NorCal/SoCal Players of the Week

These two NorCal/SoCal players of the week in the multi-purpose/special teams category also are the only two players we know of so far in the entire state from last weekend who did something to put their names into the state record book. Preston Scott of Lemoore (at left returning a kick vs Hanford last year) and Christopher Williams from Parker of San Diego have already had their names added onto all-time state lists. Photos: Hudl.com & @CoastalPrepRep / Twitter.com.

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Note: We have a new twist to this feature that give more flexibility to one of the honorees by expanding the Special Teams category to now be Multi-Purpose/Special Teams. Multi-Purpose is already a category for All State honors. For these honors, we also consider CIF Central Section players for Northern California. To nominate anyone, email markjtennis@gmail.com.

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

Preston Scott (Lemoore) Sr.

There’s an entry into the Cal-Hi Sports Online Record Book this week and it comes from Lemoore where our first-ever NorCal Multi-Purpose/Special Teams award winner is flying as high as the jets from the Naval Air Station just west of the city limits.

Our first visit this season to “The Valley,” as the locals like to call the CIF Central Section, very appropriately comes from Central Section historian and longtime friend and Cal-Hi Sports contributor Bob Barnett through his weekly milestones report. The senior wide receiver and cornerback he nominated is the absolute epitome of the new Multi-Purpose/Special Teams category.

Last week, in a 78-6 thrashing of Selma, Scott accounted for five touchdowns. Three of them came on punt returns of 33, 68 and 79 yards. Not only did that feat set a new Central Section Record, it ties for the most ever according to the Most Punt Return Touchdowns (Game) list in the state record book (which only exists on CalHiSports.com).

Scott was hot on special teams as well after taking a kickoff return 80 yards to paydirt for a score. And finally, he only caught one pass for six yards, but you guessed it, the reception went for a touchdown.

Connor Stoddard sprints down the field for Downey of Modesto during win last week vs Lincoln of Stockton. Photo: Diego Hernandez / FrontRowPreps.com.

Connor Stoddard (Downey, Modesto) Sr.

In a battle of top public schools from the Stockton and Modesto metro areas of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section, it was the quarterback from the home school of famous Star Wars filmmaker George Lucas that led Downey to a road win at Lincoln and snags the initial Northern California Offensive Player of the Week honor.

Last week, in a 42-35 slugfest Downey victory, and with Stoddard, who took over the starting signal-calling job on his own last season, matching up with Lincoln four-year starting quarterback Kenyon Nelson, it was the Knights’ Stoddard that won the joust.

For week one, Stoddard looked in mid-season form after a pinpoint 30 of 39 passing performance that produced three TDs with no interceptions. That translates into a 131.2 QB rating and that isn’t too shabby to start the season. Stoddard also rushed for 56 yards and a fourth score.

Last season on a Downey team that went 9-2 and won the large school Central California Athletic League title at 5-0 before falling to Lodi in the CIFSJS Division 2 playoffs, Stoddard passed for 2,421 yards and 31 TDs with seven interceptions. He also ran for 252 yards and four more scores.

Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Defensive Player of the Week

Michael Reichow (Delta, Clarksburg) Jr.

For our Northern California Defensive Player of the Week selection, we head around 15 miles south of the state capitol to the Sacramento River town of Clarksburg and to a school just a stone’s throw from the river’s banks.

At Delta is where we find Reichow, who had a huge hand in a battle between small schools from the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section and the CIF Northern Section.

Last week, in a 27-0 blanking of a Biggs squad located just southwest of Oroville off of Highway 99, Reichow knew exactly where the Biggs quarterback wanted to throw and picked off three passes for 115 yards of interceptions return yardage, with one going for a pick six. He also had six tackles from his free safety position.

Reichow wasn’t just everywhere on defense. On offense he had three pass receptions for 84 yards including a 51-yard TD that gave him two of the Saints’ four scores. The junior star also rushed for 26 yards and on special teams he had a 40-yard punt return.

Husan Longstreet of Inglewood got to take a photo with Hall of Fame QB Steve Young during Super Bowl activities in L.A. last February. Photo: Twitter.com.

Husan Longstreet (Inglewood) Soph.

For our Southern California Offensive Player of the Week nod, we head east of Los Angeles International Airport and on the other side of the I-405 to find our honoree and it’s in Inglewood where we land.

Last week, in a battle of state-ranked teams, Longstreet led the previous No. 33 and current No. 32 Sentinels to a 41-34 home victory over previous No. 35 and current No. 39 St. Bonaventure of Ventura.

After the game, and in talking to Damian Calhoun of the Daily Breeze, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Longstreet admitted to having some butterflies after making his first varsity start in place of graduated star Justyn Martin (UCLA), but despite being only a sophomore he came through like a veteran down the stretch.

With Inglewood trailing 20-7 after two quarters, Longstreet threw four of his five TD passes in the game to pull out the victory. The game-winning score came on a 24-yard pass to Terrell Bradshaw with 2:35 left. A third quarter 18-yard TD pass to Bradshaw tied the score.

After all was said and done, Husan established himself as a big man on campus after connecting on 19 of 23 passes for a whopping 445 yards to go with the five touchdowns. If that wasn’t enough Longstreet cracked the 500 total yards mark with 512 after gaining 67 rushing yards.

Longstreet also is well-known to fans at Los Alamitos. He was a back-up to Los Al All-American Malachi Nelson last season and transferred to Inglewood with that starting spot opening up earlier.

Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Defensive Player of the Week

Ethan Brougham (Dana Hills, Dana Point) Sr.

Southern Orange County and around a mile east of the Pacific Ocean and Pacific Coast Highway is our destination and at Dana Hills of Dana Point is where we find our first Southern California Defensive Player of the Week.

The 6-foot-2, 230=pound Dolphins defensive end was all over the field on defense last week in a 21-14 home victory over University of Irvine. All he did was collect 18 tackles with 11 solo, two sacks and a quarterback hurry.

Last season as a junior two-way lineman on an 8-3 Dana Hills squad, Brougham had 62 tackles with nine for loss including a sack. He also forced two fumbles and recovered one.

We couldn’t find any recruiting information on Ethan but according to his Twitter handle he has a 4.5 GPA, and with that combined with what’s he’s doing on the field, some college is going to flip over this Dolphin.

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

Chris Williams (Francis Parker, San Diego) Sr.

The city of San Diego and a couple of blocks east of the University of San Diego, the Francis Parker campus is where we find our second Multi-Purpose/Special Team honoree who has already put his name into the Cal-Hi Sports Online Record Book. Williams also is another example of a perfect fit for our new tweaked category.

Last week, in a 52-27 home victory over Pasadena Poly, Williams was more like a Whirling Dervish than a 5-foot-10, 170-pound slot back and cornerback. Running the football, Williams had 274 yards and six touchdowns rushing, including a 45-yard romp to pay dirt, plus one reception for nine yards receiving.

On defense, Williams had four tackles and two interceptions, including one he took 55 yards to the house for a pick six. On special teams, he had one punt return and one kickoff return for 63 total return yards.

But wait, there’s more. Williams also is the kicker and with his foot Chris didn’t miss. He was 7-for-7 on PATs and made his only field goal attempt from 28 yards out.

Add it all up and Williams had all the points for the Lancers and his 52 total points makes the state record Book in the Most Points (Game) list. It’s the top mark in the history of the CIF San Diego Section since its inception in 1960, buts it’s only the No. 3 mark in San Diego County history. Two marks from the 1920s are better, including the all-time best of 80 points by Frank Greene of Coronado in 1929 when he also set the record of 11 rushing TDs in a game.

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