NorCal/SoCal Players of the Week

Two of this week’s honorees are QB Patrick O’Brien from San Juan Hills and RB/DB/KR Tyran Daniels from Downey of Modesto. Photo: OCSidelines.com & Hudl.com.

Note: For purposes of this feature, we are considering the CIF Central Section to be in the north.

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Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Offensive Player of the Week

Unique Perez (Cordova, Rancho Cordova) Sr.

It would be easy to say his performance during a 52-46 win over Foothill of Sacramento last Friday was far from ordinary. Unique combined for seven total touchdowns in the win.

Throwing the football, he was 29 of 40 for 435 yards and five touchdowns while also rushing for 49 yards and two touchdowns.

Last year as a junior for the Lancers, Perez passed for 1,659 yards and 16 touchdowns and has nearly matched that already this season. In five games (Cordova is 3-2), he has passed for 1,517 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Defensive Player of the Week

Tyran Daniels (Downey, Modesto) Sr.

For the second week in a row, this returning all-league defensive back intercepted a pass and he now has three on the year after also making six solo tackles during a 42-6 win over Beyer of Modesto.

In helping Downey improve to 4-1, Daniels also shined in other facets of the game. On special teams, he blocked a punt while on offense he carried three times for 70 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Artsy image of Cole Beaty adorns his CollegeLevelAthletes.com profile page.

Cole Beaty (Centennial, Bakersfield) Jr.

We rarely pick a player from a team that didn’t win, but with Beaty we couldn’t resist. In Centennial’s upset bid against state-ranked and Central Section leader Clovis, Beaty returned the second-half kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown and in the same game had a 67-yard punt return score called back on a penalty.

The more amazing fact is that the 5-foot-11, 175-pounder, who also plays receiver and defensive back, already has five kick return TDs for the season and he’s done in each of Centennial’s five games. His total also includes four kickoff return TDs and one on a punt.

For the season, Beaty also has five additional scores on receptions/offense. He’s helped the Golden Hawks go 3-2.

Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Offensive Player of the Week

Patrick O’Brien (San Juan Hills, SJ Capistrano) Sr.

Committed to Nebraska, which some recruiting analysts are looking at being a steal for the Huskers, O’Brien passed for 312 yards and three touchdowns in a 54-26 win over Los Alamitos.

O’Brien and his team opened the season with a win over San Clemente (which had USC QB Sam Darnold last season) and has continued to win with a 5-0 mark heading into South Coast League action (where Mission Viejo and Tesoro await).

Also against Los Al, the 6-foot-4, 222-pounder rushed for 76 yards on 12 carries and was listed with a touchdown catch. For the season, he has thrown for 1,389 yards and 15 touchdowns with just two interceptions.

Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Defensive Player of the Week

Lee Pitts (Oaks Christian, Westlake Village) Sr.

Making life difficult for Birmingham of Lake Balboa and its passing attack, Pitts plucked three picks out of the there as a DB to help the Lions improved to 5-0 with a 55-7 win.

It was the fourth week in a row in which this senior has intercepted a pass and after his first multiple interception game of the year he has six interceptions. The Lions may have another solid all-state candidate alongside senior WR-DB Michael Pittman Jr.

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

Fidel Romo (Banning) Sr.

Named last season to our All-State Junior Team as the punter, Romo excels at kicking the ball for points as well for distance on fourth down.

In a 45-28 win over Perris last week, Romo went a perfect 6 for 6 on extra points while also kicking a 54-yard field goal. The 54-yarder is the second longest reported field goal in the state this season behind David Quintero of Brawley, who made a 59-yarder vs. Shadow Hills of Indio.

Romo also is averaging 45.4 yards per punt so far this season with career-long 73-yarder. He’s had a 70-yard punt in each of the last two seasons.

Thanks to Stockton office assistant editor Paul Muyskens for contributions to this post. 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