This week’s two SoCal/NorCal Defensive Players of the Week are Chris Adimora of Lakewood Mayfair & Zane Cribb from Danville Monte Vista. Photos: Twitter.com & Hudl.com.
This week’s first selections for the 2017 football season truly covers the length of California with QBs Daniel Jeremiah of El Cajon Christian and T.J. Campbell from St. Bernard’s of Eureka among those chosen. We’ll continue to do offense, defense and special teams (six players in all) but this year all of the writeups will be by longtime contributor Harold Abend.
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Note: For these honors, we consider CIF Central Section players for Northern California. To nominate someone by 12 noon on most Mondays, email markjtennis@gmail.com.
Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Offensive Player of the Week
T.J. Campbell
(St. Bernard’s, Eureka) Sr.
After waiting in the wings for his chance the 6-foot-1, 210-pound senior had some big shoes to fill with the graduation of Jack Rice and he came through big time in the Crusaders’ 42-20 win on the road at El Molino of Forestville.
In the spread offense of head coach Matt Tomlin employs, Campbell was 25-of-45 for 435 yards and four touchdowns. He didn’t score on the ground but he was the team’s leading rusher with 52 yards on 11 carries.
It was pretty obvious Campbell would carry on for Rice with his showing at the Pittsburg 7-on-7 in July after looking sharp against mostly large enrollment schools. He has a ways to go to match the 3,312 yards and 40 TDs Rice put up last year in 13 games but last week’s performance gives him a great start.
Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Defensive Player of the Week
Zane Cribb
(Monte Vista, Danville) Sr.
In the debut of first-year head coach Matt Russi, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Cribb was the big star on both sides of the ball in a hard fought 13-7 victory over Deer Valley of Antioch.
For this feature, he’s being picked for his defense after the senior strong safety and running back had three of the Mustangs’ five interceptions in the game. He also had an additional pass deflection.
It’s worth noting Cribb was pretty much responsible for a big portion of Monte Vista’s offense as well. He rushed 21 times for 128 yards and caught six passes for 54 yards and a touchdown.
Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Special Teams Player of the Week
Dylan Williams
(Half Moon Bay) Sr.
The 5-foot-9, 155-pound senior transfer from Menlo School where he was an All Peninsula Athletic League selection last season as a kicker picked up right where he left off after coming home to Half Moon Bay for his senior season.
He’s listed as a kicker but last week in a 63-7 rout of Saratoga Williams not only handled the kicking duties but was virtually everywhere.
In the game, he had two field goals, including a 42-yarder, went seven-of-seven on PATs, rushed for a 2-point conversion on a bad snap, and had six kickoffs go for touchbacks, a 60-yard punt, and he even had two pass receptions on offense for 45 yards. That is definitely a full night’s work.
Brad Jeremiah already is keeping up the family name at Christian (El Cajon). Photo: Twitter.com.
Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Offensive Player of the Week
Bradley Jeremiah
(Christian, El Cajon) Sr.
His brother, David Jeremiah, was a star quarterback and passed for almost 6,000 yards at Christian where his family was one of the ones that founded the school, and little brother Bradley has picked right up where his brother left off after graduating in 2015.
Brad may be the younger brother but at 6-foot-5, 205-pounds he is the bigger of the two. He passed for 2,034 yards and 21 touchdowns last season in leading the Patriots to a 12-1 record before they bowed out to Bishop’s in the CIF San Diego Section Division III title game. He’s now come out of the box with over 20 percent of last year’s production in Christian’s first game.
In a 60-38 victory over Hurricane of Utah, Jeremiah was like a hurricane himself after posting a reported state best 537 yards in the air on 26-for-38 passing with seven touchdowns.
Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Defensive Player of the Week
Chris Adimora
(Mayfair, Lakewood) Jr.
He’s only a junior but the two-sport star (basketball) already has major college interest with offers from Boise State, Brigham Young, Montana State, San Jose State and USC, which supposedly has the inside track on the Monsoons’ standout.
Last week in a 37-7 rout at neighboring Long Beach Wilson, the Monsoons’ 6-foot-2, 190-pound safety was like the perfect storm on defense.
Of four interceptions recorded by Mayfair, Adimora had three with an even 100 return yardage. He took two of them back-to-back 60 and 40 to the house for touchdowns. Adimora also had two receptions as a wide receiver.
“It was kind of surreal,” Adimora told the Long Beach Press Telegram with regards to the second interception. “I was like, ‘Dang, again?’ But I just did what I do and brought it back to the house.”
Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Special Teams Player of the Week
Edgar Zacarias
(Pioneer Valley, Santa Maria) Jr.
On the road in Nipomo and with 8:13 left in the game and the score tied 10-10, Pioneer head coach John Ruiz sent his highly regarded kicker out to try a 47-yard field goal and the 6-foot-1, 170-pound Zacarias booted it straight through the uprights with what the Santa Maria Times said was a kick that could have gone an extra 10 yards if needed.
It was Zacaraias’ second field goal in two tries and Zacarias also made his one PAT attempt and sent all four kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.
It was a great start to the season for the Panthers and Zacarias, who has been the starting kicker for Pioneer Valley since his freshman year.
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
