State Stat Stars of the Week

Matt Ringer had another big outing for Central Catholic of Modesto in its win over Ripon. He could be playing that team in the background of this photo (McClymonds of Oakland) in the CIF Northern California Division IV bowl game. Photo: Harold Abend.

As has been customary for many years, we collect the state stat stars in support of the Cal-Hi Sports State Record Book & Almanac. The book has been published seven times (the most recent, though, was 2009) and is as official as a state record book can be since no other exists. To report a State Stat Star of the Week of your own, please email details to markjtennis@gmail.com.

Note: All football state records are in the process of being added to this web site. To join our Gold Club today, please CLICK HERE.

Thanks to Paul Muyskens, Harold Abend, Ronnie Flores and CIF Central Section historian Bob Barnett for contributing items this week. This honor roll is for games played from Nov. 28 to Nov. 30.

Southern California Player of the Week
Matt Byer (Oak Park, Agoura Hills)

The senior receiver had 14 catches for 294 yards and two touchdowns in Oak Park’s wild-and-wacky 59-40 loss to El Segundo in the CIF Southern Section Northwest Division semifinals. For the season, Byer ended with 100 catches for 1,929 yards and 30 TDs.

Byer’s two TD catches against El Segundo also gives him a new CIFSS record, breaking the previous record total of 29 set first in 1970 by John McKay Jr. of Bishop Amat and tied in 1999 by Earvin Johnson from Cathedral of Los Angeles. Matt fell three short of the state record of 33 set in 2011 by Deontay Greenberry from Washington Union of Easton.

Izzy Matthews scored five TDs in the CIF Northern Section Division I final.

The junior running back is a powerful runner who should receive D1 college offers next season. In a 40-14 win by Enterprise over Paradise in the CIF Northern Section Division I championship game, Matthews ended with 34 carries for 230 yards and five touchdowns. He also made a nice over-the-shoulder catch on a 31-yard pass play.

In the regular season, Matthews was among the leaders in Northern California with 1,537 yards and 23 TDs. Enterprise (12-0) won its second straight section title and could be playing in the CIF Division II Northern California bowl game.

RECORD BOOK TRACKER

Segura close to career TD record

*The Edgar Segura of Mendota record watch continues one more week against Liberty Madera Ranchos for the CIF Central Section Division 5 championship.  According to Central Section historian Bob Barnett, Edgar has 732 carries, 7,766 yards, 134 touchdowns, and 881 points for his career. Segura will going for two more section records and one state record this week. He has scored 54 touchdowns for the season, tied with Kenney James of Dos Palos in 2001 and has 3,197 rushing yards for the season and needs 200 yards to break Ryan Mathews of West Bakersfield’s season record of 3,396 yards set in 2005.

And with four more touchdowns against Liberty, he will break the state record of 137 career touchdowns that was set by Lorenzo Booker of St. Bonaventure from 1999 to 2001.

Wild night on the Monterey Peninsula

*After the game, Luke Lowell of Pacific Grove was pretty pumped, and so were the senior quarterback’s teammates, Jake Speed and Jason Leach, after they helped put it all together in a 77-53 Breakers’ victory over Carmel that propels them into the CIFCCS Division IV title game. In fact, Lowell passed for a career-high 319 yards with two touchdowns. Speed sped his way to six TDs, four on the ground to go with 136 yards rushing, plus he caught both of Lowell’s scoring passes. Running back Leach ran for 206 yards and four scores, with six tackles as a linebacker. The Breakers had over 500 yards of offense in the first half and finished with 733 yards of total offense. The 77 points ties the CCS record for most points in a playoff game and the 130 combined points is a new CCS record. Holden Smith of Carmel scored five TDs three different ways and finished with 82 touchdowns for his career. Three of his scores came rushing, one receiving, and one on a 93-yard kick-off return.

PASSING

Brett Hollingsworth (Citrus Hill, Perris)
He was nearly perfect passing the ball he completed 25 of his 28 pass attempts for 470 yards and five touchdowns as the Hawks defeated Moreno Valley 60-10 in the CIFSS Eastern Division semifinals. Jacoby Herring was his leading target as he caught seven passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns. Citrus Hill (12-1) will meet Norte Vista of Riverside in this weekend’s final.

Jake Browning (Folsom)
Named on Thursday as the Gatorade State Player of the Year, Browning was surprisingly held to just one touchdown pass but he did complete 32 of his 43 pass attempts for 383 yards while also running for two touchdowns as the Bulldogs defeated Jesuit of Carmichael 42-35 in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I semifinals. Browning’s season totals now stand at 5,093 yards and 69 TDs for the season. He should break the state single-season yardage record he set at 5,248 yards one year ago. He’s already No. 3 on the all-time career passing list and if the Bulldogs go all the way to the CIF Open Division state bowl game he could threaten the state record of 11,022 set in 2005 by Michael Herrick of Valencia.

Sam Metcalf (Farmersville)
Congratulations to coach David Lewis and the Farmersville team for winning the school’s first Central Section championship with a 47-35 win over Strathmore in the D6 final. Metcalf had a stellar game by passing for 372 yards on 20 of 31 and had five touchdowns. Teammate senior Anthony Azevedo also became the school’s first 1,000-yard rusher.

Drew Anderson (Miramonte, Orinda)
It seems like it was just another day at the office for the Mats’ 6-foot-4, 192-pound senior quarterback. He didn’t throw for six TDs like he did two weeks ago, but he did go over the 300-yard mark for the sixth time this season after passing for 355 yards and three touchdowns in a NCS Division II semifinal 44-38 upset on the road at Concord Clayton Valley. The NCS leading passer now has 3,635 yards and 42 TDs this season heading into Saturday night’s title game with Petaluma Casa Grande.

Morgan Mahalak (Marin Catholic, Kentfield)
With the state’s top D3 team blowing away opponents in running clock games, the Oregon-bound dual threat quarterback has been yanked in traditional MC style. The result is he finally made this feature after playing into the early fourth quarter for the first time in 10 weeks. In a 48-20 win over Sebastopol Analy in the CIFNCS D3 semifinals, “Mo” as he’s called, passed for 307 yards and four TDs and rushed for 124 yards and a fifth score on a 52-yard keeper.

RECEIVING

Nick Karsseboom (El Segundo)
While Oak Park’s Matt Byer was setting history in the annals of CIF Southern Section football with his 14-reception, 294-yard performance and 30-touchdown reception season, it was Karsseboom’s three touchdown catches that propelled Gundo to its first CIFSS final with a 59-40 victory. In the high-scoring CIFSS Northwest Division semifinal, Karsseboom finished with four receptions for 219 yards. He also intercepted a pass on defense. In the section final, El Segundo will take on Nordhoff of Ojai, its fourth consecutive Tri-Valley League playoff opponent.

Darryl Denby (Vista Murrieta, Murrieta)
Coltin Gerhart was looking his way during the Broncos’ 56-19 win over Norco as he caught six passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns while also returning a punt 81 yards for a score. Denby and his team will now meet Centennial of Corona on Friday for the CIFSS Inland Division title.

Watch Varsity Roundup at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays on Channel 354 in L.A. and on Channel 825 in San Diego.

Tre Watson (Centennial, Corona)
We’ve mentioned this earlier in the week but we couldn’t not list him here after rushing for 519 yards and six touchdowns on 40 carries as the Huskies defeated Upland 86-56 in the CIFSS Inland Division semifinals. This total will put him in the top five of the all time single-game rushing performances in state history.

Austin Clark (West Valley, Cottonwood)
Most weeks this would be the top performance of the weekend as Austin rushed for 404 yards and six touchdowns on 28 carries as the Eagles defeated Central Valley of Shasta Lake 56-28 in the CIF Northern Section Division II championship game. Austin may not be done, either, as West Valley appears to be in the mix for the D3 North bowl game, although a loss by Hilmar to Central Catholic of Modesto is no doubt required.

Joseph Mayorga (San Dimas)
With a trip to the CIFSS Mid-Valley Division championship game on the line, he carried the ball 16 times and rushed for 337 yards and four touchdowns as the Saints defeated Arroyo of El Monte 61-28. Teammate Fausto Martinez also had a good night as he ran for 215 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries.

Sheldon Croney (Garces, Bakersfield)
The junior running back led his team over host Kingsburg with 274 yards on 34 carries and scored two touchdowns on runs of 75, 59 yards in a 32-14 win in a Division II playoff game.

Patrick Laird (Mission Prep, San Luis Obispo)
It was a week of big section semifinal rushing performances and he was another one who racked up the yards on the ground. Laird carried 30 times for 258 yards and four touchdowns as the Royals advanced to the CIFSS Northeast Division championship game with a 51-30 win over Desert of Edwards. They will play Salesian of Los Angeles.

Melquise Stovall (Paraclete, Lancaster)
He rushed 31 times for 227 yards and two touchdowns to help his team pull off a 22-21 upset victory over three-time defending CIFSS Mid-Valley Division champion Monrovia in the semifinals. So far this season, Stovall has rushed for 2,012 yards and 33 touchdowns.

Damion Wright (Jurupa Hills, Fontana)
The junior quarterback ran with the ball 28 times and rushed for 220 yards and two touchdowns as the Spartans defeated Western Christian of Upland 40-39 in the CIFSS East Valley Division semifinals.

Felipe Meza (Salesian, Los Angeles)
Just a sophomore, he more then did his part to make sure the seniors on the team would get to play another game as he rushed for 202 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries as the Mustangs defeated Rio Hondo Prep of Arcadia 35-20 in the CIFSS Northeast Division semifinals.

Matt Ringer (Central Catholic, Modesto)
The Raiders continued their march to Carson with a 38-7 win over Ripon in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV semifinals. Ringer carried 32 times for 202 yards and three touchdowns.

Sionne Masoe (Garden Grove)
The Argonauts remained undefeated and advanced to the CIFSS Southern Division champioship game opposite unbeaten Corona del Mar with a 49-27 win against Irvine as he carried the ball 22 times for 201 yards and four touchdowns.

Joey Wood (Los Gatos)
The Wildcats have been laying some wood as a team, but no one has been laying more wood than Wood. After going for 313 yards and six TDs in a win two weeks ago over North Salinas, Wood did a little less chopping this week. The 5-foot-11, 220-pound bruiser went for 213 yards and four TDs in a 35-6 CCS Division II semifinal victory over Atherton Menlo-Atherton. Wood now has a pile to the tune of 1,827 yards and 27 TDs this season.

Elijah Porchia (Mission Oak, Tulare)
He became the ninth player from the Central Section to surpass 5,000 yards for his career, when he rushed for 192 yards on 19 carries in a 47-7 win by his team against Wasco. He now has 5,184 yards.  He also scored four touchdowns on runs of 12, 69, 39, and 30 yards to raise his career total to 82.

ALL-PURPOSE

Rashaad Penny (Norwalk)
He continued his incredible campaign with another monster performance to help the unbeaten Lancers advance to the CIFSS Southeast Division title game vs. La Serna of Whittier. Penny’s fifth touchdown, and two-point conversion, clinched Norwalk’s come-from-behind 35-28 win over talented Muir of Pasadena on the road. Penny finished the game with 321 yards rushing on 27 carries, including jaunts of 92, 79 and 65 yards. For the season, he has 2,380 yards rushing, 49 total touchdowns, and 3,205 all-purpose yards.

Cristian Solano (San Fernando)
This campus leader and jack of all trades was at it again in the Tigers’ 24-14 L.A. City Section Division II semifinal victory over Chatsworth. Solano scored the insurance touchdown with 3:37 remaining in the game. Solano finished with 255 yards passing (13 of 21) and rushed for 132 yards on 19 carries for the unbeaten Tigers. San Fernando will play upstart South Gate for the Division II title on Friday at East Los Angeles College. So far, Solano has accounted for 64 touchdowns for the unbeaten Tigers, who would be a viable team on the board for a Division II SoCal bowl berth with a win over the Rams.

Connor Wingenroth (Hart, Newhall)
He continued his post-season tear by scoring five touchdowns in Hart’s 42-7 victory over West Torrance in the CIFSS Northern Division semifinals. He caught a touchdown pass and rushed for 164 yards and four scores on 14 carries.

John Porchivina (Casa Grande, Petaluma)
Despite him being pretty much under our noses, somehow we missed the big fella in early November when he rushed for a school record 301 yards and three TDs in a win over Windsor. This past week we didn’t miss him, but visiting Montgomery (Santa Rosa) wished they had. In a CIFNCS Division II semifinal 42-13 victory, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound running back and linebacker rushed for 201 yards and four touchdowns, including a 72-yarder, plus he had an 80-yard pick six and nine tackles with two for loss on defense.

Josh Davis (St. Margaret’s, San Juan Capistrano)
Not only did he pass for 175 yards and a touchdown but he also rushed for 148 yards and four touchdowns as the Tartans advanced to the CIFSS East Valley Division championship game with a 35-28 win over Big Bear of Big Bear Lake.

KICKING

Devon Medeiros (Hilmar)
If it weren’t for two field goals by Medeiros, Hilmar might have been upset by Center of Antelope in last week’s CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV semifinal. Instead, Medeiros made bombs of 37 and 56 yards and the Yellowjackets won 19-15. The 56-yard boot was officially confirmed by Hilmar statkeeper Steve Mitchell. That’s just two yards short of the section record and is enough to get Medeiros’ name into the state record book.

DEFENSE

Jack Onstott (Cathedral Catholic, San Diego)
While an interception return for a touchdown alone isn’t normally something that will get you listed here it’s when this junior linebacker did it as he intercepted a pass and returned it 98 yards for the game-winning touchdown in triple overtime of the CIF San Diego Section Division I championship game as the Dons defeated San Pasqual of Escondido 37-31 on Monday night.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Malachi Hoosein (Cerritos)
Not shy to jack up the ball from beyond the arc, he hit 10 three-pointers on 23 attempts on his way to finish with 50 points in the Gladiators’ 91-62 win over Bell on Wednesday.

Derick Newton (Harvard-Westlake, North Hollywood)
Earlier this week, the Wolverines opened their season with a 70-66 win over Palisades as he led the way with 37 points and nine rebounds.

Stanley Johnson (Mater Dei, Santa Ana)
One of the early favorites to take home lots of state and national honors this season, Stanley started his senior season with a pair of 30-point games, including Wednesday against Trabuco Hills as he scored 31 points and had 10 rebounds during the Monarchs’ 77-48 win.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Caila Hailey (Serra, Gardena)
In the season opener for the Cavaliers, she scored 35 points as state-ranked Serra defeated Peninsula 86-77 in overtime.

Latecia Smith (Narbonne, Harbor City)
Outscoring Nogales of La Puente on her own, she scored 34 points during a 99-23 win at the Brea Olinda Tournament.

Ali Engelhardt (Mt. Carmel, San Diego)
Starting the season with back-to-back impressive double-doubles, she scored 33 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in the season opener before scoring 28 points and grabbing 14 rebounds during a 56-45 win over Mater Dei Catholic of Chula Vista on Wednesday.

Brittni Scott (Lawndale)
It may be early in the season but she did it all in the Cardinals’ 57-29 win over John Glenn of Norwalk at the South El Monte Tournament. She scored 18 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and had 10 steals.

Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter: @CalHiSports