South Bay/Peninsula Players of Week

In the long history of Saint Francis football in Mountain View, no one had rushed for 333 yards in one game before Lutoviko Ahoia did it last Friday in Daly City. Photo: Harold Abend.

Presented by LE BOULANGER bakery, this is the latest in a new feature highlighting the most outstanding players from the South Bay/Peninsula region of the CIF Central Coast Section. This week’s three honorees are Lutoviko Ahoia from Saint Francis of Mountain View, Alejandro Morales from Fremont of Sunnyvale and Eli Givens from Palo Alto. CLICK HERE for details on how South Bay/Peninsula football fans can win 2 free San Francisco 49ers tickets.

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Le Boulanger South Bay/Peninsula
Offensive Player of the Week

Lutoviko Ahoia (St. Francis, Mountain View) Jr.

With senior star running back Devon Hurtado sidelined on offense and only playing defense since getting banged up four games ago in a 15-14 win over West Catholic Athletic League rival Archbishop Mitty of San Jose, the Lancers’ offense that depends mainly on the run has had to rely on others to pick up the slack.

Despite entering the game with only 47 carries for 172 yards and one touchdown on the season, the 5-foot-8, 185-pound “ship Ahoia,” as veteran Paly Alto Daily News prep writer John Reid called him on Twitter, was that player in a 27-21 St. Francis victory over Sacred Heart Cathedral last Friday afternoon at Westmoor in Daly City.

Ahoia rushed for a school record 333 yards on 30 carries with three touchdowns on runs of 5, 13 and 39 yards. He’s also now the Lancers’ leading rusher this season with 505 yards and four scores.

“I’m not sure what was going through my mind about what I’d do today but it wasn’t about breaking the school record,” Ahoia said. “I just wanted to follow my blockers and hit the holes – and trust everyone.”

Le Boulanger South Bay/Peninsula
Defensive Player of the Week

Alejandro Morales (Fremont, Sunnyvale) Jr.

The Firebirds had the Offensive Player of the Week the first time this season that the Le Boulanger promotion began – with QB Phillip Tran — and now they strike for defense.

It only makes sense, too. Fremont has won all eight of its games so far this season and has had standouts on both sides of the ball.

Morales, in fact, is making a name for himself statewide. His 75-yard interception return for a touchdown not only helped Fremont beat Cupertino 42-9 last week, but it was his 10th interception of the season. According to MaxPreps, that total ties him for the reported state lead.

Morales, who also plays receiver on offense, had seven interceptions in September alone, including two against Gunderson of San Jose, three against Monta Vista of Cupertino and two against Woodside.

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Eli Givens (Palo Alto) Sr.

It’s been a tough year (3-5) for the proud Vikings, who have one CIF state bowl title and another CIF state bowl appearance since 2006, but Givens has been a bright spot.

The CCS 100-meter dash champion from last spring on the track has been explosive with the ball in his hands and showed it on the opening kickoff in last week’s game against Santa Clara when he ran it back 86 yards for a touchdown.

Givens also wasn’t through scoring. He later contributed to Paly’s 55-26 win over Santa Clara by catching a 69-yard touchdown pass and a 44-yard touchdown pass.

Note: To send in nominations for next week’s LE BOULANGER South Bay/Peninsula Players of the Week, send info to markjtennis@gmail.com or to marketingharoldabend@gmail.com. Please include usable photo if possible as well, which means not from a newspaper or major national website.