SoCal/NorCal Players of the Week

Two of this week’s six honorees are QB Blake Barnett of Corona Santiago (left) and DB Cutrell Haywood from Stockton Stagg. Photos: Tom Hauck/Student Sports & Mark Tennis.

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 Southern California
Offensive Player of the Week

Blake Barnett (Santiago, Corona) Sr.
This Under-Armour All-American and Elite 11 MVP already was going to be hard to forget once he heads to Alabama but he made sure his name will go into the Cal-Hi Sports state record book with his performance last Friday night during a 49-35 road win against King of Riverside. Not only did he complete 27 of his 38 pass attempts for 491 yards and three touchdowns but he also was a threat running the football as he rushed for 42 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. Barnett is regarded by some as the top QB prospect in the state for this season and now will be listed in state record book for most yards passing in a game with some of the others in that discussion as well.

Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Defensive Player of the Week

Isaiah Armstrong (Redlands East Valley) Sr.
Already with a two-interception game from earlier this season, Armstrong doubled that performance during a 35-0 win over Cajon of San Bernardino. He intercepted four passes on the night, which would be the best reported single-game total of the season for the state if not for this week’s NorCal defensive honoree. Armstrong also finished just one short of the CIF Southern Section record for 11-man football. For the season, Armstrong now has seven interceptions for the season plus a fumble recovery and has helped the Wildcats win five games in a row.

Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Special Teams Player of the Week

Jake Bailey (Santa Fe Christian, Solana Beach) Sr.
Showing why once this season is done he will be kicking at Stanford next season, Bailey scored a season-high 15 points with his leg as the Eagles defeated Horizon Christian Academy of San Diego 51-33. For the second time this season, he was a perfect 6-for-6 on extra point attempts while he also was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goal attempts which included a 54-yard field goal for the second week in a row. For the season, Bailey is 19-for-20 on extra point attempts while kicking nine field goals on 13 attempts.

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Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Offensive Player of the Week

Christian Silva (Tennyson, Hayward) Jr.
In a game that was three points away from tying the state record for combined points, there were tons of big numbers that will go down in the record books, but Silva’s were the best as he led the Lancers to a 85-77 win over Castro Valley in overtime. On the night, he completed 15 of 19 passes for 304 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for 260 yards and three more touchdowns on 18 carries. Earlier this season, he also had a game in which he passed for 293 yards and six touchdowns while his previous season-best rushing total came during a 42-42 tie against Mt. Eden of Hayward. In that game, Silva rushed for 233 yards and five touchdowns.

Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Defensive Player of the Week

Cutrell Haywood (Stagg, Stockton) Soph.
It only took two games as a varsity player for Haywood to make a name for himself. In Stagg’s 55-20 win last week over McNair of Stockton, the 5-foot-10, 175-pound sophomore came up big with four interceptions on defense and three touchdown catches on offense. Haywood’s four interceptions for one game would have been the reported best for the state so far this season but also was the same total for our SoCal Defensive Player of the Week. “He’s just a very special player who can do great things if he keeps his grades up and keeps working at it,” said Stagg head coach Don Norton. “You should look at the film. On one of his touchdowns, he tipped the ball to himself.” Haywood was asked on Monday whether he liked offense or defense best. “Both,” he replied. “It’s just fun making plays.”

Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Special Teams Player of the Week

Elijah Lucy (Emery, Emeryville) Sr.
Catching four passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns alone doesn’t jump out at you but then you see what else he’s done this season as a kick returner it sure does. In a 52-6 win against Woodland Christian, Lucy filled up the stat sheet with an interception on defense and he also found the end zone on a 85-yard punt return. It was reportedly Lucy’s fourth kick return touchdown of the season, which included three in one game against Woodland Christian of Woodland. In that outing, he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and a punt for six points.

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