Two of this week’s state honorees are receiver Cole Thompson (left) of Folsom and linebacker Matt Locher (right) of Los Alamitos. Photos: SportStars Magazine & GriffinHoops.com.
Only one is named from each region for offense, defense and special teams and we’re going to do our best to spread it around as much as possible. This week’s honors go to Folsom, Sacramento, Madera, Moreno Valley, Los Alamitos and Arroyo Grande.
Note: For purposes of this feature, we are considering the CIF Central Section to be in the north.
To nominate a player for next week, email markjtennis@gmail.com by Monday at 12 noon and be sure to include a photo that we can use (which means it’s not from the local newspaper or from another web site). Please feel free to call at 209-463-9050 as well both for nominations or to see if your business or small company would like to become a sponsor for this weekly content. Thanks to Stockton office assistant Paul Muyskens for contributing to these selections and writeups.
Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Offensive Player of the Week
Cole Thompson (Folsom) Sr.
With just 10 catches last season for 212 yards and five touchdowns, Cole wasn’t the guy we expected to be the leading target for record-breaking QB Jake Browning this season, but he sure has turned out to be exactly that and is having a monster season so far for the Bulldogs. Thompson caught six passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns in the first half of the Folsom’s 56-6 win over Pleasant Grove of Elk Grove last Friday night. In their season opening win against Cathedral Catholic of San Diego, he had 10 catches for 193 yards and four touchdowns and now on the season has 21 receptions for 554 yards and 11 touchdowns. According to MaxPreps, his 11 touchdown catches leads the state and has him on pace to break the state record for touchdown catches in a season, which is 33 while he also is one of several receivers on pace to break the state record for receiving yards in a season.
Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Defensive Player of the Week
Lonny Powell (Sacramento) Sr.
An easy selection to our preseason All Sac-Joaquin Section team due to the huge impact he has on both sides of the ball, Powell was a beast on defense during the Dragons’ 31-25 win last week over Vista del Lago of Folsom. Powell, who has committed to Cal, charged in for five sacks from his linebacking position and also had 11 tackles with one fumble recovery. On offense, the 6-foot-1, 230-pounder also rushed for 74 yards and one TD and had one reception.
Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Special Teams Player of the Week
Evan Rios (Madera) Jr.
Just a junior, he scored 10 points with his leg as he kicked two field goals, including a 50-yarder, while going a perfect 4 for 4 on extra points as the Coyotes moved to 3-0 with a 42-29 win over Reedley. Rios made his other field goal from 37 yards out and has gone 15-for-15 so far this season on PATs.
Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Offensive Player of the Week
Jamal Scott (Rancho Verde, Moreno Valley) Jr.
While Mustang QB Sheriron Jones is the more well known name (due to being an Elite 11 finals participant and a Florida commit), it was this talented back who earns our weekly honor for SoCal after rushing for 277 yards and six touchdowns during a 69-21 win over Great Oak of Temecula to ruin Great Oak’s homecoming night. Jones had a nice game as well with 267 yards passing and two touchdowns while also running for a score. Scott is starting for the first time at Rancho Verde and also has rushed for more than 150 yards in another outing. He is a 5-foot-11, 190-pounder and will be a player to watch for head coach Pete Duffy’s program over the next two seasons.
Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Defensive Player of the Week
Matt Locher (Los Alamitos) Sr.
Coach John Barnes has to be thrilled to have this 6-foot-3, 250-pound linebacker back after missing all of last year with a knee injury. Locher, a preseason All-Orange County pick, was credited with 26 tackles last weekend when the Griffins moved to 2-0 on the season with a narrow 17-16 win over an Eastlake of Chula Vista squad that reached the CIF San Diego Section Open Division semifinals last season. Locher also played on offense as he rushed for 38 yards and a touchdown on eight carries. And as you can tell from the photo above, Matt also has played on Los Al’s varsity basketball team.
Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Special Teams Player of the Week
Cole Ramey (Arroyo Grande) Sr.
His kicking leg got a good workout during the Eagles’ 41-7 win over St. Joseph of Santa Maria. Ramey, one of the top-ranked kickers in the state, went a perfect 5-for-5 on extra points and 2-for-2 on field goals with a long of 47 yards. Six of his eight kickoffs also reached the end zone for touchbacks while two of his punts went at least 50 yards. On the season so far, Ramey has kicked 14 extra points and is a perfect 4 for 4 on field goal attempts.
Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports
