Two of this week’s player of the week honorees are Ronnie Sallee from Eastlake of Chula Vista and Mark Paule Jr. from Sierra of Manteca. Photos: Hudl.com & courtesy Sierra H.S.
Only one is named from each region for offense, defense and special teams and we’re going to do our best to spread it around as much as possible. This week’s honors go to Manteca, Yuba City, El Dorado Hills, La Habra, Chula Vista and Newhall.
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 Northern California
Offensive Player of the Week
Mark Paule Jr. (Sierra, Manteca) Jr.
Just a junior, he is a name we have started to get used to seeing in our local newspaper as he rushed for 249 yards and six touchdowns on 25 carries during a 55-20 win over Kimball of Tracy. On the season, Paule has rushed for 909 yards and 22 touchdowns for the undefeated Timberwolves ,who will have a good test this coming Friday when they take on North Division IV No. 1 ranked Central Catholic of Modesto. “Mark has a great football intelligence and a true understanding of the opposing defenses,” said Sierra head coach Jeff Harbison. “This, coupled with his never quit attitude, has led him to where he is today.” Paule’s 22 touchdowns is the top total for scoring so far in the state, according to MaxPreps.com.
Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Defensive Player of the Week
Devin Cates (River Valley, Yuba City) Sr.
When you pick an opponent for homecoming, you normally would want an easier opponent than undefeated Rio Linda and standout running back Marcel Brown-Brooks, but Cates helped lead the way on defense as River Valley limited the Knights to just 13 points in a 27-13 win. On defense, the 6-foot-3, 190-pounder had six tackles and recorded an interception for his fourth interception of the year. Cates also contributed on special teams as the punter and on offense where he caught a pair of touchdown passes.
Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Special Teams Player of the Week
Adam Walter (Oak Ridge, El Dorado Hills) Sr.
Accounting for eight of the Trojans’ 38 points during a 38-20 win over previously unbeaten Woodcreek of Roseville marked a perfect kicking night for Walter. In addition to kicking a season-best and school-record 47-yard field goal, he also was a perfect 5-for-5 on PATs. Walter also had a 42-yard field goal from earlier in the season against Whitney of Rocklin. Since that opening game, he also hasn’t missed a PAT and takes a streak of 16 in a row into the next game.
Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Offensive Player of the Week
Carlos Martin (La Habra) Sr.
His performance during a 55-48 win for the Highlanders over Colony of Ontario would have been hard for us along with others to not honor. Martin carried the ball 31 times and rushed for 429 yards and four touchdowns while also catching a touchdown pass. According to the Orange County Register, he is now averaging 152 yards per game rushing this season and has scored a total of 12 touchdowns. La Habra only won its second game of the season, but two of its losses were to Mission Viejo and La Mirada. Martin also is starting to collect some college interest, including a reported offer from Northern Arizona.
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Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Defensive Player of the Week
Ronnie Sallee (Eastlake, Chula Vista) Sr.
Going on the road and facing an offense that was averaging 35 points per game through its first four games, the Titans got a giant effort by their defense in a 23-0 shutout of San Diego St. Augustine. Playing a huge part of that, Sallee (a 5-foot-10, 215-pound linebacker) recorded 14 tackles and also blocked a punt on special teams that went out of the end zone for a safety. Coach Lee Price told the San Diego Union Tribune after the game that “Sallee is one of the best linebackers in the county. If he’s not All-CIF, then I don’t know who is.”
Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Special Teams Player of the Week
Andrew Nielsen (Hart, Newhall) Jr.
While Andrew’s father, Collyn Nielsen, is the principal of Hart, it was his foot that got himself into the school record book as he kicked a 54-yard field goal during a 57-35 win over Santiago of Corona. According to Eric Sondheimer’s article in the Los Angeles Times, this former soccer player who also leads the team in special teams tackles broke a school record that had stood for more than 20 years and was held by Jim Harper. Nielsen also has a GPA of 4.6. The current state record for longest field goal was set by Agoura Oak Park’s Erik Affholter back in 1982 when he kicked a 64-yard field goal.
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
6 Comments
what about armand shyne he had 19 carries for 357 yards and 5 touchdown that have to be player of the week
Armand is going to be in the stat stars. The player we chose also has 22 TDs for the season and coach sent in a heads up plus a photo we could use. All of that goes into it.
At some point maybe give some love to a kicker. Cal High’s kicker Spenser Thompson-Meyer only has one kickoff out of about 20 that wasn’t a touch back.
We chose two kickers this week, one with a 54-yd FG the other with a 47 yd FG. Obviously, we’ll keep checking Spenser each week.
In your defense, the teams Cal has been playing lately are so weak, having him kick field goals would appear to be running up the score. I think he has missed one PAT so far. His value will show up in the tough league games coming up forcing our opponents to start at the 20 yard line.
Ronnie SALLEE IS THE LAST OF A DYING BREED OF 3 SPORT LETTERMAN,FOOTBALL,LACROSSE AND WRESTLING.A YOUNG MAN WHO ACHIEVES IN THE CLASSROOM -4.0 GPA AND ON THE FIELD!!!A YOUNG MAN WHO PLAYS FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME,FOR HIS TEAMMATES AND HIS SCHOOL.A TRUE SCHOLAR ATHLETE AND A WARRIOR IT IA A PRIVILEDGE TO WATCH THIS YOUNG MAN PLAY !!!.
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[…] Now, Paule, after hanging 249 rushing yards and six touchdowns on Kimball in a 55-20 Valley Oak League rout, is the Cal-Hi Sports Northern California Offensive Player of the Week. […]