By Ronnie Flores, Senior Editor

Note: Today we continue our look at the top players from within the CIF Southern Section. This team includes players from the South Bay region near the port of Los Angeles and players who attend schools on the Westside near Los Angeles International Airport. Next up from within the CIF Southern Section is the San Fernando-Santa Clarita Valley Region of Los Angeles County. Make sure you follow us at twitter.com/calhisports as we'll do our best to give you live updates from the big games we attend all season long. You can also follow us on Facebook. Please join our Facebook group by CLICKING HERE 

Offense

WR -- Kevin Anderson (Lakewood) 5-10, 170 Sr.
The favorite target of Elite 11 QB Jessie Scroggins last season, Anderson hauled in 50 passes for 762 yards and 11 touchdowns. He followed up last season's performance with an excellent showing at the L.A. Nike Camp. He came through with a dominant performance during the one-on-one's and has since made a verbal to Arizona State. The Lancers have two other above average wide outs in Chris Davis and Ron Lewis. Davis scored two touchdowns against Crenshaw and all three of them ran solid routes, but were unable to break away from the defensive backs despite ample time created by the offensive line.    

WR -- Paul Richardson Jr. (Serra, Gardena) 6-0, 165 Sr.
Last season, Richardson made the preseason all-Orange County team at Los Alamitos but will spend his senior season at Serra, where he'll reunite with Pop Warner running mate Robert Woods. Last season, we joked about Richardson catching more touchdown passes than his father, Paul Sr., did during his senior season at University High in Los Angeles in 1986. Son almost did what father did, hauling in 13 touchdowns on 48 receptions to give him 22 career touchdown receptions going into his senior season. He might not match that production this year playing alongside "Woodie" and jr. George Farmar, but his contributions will be key if the Cavs are to win the CIFSS Northwest Division title.

WR - Kaelin Clay (Poly, Long Beach) 5-10, 170 Sr.
The selection of Clay is a bit tumultuous in light of his first game performance against Servite. Clay is coming off a season in which he caught 20 passes for 564 yards, averaging 28.4 yards per catch, and scoring six touchdowns. Included in his performance was four catches for 92 yards and a score in the loss to Grant of Sacramento in the CIF Open Division title game. Those numbers came with a veteran quarterback throwing him the ball behind a powerful running game that could strike at any moment. Against Servite, the running game was shaky and Clay had a potential touchdown pass go through his hands in the end zone and dropped a first down pass on the first drive of the second half when Poly trailed 16-7 and was still in the game. Those are the kind of plays Clay needs to make if Poly is to survive its non-league slate and keep its Moore League winning streak intact.(Read full post)

Lakewood running back out for the year and it's not due to an injury. Plus, a look back at two former SoCal running backs facing legal difficulties, why De La Salle's Ladouceur may need a few weeks to become state's winningest football coach and why family in Merced needs thoughts and prayers.

By Ronnie Flores & Mark Tennis
Contributing: Paul Muyskens

Lakewood High School, a team that has played second-fiddle in the Moore League football standings to kingpin Long Beach Poly for decades, has high hopes of knocking off the Jackrabbits this season for the first time since 1982. After all, the two-time defending CIF Southern Section Pac-Five champions have to replace all 11 starters on defense while the Lancers are returning the majority of their top players, including Elite 11 quarterback Jesse Scroggins.

Over the weekend while covering the Boost Mobile Elite 24 basketball showcase in New York City, we received notice from a trusted source back in California that Lakewood running back Jerry Stone apparently was involved in a serious criminal matter. We couldn't confirm the information at the time, but Lakewood coach Thadd MacNeal confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that the difference-maker in the Lancers' offense last year was currently in juvenile hall and would not play for the Lancers during the 2009 season.

(Read full post)

By Ronnie Flores, Senior Editor

The event featured eight of the nation's top passing-oriented teams in a seven-on-seven passing competiton. Two teams from Florida, one from Georgia, one from South Carolina, two from Texas and the two from California competed at the two-day event. Thursday featured pool play to set up seeding for Friday's championship bracket. The Lancers (known as the Team Field Generals) went 1-2 during pool play while the Cavaliers (Team Land Sharks) went 2-1.

In the championship round, the Field Generals went 2-1 to finish in fifth place at the tournament, winning the consolation championship game over Team Merciless (from Gainesville, Ga.) 14-12.

The Land Sharks from Gardena won the third place game at the Nike 7ON, 32-20, over Team Zoom Blade (out of Duncan. S.C.).

The Nike 7ON was captured by Team Vapor Trail out of Miami, Florida with an undefeated record. Vapor Trail (the team at Miami Northwestern) figures to be highly-rated in this year's preseason FAB 50 national ratings after finishing No.1 at the conclusion of the 2007 season.

For the Field Generals, wide receiver Ron Lewis made the all-tournament team as did the Land Sharks wide receiver duo of Robert Woods and George Farmer. Woods, a 2009 CalHiSports.com Mr. Football candidate, made it as an athlete for his play on both sides of the ball.

For complete coverage, please visit the home page of ESPNRISE.com or CLICK HERE.

We have boys honorees selected for each of the five CIF enrollment divisions plus juniors, sophomores and freshmen. From Manny Acosta to Gabe York, we also have a who's who list of state athletes of distinction for each category as well.

by Senior Editor Ronnie Flores
Contributing: Paul Muyskens, Harold Abend, Mark Tennis, Steve Brand

Note: It is not a requirement that an athlete of the year needed to have participated in more than one sport. Single-sport athletes often do end up first in our selection process due to the significance of their accomplishments. These honors are based mainly on athletic performance during the school year. Academics and community service are considered, but are not nearly weighted as much as athletic achievement.

State Division I Athlete of the Year: James Boyd (Jordan, Los Angeles) Sr.
It was a close call between Boyd, Reggie Wyatt and eventual winner Tyler Gaffney for State Athlete of the Year honors. When it comes to Div. I athletes only, Jamaal Franklin and Tyler Honeycutt also deserve mention, but it's too hard to overlook Boyd's accomplishments on both sides of the football and his raw numbers in basketball. The 6-4, 215-pounder led the state in passing, throwing for 4,266 yards with 44 TDs. He also rushed for 608 yards and two scores. On defense, where he will play at USC as a defensive end, Boyd had 104 tackles, eight sacks and forced 10 fumbles, recovering two. Against Santa Ana Mater Dei, Boyd threw a state record 73 passes, completing 38, for 446 yards and three TDs, while on defense he recorded seven tackles and forced two fumbles, recovering one. Against Div. III bowl champ St. Bonaventure, Boyd threw for 378 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 55 yards. He added 23 tackles and three sacks on defense. In basketball, Boyd averaged 23.8 ppg and reportedly led the state by pulling down 22.4 rebounds per game. Danny Williams from L.A. Fremont (2004-05) was the last athlete from the L.A. City Section to be honored in this division.

More Division I State Athletes of Distinction
(Seniors only, see below for others)

Doug Caldwell (Serra, San Mateo) baseball, football
Marquis Cooper (Edison, Fresno) baseball, football
Zach Ertz (Monte Vista, Danville) football, basketball
Clark Evans (Los Alamitos) football, basketball
Jamaal Franklin (Serrano, Phelan) basketball, football
Matt Hobgood (Norco) baseball
Tyler Honeycutt (Sylmar) basketball, volleyball
Allen Huddleston (Merced) basketball, football
Kawhi Leonard (M.L. King, Riverside) basketball
Tyler Matzek (Capistrano Valley, Mission Viejo) baseball
T.J. McDonald (Edison, Fresno) football, baseball
Noah Perio (De La Salle, Concord) football, baseball
Justin Rahn (Monta Vista, Cupertino) football, baseball
Reggie Wyatt (La Sierra, Riverside) track, basketball(Read full post)

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)

San Jose's Valley Christian in the spotlight with coaching moves, surging baseball team, transfer of a key cager to Mater Dei and a recent rare golfing feat. This week's installment also includes info on a significant football transfer, update on school that was shut down by H1N1 virus and more.

By Mark Tennis, Executive Editor
Contributing: Paul Muyskens

Eric Scharrenberg is one of our favorite athletic directors in the state and not just because the Valley Christian of San Jose administrator is never hesitant about sending us the most updated information about teams at his school. It's also because Eric is one of the very few athletic directors we clearly remember as a student-athlete himself during his days at St. Francis of Mountain View.

Last week was one of the most newsworthy in Valley Christian history. Scharrenberg confirmed in an email to the San Jose Mercury-News that he is giving up his duties as defensive coordinator for the football team to further concentrate on being the athletics administrator. It also was reported that the school's girls basketball team will have a new head coach, that all-state underclass boys basketball player Max Hooper would be leaving the school to transfer to Mater Dei of Santa Ana and that golfer Eric Kim did something to remember in his final outing for the boys golf team. All this also took place or was being reported during a week in which head coach John Diatte's baseball team posted huge wins over both Bellarmine of San Jose and Serra of San Mateo.

Jeff Ullom, a 2002 graduate of the school, has been named to replace Scharrenberg as defensive coordinator, a position he has had for 11 years. Ullom is moving up from the freshmen team.

In girls basketball, meanwhile, boys head coach Steve Cotton is going to switch over to the girls team. Previous coach Richard Harris, whose team last year was one of the best in Northern California and won CIF Central Coast Section Div. IV titles in 2007 and 2008, recently began a counseling job at the school. Cotton has a daughter, Briana, who will be a junior on the girls team next season. The Warriors also will have several other key players back, including Div. III all-state guard A.J. Newton, but they may be in the same CIF Central Coast Section and state playoff division as perennial power and league rival Sacred Heart Cathedral.

(Read full post)

We're later than usual, but still proud to present the 30th annual installment of the CalHiSports.com all-state football selections. Medium school, small school and underclass squads already have been announced. Today, it's the elite 30-player all-state first team with 30 more on second team.

Writeups by Mark Tennis, Steve Brand and Paul Muyskens

Contributing: Ronnie Flores, Greg Biggins

First Team Offense

WR James Johnson (Valley Center) 6-1, 205, Sr.
The versatile Johnson came up just 70 yards shy of collecting 3,000 yards receiving in his career despite double and even triple-coverage. Johnson set the San Diego Section career record with those 2,930 yards, surpassing current UCLA WR Nelson Rosario, who in three years at Oceanside's El Camino High amassed 2,854 yards. Johnson has soft hands, a knack for finding the ball and uncanny leaping ability which has transferred into being the leading scorer on the school's basketball team.

WR Robert Woods (Serra, Gardena) 6-1, 185, Jr.
One of the top juniors in the nation, Woods could have been multi-purpose, but his 81 catches for 1,378 yards and 19 TDs made him a better fit at wide receiver. Woods, the L.A. Times Back of the Year, also had seven interceptions on defense.

TE Morrell Presley (Carson) 6-4, 220, Sr.
A key part of the Colts' passing attack, Presley averaged over 17 yards per reception in his final season at Carson. Stepping up big as the season wound to a finish, he caught seven passes for a season-high 149 yards and two touchdowns as the Colts picked up their final win of the season over Banning. He did all he could two weeks later with an even bigger night, catching nine passes for 179 yards and a touchdown but it wasn't enough to prevent a 25-20 season-ending loss to Venice. Presley finished the season with 44 receptions for 783 yards and six touchdowns and will head to UCLA.

OL Greg Capella (El Diamante, Visalia) 6-4, 320, Sr.
Already committed to UCLA before the season started, Capella wanted to show why he was one of the top linemen in the state as the Miners lit up the scoreboard with an average of over 41 points a game. UCLA was the first to show interest in the talented big man and were rewarded with him heading to join the Bruins next season. Initial talk is that he'll have a chance to play at both tackle and guard, making himself all the more valuable to a rebuilding Bruins' squad.

OL Kevin Danser (Bellarmine, San Jose) 6-4, 290, Sr.
The two-time All-Central Coast Section pick was a dominant straight ahead drive blocker. He played tackle, but pulled and blocked defensive ends on many plays. Danser recently committed to Stanford.

OL Kevin Graf (Agoura, Agoura Hills) 6-6, 315, Sr.
He's got that perfect frame to add even more weight and has outstanding feet to go with that strength and size. Graf played in the recent Under Armor All-American Game on ESPN and is headed to USC.

OL Michael Philipp (Arroyo Valley, San Bernardino) 6-4, 300, Sr.
He'd probably be the state's second highest-ranked lineman recruit this year after Kevin Graf. Philipp played in the U.S. Army All-American Game and has earned a plethora of postseason honors so far. He consistently put opponents on their backs and last week surprised many by committing to Oregon State.

OL Brian Schwenke (Oceanside) 6-3, 270, Sr.
The University of California will be getting a good one. Schwenke was a major part of the Pirates' 2007 Division II state bowl championship team and was even better this season as Oceanside made it two straight years without a loss - suffering just one tie. Schwenke made it his personal goal to protect University of Utah-bound quarterback Jordan Wynn, who was rarely pressured. As a junior, he was better able to display his run-blocking prowess for 1,800-yard rusher Armani Taylor.

QB Cody Vaz (St. Mary's, Stockton) 6-1, 190, Sr.
Without the state bowl games, Vaz probably doesn't make first team. And even though St. Mary's lost in its bowl game to Cathedral Catholic, Vaz was sensational by completing 31 of 46 passes for 336 yards. For the season, he led St. Mary's to the Sac-Joaquin Section Div. I title and threw for 3,908 yards and 32 TDs. It also helped his cause to get on the first team all-state squad that we were able to list QBs Ryan Kasdorf and Taylor Martinez in the multi-purpose category. Vaz, less of a runner than the other two, is headed to Oregon State.

RB Usua Amanam (Bellarmine, San Jose) 5-9, 175, Sr.
The state large school player of the year had more than 700 yards rushing in three Central Coast Section playoff games. He also had 1,828 yards for the season despite missing one game and scored 36 times. Amanam, who is going to Stanford, could have been listed in the multi-purpose category – he ran back two picks for scores and returned three kicks for TDs – but due to the season he had it was more appropriate to list him alongside Tyler Gaffney and simply make the two of them the first team running backs.

	Tyler Gaffney

	Ryan Kasdorf

QB/RB Ryan Kasdorf (Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks) 6-2, 190, Jr.
Already named the CalHiSports.com State Junior Player of the Year, Kasdorf racked up a series of impressive outings that seemed to get better and better until his team was knocked off in the playoffs by Orange Lutheran. Considering the level of competition, it was nonetheless a huge season for him. He passed for 3,291 yards with 36 TDs and just eight interceptions. He also rushed for 628 yards with six more scores. Kasdorf also was chosen the Gatorade State Player of the Year, due as much to his 3.75 GPA as well as his on-the-field exploits.

QB/RB/LB Kipeli Koniseti (Grant, Sacramento) 6-3, 220, Sr.
For being the unquestioned leader of the CIF Open Division state champs, Koniseti just had to be first team all-state. He's projected to be a linebacker in college and when he did play defense it didn't take long for him to deliver a big-time hit. On offense, Koniseti passed for 1,366 yards and 17 TDs and he rushed for 777 more yards and nine scores.

QB/RB Taylor Martinez (Centennial, Corona) 6-2, 190, Sr.
While Vontaze Burfict was the defensive standout for the State Team of the Year Huskies, Martinez was the man on offense. He passed for 2,947 yards and 28 TDs, rushed for 750 more yards and 12 more scores and was a quick learner after taking over from graduated all-state pick Matt Scott. In the CIF Division I state final, Martinez passed for 243 yards and ran for a score as Centennial topped De La Salle of Concord. Martinez already has been chosen as the L.A. Times' Glenn Davis Award winner and was the player of the year by the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

RB/DB Cierre Wood (Santa Clara, Oxnard) 6-1, 210, Sr.
Although he didn't live up to the acclaim by some in the preseason as the nation's No. 1 running back, Wood, who was state sophomore of the year in 2006 and was considered runner-up to Matt Barkley of Mater Dei a year ago for top junior, still had nearly 1,700 yards rushing and averaged 10.7 yards per carry. He also had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries on defense. Wood will play next year at Notre Dame.

Second Team Offense

WR Randall Carroll (Cathedral, Los Angeles) 5-11, 185, Sr.
One of the fastest players in the nation was just as hard to track down with the ball as he is to beat on the track. Carroll, the 2008 CIF state track champ in the 100 and 200, caught 37 passes for 564 yards and rushed for more than 500 yards for the Phantoms. He also scored on a 93-yard kickoff return.  Carroll has committed to USC.

WR Ricky Marvray (Centennial, Corona) 6-1, 180, Sr.
UCLA-bound speedster hauled in 71 passes for 1,256 yards and 13 TDS for the CIF Division I state champs. Marvray also ran back one punt and one kickoff for touchdowns and was dangerous just coming into the vicinity of the ball.

TE Zach Ertz (Monte Vista, Danville) 6-6, 225, Sr.
Ertz put the hertz on opposing defenses with 58 catches for 754 yards and 13 TDs. He's going to Stanford and also has shown what he can do already this winter in basketball as a key starter for team that has been among the best in Northern California.

OL Nik Abele (Irvine) 6-6, 250, Sr.
Longtime Irvine coach Terry Henigan recently called Abele the best he has ever coached at that school. He was first-team All-Orange County and already has been all-state medium schools. Abele, who has committed to UCLA, also had eight tackles for loss on defense.

OL David Born (West, Bakersfield) 6-8, 320, Sr.
He first gained notice as a gigantic sophomore at the Nike combine and has steadily improved his overall game. Born was all-state underclass as a junior and as a senior he has been given top honors by the Bakersfield Californian.

OL Jeff Ferrier (California, San Ramon) 6-4, 280, Sr.
One of the best running teams in Northern California was the Grizzlies and Ferrier's blocking up front was a big reason for that success. He was first team All-East Bay and first team All-S.F. Bay Area.

OL Trevor Fox (Chaparral, Temecula) 6-5, 295, Sr.
An Oregon commit, Fox was the rock up front for a Chaparral team that lost only to Centennial of Corona. Those losses were in the first and last games and in between the Pumas went 12-0. Fox, who was first team All-Area by the Riverside Press-Enterprise, blocked well no matter what assignment he was given.

OL Jacob Gowan (Cardinal Newman, Santa Rosa) 6-4, 275, Sr.
He'll have to go down as one of the best offensive linemen ever from Cardinal Newman. He excelled in all facets of the game from run-blocking and pass-protecting. Two-time All-Redwood Empire and All-Bay Area.

QB Richard Brehaut (Los Osos, Rancho Cucamonga) 6-2, 200, Sr.
After collecting 2,378 yards passing and 528 yards rushing as a junior, Brehaut hit the spring with a frenzy and by the end of the summer was regarded as one of the top quarterbacks in the nation. In his senior year, Brehaut topped his junior totals with more than 2,500 yards passing and nearly 600 rushing for a team that ended 10-3. We were able to slot Brehaut for this second team all-state position because we also selected Rancho Cucamonga junior QB Greg Watson as second team all-state multi-purpose. Brehaut is committed to UCLA.

RB Deontae Cooper (Citrus Hill, Perris) 6-0, 185, Jr.
He looks like he could be one of the top junior running backs in the country and Cooper sure has the numbers to prove it. In leading Citrus Hill to a 14-0 record, the big-time junior racked up a state-leading 2,902 yards and hit the end zone 47 times. In the playoffs alone, Cooper racked up more than 1,000 yards.

RB Melvin Richardson (Poly, Long Beach) 5-11, 185, Sr.
This is one of those backs who doesn't get tired and in fact seems at his best in the fourth quarter. Richardson's game-winning touchdown run down the sidelines against Tesoro in the CIF Southern Section final will be remembered forever on Atlantic Avenue. For the season, he rushed for 1,500 yards and 23 touchdowns. Richardson had three straight 100-yard games and six TDs in the CIFSS Pac-Five Division quarterfinals, semis and final.

PK Bobby Wenzig (Westview, San Diego) 5-11, 180, Sr.
Most years, Wenzig would be the No. 1 kicker in the state. His powerful leg connected on 12-of-15 field goal attempts, including from 50, 49, 48 and 47 yards, and he drilled 44 extra points as well.

Second Team Defense

DL Kevin Greene (Sacred Heart Cathedral, San Francisco) 6-4, 240, Sr.
A bonafide sack machine (one unconfirmed report had him with 28 this season and 23 last year), Greene is only going to get better and better. He's only played football for two years after starting out as a beastly rebounder and shot blocker in basketball. He took a recruiting visit two weeks ago to USC and committed to the Trojans afterward.

	Scott Kurtz
	After leading Sacramento Grant to the open division title, QB Kipeli Koniseti (left) and WR Darvin McCauley were named to our 30th anniversary All-State team

DL Travis Johnson (The King's Academy, Sunnyvale) 6-3, 225, Sr.
A two-time All-Bay Area and All-CCS pick, Johnson had 17 sacks and 101 tackles in his senior year. He also had more than 100 tackles overall and rushed for nearly 600 yards on offense.

DL Nikko Motto (Sanger) 6-3, 275, Sr.
The Apaches may have just been a game over .500 on the year but what success they did have was in large part due to Motto's play along the line. He also dominated as an offensive lineman. He will be headed to Fresno State next season where he may eventually wind up playing alongside fellow All-State selectee Travis Brown of Clovis West.

DL William Sutton (Centennial, Corona) 6-2, 255, Sr.
We thought long and hard about Sutton being second team since he was fourth on the list from his team. But Centennial was indeed the No. 1 team in the state and there was simply too much support for William to leave him off. He had 93 tackles and 13 sacks, including four in the CIFSS title game against Chaparral of Temecula. Sutton has committed to Arizona State.

LB Michael Clay (Bellarmine, San Jose) 6-1, 200, Sr.
He was the leader of Bellarmine's defense, which shut out Valley Christian in the CCS finals and held St. Mary's of Stockton to a single score early in the season. Clay, who just committed to Oregon, had 107 tackles for the season with four sacks plus additional success as a fullback on offense.

LB Jacob Driver (La Costa Canyon, Carlsbad) 6-1, 220, Sr.
When Brady Hoke was hired as the new head football coach at San Diego State, he made sure Driver, the San Diego Section Defensive Player of the Year, remained committed to the Aztecs. The hard-hitting Driver did after leading the Mavericks to the section Division I title with a 45-28 victory over Escondido.

LB Robert Franco (San Pedro) 6-1, 225, Sr.
The All-L.A. City Defensive Player of the Year had 20 tackles in the title game when the Pirates tied Narbonne in the city final. He had 138 tackles with three interceptions and two forced fumbles on the season. Franco, the son of an L.A. Fire Department commander, also scored 13 times on offense.

LB Jaycob Shoemaker (Casa Roble, Orangevale) 6-1, 225, Sr.
The Sacramento Bee's Defensive Player of the Year was a leader of team that was 13-0 and was among top 10 ranked teams in Northern California. Shoemaker ended with 169 tackles, recovered eight fumbles and even scored three times in short yardage on offense.

DB Jabari Carr (Oak Grove, San Jose) 6-2, 180, Sr.
This would be the top player for a team that improved its winning streak to 22 games before suffering a playoff loss to Valley Christian. Carr primarily played free safety, but has shown he can be a lockdown corner as well. He had four interceptions and 50 tackles on defense this year to go with 45 catches for 605 yards on offense.

DB Stanjarivus McKay (Poly, Long Beach) 6-0, 170, Sr.
McKay was the No. 2 rated defender from the Jackrabbits on our all-state board and was one of the top secondary players overall. He had 57 tackles and four interceptions on the season and just committed to UCLA. If Poly had won in its title game and finished No. 1 in the state, we likely would have added the third player, LB George Daily-Lyles, to at least second team.

DB Noah Perio (De La Salle, Concord) 6-2, 175, Sr.
A versatile performer who starred on special teams and in the secondary, Perio had 10 tackles and blocked a field goal in the CIF Division I state final. For the season, he led DLS with six interceptions, returning one of those for a score. Perio is probably even better as a baseball player.

P Yael Jimenez (Arroyo Valley, San Bernardino) 5-10, 215, Sr.
Teammate of all-state lineman Michael Philipp racked up impressive numbers with his strong leg. Jimenez averaged 49.2 yards per punt and did that on 41 attempts. He had a long of 78 and also put down 11 inside the opponent's 20-yard line.

Second Team Multi-Purpose

QB/RB/DB Jonathon Brown (Encinal, Alameda) 6-2, 200, Sr.
A true multi-purpose pick, Brown passed for three TDs, ran for two TDs, had 10 tackles on defense and blocked a punt when Encinal defeated Novato in the CIF North Coast Section Div. III final. He was the Bay Area News Group's East Bay Player of the Year.

RB/LB Cameron Marshall (Valley Christian, San Jose) 5-10, 205, Sr.
A rare four-year varsity performer (his younger brother played this year as a frosh), Marshall rushed for 1,900 yards and 24 scores for the CCS Open Division finalists. He also had three interceptions on defense and was more known as a defender earlier in his career.

WR/DB Darvin McCauley (Grant, Sacramento) 5-11, 175, Sr.
He simply torched Long Beach Poly in the state bowl game and that was something no other player did against that defense all season. McCauley had six catches for 162 yards and two TDs in that game. He had 10 TD catches for the season as well as four interceptions.

QB/RB Keith Price (St. John Bosco, Bellflower) 6-3, 190, Sr.
The Trinity League Player of the Year completed an impressive 71.5 percent of his passes this season for 2,260 yards and 24 touchdowns while also rushing for 579 yards and 10 touchdowns. Like most of the guys here, he has committed to the Pac-10, in his case Washington, after turning down Oregon, Arizona State and Utah.

QB/RB Joe Southwick (San Ramon Valley, Danville) 6-1, 185, Sr.
As a junior, Southwick led SRV to a section title and was ahead of Cody Vaz in the picking order among NorCal QBs. This year, Vaz got the title plus a strong outing in the state bowl game so he was higher. Southwick passed for 3,781 yards and 36 TDs, including 712 yards in two games against arch-rival Monte Vista. He has committed to Boise State.

QB/RB Greg Watson (Rancho Cucamonga) 6-0, 185, Jr.
With all the hoopla surrounding quarterbacks Richard Brehaut of Los Osos and Josh Nunes of Upland, both headed to the Pac-10, it was a QB from the same league who led his team to a CIFSS title. Watson, already named the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Player of the Year, passed for 2,506 yards and 18 touchdowns and also rushed for 859 yards and 11 more scores. He led the Cougars to a 13-0-1 season and get this: he's just 15 years old.

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

Sixty juniors and 30 sophomores have been selected to these elite squads. This is the first of four separate posts over the next few days honoring top California players from the 2008 season.

	Scott Kurtz
	Gardena Serra's Robert Woods is one of California's best regardless of class.

Notes: Panelists who contributed to these team selections included Mark Tennis, Ronnie Flores, Greg Biggins, Brian Stumpf.

Previously announced players of the year were QB Ryan Kasdorf for juniors and RB DeAnthony Thomas for sophomores.
There were no sophomores selected this year to be among the top juniors.

We realize that many outstanding young players, especially the sophomores, have yet to emerge.

These honors are much more based on accomplishments at the high school varsity level so far and should not be confused with a recruiting list.

This is the 30th year of the CalHiSports.com all-state football teams and we have been doing all-state underclass for most of that time as well.

First Team Offense (All Juniors)

WR – Robert Woods (Serra, Gardena) 6-1, 180
TE – Christian Thomas (Highland, Palmdale) 6-4, 240
OL – Alex Crosthwaite (Cathedral Catholic, S. D.) 6-5, 290
OL – Ben Gottschalk (Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks) 6-4, 260
OL – Hronis Gronsu (Crespi, Encino) 6-3, 250
OL – Matt Jacubiec (Servite, Anaheim) 6-6, 275
OL – Eric Kohler (Oaks Christian, Westlake Village) 6-5, 280
QB – Ryan Kasdorf (Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks) 6-2, 190
RB – Anthony Barr (Loyola, Los Angeles) 6-3, 210
RB – Devontae Butler (Grant, Sacramento) 5-11, 180
RB – Deontae Cooper (Citrus Hill, Perris) 5-11, 185
K – Alejandro Maldonado (Colton) 5-11, 185

First Team Defense (All Juniors)

DL – Cassius Marsh (Oaks Christian, Westlake Village) 6-6, 270
DL – Ronald Powell (Rancho Verde, Moreno Valley) 6-4, 230
DL – Josh Shirley (Kaiser, Fontana) 6-2, 215
LB – Dylan Davis (St. Bonaventure, Ventura) 6-2, 220
LB – Tony Jefferson (Eastlake, Chula Vista) 6-0, 195
LB – Chris Martin (Bishop O'Dowd, Oakland) 6-4, 230
LB – Hayes Pullard (Crenshaw, Los Angeles) 6-0, 210
DB – Dion Bailey (Lakewood) 6-1, 185
DB – Erick Dargan (Pittsburg) 5-11, 190
DB – Sean Parker (Narbonne, Harbor City) 6-0, 185
DB – Dietrich Riley (St. Francis, La Canada) 5-11, 190
P – Matt Darr (Frontier, Bakersfield) 6-2, 215

First Team Multi-Purpose (All Juniors)

Dillon Baxter (Mission Bay, San Diego) 6-0, 205, TE-WR-ATH
Josh Harper (St. Mary's, Stockton) 6-2, 185, WR-DB
Malcolm Jones (Oaks Christian, Westlake Village) 6-0, 215, RB-LB
D.J. Morgan (Taft, Woodland Hills) 5-10, 175, RB-DB
Greg Morgan (Rancho Cucamonga) 6-2, 180, QB-RB
Kenny Stills (La Costa Canyon, Carlsbad) 6-2, 175, WR-DB

Second Team Offense (All Juniors)

WR – De'Shawn Beck (Jordan, Los Angeles) 5-8, 175
WR – Paul Richardson (Los Alamitos) 6-2, 175
TE – Randall Telfer (Rancho Cucamonga) 6-4, 215
OL – Aaron Jeglin (San Jacinto) 6-4, 280
OL – Lefi Letuligasenoa (Elk Grove) 6-2, 270
OL – Austin Lowe (Valley Christian, San Jose) 6-3, 245
OL – Eduardo Nevarez (Compton) 6-5, 340
OL – Wade Yandall (Carson) 6-4, 285
QB – Brett Nottingham (Monte Vista, Danville) 6-3, 190
RB – Ricky Seale (Escondido) 5-11, 180
RB – Anthony Wilkerson (Tustin) 5-11, 200
K – Donald Jorrin (San Pedro) 5-10, 165

Second Team Defense (All Juniors)

DL – McKenzie Falo (Carson) 6-2, 270
DL – Shane Pennix (Valhalla, El Cajon) 6-4, 255
DL – Eddie Plantaric (Del Campo, Fair Oaks) 6-4, 235
LB – Victor Burnett (Culver City) 6-1, 200
LB – Garrett Gilliland (Lutheran, Orange) 6-0, 205
LB – Jonathan McNeal (Venice) 6-3, 225
LB – Zac Stout (Oaks Christian, Westlake Village) 6-2, 220
LB – Jordan Zumwalt (Edison, Huntington Beach) 6-4, 210
DB – Troy Hill (St. Bonaventure, Ventura) 5-10, 175
DB – Brett Thomas (Poway) 6-0, 185
DB – Brock Vereen (Valencia) 6-0, 180
P – Jeremy Stein (Carpinteria) 5-10, 215

Second Team Multi-Purpose (All Juniors)

Jemeryn Jenkins (Silverado, Victor Valley) 6-2, 190, QB-RB
James McConico (Compton) 6-0, 190, RB-WR
Deon Randall (Parker, San Diego) 5-9, 170, QB-DB
John Timu (Jordan, Long Beach) 6-2, 200, WR-QB-DB
Cecil Whiteside (Newport Harbor, Newport Beach) 6-2, 225, FB-LB
Dave Wilkerson (Monte Vista, Danville) 6-2, 235, FB-LB

All-State Sophomores

(30 players; not specific to offense, defense)

WR – Antoine Arnold (Chaparral, Temecula) 6-3, 175
WR – Victor Blackwell (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 6-1, 170
WR – DeMario Coleman (Oceanside) 6-0, 180
WR – Wallace Gonzalez (Glendora) 6-5, 210
WR – Logan Sweet (Santa Margarita, Rancho SM) 6-0, 170
TE – Ryan Ena (El Camino, Oceanside) 6-5, 240

OL – Faatele Faafoi (Tustin) 6-5, 300
OL – Nate Falo (Inderkum, Sacramento) 6-1, 255
C – Rudy Iniguez (Bellarmine, San Jose) 5-10, 245
OL – Antwoin Woods (Taft, Woodland Hills) 6-1, 275

QB – Evan Crower (St. Augustine, San Diego) 6-3, 180

RB – Jordan Perkins (Lodi) 5-10, 175
RB – DeAnthony Thomas (Crenshaw, Los Angeles) 5-9, 170

PK – Jake Van Ginkel (Upland) 5-9, 160

DL – Mustafa Jalil (Cathedral Catholic, San Diego) 6-4, 270
DL – Cody Kurz (St. Bonaventure, Ventura) 6-2, 225
DL – Viliami Moala (Grant, Sacramento) 6-3, 305
DL – Ian Seau (La Costa Canyon, Carlsbad) 6-4, 230
DL – George Uko (Don Lugo, Chino) 6-3, 285
DL – Dylan Wynn (De La Salle, Concord) 6-1, 205

LB – Kris Bass (San Pedro) 5-10, 200
LB – Malique Micenheimer (McNair, Stockton) 5-11, 205
LB – Blake Renoud (De La Salle, Concord) 6-0, 205
LB – Micah Seau (Bishop's, La Jolla) 6-1, 205
LB – Denzale Stewart (Tustin) 6-0, 215

DB – Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (Chino Hills) 6-2, 175

TE-DE – Lavonte Barnett (Paraclete, Lancaster) 6-4, 205
RB-KR – Amir Carlisle (King's Academy, Sunnyvale) 5-10, 165
OL-DL – Courtland Drummond (Fountain Valley) 6-1, 225
WR-DB – George Farmer (Serra, Gardena) 6-2, 200

Special Mention: Freshman LB Patrick Wooten was named to All-L.A. City second team. If we chose a state freshman of the year, he was the one who probably would have gotten that honor.

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

Although Oaks Christian may come up short in CIF Bowl Game bid, the Lions capture their sixth consecutive Southern Section title with a resounding 63-28 victory over previously unbeaten Serra of Gardena. Junior Malcolm Jones shined with 302 total yards and four touchdowns while fellow junior Nick Montana threw four TD passes.

By Ronnie Flores, CalHiSports.com Managing Editor

Westlake Village, Calif. -- On paper, Friday's CIF Southern Section Northwest Division championship game was a matchup of two 13-0 clubs featuring two of the best juniors in the state in Westlake Village Oaks Christian's Malcolm Jones and Gardena Serra's Robert Woods. On the field, however, the difference was the battle in the trenches as the Lions were able to wear down the Cavaliers after a fairly even first quarter.

The score was tied 14-14 at the beginning of the second period, but to say the Lions dominated thereafter would be an understatement as Oaks Christian went on to record a 63-28 victory over the snake-bitten Cavaliers. From the second play of the second quarter until there was 1:49 left in the game, Serra (13-1) did not record a first down. In between, it had trouble tackling Oaks Christian junior running back Jones, as the reigning state sophomore of the year from 2007 scored two late first-half touchdowns to turn the tide in favor of the state's No. 9 ranked team.

"Malcolm and Nick (Montana) played great on offense," said Oaks Christian head coach Bill Redell. "Actually, Malcolm was all over the place on both sides of the ball."  

The turning point came late in the second quarter as Oaks Christian was tilting the field by forcing multiple three-and-outs for Serra's offense. Jones punctuated a drive that started at the Cavs' 48-yard line with a two-yard touchdown run with 1:45 remaining before halftime. On Serra's next offensive possession, junior defensive back Scott Arellano picked off Cavs quarterback Ted Landers (10-17, 71 yards, 2 TDs, 1 Int) at the Oak Christian 30-yard line after Woods had returned the ensuing kickoff 36 yards to midfield.

After the interception with 1:23 remaining in the quarter, there was some debate on the Oaks Christian sideline if they should simply kneel the ball after taking three snaps and head into halftime with a 28-21 lead or run one last play. Redell and his staff decided to hand the ball off to Jones one more time and the 6-foot, 215-pound junior responded with a 65-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds remaining on the clock.

"I was going outside on that play," Jones explained. "Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a cutback lane, broke some tackles and took off."

That back-breaking run for Serra wasn't the only time its defense didn't wrap up Jones, as he finished with 20 carries for 206 yards with three rushing touchdowns and four receptions from Montana, also a junior, for 96 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown reception that gave Oaks Christian a 14-7 lead with 2:12 remaining in the first quarter. Montana, the son of NFL Hall of Fame signal-caller Joe Montana, played an efficient if not spectacular game, completing 15 of 23 passes for 243 yards without an interception and four touchdowns. He completed all seven of his pass attempts in the second half, including passes of five and two yards for touchdowns to senior wide receiver Ryan Landseadel.     

"We had momentum right from the beginning," Montana explained. "Going in we didn't really know how much better we were than them. I don't think the scoreboard shows their talent level."  

With the win, Oaks Christian (14-0) captured its third consecutive Northwest Division title and its sixth consecutive divisional title, a new CIF Southern Section record. The Lions have also posted an incredible 101-9 record since first fielding a varsity team in 2001, not to mention a section record 25 consecutive post-season games. Included in both totals was the inaugural CIF Div. III State Championship Bowl Game victory over Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa in 2006, but it doesn't look like the program will get its chance to extend is ongoing postseason winning streak this season.

Div. III front-runner St. Bonaventure of Ventura, the state's No. 4 ranked team, defeated No. 16 Moorpark, 42-7, on Friday evening to capture the CIFSS Northern Division title. At the time the Seraphs played the Musketeers, Moorpark was the third top 16 team that St. Bonaventure has faced this season and the second one it has defeated along with Crespi of Encino. The team's only setback was a 12-7 loss to state No.1 Poly of Long Beach. Serra, which came into the game ranked No. 24 in the CalHiSports.com overall top 25 ratings, was the first ranked team Oaks Christian faced all season and it has been made clear since the onset of the CIF Bowl Games that strength of schedule is one factor that will weigh heavily with CIF section commissioners when choosing the eligible section champions that will appear in those games.                          

"There are a lot of good teams out there," Redell lamented. "We just appreciate being considered for the Div. III game. If St. Bonnie's beats Moorpark pretty good, they should definitely be considered. I'm just happy with the win (over Serra)."

Woods, one of the most explosive players in the state regardless of class, helped keep Serra in the game for the first 12 minutes. He opened the scoring with a seven-yard touchdown reception from Landers and also tied the game at 14-14 on a swing pass with 1:12 remaining in the first quarter. He hit the corner, turned on the afterburners and made two defenders miss at the five-yard line on his 29-yard touchdown reception.

Woods, who also had a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown midway through the fourth period, finished the game with seven receptions for 80 yards and the two touchdowns. He also rushed the ball once for three yards and returned two kickoffs 54 yards despite the fact that Oaks Christian was trying to keep the ball out of his hands. Woods finished the game with 216 all-purpose yards and finished his fine junior campaign with 80 receptions for 1,362 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Comments or corrections? Email mark@studentsports.com and be sure 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 Oct. 9-11; Writeups by Ronnie Flores, Harold Abend, Steve Brand, Tom Shanahan, Mark Tennis & Bob Barnett)

Nico Barbone & Daniel Joseph (San Dimas): Barbone rushed for 201 yards and 5 touchdowns while Joseph pounded away from 219 yards and a pair of TDs as San Dimas outscored Bonita of La Verne, 50-33. Barbone and Joseph led a charge that saw San Dimas rush for 454 yards against rival Bonita in the annual Smudge Pot Bowl. Behind the dynamic duos' rushing performance in front of 6,000 fans, San Dimas beat Bonita for the second consecutive year and upped its lead in the series to 19-6-1 since 1972.   

Anthony Barr (Loyola, Los Angeles): Some tab this 6-foot-4, 210-pounder as the top underclass back in Southern California and with the performances he's turned in so far this year it hard to argue that assertion. He probably will grow into another position on the next level, whether it be safety, linebacker or even defensive end, but for now he's punishing defenses carrying the ball. In last week's 52-14 shellacking over Hart of Newhall, Barr carried the ball six times in the first quarter and four went for touchdowns. He scored on runs of 36, 2, 28 and 56 yards and had 161 yards at that point. He was pulled in the second quarter with 199 yards to his credit on 11 carries and Loyola leading, 35-0. This week, the Cubs travel to The Pit to face St. Paul of Santa Fe Springs. The Swordsman will actually have one fan cheering for Barr at The Pit, which is known for being hostile to visiting teams, because his mother, Lori, is the principal at St. Paul. His father is former Notre Dame running back Tony Brooks and his mother attended Notre Dame as well.    

Brant Botill (Corcoran): The senior running back continues to break all school records. Last week, Brant scored five touchdowns on runs of 41 ,2, 7, and 2 and on a 43-yard pass reception as the Panthers ran past Fowler, 39-12, in a non-league contest. Botill has rushed for 4,330 yards and has scored 67 touchdowns in his three-year career, according to Central Section historian Bob Barnett.
 
James Boyd (Jordan, Los Angeles): Senior all-state candidate had another monster game for the Bulldogs with 395 yards passing in a 44-27 Eastern League victory over Huntington Park. He did his damage through the air by completing 21 of 37 passes with four touchdowns against one interception. Boyd, who was named the L.A. City Section Defensive Lineman of the Year as a junior, also collected two solo tackles. The Spartans dominated time of possession in this game, but the Bulldogs got the big plays, as  Delvon Purvis caught eight passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns, including a 81-yarder. Jordan's Brandon Caldwell also made big plays, catching three passes for 155 yards, including a 88-yarder. Top-notch junior Deshawn Beck returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth-quarter as the pesky Spartans forced Jordan to pull out all the stops.       

Jared Braun (Serra, San Mateo): According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Braun got quite a razzing from his Catholic school teammates after missing school and practice the day before a game. Braun, a practicing Jew, showed no effects of fasting or missing practice for the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur on Thursday. He came back Friday night to rush for 200 yards and two touchdowns as Serra rebounded from three straight losses with a 41-14 thumping of Sacred Heart Cathedral in a West Catholic Athletic League matchup.

	Harold Abend
	Gatorade-drenched Bishop O'Dowd coach Paul Perenon celebrated his 200th career victory last Saturday.

Mario Brown & Chris Martin (Bishop O'Dowd, Oakland): This duo of talented highly regarded junior D1 prospects delivered Coach Paul Perenon his 200th career win in a 35-6 victory over San Lorenzo. They also helped propel the Dragons into the No. 9 spot in the newest Div. II CIF State Bowl Game rankings. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound elusive Brown took the second half opening kick-off 94 yards for a touchdown to put the Dragons up 14-6, and ended up scoring four touchdowns after also running for three (12, 12, 32 yards). He finished with 145 yards rushing on 19 carries and 276 all-purpose yards. He also had an interception from his defensive back position. Martin, who in looking at him, with his 6-foot-4, 230-pound size with speed, looks ready for the next level right now, led the Dragon defense with 14 tackles, including three for loss, including a sack.

Michael Bundy (El Segundo): Accounted for five touchdowns, including three passing, in Gundo's 35-13 victory over Bishop Montgomery of Torrance.

Te Shon Burton (Leuzinger, Lawndale): Burton led the Olympians to their seventh consecutive Mayor's Cup by downing winless Hawthorne, 35-6. Burton completed 12 of 18 passes for 332 yards and two scores. His scoring aerials came from 87 and 40 yards out and he added a rushing touchdown in the victory over the once-proud football program that's come under hard times this decade.

Jesse Callier (Warren, Downey): Led the way in Warren's 23-21 victory over Torrance as he churned his way to 228 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 21 carries. So far this season, Callier has rushed for 832 yards on 104 carries and has scored 10 touchdowns.

Jordan Canada (Duarte): Led the way in a 34-16 victory over Gladstone of Covina with 266 yards rushing. Canada did his damage on 18 carries and hit pay dirt twice from 50 and 48 yards out.   

Andrew Carcich (Crescenta Valley, La Crescenta): This 155-pound linebacker led his team to a come-from-behind victory over Burbank by intercepting two passes. On one of the thefts, Carcich returned the pass 35 yards for a touchdown.

Omari Carr (Oak Grove, San Jose): Some years there are players who are regulars in this feature and this year Omari has replaced brother Jabari in that capacity. Last week in a 42-0 whitewash of Live Oak of Morgan Hill, Carr went over the 200-yard rushing mark for the second straight week. This time it was 239 yards and five touchdowns in just 11 carries.

Matt Ching (Salesian, Richmond): Pride's running back powered his way to 266 yards and four touchdowns on 26 carries in a 28-0 blanking on the road at McClymonds of Oakland. Ching served notice when he ran 78 yards on his first carry.

Brandon Connette (Santiago, Corona): Had 279 all-purpose yards in 56-20 rout of Riverside Poly. He rushed for two TDs and passed for another two as Santiago rolled up 535 total yards.

Skyler Dougherty (University City, San Diego): In the same game Scripps Ranch's Michigan-bound quarterback Tate Forcier was throwing for 348 yards and three touchdowns to beat University City 44-34, UC's quarterback threw five touchdown passes. His scoring tosses were 40, 25, 17, 24 and 21 yards.

Andy Early (Orange Glen, Escondido): Early was a workhorse as he carried 41 times for 246 yards, but the Patriots lost to Mt. Carmel, 42-21. Early scored late twice in the fourth quarter on runs of 14 and
2 yards.

Clark Evans & Paul Richardson Jr. (Los Alamitos): The University of Colorado commit Evans passed for 228 yards and 5 TDs, in addition to gaining 81 yards on the ground, and scoring the key TD in Los Alamitos' 41-28 win over previously unbeaten Narbonne of Harbor City. Richardson, the son of former UCLA WR Paul Richardson, hauled in four of Evans' catches, each for a TD, to go along with 118 yards. Evans has been a standout for three seasons, but he's really stepping up his game this season for the state-ranked Griffins, as he's completed 55 percent of his passes for 998 yards with 15 touchdowns against only three interceptions. He's also leading Los Al in rushing with 462 yards while averaging six yards per carry.    

Tate Forcier (Scripps Ranch, San Diego): The Michigan-bound quarterback threw for 348 yards in a 44-34 non-league win at University City. Forcier was 18-of-25 with three touchdown passes and a touchdown run of 15 yards.

Fabian Florez (Tranquility): Ran for a career high 254 yards on 22 carries and also scored three touchdowns on runs of 49, 3, and 6 yards against Fresno Christian. Tranquility posted a 40-29 win.

Aaron Garbutt & Louie Villa (Westminster): The running back duo combined for 304 yards rushing and four TDs to lift the Lions to a 30-23 win over Santa Ana Valley. Garbutt numbers were 11-149-3 and Villa, 10-155-1.

James Grace (Inglewood): Grace had an amazing game as the Sentinels held on to beat Palos Verdes, 31-30. He scored Inglewood's first touchdown on a 55-yard interception return and also scored on a 65-yard kickoff return. P.V. tried to keep the ball way from Shaq Evans on kickoff returns but the strategy backfired as Inglewood had a second short kickoff return for a touchdown of 55 yards.

David Graves & Tyler Trosin (Folsom): The Bulldogs are 5-0 and the 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior signal caller Graves is one of the biggest reasons. Last week in a 55-6 shellacking of Oakmont of Roseville, he threw four touchdown passes and ran for another to give him 16 passing and six rushing TDs on the season. Sophomore Trosin qualifies this week, too. After recording 11 tackles and scoring once on defense last week in a win over Franklin (Elk Grove), he bettered the effort against Oakmont, scoring three touchdowns, once each rushing and receiving, plus a 101-yard interception return.

Zack Graves (Whitney, Rocklin): Some folks might not know where the Whitney suburb of Rocklin is located but not the boys on the Colfax football team or any other Wildcat opponents in the Pioneer Valley League. Especially not after the 5-foot-9 165-pound halfback ran for 244 yards and four touchdowns on 27 carries in Whitney's 34-27 victory over the Falcons. With Graves literally carrying the load, Whitney is now 5-0 to start the season. The Sac-Joaquin Section's reported leading rusher and point scorer now has 971 yards on the ground with 16 touchdowns and 120 total points.   

Demaree Hampton (Mission, San Francisco): The Bears on Wall Street may be hibernating, and the ones in the wild are getting ready for a long sleep, but this running/kicking Bear from the City is doing anything but sleeping. In a 51-22 victory over cross-town Balboa, Hampton rushed for 206 yards on 15 carries while scoring on runs of 43, 29 and 51 yards. He also scored on a 54-yard fumble recovery and booted a 38-yard field goal.

Keaton Hernandez & Brian Marshall (Desert Chapel, Palm Springs): The duo helped the Eagles soar to perfect 5-0 record as Hernandez tossed six touchdown passes en route to 231 yards during a 42-6 victory over Cal Lutheran. Marshall gobbled in four of them in the easy win.

Aaron Horne (Castlemont, Oakland): The receiver/defensive back is making new Oakland Section Commissioner Michael Moore proud after making the Stat Stars for the second week in a row. Against upstart Tamalpais of Mill Valley, Horne rushed for 102 yards, caught a 37-yard touchdown pass, and intercepted a pass and maneuvered 63 yards for a score.

Donny Huckins (Greenville): We missed the reported rushing leader from the Northern Section the past two games before last week's 144 yard, three touchdown effort against Happy Camp in a 51-12 victory. In the two games prior to that, the senior running back from the northernmost reaches of the state on Highway 89 near Lake Almanor had gigantic numbers. In a 30-20 victory over Big Valley of Bieber, he ran for 285 yards and two touchdowns. Two weeks ago he went for 360 yards on 25 carries and scored twice in a 30-28 loss to Westwood. On the season, Huckins has 1,326 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Jemeryn Jenkins (Silverado, Victorville): Just a junior, Jenkins rushed for 226 yards, including scoring on an 86-yard run, and passed for another 122 yards, adding another TD. His running and passing wasn't enough, however, as Silverado suffered a 28-20 setback to Chino Hills.

Jamie Jensen, Sean Hale & Dante Fullard (Gilroy): The Cowboys couldn't get a lasso on either of the three in a 45-2 thrashing of visiting Salinas. Quarterback Jensen completed 16 of 27 passes for 354 yards and three touchdowns. Hale caught four of the passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns, while Fullard had eight catches for 195 yards. Fullard also ran for the first touchdown of the game.

A.J. Johnson (Chino Hills): Gained 226 yards on 25 carries in 28-20 win over Silverado of Victorville.

Fred Jones (Stallworth Academy, Stockton): He's also known as Snoop and the scoop on Snoop this week is that he had 13 carries for 244 yards for his team in a 29-12 victory over Monterey. Jones scored once on an 80-yard run and also scored on an 85-yard kickoff return.

Collin Keoshian (Santa Clarita Christian, Canyon Country): Playing on a small-enrollment team usually requires a 48-minute performance and that's exactly what Keoshian turned in. He rushed for 190 yards on 30 carries, tossed a TD pass and was credited with 11 tackles in a 33-20 win over Rolling Hills Prep of San Pedro.

Devin Lovering (Golden West, Visalia): Carried the ball 25 times for 252 yards and scored three touchdowns (46, 4, 23) in a 49-41 West Yosemite League victory over Mt. Whitney. Junior QB Tanner Mendonca of Mt. Whitney passed for five touchdowns, good for 314 yards on 25-of-46 passing, and wide receiver Titus Grayson caught 10 receptions in a losing effort.

Raul Lozano (Yuba City): The Honkers have reason to make some noise after a two-game road winning streak gets them to 2-3 on the season. The player who did the loudest honking last week is this sophomore running back who went for 245 yards on only 11 carries. He ran for three touchdowns, including a 98-yarder.

Mathew MacAnas (Cesar Chavez, Delano): Led his team past Tulare Western, 50-35, by rushing for 224 yards on 18 carries and scoring three touchdowns.

Eric Martin (Rancho Verde, Moreno Valley): One of the most gifted linebackers in the state, Martin collected two interceptions and a pair of sacks in a 21-0 win over cross-town Moreno Valley.

Adam McCurley (Washington, Easton): Set one school record as he passed for 416 yards, tied another by passing for five touchdowns, and ran for another score of 17 yards as Washington beat Yosemite of Oakhurst, 41-33, in a North Sequoia League game.  Teammate Josh Williams helped out as he had five receptions for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Yosemite's Jesse Lownsbury also had a big night in a losing effort by passing for 300 yards for two touchdowns and wide receiver Detri Dunn had 10 receptions and one score.

Jared Moore & Dane Poole (Esperanza, Anaheim): Moore hit pay dirt four times from 34, 4, 3 and 2 yards out to key the Aztecs' offense and Poole took care of the defense, recovering two fumbles and pulling in an interception as Esperanza beat Centennial of Compton, 49-6.

Brett Nottingham (Monte Vista, Danville): It's hard to believe this junior is only in the fifth game of his starting career after the way he's played in leading the Mustangs to a 5-0 start. Last week's ESPNRISE CalHiSports.com California State Boys Athlete of the Week continued his torrid pace, passing for over 300 yards for the third time this season in a 56-14 blowout of Granada of Livermore. This week it was 307 yards and six touchdowns, three of which went to senior wide receiver Matt Tuckness. Nottingham now has 1,501 passing with 19 touchdowns and only one interception. His QB rating is an even 150.

Lance Orender (Buchanan, Clovis): Led the way in a come-from-behind 35-21 victory vs. San Joaquin Memorial of Fresno. Orender helped the Bears forget about their first loss of the season to Fresno Edison by completing 22 of 35 passes for 317 yards and three TDs.

Treyvon Payne (Artesia, Lakewood): Got it done on both sides of the ball in the Pioneers' 61-13 victory over Cerritos by scoring on two touchdown receptions from QB Danny Ragland and on a 80-yard interception return.  

Gavino Pinal (El Cajon Valley, El Cajon): Pinal intercepted three  passes, but it wasn't enough for the Braves to get a win as they fell to Otay Ranch, 42-19. Pinal also scored a touchdown on a 39-yard pass
reception.

Jerry Rice Jr. (Menlo, Atherton): Looking more and more like a chip off the old block, albeit without quite the size and 40-yard dash speed that gets college recruiters mouth's watering, this versatile 5-foot-11, 182-pounder with great football speed and lateral movement, showed he can do just about anything Coach Mark Newton asks him to do on the gridiron. With starting quarterback Danny Diekroeger sidelined with a shoulder injury, Rice Jr. took the job as the starting QB against a very solid Terra Nova of Pacifica. He proceeded to run for two touchdowns and 178 yards, complete all nine of his pass attempts for 108 yards, and he found time to catch a 30-yard touchdown pass from Paul Schemel. Rice Jr.'s 31-yard run on a 3rd-and-8 for a TD to begin the fourth quarter, where he was running in one direction, juked out five guys, cut back and then ran past four more to pay dirt was the game-winner.

Leonard Rhodes (Walnut): Set a school record by scoring five touchdowns during a 47-13 whitewashing of La Habra Sonora. He scored on runs of 3, 24, 1, 59, and 11 yards and was congratulated when he came off the field by former school record holder Ryan O' Shields. O'Shields is an assistant coach to his father and head coach, Mike O' Shields, and Rhodes dedicated his performance to his recently passed grandmother, Frieda Urso.

George Roberson (San Leandro): This small quick back had a huge game as San Leandro won its second straight in a 52-14 victory on the road at Arroyo of San Lorenzo. He rushed for 224 yards and three touchdowns on just 12 carries as San Leandro amassed 303 yards on the ground and 440 total yards. Roberson had three highlight-reel touchdown runs of 79, 75 and 12 yards.

Eric Rogers (Redlands): Caught 8 passes for 109 yards and two TDs in 40-13 win over Eisenhower of Rialto. Teammate Josh Logan passed for 263 yards while Cam Phillips rushed for 181 and caught two passes for 85 yards, one a 73-yard TD in the easy win over Ike.

Jonathan Rojas (Wilson, Los Angeles): Another season and yet another signal-caller for the Mules that racks up big passing numbers. It has been this way since the days of Ron Cuccia and Steve Clarkson in the 1970's. Last week, Rojas completed 18 of 26 passes for 223 yards and a whopping six touchdowns in the Mules' 52-32 win over Contreras of Los Angeles. Big play WR and Div. I recruit Anthony Denham hauled in six of those passes with three going for scores. Denham finished with 103 yards while Rojas has thrown for 1,057 yards and 14 scores through five games.   

A.J. Romine & Jake Wrobel (Rio Linda): Romine had three interceptions and ran for a touchdown, and Wrobel blocked two punts, forced a fumble and recorded a sack in Rio Linda's 41-14 win over Natomas of Sacramento.

Robbie Rouse (Madison, San Diego): San Diego's Little Big Man running back carried 11 times for 214 yards with three touchdowns to lead the Warhawks (5-0) to a 39-7 non-league win over Santana of Santee. The 5-6, 170-pounder scored on runs of 80, 26 and 30 yards. A year ago, Rouse rushed for 355 yards in a 7-point win over Santana.

Jose Rueles (Firebaugh, Lynwood): Congrats to Firebaugh and coach Jason Miller as the Falcons won their first game in school history in the school's first-ever home game. Kudos goes to Rueles as well, as he's the school's first-ever CalHiSports.com's stat star with 215 yards rushing and a touchdown during a 58-20 victory over Manual Arts of Los Angeles. It's interesting that Firebaugh's first victory came at the expense of the once-proud Toilers, since that school played in first varsity game in 1910 and once ruled the roost in the L.A. City Section under the legendary Jim Blewett. Even as recent as eight years, ago, the Toilers had an all-state level player in WR James Finley but they've fallen on hard times in recent years.      

Antwon Sabal & Tre Meadors (San Gorgonio, San Bernardino): Sabal returned an interception 21 yards for six and swept up a fumble before racing 28 yards for another score in the 40-27 win over Apple Valley. Meadors was a little more conventional, gaining 205 yards on just nine carries, two of which went for TDs.

Angel Santiago (Etiwanda, Rancho Cucamonga): The Eagles played Charter Oak of Covina tough, but three muffed extra-point tries did them in as they lost a 35-32 heart-breaker. Santiago did have one costly interception, but he ran for two touchdowns, completed 16 of 24 passes for 255 yards and added two touchdown passes in a losing effort.  

Sean Schroeder (Dana Hills, Dana Point): Duke will be getting a good one as Schroeder completed 14 of 20 passes for 387 yards and five TDs. His favorite target was Dylan Denso, who hauled in five receptions for 178 yards and three scores, as Dana Hills downed El Modena of Orange, 34-14.

Cole Stanford, Cameron Ryan & Broughan Jantz (Nevada Union, Grass Valley): The Miners have been using more than picks and shovels on opponents after scoring over 50 points for the third week in a row in a 77-7 blowout of visiting Franklin of Stockton. Lots of players got some gold in the win but these three Miners came away with the most nuggets. Stanford returned three first half punts for touchdowns, Ryan caught two TD passes and ran for another on a 43-yard scamper, and Jantz three for two scores. It certainly looks like the 5-0 squad is back after outscoring opponents 184-19 the last three games.

Eric Stern (California, Whittier): Set a school record by nailing a 57-yard field goal as the Condors downed El Monte, 33-14. It was his sixth field goal so far this season.

Charles Thompson (Christian, El Cajon): Thompson added to his total as the San Diego Section's leading rusher as he carried 10 times for 206 yards and scored two touchdowns in a 48-14 win over Palo Verde.

Josh Tucker (Christian Brothers, Sacramento): This Falcon flew the highest in a 38-21 victory over Ponderosa of Shingle Springs. The 5-10, 195-pound senior running back went for 251 yards and two touchdowns.  Earlier this year in a win against San Joaquin Memorial of Fresno, he rushed for 328 yards.

John Uribe & Roberto Nelson (Santa Barbara): One week after setting a county passing record with 581 yards passing, Uribe was 26-of-43 for 378 yards with four touchdowns in a narrow 38-37 loss to Pacifica of Oxnard. Nelson, who just might be the best grid-hoop wide receiver in the state along with Twentynine Palms' Montreal Harris, caught nine of Uribe's passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns in a losing effort.  In last week's 51-21 victory over San Luis Obispo, Nelson gained 227 yards receiving on only six catches, including a 77-yard TD. He's gained 401 yards receiving the last two weeks while Uribe has passed for an incredible 959 yards.

Greg Watson (Rancho Cucamonga): The junior had an almost perfect night, completing 15 of 19 passes for 280 yards and 2 TDs. Not good enough? OK, he ran for two more in a 56-30 romp over Temecula Valley of Temecula.

John White (South Torrance): In a 27-7 non-league victory over Peninsula of Rolling Hills Estates, White went for 249 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 21 carries for the Spartans, which improved to 2-3 with the win.   

Randy Wright (Cardinal Newman, Santa Rosa): The Redwood Empire's newest star quarterback and Coach Paul Cronin's latest protégée put on a show as Newman made quick work of the cross-town visitors from Piner in a 49-0 blanking. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound senior quarterback, who is getting more and more D1 interest, passed for four touchdowns and ran for another. He also kicked three extra points, passed for a two-point conversion and ran for another two-pointer. He punts also, but rarely with Newman 5-0 and the top contender for the Div. III CIF State Bowl Game north berth.

Cierre Wood (Santa Clara, Oxnard): Arguably the state's top back, Wood gained 198 yards rushing, on just eight carries, with three of them going for TDs in an easy 50-8 victory over Kilpatrick of Malibu. Wood added a 12-yard touchdown reception to go with returning the opening kickoff 94 yards for a score.

Robert Woods (Serra, Gardena): The Cavaliers met up with Taft of Woodland Hills in an intersectional showdown of unbeaten clubs and Woods was a big factor in Serra's 49-13 pasting of the Toreadors. Taft trailed 14-7 at halftime, but Serra broke the game open in the third period with three unanswered touchdowns. Woods, who was recently featured in ESPNRISE.com's On the Rise video series, was a one-man wrecking crew with a 15-yard touchdown pass, a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown and two interceptions, including one he returned for a 45-yard touchdown. He also recovered a fumble for good measure. Serra's defense and did a good job of slowing down Taft's D.J. Morgan, who like Woods is one of the top juniors in the state, as he gained only 32 yards on 16 carries.     

(Since the 1980 season, when Cal-Hi Sports chronicled the feats of California prep standouts such as Santa Barbara's Randall Cunningham, Orange Glen's Sean Salisbury and Fountain Valley's Emile Harry, it's been our duty and pleasure to profile the state's top individual performers on a weekly basis. It's this kind of exclusive content and research that makes ESPN RISE CalHiSports.com the foremost authority of California prep sports. We've been profiling the state's top performers since many of their parents were in high school. This is the 29th consecutive year we will publish this feature on a weekly basis.)
 
(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. 4-6; Writeups by Ronnie Flores, Harold Abend, Paul Muyskens & Tom Shanahan)
 
 
Abraham Amerie & Andre Hutcherson (Encinal, Alameda): In the 54th Island Bowl against cross-town/island rival Alameda High, these two defensive leaders came up big in a 38-10 Jets victory. Junior linebacker Amerie had 15 tackles, and senior linebacker Hutcherson had 13 tackles with three of them
quarterback sacks.

Andrew Ayers (St. Bernard's, Eureka): The Crusaders got a win right out of the box, crushing Northern Section D5 Hayfork, 42-12, behind the running of this senior tailback. On St. Bernard's first two plays from scrimmage, Ayers had 121 yards and two touchdowns on runs of 55 and 66 yards. He finished with 259 yards on only 13 carries with five of them going for scores. His rushing yardage is the reported first week leader in the North Coast Section.

Anthony Barr (Loyola, Los Angeles): Top-notch junior rumbled for 232 yards and two touchdowns during a 23-7 season-opening victory over Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach. Former NFL great John Elway of Granada Hills High School and USC football coach Pete Carroll were on hand to watch the action. Barr's 61-yard run in the second quarter gave Loyola a 10-7 lead it would not relinquish and he added another 61-yard dash in the second half. The Cubs had sub par seasons in 2006 and 2007 but are eyeing a return to the playoffs with a strong cast that includes Barr, the son of former Notre Dame tailback Reggie Brooks and the nephew of Irish tailback Reggie Brooks.

Tyler Bernard (Valley Center): The returning All-CIF quarterback opened his senior year by completing 16-of-23 passes for 300 yards and five touchdowns and no interceptions in a 37-34 non-league win over San Pasqual. His TD tosses were 34, 22, 9, 13 and 26 yards. Bernard has a baseball scholarship from Arizona State.

Bobby Burton (Tamalpais, Mill Valley): Burton was the big reason the Red-tailed Hawks were able to get off the schnied, winning for the first time in 12 games and only the second time in 32 contests over the past four seasons. With his team trailing 19-15 at the half against a Northgate team that had defeated Tam 63-0 in last year's season opener, Burton scored his third touchdown near the end of the third quarter. The defense, including Burton playing lockdown from his cornerback position, did the rest. Besides accounting for all his team's scores, he rushed for 124 yards on 17 carries. On defense he had five tackles, three knockdowns, and broke up another three passes.   

Senen Carson (South East, South Gate): Preseason CalHiSports.com all-section back got his senior season started off on the right foot by rushing for 247 yards on only 16 carries, including a 99-yarder, in a 43-0 blanking of North Hollywood. Carson's 99-yard bolt will make him the first athlete ever from the new school to be added to our state record book. His coach Roger Satti thinks Carson can rush for 3,000 yards this season, which would also put him in our record book and make him the L.A. City Section's single season rushing record holder.     

Ryan Cochrane (San Marcos, Mission Hills): The Knights' running back/defensive back scored five touchdowns with four running the ball and one on a 40-yard interception return in a 69-12 win over San Ysidro. His four touchdown runs came on only 12 carries for 118 yards.

Demario Coleman (Oceanside): Oceanside always seems to re-load at wide receiver, and Coleman replaced two graduated all-section receivers by catching eight balls for 139 yards in the Pirates' 26-23 win over Eastlake of Chula Vista.

Jordan Del Biaggio (Ferndale): Defending CIFNCS Class A champion Ferndale and longtime coach Kim Jorgensen always have a bull type running back as a linchpin for the Wildcats punishing ground game and this year Del Biaggio is that back. In Ferndale's season opening 31-14 victory over East Nicolaus of Nicolaus of the Northern Section, the 6-1, 190-pounder put four touchdowns on the board and ran for 153 yards on 24 carries.

Joe Durantini (Campolindo, Moraga): This 6-2, 235-pound two-way lineman is the early leader in the NCS in tackles after making 18 in a 35-22 season opening victory against Livermore.

Cain Flores (Buena Park): Scored touchdowns on both sides of the ball in the Coyotes' 40-0 win over Bassett of La Puente as he scored three rushing touchdowns and gained 138 yards on the ground. He also helped prevent the shutout by intercepting a tipped pass and taking it 99-yards the other way
for a touchdown.

Tate Forcier (Scripps Ranch, San Diego): He rallied the Falcons from deficits of 28-7 in the second quarter and  41-19 at halftime, but Scripps Ranch fell 54-41 to Poway. The Michigan-bound quarterback finished with 370 yards of total offense with 282 passing and 88 rushing. Forcier completed 20-of-32 passes with one touchdown toss and carried 12 times for 88 yards and three rushing TDS.

DeWayne Gatti (Bonita, La Verne): Senior standout picked off four passes in the Bearcats' 53-26 season-opening victory over Covina.  

Jose Guzman (Norwalk): Rumbled for 220 yards and two touchdowns during a 65-20 victory over Montebello in the coaching debut of Jesse Ceniceros. There was a lot more to this performance than that as Guzman's teammate Ray Craig added 184 yards and four touchdowns while Julio Macias contributed 149 yards and two six-pointers. In all, Norwalk rushed for 665 yards and eight touchdowns, with the reported yardage total good enough to land on the all-time single game state list for team rushing yards, although the total needs to be verified before it can be officially added since another newspaper account had Norwalk rushing for 458 yards on the ground, but with Guzman carrying the ball 10 times for 250 yards. Either way, it looks like Ceniceros' double-wing offense had both Montebello and the statisticians fooled. The reported state record is the 736 yards Downey Life Christian gained in a 52-0 win over Twin Pine of Banning back in 1992.

Cody Jackson (Serra, San Mateo): Senior signal caller Jackson and his teammates warmed up for their meeting with state No. 1 De La Salle this coming Saturday by blowing out Westmont (Campbell), 56-0, with the quarterback doing most of the damage. Jackson rushed for 113 yards and three touchdowns on a mere six carries. He also only threw five passes but completed four for 111 yards. His TDs came on runs of 4, 40, and 50 yards.

Ken Johnston & Andrew Melendez (Carmel): This passing and receiving duo lit up the scoreboard in a 42-28 Padres victory over St. Francis of Watsonville. Senior quarterback Johnston was 19-of-31 for 327 yards and five touchdowns. Four of those scoring strikes went to speedy wide receiver Melendez who caught a total of 10 passes for 262 yards with a 72-yard touchdown as his longest catch of the day. Both players totals led the opening week of reported stats in the CCS.

Leon Jones (San Fernando): Caught four passes for 118 yards from all-city QB Rashaad Reynolds, including a 24-yard touchdown to open the scoring in an eventual 13-6 victory over Venice. Jones also slowed down the Gondos' offense by intercepting two passes on defense.

Cameron Marshall (Valley Christian, San Jose): Last year's WCAL Back of the Year not only did it on offense but defense as well in the Warriors' come from behind 22-13 win over last year's CIF Div. II state bowl runner-up Novato. Running the ball, Marshall gained 176 yards on 22 carries with one touchdown. His score came on a 59-yard scamper through and around several would be tacklers that put VC up for good at 12-7 with 18 seconds remaining in the first half. He also caught four passes for 29 yards. On defense from his linebacker position he was instrumental in shutting down the Hornets
running game and finished with 12 tackles.

Corey Nielsen (Gahr, Cerritos): The state's returning passing leader (4,360 yards) got his senior season started off in grand fashion as he led the Gladiators to a 33-30 victory over Millikan of Long Beach. Nielson also tossed five touchdowns, including the game-winner to Aaron Bradley. Bradley caught three of Nielson's touchdown passes in the three-point win.   

TeRhon O'Neal (Harvard-Westlake, North Hollywood): O'Neal proved his was the "real deal" by rushing for 249 yards on 18 carries in a 41-0 intersectional victory over Franklin of Los Angeles. Included in his barrage was three touchdowns, including a 58-yard gallop.  

Adrian Pacheco (Selma): After one game this 5-9, 190-pound senior running back is the reported leading rusher in the Central Section. Last week in a 26-0 whitewash by the Bears over Roosevelt of Fresno, he ran for an even 250 yards on 19 carries and scored all four of his team's touchdowns, including an 86-yard run to paydirt.

Calvin Pruitt (Reedley): The Pirates have someone who literally carried the load this past week. In a season opening 14-13 victory over Lemoore, Pruitt had both scores and ended up grinding out 227 yards rushing from his tailback position.

Nick Ricciardulli (Poway): The under-sized senior running back came up big again as he carried 26 times for 194 yards and three touchdowns in the Titans' 54-21 win over Scripps Ranch. Ricciardulli was a
first-team all-section pick last year for the CIF San Diego Section Div. I champions.

Tyrone Richardson (West Valley, Hemet): Scored two touchdowns in the first half on offense and then added two more touchdowns in the second half on special teams with a 60-yard punt return and a 89-yard kickoff return in a 57-8 win over Firebaugh of Lynwood.

Maurice Rodriguez (Temescal Canyon, Lake Elsinore): Scored five touchdowns and rushed for 190 yards on 41 carries in the Titans' 42-20 season opening win over the Corona Panthers.

Leslie Rogers (Point Loma, San Diego): Rogers is another one of San Diego's Super Sophs that has graduated to his junior year by carrying 24 times for 290 yards and three touchdowns in the Pointers' 29-26 win over Monte Vista. He scored on runs of 2, 82 and 39 yards. He had four 100-yard rushing games as a sophomore.

Lamont Rowe (St. Anthony, Long Beach): Played a fine all-around game in a 47-7 victory over Amino of Inglewood. This dual-threat, two-way QB passed for four touchdowns and scored another on the ground while accounting for 185 yards of offense. On defense, he added three interceptions, including a 26-yard return for another touchdown.  

Jessie Scroggins (Lakewood): After his team fell behind by two touchdowns against L.A. City Section power Crenshaw, Scroggins made all the right moves in the second half and led his team to a 42-34 come-from-behind victory. He completed 21 of 32 passes for 321 yards and four touchdowns, including a 19-yarder to Tofi Tiedemann that gave his team a 35-34 lead it wouldn't relinquish.  

Cody Shirreffs (Taft): This solidly built 5-11, 205-pound running back who is also a punishing tackler from his linebacker position, dominated both sides of the ball in a 28-3 Wildcat victory over Templeton. He accumulated 158 yards rushing on 26 carries and scored three of his team's four touchdowns. On defense he had 12 tackles.  

Kenny Stills (La Costa Canyon, Carlsbad): The junior wide receiver/defensive back, the son of a former NFL safety of the same name, opened up big out the gate with eight catches for 183 yards in
the Mavericks' 42-27 win over Dixie High of St. George, Utah. He had touchdown catches of 46, 21 and 47 yards.

Josh Strauss (Tehachapi): This 6-0 175-pound running back, who is also an excellent cover player from his defensive back position, was the main reason the Warriors were victorious in a game that celebrated the school's 80th anniversary. Senior Strauss ground out 160 yards rushing on 25 carries with one touchdown in a 17-12 victory over Segerstrom of Santa Ana.

Ben Sussman (King's Academy, Sunnyvale): The buzz around Santa Clara County and the rest of the Bay Area is Kings Academy is a leading contender for the title in the CCS Small School Division this season after coming over from the NCS. Besides having a strong defense it looks like they will put some
points on the board. Senior tailback Sussman got it done in the Knights' season opening 47-10 victory over Fremont (Sunnyvale), rushing for 214 yards on only seven carries with three touchdowns.

Erwin Taliaoa (Overfelt, San Jose): The Royals won their opener over cross-town rival Lynbrook and the main reason for the 26-19 victory was the rushing of this 5-11, 180-pound senior running back. Taliaoa found the end zone twice and his 229 yards on 18 carries is the early opening reported
total in the Central Coast Section.

Demario Webb (Barstow): In an offensive showcase Friday night between Barstow and Highland of Palmdale, it was Webb who shined the brightest as he rushed for four touchdowns and 257 yards while also throwing a 75-yard touchdown to his brother Curtis. Damario's four touchdowns came on runs of
33,40,69 and 41 yards.

Robert Woods (Serra, Gardena): Teams may want to avoid kicking Woods the ball this season, as he scored on a 45-yard punt return and a 75-yard kickoff for the Cavaliers. Scored a final touchdown on a 13-yard pass in the fourth quarter of the 56-21 win over Silverado of Victorville.

Jordan Wynn (Oceanside): The Colorado-bound quarterback led San Diego's No. 1-ranked team to a 26-23 win over Eastlake despite his team's penalties and turnovers. Wynn, who earned All-CIFSDS honors as a junior, had trouble with his center with four fumbled snaps, but that didn't stop him from completing 19-of-32 passes for 280 yards and one touchdown without an interception.

Desarte Yarnway (Sacred Heart Cathedral, San Francisco): This senior 6-1, 200-pound punishing running back wasted little time showing why he's the hottest unsigned recruit at his position in the Bay Area. In a 50-0 rout of Santa Cruz, Yarnway outgained the entire offense of the visitors to Kezar Stadium. He had 100 yards rushing in the first quarter alone, finishing with 214 yards on 16 carries, including touchdown runs of 4, 13, and 35 yards. He scored a fourth TD on his only reception of the game, a 52-yard screen pass from quarterback Tim Brophy.

Tim Zier (Escondido): The junior running back scored five touchdowns on a punt return of 71 yards, a 1-yard run, a 51-yard run, an 11-yard run and 36-yard run in a 70-0 win over Calexico. All of his scores came in the first two quarters as the Cougars led 56-0 at halftime.