Andrew Almazan of Chino probably wishes there is a recount of his rushing stats after he was listed with 299 yards and 298 yards in back-to-back weeks. Photo: Hudl.com.
Two quarterbacks combine for 113 passing attempts and 933 yards in one game and this time the player with the most yards was on the winning team. Also highlighted this week is a quarterback from a team that became famous for what it did to salute a cheerleader before recent game plus amazing rushing totals on just nine carries for Pasadena Marshall’s D.J. Paul.
Note: We will collect totals from MaxPreps, newspapers, tweets and from those sent in to us. We also will compile single-game highs from this post throughout the season and of course we use our weekly State Stat Stars collection as an aid for the Cal-Hi Sports State Record Book. That is the only state record book anyone has ever done and we have published it seven times with full copyright protection. To report totals to us for this feature and for the record book, email markjtennis@gmail.com or call 209-463-9050. You can also text to 209-608-1317.
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(All players listed in alphabetical order)
(For games played through Saturday, Sept. 17)
(Thanks to CIF Central Section historian Bob Barnett for contributions)
Andrew Almazan (Chino)
For the second straight week, Almazan makes the cut. He made it last week for rushing for 299 yards in one game. This time, he reached 298 on 28 carries and scored twice as the Cowboys beat Los Osos of Rancho Cucamonga 51-14.
Darren Antes (American Canyon)
It’s been a phenomenal start to the season for the 4-0 Wolves that continued last week with a 71-36 victory vs. Wood of Vacaville. Antes, a senior quarterback, rushed for 256 yards on just 13 carries and scored four times.
Blaine Bailey (Orange Glen, Escondido)
Another big outing helped Bailey go past 1,000 yards passing despite the early date on the calendar. In a 62-31 loss to San Pasqual of Escondido, Bailey went 26 of 42 for 355 yards and a pair of TDs.
Trent Banner from Foothill of Palo Cedro is one of the most prolific passers in CIF Northern Section history. Photo: nfanation.com.
Raul Balderas & Ben Jefferson
(Pacifica, Garden Grove)
Both had big nights running the football during a 38-7 win over Garden Grove. Balderas rushed for a game-high 200 yards while Jefferson rushed for 196 yards and four touchdowns.
Trent Banner (Foothill, Palo Cedro)
Coming from a team that gained national attention for laying orange roses in front of a cheerleader recently diagnosed with cancer, Banner helped the Cougars lay down a 40-6 beating of Susanville Lassen. The senior QB completed 26 of 39 passes for 326 yards and three TDs. Foothill also improved to 4-0.
Conor Bruce (Garces, Bakersfield)
Bruce was on the loose when Garces past San Joaquin Memorial of Fresno 63-20 in the Holy Bowl. He passed for 258 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 151 yards with one touchdown. Teammate Isaiah Martin scored a game high of five touchdowns on runs of 41, 3, 2, 1 & 9 yards.
Miles Bryant & Warren Jackson
(Alemany, Mission Hills)
Trying to put up mileage in the passing game to get his team a win over Oaks Christian of Westlake Village, Bryant completed 28 of his 39 pass attempts for 459 yards and six touchdowns but it wasn’t enough to prevent the 63-62 loss in triple overtime. Jackson was his leading target with 12 catches for 260 yards and two touchdowns.
Baylei Coston (Freedom, Oakley)
Nearly matching his performance during the first three games of the season just in one game, he caught seven passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns as the Falcons defeated San Leandro 48-20 to improve to 4-0 on the season.
T.J. Dayak (Mountain House)
In the first-ever win for the Mustangs, a new school that began playing varsity games last season, Dayak connected on field goals of 25, 42 and 34 yards to help beat Livingston 37-19.
JT Daniels (Mater Dei, Santa Ana)
Before finding a spot on the sideline for the second half of the Monarchs’ 62-7 win over Upland, Daniels completed 19 of his 24 pass attempts for 369 yards and six touchdowns. The sophomore signal caller already has 23 touchdown passes this season.
Chase Garbers
(Corona del Mar, Newport Harbor)
In the battle for Newport Harbor, Garbers was sensational as the Sea Kings beat Newport Hatbor 41-13. The Cal commit went 12 of 14 for 277 yards and five TDs. He also added nine carries rushing for 61 yards.
Tiquan Gilmore (Torres, Los Angeles)
Speedy back stayed strong with 18 carries for 212 yards and three TDs in 32-16 victory vs. New Design Watts. Gilmore does have a listing with 569 yards for one game already this season vs. Verdugo Hills. That one, however, needs to be confrmed.
Najee Harris (Antioch)
Getting ready for a national televised game against De La Salle of Concord this Friday night, he rushed for 294 yards and five touchdowns during a 41-33 win over Rancho Cotate of Rohnert Park. Have the Panthers been holding him back in some regard prior to this week’s game?
Isaiah Hodgins of Berean Christian has caught 27 passes for 454 yards in the last two weeks. Photo: OregonLive.com.
Isaiah Hodgins
(Berean Christian, Walnut Creek)
The second team all-state juniors pick from last season is making a push for first team. Hodgins caught 11 balls for 204 yards and one TD in last week’s 49-35 win vs. Middletown. In his previous outing, a loss to Kennedy of Fremont, Hodgins had 16 receptions for 250 yards and three TDs.
Tariq Hollandsworth (Sacramento)
While he got serious for the photo we took of him after the game, that quickly vanished and the smile could hardly be contained after Sac High’s 32-27 upset road win over state-ranked Folsom. Hollandsworth rushed for 268 yards and one touchdown as the Dragons snapped the Bulldogs’ 44-game regular-season winning streak.
Jermar Jefferson
(Redondo Union, Redondo Beach)
Just a junior, he did a bit of everything during a 58-10 win by the Seahawks over West of Torrance. Jefferson rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns, caught a 62-yard touchdown pass, returned a kickoff 78 yards and also intercepted a pass on defense.
Tyler Jones & Nate Sorensen
(Aliso Niguel, Aliso Viejo)
With quarterback Sorensen back behind center after missing a game due to injury, he put up big numbers with 370 yards and five touchdowns during a 56-44 loss to Valley View of Moreno Valley. Jones, a senior receiver, had even more impressive totals catching the ball with 14 receptions for 243 yards and two TDs.
Trey Lake (Clovis)
He led unbeaten Clovis past host Stockdale 28-27 despite the team being called for 15 penalties for 164 yards. Trey passed for a game-high of 327 yards on 16 of 28 and four touchdowns. His favorite target was Tyson Fraser, who caught eight for 178 and three scores.
Will Lansbury (Stevenson, Pebble Beach)
He made his mark on both sides of the ball when the Pirates drubbed Lynbrook of San Jose 49-0. On offense, Lansbury caught a pair of TD passes. On defense, he scored on a fumble return and on an interception return.
Zach Lewin (Rio Americano, Sacramento)
Scoring in three different ways during a 58-0 win over Pioneer of Woodland, he caught two touchdown passes, rushed for a score and returned a punt for six points.
Cade McGee (Whittier Christian, La Habra)
As his quarterback Quinn Commans broke an Orange County record for passing touchdowns, this junior wide receiver played a part in that happening as he caught 10 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns in the 68-55 win over Bell. Earlier this season, he also had a game that saw him catch 15 passes for 215 yards and four scores.
Eric Melesio (Norte Vista, Riverside)
Yet another huge performance by a player in a losing effort, Melesio rushed for 381 yards and four touchdowns on 27 carries during a 42-29 loss to Colony of Ontario.
Jack Newman (Analy, Sebastopol)
On the attack in the first half as the Tigers built a big lead before halftime, he finished the night 35 of 50 for 518 yards and four touchdowns in a 49-30 victory vs. Acalanes of Lafayette.
Demetri Patterson (Arcata)
This is one we have to mention from two weeks ago. Patterson rushed for 307 yards on 51 carries and scored three times when the Tigers beat Central Valley of Shasta Lake 32-28. Patterson also had 10 tackles in the same game.
DJ Paul (Marshall, Pasadena)
It takes 45 yards per carry with a minimum of three to get a listing in the state record book and Paul came close with a 41.3-yard average in Marshall’s 75-0 romp past Pasadena Blair. To be exact, Paul had nine carries for 372 yards and three TDs. We wish Blair wasn’t struggling so much in recent years, but Paul certainly took advantage.
Analy’s Jack Newman probably is hoping some of his recent outings results in increased D1 recruiting interest. Photo: ncsasports.com.
Mycah Pittman (Oaks Christian, Westlake Village)
It’s a good bet Mycah is one of the state’s top sophomores. His father, Michael, rushed for more than 6,000 yards in the NFL and his brother, Michael Jr., was all-state last year and already playing at USC. Mycah had a huge game in the Lions’ 63-62 triple overtime win over Alemany of Mission Hills as he caught nine passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns. Pittman’s last score tied the game, which was followed by a game-winning PAT.
Noah Rivera (Brea Olinda, Brea)
Averaging 20 yards per carry, he rushed for 240 yards and four touchdowns on 12 carries during a win over Diamond Bar.
Bobby Rowell (Acalanes, Lafayette)
Doing his best to keep the Dons in the game against Analy of Sebastopol, he completed 37 of his 63 pass attempts for 415 yards and three scores during a 49-30 loss. Wide receiver Brian Merken had 17 receptions for 203 yards and two touchdowns.
Terry Ryan (Pacific, San Bernardino)
After tossing six TD passes in his previous game, Ryan was rifling the ball all over the yard again in a 41-29 win by the 4-0 Pirates over West Valley of Hemet. He completed 22 of 30 for 355 yards and four TDs and now has 18 TDs for the season.
Alex Puga (Caruthers)
A workhorse for the Blue Raiders, he rushed for a game high of 247 yards on 38 carries and scored three touchdowns as they got past Sierra of Tollhouse 35-21.
Brent Schaeffer (Vista del Lago, Folsom)
The prolific senior QB who is one of the best in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section connected on 28 of 39 passes for 346 yards and four TDs in a 52-35 triumph vs. Cordova of Rancho Cordova.
Will Semone (Oakdale)
The Mustangs always seem to have power-packed running back and Semone filled the bill during a 28-12 win over Campolindo of Moraga that matched schools that both have been in CIF state bowl finals. Semone carried 23 times for 235 yards and scored three TDs.
Montaz Thompson (Pittsburg)
Making the most of his 10 carries, he finished with 205 yards and four touchdowns during a 64-12 win over Berkeley that has the Pirates now 4-0 and ranked at No. 17 in our newest state rankings.
Jocquil Veazey (Mt. Eden, Hayward)
Making it look easy during a 46-26 win over Oakland Tech, he rushed for 289 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries. Veasey also finished with 369 all-purpose yards.
C.J. Verdell (Mater Dei Catholic, Chula Vista)
A 51-42 loss by the Crusaders to Hawkins of Los Angeles would have been a recruiter’s dream. Verdell, the Oregon commit, had a great game with 28 carries for 279 yards and five TDs. No one from Hawkins went that crazy, but the balance of QB Dylan Lemle and RB Greg Johnson helped Hawkins gain a 51-42 victory.
Paul Muyskens is the Stockton office assistant editor for CalHiSports.com. 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
