Travis Dye has kept up the great tradition of big-time running backs at Norco, which has included older brother Troy (now at Oregon playing safety). Photo: Hudl.com.
Riverside Norte Vista’s Eric Melesio goes past 3,300 yards rushing with another big night while Cade Henjum of Saddleback Valley Christian gets close to 5,000 yards for passing and rushing. The only problem is that Cade’s season is over. Another one of our standouts had 245 yards and four TDs receiving – in one quarter.
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 209-608-1317. You can also text to 209-608-1317.
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(All players listed in alphabetical order)
(Writeups also by Mark Tennis & CIF Central Section historian Bob Barnett)
(For games played through Saturday, Nov. 12)
Kalei Aukai (Santa Rosa)
The Panthers made program history with their first ever playoff win with a 48-25 triumph over Northgate of Walnut Creek in the CIF NCS Division II playoffs. Aukai had five catches for 238 yards and four touchdowns.
Michael Bonds (St. Francis, La Canada)
It was only a couple of weeks ago when the Golden Knights were getting ready for a matchup of unbeatens against state-ranked L.A. Cathedral. Now the season is over after a 38-37 loss to Palos Verdes of PV Estates in the CIFSS D3 playoffs. It wasn’t the fault of Bonds, however, as the senior QB passes for 350 yards and three TDs in that game. St. Francis scored at the end of the game, but was denied on a two-point conversion that would have won it. Bonds ended the season with more than 2,000 yards passing and 25 TDs.
Nick Calzaretta (Redwood, Larkspur)
He has now rushed for over 2,500 yards this season after opening the playoffs by rushing for 356 yards and six touchdowns on 27 carries during a 56-14 win over Casa Grande of Petaluma. It was the third time this season Calzaretta has rushed for over 300 yards in a game and now has 2,536 yards and 42 rushing touchdowns on the year.
Robert Cozine (Taft)
One of the state’s breakout stars of the season rushed for a game high of 263 yards on 38 carries and scored six touchdowns on runs of 11, 4, 32, 1, 52, & 18 yards in a 50-21 win over Roosevelt of Fresno in Central Section D3 playoffs.
Chris D’Amico (Valley Christian, Cerritos)
In the Crusaders’ 45-7 victory against Kennedy of La Palma in the CIFSS IX playoffs, D’Amico came up with two interceptions to lead the defense. He’s more known as Valley Christian’s kicker, however, and in the same game he also kicked a field goal and made 6-for-6 on PATs.
Thomas Duckett (Pacifica, Oxnard)
Doing most of his damage in the first half, he rushed for 192 yards and four touchdowns before halftime and finished with 208 yards on 19 carries during a 63-41 win over Linfield Christian in the CIFSS Division VII playoffs.
Travis Dye (Norco)
With a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns from Dye, the Cougars came back to beat a CIF state champion from last season in the CIFSS D2 playoffs last week. Dye, who finished with 263 yards rushing, led Norco past Citrus Hill of Perris 35-32. The team has a chance to knock off state-ranked Murrieta Valley in this week’s quarterfinals.
Antoine Fleming (El Camino, Sacramento)
Despite passing for 202 yards and four touchdowns while also leading the team in rushing with 131 yards and two scores on 14 carries, the Eagles’ season ended with a 64-42 loss at American Canyon in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs.
Jeremiah Galaviz (Farmersville)
His football career came to a close against Sierra of Tollhouse in a 52-35 playoff loss in the CIF Central Section. Galaviz, from the same school as 11,000-yard QB Sam Metcalf, passed for a career high of 423 yards and five touchdowns.
Mason Hurst was a key player for Del Oro’s team last year that won CIF D2-AA state title. Photo: Mark Tennis.
Noey Garcia (Firebaugh)
The standout junior accounted for five touchdowns in a 73-40 win over Rosamond. Garcia passed for a career high of 298 yards on 10 of 15 with two touchdowns and scored three times on short runs. His favorite target all season, Tylor Palmer, had four catches for 152 yards and one TD. Kicker Tito Campa also was 9-for-9 on PATs and has missed only one time in 55 attempts for the season.
Austin Greer (Cosumnes Oaks, Elk Grove)
The Wolfpack opened up the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs with a 28-25 road win over Davis as he passed for 277 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 32 yards and a score.
Jalen Hamler (Lawndale)
Sophomore RB Jordan Wilmore has been getting most of the headlines, but in Lawndale’s 48-14 win vs. West of Torrance in the CIFSS D6 playoffs it was Hamler’s turn. He connected of 10 of 17 passes for 305 yards and five TDs. Wilmore added 21 carries for 209 yards and two scores.
Cade Henjum (Saddleback Valley Christian, San Juan Capistrano)
For the final time in his high school career, he will be listed here as he completed 35 of his 57 pass attempts for 500 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-31 loss to Temescal Canyon of Lake Elsinore. A certain all-state nominee and former SoCal Player of the Week, he passed for 3,613 yards and 41 touchdowns this season while also rushing for 1,267 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Gabriel Huerta (El Rancho, Pico Rivera)
Putting the hurt on Norwalk’s hope to have its season continue, he caught eight passes for 260 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-26 win for the Dons in the CIFSS Division IX playoffs.
Mason Hurst (Del Oro, Loomis)
What he did just in the first quarter during a 79-0 win by Del Oro over Laguna Creek of Elk Grove would have been enough to be listed here. Hurst had 245 receiving yards and four touchdowns in that quarter and finished with six catches for 260 yards and the four scores in their CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoff opener.
J.J. Lino (Central Valley Christian, Visalia)
In a 45-17 win by the Cavaliers over host Washington Union in the CIF Central Section D4 playoffs, Lino passed for 340 yards on 19 completions in 24 attempts and had three TD passes.
Jayden Machado (Elk Grove)
With just three incompletions on the night, he completed 17 of his 20 pass attempts for 265 yards and six touchdowns as the Thundering Herd defeated Gregori of Modesto 49-8. Gavin Reinwald also caught three touchdown passes. Elk Grove (10-1) plays Turlock next in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs.
Tyree Marcelle (Grant, Sacramento)
The Pacers advanced in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs as their standout running back had a standout night. Marcelle carried the football 29 times for 261 yards and four touchdowns during a 42-17 win over Granite Bay.
Jonathan Martin (Culver City)
Passing for 476 yards and five touchdowns was not enough to prevent the Centaurs’ season from coming to an end with a 69-43 loss to Valley View of Moreno Valley in the CIFSS Division XI playoffs.
Emilio Martinez (Palma, Salinas)
The Chieftains began their quest for the CCS Open Division III title with an easy 55-27 win against Saratoga. They were led by their senior running back, who had one of his best games with 28 carries for 308 yards and six touchdowns.
Emilio Martinez has been a standout for three seasons at Palma of Salinas and is getting D1 college offers. Photo: ncsasports.org.
Eric Melesio (Norte Vista, Riverside)
Outscoring Diamond Ranch of Pomona on his own, he rushed for 373 yards and four touchdowns on 33 carries during a 42-21 win in the CIFSS Division VII playoffs. For the season, Melesio now has 3,382 yards rushing and 42 TDs. If the Braves keep winning and play a SoCal bowl game, then a state game, Melesio should finish with well more than 4,000 yards.
Broc Mortensen (Ventura)
During a 35-19 win over Moorpark in the CIFSS Division V playoffs, he rushed for four touchdowns in the first half and finished with 255 yards on 21 carries. Mortensen also will be one of the top baseball players in the state this spring.
Jacob Moss (Santa Clarita Christian, Canyon Country)
As the leading target for the Cardinals during a 35-10 win over Sierra Vista of Baldwin Park in the CIFSS Division XIII playoffs, Moss may want to change his first to Randy. He ended with 13 receptions for 255 yards and two touchdowns.
Cezar Prieto (Wasco)
Folks in the Central Section are used to big games from Wasco running backs and Prieto did just that. He rushed for 253 yards on 33 carries and scored three touchdowns on runs of 55, 9, 37 yards in a 26-22 playoff win over Kerman.
Jack Rice (St. Bernard’s, Eureka)
Last year’s CIF NCS Division V champions and the CIF Division 6AA state champions opened the Division IV section playoffs this year with a 76-24 win over Healdsburg. Rice, their quarterback, completed 14 of his 18 pass attempts for 305 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for 95 yards and a score on five carries, all in just one half of action.
Rancho Verde QB E.J. Stewart threw for eight TDs in one game earlier this season. Photo: #D1Bound.com.
E.J. Stewart (Rancho Verde, Moreno Valley)
A previous SoCal Offensive Player of the Week, Stewart hit on 11 of 26 passes for 364 yards and three TDs in a 49-21 triumph vs. Oak Hills of Hesperia in the CIFSS D3 playoffs. Teammate Marlon Moorer added 33 carries for 199 yards and four TDs rushing.
Tim Tague (Miramonte, Orinda)
It may be the postseason but Tague continues to put up big time numbers like he has all season long. He passed for 296 yards and five touchdowns while also rushing for 77 yards during a 55-20 win over Alhambra of Martinez in the NCS Division II playoffs.
Daylan Thetford (Amador, Sutter Creek)
He has been the sparkplug for team that is a co-favorite in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D6 playoffs along with unbeaten Bradshaw Christian. In Amador’s 48-12 win last week over Denair, Thetford raced for 224 yards and scored six touchdown on just 12 carries. He now has 26 TDs for the season.
Madison Wheeler (La Habra)
You wouldn’t know just by watching him run with the football that he was recently converted from a free safety. The Highlanders’ new starting running back rushed for 211 yards on 40 carries during a 35-28 upset win over state-ranked Oaks Christian of Westlake Village in the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs.
Devon Williams (Antelope Valley, Lancaster)
Sophomore standout did well on both sides of the ball when the Antelopes beat Muir of Pasadena 41-0 in the CIFSS D9 playoffs. Williams had two interceptions on defense and quarterbacked the team on offense. He completed 10 of 14 passes for 133 yards and one TD.
GIRLS TENNIS NOTE
Congratulations to 78-year-old longtime coach Frank Thiessen of Bakersfield Christian and his players in beating Bakersfield 6-3 for the CIF Central Section Division II championship. According to section historian Bob Barnett, it was Bakersfield Christian’s 11th straight section title. Thiessen also finished the season with a record of 21-2 and has an overall record of 1,266-309 wins in boys & girls tennis and girls basketball. Thiessen started coaching at Fowler in the early 60s, then Wasco and Bakersfield Christian.
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
