State Stat Stars of the Week

With a 7-foot, 445-pound player getting attention, how about one who’s 5-foot-2 and 128? Meet Jordan Benoit of Lakewood Artesia, who shined with a 300-yard rushing game. Also highlighted this week are players from a 76-55 game and a running back from Canoga Park who apparently can count an NFL Hall of Famer as a fan.

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. 26)
(Thanks to CIF Central Section historian Bob Barnett for contributions)
(Also contributing: Mark Tennis)

To read about the six players featured as our NorCal/SoCal Players of the Week, CLICK HERE.

Jordan Benoit (Artesia, Lakewood)
He’s got to be one of the smallest running back state stat stars we’ve ever done with a listed height, weight at 5-foot-2, 128 pounds. But in a 52-25 win by Artesia last week vs. Glenn of Norwalk, Benoit was huge with 345 yards rushing on 22 carries. He also scored five touchdowns, including those on bursts of 50, 46 and 64 yards in the fourth quarter.

Jorge Briseno (Santa Ana)
Making sure the Saints would not suffer their first loss of the season, he rushed for 261 yards and five touchdowns on 15 carries during a 42-16 win over La Quinta of Westminster.

Seth Brooks (Kingsburg)
A third-place finisher in the triple jump at last June’s CIF state track meet, Brooks rushed for a career high of 285 yards on 30 carries and scored four touchdowns on runs of 15, 28, 2 and 1 yard in a 35-20 win over Reedley.

B.J. Busbee & Jack Graham (St. Anthony, Long Beach)
In a 55-28 win against Marina of Huntington Beach, Busbee carried 11 times for 206 yards and three TDs and caught a TD pass. Graham completed 11 of 21 passes for 320 yards and five scores. The Saints evened their record at 2-2, but still look like one of the top teams in the CIFSS East Valley Division.

Lavante Bushnell (Stagg, Stockton)
The versatile QB passed for 256 yards and five touchdowns while also rushing for 85 yards and one score but the Delta Kings were unable to hold onto the lead as they lost in the closing seconds 49-46 to unbeaten McClymonds of Oakland.

Damari Cual-Davis (Jefferson, Daly City)
Another dual-threat quarterback that had a nice night on Friday was this senior. He passed for 298 yards and five touchdowns while also rushing for 90 yards and a score during a 53-6 win over Lowell of San Francisco.

Elijah Dotson (Antelope)
He rushed for 212 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries during a 55-21 win by the unbeaten Titans over Ponderosa of Shingle Springs.

Chris Duncan (Taft, Woodland Hills)
A 6-foot-3, 190-pound senior QB, Duncan ran for three TDs and threw for three TDs when the Toreadors topped Fairfax of Los Angeles 48-7. Duncan completed 14 of 25 passes for 301 yards and also rushed seven times for 75 yards. Taft improved to 4-1.

Rashaan Fontenette (Oak Grove, San Jose)
When the Eagles picked up their first win of the season with a 46-7 win over Palo Alto it was this senior running back who led the way. He rushed for 257 yards and three touchdowns while also scoring on a punt return.

Davion Gaisie (Diamond Ranch, Pomona)
Helped by a 92-yard TD run on his team’s first play from scrimmage, Gaisie ran like a gazelle when Diamond Ranch clobbered El Rancho of Pico Rivera 47-14. He finished with 249 yards on just 11 carries and scored four TDs. Diamond Ranch also improved to 4-1.

Jacob Gasser (Los Alamitos)
Despite his 13 catches for 226 yards and one touchdown, the Griffins didn’t have enough gas in the tank to drive their way to a win. They went on the road and suffered a 54-26 loss to unbeaten San Juan Hills of San Juan Capistrano.

Derrion Grim (McNair, Stockton)
The TD catch state record watch continued after Grim hauled in three more TDs to go with eight catches for 156 yards in McNair’s 40-27 triumph over Tokay of Lodi. Grim upped his season total to 18 TD catches in just five games. He’s on pace to get to 36 TD catches for the regular season alone, which would surpass the overall Cal-Hi Sports state record of 34 set last year by Folsom’s Cole Thompson.

Alex Gutierrez (Chowchilla)
He scored a career high with five touchdowns on runs of 31, 39 and 32 yards plus a 4-yard reception and a 42-yard interception return as Chowchilla buried Dos Palos 55-6. Gutierrez also had a game high of 196 yards rushing on only 10 carries.

Jake Harr (Grossmont, La Mesa)
Chosen as one of the San Diego Union-Tribune Athletes of the Week, Harr was the star during the Foothillers’ 34-14 triumph over Lincoln of San Diego. He caught a 78-yard TD pass on the first play of the game and ended with four catches for 111 yards. Harr also rushed for 105 yards and one other score.

Jacob Hennie (Santiago, Corona)
Replacing big-time recruit Blake Barnett as the Sharks’ QB, Hennie put up Barnett-like totals in a 56-34 triumph over Chaparral of Temecula. He completed 13 of 26 passes for 310 yards and three TDs, including a 92-yard connection to Jacob Richard, and he rushed nine times for 82 more yards and another score.

Harrison Hibberd (Los Gatos)
Making the most of the game’s final minute, his first touch of the night was on a jump ball down the sideline as he caught it and walked into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown of a 33-30 win over St. Mary’s of Stockton. Not waiting long to get his second touch of the football, Hibberd then intercepted a pass in the final seconds to clinch the win.

Marcus Howard (Wood, Vacaville)
The senior QB shined by completing 13 of 16 passes for 326 yards and four TDs as the Wildcats remained unbeaten with a 55-31 triumph vs. Freedom of Oakley.

Mique Juarez (North, Torrance)
The versatile USC commit went for 120 yards rushing on 10 carries and scored four TDs to lead the Saxons past Inglewood 43-0. Juarez also completed 15 of 28 passes for 145 yards and two additional scores.

Josh Land (Mariposa County, Mariposa)
Three of Land’s four TDs for the Grizzlies in their 48-6 win over Waterford were from 50 yards out or more. He also scored on a shorter run and ended with 211 yards on just nine carries.

Jordan Leonard (Brethren Christian, Huntington Beach)
It has seemingly become an expectation that he will have one of the highest rushing performances on a weekly basis in Orange County. For last week, Leonard carried 18 times for a season-high 282 yards and four touchdowns during a 52-32 win over Heritage Christian of Northridge. It was his third game rushing over 200 yards this season and he now has 979 yards and 15 touchdowns in five games.

Lapitu Mahoni (Sacred Heart Prep, Atherton)
While he didn’t rush for a game-high in yardage, his 200 yards and four touchdowns on 22 carries came in a winning effort as the Gators defeated Carmel 76-55 to end a two-game losing streak.

Carleron Manuel (Perris)
Playing in the same game in which Banning’s Fidel Romo nailed a 54-yard field goal, Manuel kept Perris close in an eventual 45-28 loss to the Broncos. He finished 28 of 43 for 410 yards and three touchdowns.

Connor McBride (Woodbridge, Irvine)
The Warriors snapped a three-game losing streak with a 21-11 win over Segerstrom of Santa Ana behind McBride, who carried the ball 30 times for 268 yards and one touchdown.

Sean McGrew (St. John Bosco, Bellflower)
In helping the Braves improve to 5-0 on the year with a 56-14 win over St. Peter’s Prep of New Jersey, McGrew carried the ball 24 times for 186 yards and two touchdowns while catching two passes for 75 yards and another score.

Adam Olsen (Oakdale)
Senior QB found holes in the secondary of Manteca Sierra in the two teams’ Valley Oak League opener to the tune of 322 yards passing with five TDs to spark the unbeaten Mustangs past the Timberwolves 54-14. Three of Olsen’s TD passes came in the second quarter when Oakdale reversed an early 14-12 deficit.

Deonte Perry (Canoga Park)
Playing just two days after his birthday, Perry put on a show for the Hunters in their 68-24 triumph vs. Kennedy of Granada Hills in a Valley Mission League opener. He carried 25 times for 375 yards and scored six touchdowns. This week, Perry was a nominee for the SoCal Prep Legends Athlete of the Week honor and had a supporting tweet from NFL Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson. Perry has an offer from Southern Utah, but more obviously could be coming soon.

Michael Pittman Jr. (Oaks Christian, Westlake Village)
In the same game in which Oaks Christian DB Lee Pitts collected three interceptions that helped him get SoCal Defensive Player of the Week honors, Pittman was the star on offense. He had nine catches for 220 yards and three TDs and helped sophomore teammate Matthew Corral end with 337 passing yards and four scores.

Joey Pledger (Terra Nova, Pacifica)
Showing he is a threat to throw or run with the ball (much like graduated standout Anthony Gordon), Pledger led the Tigers to a wild-and-wacky 47-41 double-overtime win last week vs. Homestead of Cupertino. He passed for 251 yards and five touchdowns while also rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown. The TD run also was the game-winner.

Perry Martin (Thousand Oaks)
The normally pass-happy Lancers went to more of a ground game in their matchup against Simi Valley last week and Martin responded. On 39 carries, he had 240 yards and scored five TDs. Thousand Oaks won 48-27.

Joseph McDaniel (Hanford)
The Bullpups’ crosstown rivalry game vs. Hanford West wasn’t much of a challenge due mostly to what McDaniel did in a 55-27 triumph. He rushed for a career high of 312 yards on 25 carries and scored three touchdowns. Hanford also improved to 5-0 and stayed in this week’s D3 state rankings.

Ryan Robards (Elk Grove)
Another week and another big week for this previous Cal-Hi Sports Player of the Week. This time, Robards rushed for 200 yards and four touchdowns while also returning a punt for a touchdown as the Thundering Herd defeated Davis 55-0.

Hunter Rodrigues (Whitney, Rocklin)
Only getting to play the first half, he made it one to remember as he passed for 272 yards and seven touchdowns during a 76-14 win over Bella Vista of Fair Oaks. Rodrigues needed one more TD pass to make it into the Cal-Hi Sports State Record Book for a single-game, but throwing for seven in one half does make the book. Devin Brochini was on the receiving end of four touchdown passes while Justin Kaft caught three.

D’Marcus Ross (Capital Christian, Sacramento)
Not only did he intercept two passes and return them for touchdowns during a 68-0 win for the Cougars over West Campus of Sacramento but he also returned a punt 55 yards for six points during the team’s first shutout win this season.

Joe Sheldon & Austin Martins (Orestimba, Newman)
The Warriors improved to 4-0 on the season with a 49-43 win over previously undefeated Ripon Christian of Ripon with both of their seniors having big nights. Sheldon passed for 124 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for 200 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Martins turned his 20 carries into 145 yards and a score while he also returned a kickoff for a score and intercepted two passes while playing defense.

Jake Sparks (Corona)
It was a night of highs and lows for Sparks in his team’s 24-17 loss to Great Oak of Temecula. The lows included an interception returned against him for a score. The highs enabled him to finish 22 of 38 for 378 yards and two TDs. Teammate Jeremiah Boatner also had nine catches for 196 yards and one TD.

Torreahno Sweet (Bishop Amat, La Puente)
This Sweet made fans of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame very sour after what he did during Amat’s 56-7 blowout of the Knights. The senior RB had 15 carries for 252 yards and three TDs and also caught three passes for 61 more yards and another score.

Tim Tague (Miramonte, Orinda)
The three-sport athlete for the unbeaten Matadors racked up more big numbers when they bounced Alhambra of Martinez 42-19. On 41 throws, he completed 26 and had 384 yards and three TDs. For the season, Tague is among the state leaders with 1,737 yards in five games plus 18 TDs. He ‘s also thrown just three interceptions.

Manu Turituri (Wilcox, Santa Clara)
We are a fan of players that make an impact on both sides of the ball and that is what Manu did during a 35-14 win over San Benito of Hollister. He rushed for 103 yards and one touchdown, threw a touchdown pass and intercepted a pass while playing defense.

Rajah Ward (Homestead, Cupertino)
When a game goes to two overtimes you would expect some big stats to be put up and that was what this junior running back did during that 47-41 loss to Terra Nova of Pacifica. For Ward, he rushed for 300 yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries. His touchdowns came on carries of 85, 71, 24 and 10 yards.

Marcus Washington (Clovis East, Clovis)
The standout sophomore led the CIF Central Section last week in rushing, with a career high of 319 yards on 16 carries and scored five touchdowns on runs of 18, 87, 77, 3 & 20 yards as Clovis East scored all 62 points in the first half of a 62-12 romp past Overfelt of San Jose.

Garrett White (Edison, Huntington Beach)
During the Chargers’ 42-26 loss to Mater Dei of Santa Ana, Edison QB Grant Lowary looked his way often as he caught 12 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns. Garrett is the son of longtime Edison head coach Dave White.

Ke’Nigil Williams (Hayward)
From the same school as NFL head coaches Jack Del Rio and Bill Walsh, Williams had a strong game to lead the Farmers past Los Altos 55-22. He scored on runs of 75, 34 and 1 yard and finished with 231 yards in all.

Covossay Windham (Carmel)
Blowing his way past the defense of Sacred Heart Prep of Atherton, Windham rushed for an incredible 318 yards and five touchdowns on 34 carries but it was in a losing effort as the Padres lost to the Gators 76-55.

Paul Muyskens is the Stockton office assistant editor of Cal-Hi Sports. 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