Sophomore quarterback Phillip Tran is out to an outstanding start for his sophomore season as the starter at Fremont of Sunnyvale. Photo: QuickCycle Photo LLC.
Presented by Le Boulanger, we are starting a new feature highlighting the most outstanding players from the South Bay/Peninsula region of the CIF Central Coast Section. The first three honorees are Phillip Tran from Fremont of Sunnyvale, Daniel Dunham from Valley Christian of San Jose and Kelepi Lataimua from Serra of San Mateo. CLICK HERE for details on how South Bay/Peninsula football fans can win 2 free San Francisco 49ers tickets.
For details on San Francisco 49ers ticket giveaway at Levi’s Stadium, CLICK HERE
Le Boulanger South Bay/Peninsula
Offensive Player of the Week
Philip Tran (Fremont, Sunnyvale) Soph.
Our first Le Boulanger Offensive Player of the Week comes from a school that’s just a stone’s throw from the location on 305 N. Mathilda Avenue in Sunnyvale.
One of the neat things about a new feature like this is we get to dig deep and find some underclass talent to highlight and honor, and that’s exactly the case with Tran.
Although just a sophomore, Tran has guided the Firebirds to a 2-0 start this season. Last week, in a 35-14 victory over over visiting Monta Vista of Cupertino, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound quarterback was 15-of-23 for 236 yards and two touchdowns. He also had five carries for 112 yards rushing and a third score.
So far this season, according to MaxPreps.com stats, he has 401 yards passing and five TDs with no interceptions for a 129.4 quarterback rating.
Le Boulanger South Bay/Peninsula
Defensive Player of the Week
Dan Dunham (Valley Christian, San Jose) Sr.
The Valley Christian offense with the Texas-committed Johnson brothers, senior Kirk and junior Collin, usually get all the props, but not this week as the team’s 265-pound defensive tackle snags this honor.
Dunham was in the opposing backfield frequently during last week’s 41-14 victory by the Warriors over crosstown public school rival Oak Grove.
The big fella and all-West Catholic Athletic League honoree from last season had one sack, five tackles with three other tackles for losses to help thwart the Eagles.
Kelepi Lataimua is about to score for Serra against Del Oro of Loomis during 2013 Northern California Division I bowl game. Photo: SerraHS.com.
Le Boulanger South Bay/Peninsula
Special Teams Player of the Week
Kelepi Lataimua (Serra, San Mateo) Jr.
Like our offensive selection, the inaugural Le Boulanger South Bay/Peninsula Special Teams Player of the Week is from a school just blocks away from a Le Boulanger location, this one at 62 E. 4th Avenue in San Mateo.
Generally regarded as one of the top all-around players on the Peninsula, the 5-foot-8, 185-pound junior running back, defensive back and punter has played well despite the team losing to De La Salle of Concord and highly-regarded Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks to open the season.
For details on S.F. 49ers ticket giveaway for Levi’s Stadium, CLICK HERE
In two games, Lataimua has averaged 38 yards per punt and has put three of them inside the 20-yard line. In the loss to Notre Dame, he also rushed for a touchdown and caught five passes, and on defense he had a batted pass.
Against De La Salle, Lataimua had 12 tackles (11 solo) and if that isnt enough Lataimua also returns kickoffs and punts. With senior star Kava Cassidy out with a broken collar bone, Lataimua could become very important to Serra’s attack the rest of the season.
Note: To send in nominations for next week’s Le Boulanger South Bay/Peninsula Players of the Week, send info to markjtennis@gmail.com or to marketingharoldabend@gmail.com. Please include usable photo if possible as well, which means not from a newspaper or major national website.
Harold Abend is the associate editor of CalHiSports.com and the vice president of the California Prep Sportswriters Association. He can be reached at marketingharoldabend@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter: @HaroldAbend
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
