to suspension but he tried to make up for lost time during a 30-21 victory over Glenn of Norwalk. He scored four touchdowns and rushed for 308 yards during the nine-point win.

David Graves (Folsom): Rushed for a touchdown and threw for five more as he completed 22-of-29 passes for 284 yards in a 46-22 win over Oak Ridge.

Brett Gudim (Tesoro): Caught six passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns while adding another score on an interception return as the Titans easily defeated El Modena of Orange, 51-7.

Tom Hemmingsen & Brett Nottingham (Monte Vista, Danville): Although a field goal was the margin of difference in the Mustangs' 32-29 road win at Pittsburg, it was one of the smallest players on the field, wide receiver Hemmingsen, and his quarterback mate Nottingham, that made the biggest impact. The 5-8, 165-pound senior wideout accounted for three touchdowns and 367 all-purpose yards. The biggest chunk came on nine receptions for 230 yards with two touchdowns of 57 and 10 yards. He also returned a punt 63 yards for a score, had 67 yards on kickoff returns and rushed for seven yards. It was a breakout performance for signal caller Nottingham. The 6-2, 185-pound junior showed poise in the pocket, completing 21-of-36 passes for 365 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions.

Sam Houlquin (St Monica's, Santa Monica): Although his team lost to Amino of Inglewood, 14-7, Houlquin played an excellent game from his safety position, as he picked off three passes and forced a fumble in a losing effort. His performance wasn't enough to offset the four interceptions St. Monica's gave up while on offense.

Marcese Hudson (Paramount): Not since the days of Leon Neal in the early 1990's has a Pirates' running back put on a show quite like Hudson did during a 35-6 victory over Bellflower. He galloped for 275 yards and four touchdowns while adding 88 yards and a fifth score on three catches. Amazingly, his yardage total on the ground came on only seven caries.

Trevion Johnson (North Hollywood): Diminutive back raced to 236 yards rushing on 24 carries, but the Huskies fell to Sylmar, 24-7.

Cody Kessler (Centennial, Bakersfield): The 15-year-old soph played in his first varsity game two weeks ago and did well in a 34-31 loss by the Golden Hawks to Redwood of Visalia. Kessler completed 34 of 45 passes for 331 yards with two TDs passing and two TDs rushing.

Jean Khajarian (Glendale): The Nitros completed a wild 36-21 comeback win over La Canada with some major help from Khajarian. With 3:24 remaining in the game, Glendale trailed 21-17, but QB Moises Chaves found Sarmen Bakhshi open for a 50-yard go-ahead touchdown. With 1:15 remaining, Khajarian picked off a pass and returned it 30-yard for a score and 30-21 Glendale lead. With time running out, he again picked off a pass and returned it 50 yards for a score as Glendale won going away, 36-21.

James Lee & T.J. Oates (Capital Christian, Sacramento): Lee did all he could to aid his team against Modesto Christian, but came up a few bullets short in the 54-41 shootout loss. Lee passed for 322 yards and five touchdowns with 187 yards and three touchdowns going to his favorite target Oates.

John Lister (Thousand Oaks): During a 28-6 win over Buena of Ventura, this senior back churned for 297 yards rushing and three scores. With his performance, he broke his own single game school record for rushing yards that stood at 256.

Cameron Loeffler (Exeter): Continued his early-season onslaught by rushing for 267 yards on 34 carries and scoring four touchdowns against Taft. Exeter thumped Taft, 31-7, improving to 2-0 and moving up into this week's CIF Div. III South bowl game rankings.

Rico Marmolejo (St. Genevieve, Panorama City): Scored three touchdowns on only seven carries, all in the first half, during a 55-0 blanking of Viewpoint of Los Angeles. Marmolejo finished with 227 yards rushing on his limited carries as St. Genevieve tallied 420 yards of total offense.

Cameron Marshall (Valley Christian, San Jose): There are several top-notch running backs this year in the Bay Area and a few in the WCAL alone. None, however, has shown the prowess of this strong runner who delivers the blows and is equally effective as a tackler. The solidly built 5-10, 205-pounder continued his torrid pace on both sides of the ball and showed why several Pac-10 schools have offered him a scholarship. In a 41-7 trouncing of Menlo-Atherton (Atherton) he rushed for 226 yards and four touchdowns and made 11 tackles. VC's main man, and the big reason the team is 3-0, has now totaled 563 yards rushing and nine touchdowns, an interception for a TD, and 33 tackles from his defensive back position.

Alex Mascarenas (Mission Viejo): UCLA recruit had a great all-around game in the Diablos' 38-14 intersectional victory over La Costa Canyon of Carlsbad. He had a three-yard touchdown catch on offense and also played a whale of a defensive game with a fumble recovery for a touchdown and two interceptions.

Chris Metcalf (Compton): With USC coach Pete Carroll looking on, Metcalf paced the Tarbabes' defense with two interceptions as Compton beat Dominguez, 12-8. Carroll wasn't just looking at his future USC recruit as he's often spotted in the inner-city doing things you wouldn't expect from a prominent college coach, such as talking to gang members. Carroll witnessed Compton's first win over the Dons since 1986 as it certainly wasn't a good week for Dominguez as former LB Maurice Simmons was sentenced to four years in prison and basketball coach Russell Otis has been put on paid administrative leave for an investigation into criminal conduct, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Kyle Middlebrooks (Fountain Valley): Had one of the highest rushing totals of the week in the CIF Southern Section as the Barons' back scored all four of their touchdowns during a 27-13 victory over Pacifica of Garden Grove. He finished with 253 yards rushing and three touchdowns while scoring on a 99-yard kickoff return to open the second half.

Stan Moody (Tomales): In a 64-0 victory over Emery of Emeryville that was called at halftime, Moody rushed for 171 yards and three touchdowns on just five carries.

Adam Muema (Charter Oak, Covina): This junior running back lugged the leather 18 times for 246 yards as the Chargers' offensive line dominated during a 62-13 victory over Diamond Bar.

Cory Nielsen (Gahr, Cerritos): The state's passing leader last season had a big game against cross-town Cerritos, as he completed 12 of 15 passes for 375 yards and five touchdowns against the winless Dons. His main targets were Aaron Bradley (125 yards) and Deondre Powell (83 yards), both of whom caught TD passes for their good friend Nielsen.

James Nunley (Woodcreek, Roseville): Helped end the Timberwolves' 11-game losing streak by rushing for 260 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-34 overtime win over Placer of Auburn.

Matt O'Brien (Casa Grande, Petaluma): The big star for the "Big House" in the Gaucho's 35-12 victory over Carrillo (Santa Rosa) was quarterback/defensive back and coach's son Matt O'Brien. The 6-foot, 175-pound senior, who is being looked at by some smaller D1 schools, passed for three touchdowns and had a school record three interceptions on defense.

Jordan Perkins (Lodi): Just a sophomore, Perkins already looks like one of the top backs in the southern half of the Sac-Joaquin Section. In a 34-18 win over Galt, Perkins rushed for 238 yards on 21 carries and scored twice. He also had an interception playing defense.

Alex Perlin (Steele Canyon, Spring Valley): The Steele Canyon running back set a school record with 309 yards rushing in the Cougars' 36-18 non-league win over Grossmont. Perlin carried 32 times and scored three touchdowns.

Jerry Rice, Jr. (Menlo School, Atherton): With proud papa in attendance and watching on the sidelines, the speedy Rice Jr. took a kickoff 99-yards for a touchdown. He also caught a 24-yards pass from Danny Diekroeger for a second score and leaped in from three yards out to register a third TD, all of a different variety in the Knights 29-17 victory on the road at Justin-Siena of Napa.

David Ross (Washington, Fremont): In a scoreboard burning 69-47 loss to College Park of Pleasant Hill, where his team rolled up 449 yards total offense but gave up 691, Ross accounted for four touchdowns. He completed 19-of-38 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 70 yards on 14 carries, scoring twice.

Joe Trimble (San Ramon Valley, Danville): He was the main reason the Wolves pulled out a 38-34 road victory at San Leandro to hold onto a spot in the state rankings, actually moving up to No. 20. On 4th-and-8 with less than 90 seconds to play, Trimble took a pass from quarterback Joe Southwick and went 19 yards. Then, he capped the comeback and an excellent individual performance by scoring on a 9-yard run to give his team the win. The team's top running back finished with 136 yards rushing, 87 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

James Tucker (Christian Brothers, Sacramento): Showed why his nickname is "Thunder" as he struck for 328 yards and three touchdowns in a 40-25 win over San Joaquin Memorial of Fresno.

Aaron Turner (Santa Fe, Santa Fe Springs): The Chiefs main weapon hit paydirt four times and gained 206 yards rushing during a 36-0 blanking of Littlerock. Turner carried the ball 26 times in the shutout win and scored on runs of 22, 50, three and 11 yards.

Jordan Wynn (Oceanside): The Colorado-bound quarterback saved his best game of the season for the Pirates' toughest opponent to date in a 42-24 win over previous state-ranked Mira Mesa. Wynn completed 19 of 24 passes for 356 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. His scoring tosses were from 38, 42, 30 and 24 yards out. Oceanside is now up to No.

By Ronnie Flores, Senior Editor

Santa Ana, Calif. -- The two stars of last year's historic state No. 1 vs. No. 2 match up were the same, but the supporting casts were quite different Friday night at Santa Ana Stadium's Eddie West Field.

Matt Barkley, the four-year starting quarterback at Mater Dei of Santa Ana and the top ranked player in the ESPNU 150, was the protagonist in the sequel to last year's California Shootout which produced a state record 1,300 yards of total offense. Centennial of Corona's Vontaze Burfict, the top-rated inside linebacker in the ESPNU 150, was Friday's co-star after he made a name for himself in last year's game with some bone-jarring hits.

	Chris Williams/Icon SMI
	Vontaze Burfict helped Centennial hold Mater Dei's high-powered offense to one second-half touchdown.

By Ronnie Flores, Senior Editor

Long Beach, Calif. -- The Carson Colts figured to give ESPN RISE FAB 50 ranked Mater Dei all it could handle in the season opener for both teams at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Monarchs got way more than they bargained for in this Wednesday Night Lights thriller.  

In fact, after 48 minutes of football, both teams received three extra, untimed offensive possessions to try and win the game. After a series of miscues and bad reads, it was the right arm of Mater Dei's Matt Barkley that finally clinched the win for the nation's No. 29 ranked team. The Monarchs' sideline erupted when Barkley, the No. 1 ranked player in the ESPNU 150, hit wideout Derek Campbell on a 10-yard corner route in the back of the end zone to clinch Mater Dei's 46-43 victory in triple overtime.

"I never lost belief, but I was very concerned," remarked Mater Dei head coach Bruce Rollinson. "What we did was put the ball in the hands of No. 5 (Barkley)...that's our offense."
    
The statistics indeed suggest Rollinson was not just singing the praises of his four-year starting quarterback after a gut-check win, as Mater Dei (1-0) gained a net 10 yards rushing in a first half that ended with the score tied 20-20. Mater Dei rushed for 67 net yards for the game while Carson (0-1) employed a much more balanced offense. The Colts actually out gained the victors in total yardage, 357-344, and rushed for 113 net yards in the first half and 114 after intermission. They simply could not put Mater Dei away at the end of the game or hold on to a two-touchdown lead late in the third quarter.      

"There was so many things going on," Rollinson said. "We were down by two (touchdowns) and I didn't think we would make so many mistakes in the second half."

The Monarchs trailed 26-20 with 7:41 remaining in the third period after Carson quarterback Daniel Torres, a junior, capped off a nine-play, 73-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run. Carson missed the extra point and botched special teams plays such as this one would eventually cost the Colts the ballgame.

Torres gave a valiant effort, as he completed eight of 15 passes for 130 yards to go along with two touchdowns and one interception. He also hit paydirt twice on the ground and finished with 67 yards rushing, including a 20-yard scramble that tied up the game with 14 seconds before halftime.

Barkley, meanwhile, had some uncharacteristic turnovers, including a ball in the first half that was thrown behind his intended receiver, picked off and returned 27 yards for a score by Carson defensive back Antonio Crews. With  6:05 remaining in the third period, the Colts' defensive line put heavy pressure on Barkley and hit him as he released the ball. The fluttering pass was picked off by Kevin Lane and returned 40 yards down to the five-yard line. On the next play, Torres tucked the ball and bulldozed over a Mater Dei defensive back at the goal line. The Colts scored the two-point conversion to make the score 34-20.

Carson's lead didn't last very long.

Facing a third and four at Carson's 41-yard line with 5:03 left in the third quarter, Barkley found wide receiver Ario Winston behind the secondary and he found the end zone to make the score 34-27. Two possessions later, Barkley hit Winston again, this time on a seven-yard touchdown pass, and the extra-point was good to tie the game at 34. Winston finished with six receptions for 144 yards and his third touchdown catch came with 10:38 remaining in regulation after Mater Dei's drive started on the Carson 30-yard line.

With 2:45 left remaining in regulation, Carson had a chance to take the lead on a 41-yard field goal attempt by junior Juan Sanchez. The drive was kept alive on a fabulous fourth down catch by Carson tight end Morrell Presley, who finished with four receptions for 95 yards and scored Carson's first six-pointer. Presley, the No. 47 prospect in the ESPNU 150 and the nation's top tight end prospect, kept the drive alive, but the field goal attempt was botched. Carson had another chance to possibly seal the game in regulation, but an errant pass by Torres on a rollout play was picked off by defensive back Stephen Lapchack at Mater Dei's seven-yard line with 1:23 remaining.

"We had our chance to win the game, but we messed up," Presley told his teammates in a post-game huddle. "We have to keep our heads up and still work hard."

Carson was the designated home team and L.A. City Section rules stipulate that each team receives one offensive possession and four downs from the 10-yard line. Carson scored on its first play in overtime as senior running back Ezekial Graham (16 carries, 124 yards, 2 TDs) caught a ball in the flat, turned it up and scored on his only reception of the game. The extra point was blocked, but after Barkley hit Campbell for a 10-yard touchdown on Mater Dei's first offensive play, Carson's Chris Hill blocked the ensuing extra-point to send the game into a second overtime.

On Mater Dei's second possession, Barkley threw his fourth interception of the game into the hands of the Colts' A.J. Ropati. On Carson's second extra possession, a 23-yard field goal attempt on third down was botched but Sanchez had another chance to be the hero two plays later. This time, his 32-yard attempt was blocked by Mater Dei's Dylan Price.

In the third period, Sanchez was finally coverted a field goal, from 28 yards out, that gave Carson a 43-40 lead. On the next play, however, the snake-bitten Colts found out that a field goal wasn't going to be enough to pull out the win as Barkley hit Campbell for the game-winner.

"Our young kids stepped up and played well," said Carson coach Mike Christensen in an upbeat fashion. "It's sounds funny, but we're going to be better with this experience and it will help us down the road. We're in good shape."    

Barkley completed 15 of 32 passes and finished with 277 yards passing. He threw those four interceptions that nearly did in the Monarchs, but he also threw six touchdown passes.   

"I had a corner route on that play," Campbell explained. "The guys underneath ran a spot route. Matt likes to hit me on that corner, so I kind of knew where he was going with it."     

Comments or corrections? Email mark@studentsports.com and be sure to leave a comment so others can check out what you have to say.

By Mark Tennis, Deputy Editor

For two of the last three years, the consensus No. 1 high school football player in the nation has been a California quarterback.

Jimmy Clausen, now at Notre Dame, filled that role coming into the 2006 season at Oaks Christian High School of Westlake Village. This year, it's Matt Barkley from Mater Dei of Santa Ana that tops the ESPNU 150.

Both Clausen and Barkley have a lot of climbing to do, however, if they ever want to be considered on a list of the best quarterbacks to ever come from the Golden State.

	John Glynn, CalHiSports.com
	Unlike some of the NFL QB's from California high schools, John Elway was dominant at the prep and college level.

Mark Tennis is starting his 30th year of covering California high school sports this fall. He is a co-founder of CalHiSports.com and will be voting this fall on the ESPN RISE FAB 50 national football rankings.

By Ronnie Flores, Senior Editor

Orange County is the home of the No. 1 prospect in the ESPNU 150, but there is an abundance of talent besides Mater Dei's Matt Barkley. Two other Monarchs make the 30-player team, with ESPN RISE FAB 50 ranked Orange Lutheran leading the way with five players. Sunset League favorite Los Alamitos and perennial power Mission Viejo place four players on preseason all-county squad. Next stop within the CIF Southern Section is the Long Beach/South Bay region of Los Angeles County.

All Southern Section: Orange County

Offense

WR -- Paul Richardson Jr. (Los Alamitos) 6-0, 165, Jr.
Teammate Darryl Jenkins caught more passes, but Richardson was the big play-maker and often the go-to guy for QB Clark Evans. The son of former L.A. University High and UCLA wideout Paul Richardson, the Los Al standout wasn't able to compete with the receivers at the L.A. Nike Camp because of an injury, but in person and on film he grades out quite high. His father caught 16 touchdown passes as a senior at Uni high and it wouldn't surprise us if he scored close to that many times this fall. Richardson Jr. finished his sophomore campaign with 32 receptions for 573 yards and nine scores.

WR -- Kevin Chandler (Mission Viejo) 5-11, 180 Sr.
Earlier this decade, the Diablos won 57 consecutive regular season games, No. 2 on the all-time state list, but they slumped last year and lost three games on the field and tied in another. Mission Viejo hopes to wrestle back the South Coast League title from Tesoro and with players like Chandler they are the league favorites going in. Last year this second team all-Orange County pick hauled in 63 catches for 935 yards to go along with eight touchdowns. With a better all-around team around them, the Allen Bridgford to Chandler pass-catch combo could be even more potent this season.

OT -- Matt Jacubiec (Servite, Anaheim) 6-8, 275 Jr.
Last year it was easy to fill this spot with another Matt from Servite, first team EA SPORTS All-American Matt Kalil, but Jacubiec is more of a sleeper pick. He moved around on the line last season, but is even bigger than Kalil was at the same age with many of the same skills. He was an CalHiSports.com all-state sophomore pick last season and this should be a breakout year for him.

	Scott Kurtz, CalHiSports.com
	Matt Barkley is the top prospect in the ESPNU 150, but he'll have to improve upon his junior season to win Mr. Football honors this fall.

DE -- Aaron Prindle (Lutheran, Orange) 6-0, 252 Sr.
Prindle is one of the most versatile and athletic lineman in Orange County, as is evidenced by the 69.33 SPARQ Rating* he recorded at the Long Beach Nike Combine that included a 29.1 inch vertical jump. Prindle is a starting guard for the nationally-ranked Lancers and would be used at that position on this team should the offense goes to its jumbo package. Prindle also fits here because he'll likely play defense in college and was one of the better d-lineman in attendance as the Los Angeles Nike Camp.

LB -- Preston Spence (Edison, Huntington Beach) 6-0, 190 Sr.
Sideline to sideline, Spence is one of the best defensive players in the county. Playing alongside all-county 'backer Earnie Sagaio, Spence recorded 81 tackles, dive sacks and three fumble recoveries for the Chargers last season. He was an all-Sunset League choice and with Sagaio graduating, Spence will likely draw double teams and create opportunities for teammates to make a play.

LB -- Cecil Whiteside (Newport Harbor, Newport Beach) 6-3, 205 Jr.
Whiteside is the middle 'backer on this team and one of the team leaders despite his youth. Like his Sunset League counterpart Spence, Whiteside was a tackling machine last season and one of only four sophomores to be selected all-league. Whiteside has good instincts and is a hard hitter, according to head coach Jeff Brinkley, and finished with 64 solo tackles, 34 assists, two sacks and three fumble recoveries.

ROV -- John Michael Davis (Tesoro, Las Flores) 6-2, 215 Sr.
Davis would be the all-purpose player on our defense, able to play near the line of scrimmage on running downs and able to play in the secondary if needed. As a sophomore at Santa Margarita, Davis made a name for himself with two interceptions versus L.A. City Section power Dorsey and he followed up with a junior season that saw him rack up 80 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery for the Eagles. Over the summer, he transferred to Tesoro and should be one of the top players in the South Coast League. He projects as an outside linebacker on the next level, but the Boise State commit is more concerned with leading Tesoro to its second consecutive outright SCL title.

DB -- Alex Mascarenas (Mission Viejo) 5-10, 175 Sr.
A repeat selection, Mascarenas can play either corner or safety on this team while Mission Viejo coach Bob Johnson feels he will be a solid safety prospect for the next level. Mascarenas committed to UCLA after a junior season in which he earned second team all-Orange County honors after picking off four passes and hauling in 27 catches for 427 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver. In two seasons, he's picked off eleven passes and Mission Viejo is going to need maximum production from him to return to championship form.

DB -- Gabe Lemon (Lutheran, Orange) 5-9, 175 Sr.
Lemon is one of the seven incoming transfers for Lutheran following the 2007 season and will likely make the biggest impact among the new players. Last season, he helped Trabuco Hills advance to the CIF Southern Section Southwest Division title game and earned a multitude of post-season honors: first team all-Sea View League, All-Southwest Division and all-Orange County. He finished with nine interceptions, 35 tackles, one fumble recovery and a blocked kick. He might not reach that interception total this season, but his presence will undoubtedly aid Lutheran in its quest for a second CIFSS Pac-Five title in three seasons.

DB -- Bijon Samoodi (Servite, Anaheim) 5-8, 160 Sr.
Samoodi joins Lemon as a returning all-Orange County pick in the secondary. As a junior, he was also a first team all-Trinity League selection after recording five interceptions, 29 solo tackles and four pass breakups. Samoodi might not see much action on his side of the field, but he's solid in run support and a physical presence despite his diminutive frame.

DB -- Shaquille Richardson (Los Alamitos) 6-0, 165 Jr.
Our sleeper pick on this team, Richardson is a young but talented player with a high ceiling. He has a great frame and can easily add twenty pounds in the future without comprising speed. At the L.A. Nike Camp, Richardson was the top underclass defensive back we evaluated and he impressed during summer passing league tournaments. Former Los Al standouts Antoine Cason and Orlando Scandrick were taken in last April's NFL Draft and the Griffins' coaching staff feels Richardson is further developed at the same stage. Another junior DB at Los Al, Josh Barut, deserves mention.

P -- Chase Robinson (Marina, Huntington Beach) 6-1, 195 Sr.
There are usually a plethora of solid kickers in this region and statistically Robinson is the best returning punter in the section. He booted 49 punts for 1,879 yards (38.35 avg.). His longest punt was a 60-yarder with four inside the 20-yard line.

Multi-Purpose

LB/RB -- Jeremiah Pemasa (Lutheran, Orange) 5-9, 200 Sr.
Pemasa takes over this multi-purpose spot from his brother Ricky. Ricky was the team's leading rusher last season and Jeremiah could take a bigger role on offense now that Tyson Seneca and his brother have graduated. At linebacker is where Jeremiah makes the biggest impact, racking up 40 solo tackles, including four for a loss, 28 assists, four sacks, two caused fumbles, one fumble recovery and three pass deflections. Pemasa was a second team all-Trinity League choice and is a prime all-CIFSS Pac-Five candidate this season.

QB/RB -- Clark Evans (Los Alamitos) 6-4, 215 Sr.
Evans doesn't get nearly as much attention as Mater Dei's Barkley, but Evans is a fine high school quarterback in his own right. Evans is a true dual-threat signal-caller as he accounted for 33 touchdowns. He completed 157 of 264 passes (59.5 percent) for 2,118 yards with 18 touchdowns against only seven interceptions and rushed for 952 yards on 172 carries. The Sunset League's offensive Player of the Year is headed to Colorado, but after the Griffins missed the playoffs for the first time 23 years he'll gladly trade in the individual accolades for team success.

OL/DL -- Nik Abele (Irvine) 6-6, 250 Sr.
Abele was a first team all-Pacific Coast League choice as a junior for a Vaquero squad that finished with a 8-3 record. He's received most of his prep accolades as an offensive tackle, but he's starting to receive heavy recruiting interest as a defensive end as well. He's currently fielding offers from Utah, Boise State, Nevada, UNLV, Colorado and San Diego State, but we wouldn't be surprised to see him sign with a Pac-10 team next February.

DB/WR -- Christian Maldonado (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 5-10, 170 Sr.
Maldonado is known for his toughness and hitting ability, but he is also quick and loves the challenge of taking on the other team's top offensive threat on the outside. Last season for the Monarchs, he was an all-Trinity League choice after racking up 49 tackles and 13 assists. He also recovered a fumble and blocked a punt on special teams. If Mater Dei Head Coach Bruce Rollinson needs another body on offense, Maldonado can play on that side of the ball as well.

WR/KR/DB -- Darryl Jenkins (Los Alamitos) 6-0, 175 Sr.
Jenkins has been a consistent wide out for Los Al QB Clark Evans the past two seasons and could wind up being one of the state leaders in receptions and reception yards if the Griffins make a deep playoff run. Jenkins has a nose for the ball of offense and isn't afraid to make the tough catch although he's not the big play threat teammate Paul Richardson Jr. is. He finished his junior season with 53 receptions for 874 yards with four touchdowns and is a threat on special teams as a punt and kickoff return man. He is also capable of playing in the defensive secondary.

QB/ATH -- Allan Bridgford (Mission Viejo) 6-3, 213 Sr.
It was hard to leave off Dana Hills' Anthony Kaspar or Sean Schroeder, but in choosing a third quarterback it's hard to ignore one that has college offers from all over the country while the Dolphins won one game last season. Since taking over for R.J. Toman during the middle of his sophomore season, Bridgford has thrown for 4,268 yards and 37 touchdowns, including a 2,508-yard, 22-touchdown junior campaign. It's also hard to ignore the fact he finished second in the accuracy challenge and was No. 3 in the MVP voting by the college counselors in attendance at the Elite 11 Quarterback Camp. Bridgford is headed to CAL.

To let us know about a particular team we should be looking at for our preseason state rankings (top 50 overall, top 10s for each of five divisions and top 25 for NorCal and SoCal), send info to mark@studentsports.com.

*Taking the standard measurements of the football combine, the SPARQ Rating weighs and combines the 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, vertical jump and bench press into a single number that measures an athlete's overall athleticism. Thus, football players can track the progress of their training, through occasional tests, and compare SPARQ Ratings with teammates, training partners and competitors. To learn more about the SPARQ Rating, go to sparqtraining.com.

Posted By Deputy Editor Mark Tennis

There's been much hoopla over the last two years about quarterbacks Jimmy Clausen from Oaks Christian of Westlake Village and Matt Barkley from Mater Dei of Santa Ana.

Some have christened one or both as the best ever from Southern California. I've never doled out that sort of hype, partly because I've seen so many top quarterbacks from Southern California over 25 plus years and partly due to respect for those who have gone on from the region to become all-time great quarterbacks.

I didn't get to see John Elway from Granada Hills play in high school, but I did see Carson Palmer at Santa Margarita of Rancho Santa Margarita. Both Clausen and Barkley might someday be regarded as higher than Palmer, but from my eyes I would still rank Palmer as the best from Southern California that I have ever seen.

That's why one of the highlights for me at last week's Elite 11 Camp at SOKA University in Orange County was being able to tell Carson exactly that. He attended the Wednesday workout of the event mostly to get ready for the Cincinnati Bengals' training camp. He also wanted to interact with the top high school and college quarterbacks who were there.

As a high school senior at Santa Margarita, Carson threw a ball that was just as impressive as Clausen or Barkley. He was most similar to Barkley in size and stature, but might have been a slightly better overall athlete than Barkley is right now. Palmer, remember, started on a CIF state championship basketball team.

Palmer also has gone on to become probably one of the top five quarterbacks in the NFL and won a Heisman Trophy at USC. Barkley could be in line for a great career, but he has yet to lead a team to a championship. Although it wasn't in the top division, Palmer did lead Santa Margarita to a 14-0 record in his senior season.

Carson spent time answering questions from the ESPN RISE staff that put on the Elite 11 event and laughed when I suggested the real reason why he doesn't like Ohio State: It's that the Buckeyes have the same colors as Mater Dei, which is perhaps Santa Margarita's biggest rival.

"This is a great workout for me at this stage of the summer, said Palmer, who was joined at the workout and threw some passes to Cincinnati Bengals All-Pro wideout T.J. Houshmendzadeh. "I get to throw a ton of balls and many of these drills are the same ones we'll be doing in (training) camp.

Carson's younger brother, Jordan, who graduated from Texas-El Paso two years ago, attended more than just one workout. He was present for at least three workouts that I saw and also is headed to Cincinnati where he's expected to land a role as a third-string quarterback for the Bengals.

"It's a lot of fun to see all these quarterbacks, and then following them in college, Palmer added. "Just to watch their development can be important. Who knows, some of them could become guys I'll have to stay ahead of.

For one humble observer, though, it's still going to take a lot for one of the up-and-coming Southern California quarterbacks to go ahead of Palmer on at least one all-time list.

Note: For corrections or comments, email mark@studentsports.com and be sure to leave a comment for others to read, too.