Cal-Hi Sports Insider Blog

Quick-hitting, behind-the-scenes news and notes from the CalHiSports.com staff, including previews of upcoming content and events.

CIF State Football Title Game MVPs

By Mark Tennis | Published December 12, 2022

Roderick Robinson is about to score one of the two touchdowns that he scored for Lincoln of San Diego in its win against De La Salle. Photo: Scott Kurtz.


We have picked one for every game we’ve seen since the first one of the modern era in 2006, and have chosen one based on posted stats & media coverage for every other state final. Perhaps the hardest one this year was in the Open Division, but it just had to be a member of the St. John Bosco defense. We also have one chosen for a team that didn’t win.

FOR SATURDAY GAME BREAKDOWNS AT SADDLEBACK COLLEGE, CLICK HERE.

FOR FRIDAY GAME BREAKDOWNS AT SADDLEBACK COLLEGE, CLICK HERE.

FOR SATURDAY GAME BREAKDOWNS OF GAMES IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, CLICK HERE.

Note: We hope you enjoy this free post on CalHiSports.com. After the preseason, all weekly and final state rankings are available only to our Gold Club members as well as our state stat star of the week honor rolls. To check out getting a Gold Club membership to see all of those rankings plus all of our updated state record lists, totally authentic historical features, recruiting player ratings and more, CLICK HERE.

Open Division
Aaron Williams (St. John Bosco, Bellflower)
It just has to be someone from the Braves’ dominating defense. The transfer from Corona Centennial had the play of the game during 45-0 win over Serra of San Mateo with a 31-yard interception return touchdown in which he dove to the pylon for the final few yards. Williams also was among the team’s tackle leaders with four. He has committed to Louisville.

D1-AA
Roderick Robinson (Lincoln, San Diego)
The Georgia committed RB didn’t do much in the first half, but found room in the second as the Hornets topped perennial power De La Salle of Concord, 33-28. Despite being limited with a hamstring injury, Robinson carried 22 times for 222 yards and four TDs.

D1-A
Kresean Kizzy (Liberty, Bakersfield)
It wasn’t just that Kresean scored on an interception return, kickoff return and reception to lead the Patriots past Pittsburg, 48-20. Each play was long distance and game-changing. The 48-yard interception return started the scoring for Liberty. The 96-yard kickoff return helped to break the game open. The 85-yard TD reception is one of the longest in state championship game history.

D2-AA
Tre Edwards (Mater Dei Catholic, Chula Vista)
He made tackles all over the place as a junior when the Crusaders defeated Central Catholic of Modesto in this same divisional state final. This time, in a 26-18 win against McClymonds of Oakland, Edwards was the leader once again with six solo and four assisted tackles. Several were behind the line of scrimmage. The four-year varsity standout will play next at UCLA.

Isaiah Jackson scored the winning touchdown in overtime for Granite Hills in the D2-A state final. Photo: Mark Tennis.


D2-A
Isaiah Jackson (Granite Hills, El Cajon)
Both Isaiah and Maxwell Turner are promising sophomore RBs for the Eagles, but we’ll give the nod to Isaiah since his 2-yard run in overtime was the game-winner in the 31-24 victory vs San Ramon Valley of Danville. Jackson also ended with 13 carries for 92 yards and he had a 10-yard TD run to start the fourth quarter.

D3-AA
Dillon Gresham (San Jacinto)
Grant of Sacramento won the game, 36-34, with a touchdown that came with 18 seconds left and the Pacers had a myriad of contributors. Gresham capped a great season with a great game. He caught 10 passes for 168 yards and three TDs plus he put Grant into an early hole by scooping up a fumble and running it back for an 84-yard touchdown. Gresham with 2,032 receiving yards and 31 TD catches. He set an Inland Empire record for TD catches and was just three short of the state record.

D3-A
Troy Leigber (Laguna Hills)
His 64-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter held up as the winning score when the Hawks edged Bellarmine of San Jose, 28-27. Leigber has been that type of player all season. He also had a 35-yard touchdown in the first half. In the second half, Leigber helped set up the two TDs that would win the game with long runs.

4-AA
Ryker Peters (Escalon)
At one point during the Cougars’ 28-7 triumph against Northwood of Irvine, Peters carried the ball 16 straight times. He finished with 177 yards on 33 carries with one touchdown. Peters also had four tackles on defense.

4-A
Jimmy Hughes (San Marin, Novato)
He did his best Brock Purdy impression as a back-up QB having to go to the top and led the Mustangs to a 32-8 win over Granada Hills Charter. Stepping in for injured standout Dominic Ingrassia, Jimmy passed for 143 yards and three touchdowns and he had 77 yards rushing, including a 23-yard run that picked up a first down on fourth-and-13.

D5-AA
David Burns (Hughson)
In a slug-it-out in-the-mud 9-6 victory against Muir of Pasadena, Burns, a junior linebacker who was recently a NorCal Defensive Player of the Week, led the Huskies with 12 tackles. He also came up with two interceptions.

D5-A
Grant Foster (Orland)
The leader of the Trojans, who ended 15-0 after a 20-7 victory over Shafter, rushed for 159 yards and on 29 carries and scored all three touchdowns. Foster ran for two of his scores with the other one coming on a interception return.

D6-AA
Life Pollard (Classical Academy, Escondido)
The only score of the game in a 7-0 win by the Caimans over Santa Teresa of San Jose came on a short plunge by their multi-purpose star. Pollard also rushed for 140 yards in the wet, slippery conditions.

D6-A
Trey Cooks (Atascadero)
The 6-1, 215-pound power back was well-suited for mud and muck when the Greyhounds blanked San Gabriel 41-0 to win their first CIF state title. Cooks scored the team’s first three TDs on runs of 40, 53 and 23 yards.

D7-AA
Larry McDonald (Pinole Valley, Pinole)
Teammate Ellis Shamsid-Deen was stellar as well with two TD catches and one TD run, but in the 34-21 victory last week over Mendota, it has to be McDonald. He rushed for 262 yards on 23 carries with one TD and he caught a 39-yard pass. Note: Game played on Saturday, Dec. 3.

D7-A
Jamelle Newman (Lincoln, San Francisco)
Another one with a strong teammate option is Newman. While teammate Ricky Underwood scored three times and had 10 carries for 153 yards in Lincoln’s 54-6 rout of L.A. Crenshaw, Newman had more yards (173) on less carries (8) and scored twice.

Recaps: CIF Saturday Finals (NorCal)

By Daniel Poulter | Published December 11, 2022

Jamelle Newman breaks loose and heads toward the end zone for Lincoln of San Francisco during team’s win at Kezar Stadium on Saturday over Crenshaw. Photo: Willie Eashman.


For all of the games played on a rainy, often muddy night in Northern California on Saturday, two of the teams traveling from SoCal were able to pull off wins — Laguna Hills in D3-A and Classical Academy of Escondido in D-6AA. None of the SoCal teams posted wins in these games last season. The poor weather didn’t prevent Grant of Sacramento and San Jacinto from playing a truly memorable shootout in D3-AA. Escalon and Hughson also won titles for a Sac-Joaquin Section sweep.

FOR SATURDAY GAMES AT SADDLEBACK COLLEGE, CLICK HERE.

Note: We hope you enjoy this free post on CalHiSports.com. After the preseason, all weekly and final state rankings are available only to our Gold Club members as well as our state stat star of the week honor rolls. To check out getting a Gold Club membership to see all of those rankings plus all of our updated state record lists, totally authentic historical features, recruiting player ratings and more, CLICK HERE.

DIVISION 3–AA
San Jacinto at Grant (Sacramento)

In a game that mirrored the crazy ending of Sacramento State vs Incarnate Word from earlier this weekend, Grant’s Kyle Ryan scored in the final 18 seconds to push the Pacers (12-2) to a 36-34 victory over San Jacinto. This is Grant’s first state title since 2008 vs Long Beach Poly. The two programs exploded for 34 combined fourth quarter points. The Pacers bounced back from an 0-9 season last season (counting forfeits) and became the highest rated North representative to win a state title this year. There were issues with the scoreboard for the final three minutes of the contest, which made the ending even more chaotic. Grant stormed back from a 20-8 deficit early in the third quarter. San Jacinto ended its season at 13-3.

DIVISION 3–A
Laguna Hills vs. Bellarmine (San Jose)

When Bellarmine quarterback Nate Escalada connected with Ben Pfaff on a 45-yard touchdown pass across the middle of the field to put the Bells (8-7) up 27-7 over Laguna Hills during the second quarter, it appeared that the Bells were en route to their first football state title. The visitors from Laguna Hills (15-1) had other plans, however, on Saturday evening at San Jose City College, as the Hawks scored 21 unanswered points for the stunning 28-27 victory over the Bells. The comeback started off with a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Kaden Austin on the first drive out of the halftime break. The Hawks took the lead for good with 6:51 remaining in the game, as Troy Leigber scored on a 62-yard burst on fourth and two. Laguna Hills instead was the school celebrating its first state title.

Head coach Andrew Beam of Escalon is surrounded by family and friends after the Cougars won 2022 D4-AA state title. Photo: FrontRowPreps.com.

DIVISION 4–AA
Northwood (Irvine) at Escalon

On a flooded field, Escalon pulled away for its third state title, as the Cougars (12-3) notched a 28-7 victory over Northwood (14-2) on Saturday evening. It was tied 7-7 at the halftime break, but Escalon’s ground game was key in the second half. Logan Anderson had the game winning score early in the second half, as Anderson took a 49-yard touchdown back to put the Cougars up 14-7. Escalon’s star running back added a 6-yard touchdown burst with 3:31 remaining to give the hosts some breathing room. The confirmed dagger for Northwood was an Owen Nash 33-yard interception return for a touchdown. This is the second state title for Escalon in the past three seasons (four years counting COVID) and it puts the program on the all-time state list with three overall.

DIVISION 4–A
Granada Hills at San Marin (Novato)

For the second straight season, the Mustangs (13-2) of San Marin of Marin County are state champions, as the small school north of the Golden Gate Bridge corralled the larger Granada Hills Charter (Granada Hills) 32-8 in dominating fashion Saturday evening in Novato. Granada Hills Charter came into the game with one of the top running backs in the state in Utah bound Dijon Stanley and an offense that had not completed a pass all season according to team stats. San Marin dared the Highlanders to beat them by the air, as the Mustangs used an 11-man box of six linemen and five linebackers. The hosts forced three fumbles in the first quarter and quickly took an 18-0 advantage over the Highlanders and the rout was on. Helping lead the Mustangs to the state title was second string quarterback Jimmy Hughes, as the junior stepped in for injured junior quarterback Dominic Ingrassia. San Marin held Stanley to his lowest yardage game of the season, as the senior only had 86 yards. And yes, Granada Hills (12-3) did have a completed pass.

DIVISION 5–AA
Muir (Pasadena) at Hughson

It seems that whenever a Trans Valley League side makes it to a state title, the small school from the southern part of the Sac-Joaquin Section has a good chance of taking home a title. This was the case again this season, as Hughson held on for a 9-6 victory over Muir and the Huskies (13-2) joined Escalon as the second TVL team to pull off a state title this year. It is the first state title for Hughson. In addition to Escalon, Ripon, Hilmar and Modesto Christian of the TVL have won state crowns. Hughson scored the only touchdown it would need just a couple minutes in the contest, as the hosts recovered a fumble on the mud soaked field and Liam Bridgford punched in a five-yard touchdown run for a score. The Huskies would add two more points at the end of the first quarter, as a bad Muir snap forced the Mustangs to kick the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety. Muir (9-7) added its only score just before the end of the third quarter, as Mahki Clark scored on a keeper.

DIVISION 5–A
Shafter at Orland

There is only one undefeated state champion this season and it’s not St. John Bosco (Bellflower), as Orland outlasted Shafter of the Central Section to secure a 20-7 victory and walk away with a 15-0 perfect season. Shafter head coach has some choice words for the CIF after the game about the field quality, as the field up in the Northern Section did resemble store bought ground beef. With both sides reduced to run only options, the ground focused Trojans were right at home in the mud. Grant Foster did the bulk of the damage for the hosts, as the senior running back had 29 carries for 159 yards and scored two touchdowns for the Trojans. Foster had all three touchdowns for the Trojans, as the two-way star also had a 40-yard pick-six in the second half. The Generals capped an 11-5 season.

DIVISION 6–AA
Classical Academy (Escondido) at Santa Teresa (San Jose)

The Caimans (10-4) from the City of Escondido are one of the few small schools from the South to pick up a state title this season, as Classical Academy held on for a 7-0 victory over hosting Santa Teresa (San Jose) on Saturday evening. A Life Pollard rushing touchdown in the first quarter was all the scoring needed for the Caimans, as the San Diego Section side held the Saints (9-6) scoreless on their home field. Classical Academy used a double tight end double blocking formation to pull off the lone touchdown of the game. The victory by the Caimans also secured a perfect 4-0 weekend for the San Diego Section. Granite Hills of El Cajon had won earlier in the day at Saddleback College. On Friday down south, Mater Dei Catholic and Lincoln (San Diego) earned crowns.

DIVISION 6–A
San Gabriel at Atascadero

Other than the CIF Open Division, there was no bigger shutout this weekend than Atascadero’s 41-0 blasting of San Gabriel on a mud soaked field on Saturday evening. Maybe it was fate, as Atascadero (11-4) loosely translated from Spanish means a muddy place. Trey Cooks had the first four touchdowns of the game for the Greyhounds, as the senior would finish with five total scores in his final high school game. This is the first state title for Atascadero after the Greyhounds secured their first section title since 1996. San Gabriel finished its season at 12-4.

DIVISION 7–A
Crenshaw (LA) vs. Lincoln (San Francisco)

Lincoln was right at home at historic Kezar Stadium in San Francisco, as the Mustangs used eight rushing touchdowns to breeze past Crenshaw 54-6 in the fifth largest margin of victory in a CIF State Bowl game. This is the third state title in Lincoln school history and the Mustangs have secured victories in each state title appearance. Ricky Underwood had three of the first four touchdowns for Lincoln (11-3) in the blowout, as the running back had the team high on the day. Crenshaw (7-8) struggled with the wet conditions on the grass field inside Kezar Stadium.

Note: Pinole Valley of Pinole won its first CIF state title last weekend in D7-AA with a 35-21 victory last Friday at Mendota. In that bracket, the two teams went straight to a final with no regional ahead of time. Lincoln of San Francisco also had a bye in D7-A. The one CIF section champion that opted out of the bowl games was Fall River of McArthur (12-0), which would have been no higher than D7-AA.

Daniel Poulter is a free-lance writer based in Windsor, Calif. He also currently does work for the Napa Valley Register. Follow him @DanielJPoulter.

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

Salute to Peter Ackermann

By Mark Tennis | Published December 5, 2022

Pete Ackermann, the longtime head coach at Oaks Christian of Westlake Village, hoists 2021 SoCal D1 title trophy after Lions topped Roosevelt of Eastvale last June. Photo: Mark Tennis.


Longtime softball coach and athletics coordinator at Oaks Christian of Westlake Village died last Saturday from a heart condition at age 77. Last June’s CIF SoCal D1 championship game that the Lions won in dramatic fashion, 6-5, over Roosevelt of Eastvale unfortunately wound up as Pete’s last game. His final career record of 651-148-1 is currently No. 15 in state history, but his legacy as his school of course will be much more known for what he did working with all of the staff and student-athletes there.

After the 2021 Oaks Christian High softball team ended its season with a 6-5 win over Roosevelt of Eastvale for the CIF Southern California D1 regional championship, head coach Pete Ackermann was looking forward to the 2022 season. He talked about some of the top players who would be returning, including three of the leading hitters — Anahi Arreola, Rylee McCoy and Lily Knox.

Sadly, Ackermann himself won’t be back. He had gone to the hospital earlier last week for surgery on his heart. According to assistant coach Steve Sakakini (who helps us with info from Oaks Christian on all of its teams), Ackermann had come through the surgery, but a complication arose two days later. He passed away early last Saturday morning. He was 77 years old.

“Pete was a serious individual and a ‘deep well’ that you needed to explore slowly over time in order to fully appreciate him,” said OCS Head of School Rob Black. “If you only crossed Pete’s path briefly, or had short conversations, you would miss out on who he really was. Without a doubt, above all else, Pete loved the Lord, his school, his friends and colleagues, and the softball student-athlete young women he coached and mentored at Oaks Christian. It is an incredible privilege and joy to have been able to count Pete as a dear and personal friend.”

Ackermann’s 2021 team ended the season 34-1 with its only loss to Los Alamitos in the CIF Southern Section D1 semifinals. At the time of the loss, the Lions were No. 1 in the state and in contention for the final No. 1 ranking in the nation (ExtraInningSoftball.com). Since it hardly ever happens that a team stays No. 1 after a loss, St. Francis of Mountain View was elevated the next week to No. 1 in the state and then didn’t lose for the rest of the season. That’s why Oaks Christian was No. 2 in the final state rankings, but regardless will go down as Ackermann’s best team.

For his career, Ackermann finished with a 651-148-1 record, which is currently 15th best in state history. He began his career in 1994 at Newbury Park and went to Oaks Christian when the school started in 2000. Another highlight of his career was a 46-game win streak from 2003 to 2004 that is still the CIF Southern Section record (tied for 6th on the state list). It also was during that time in 2004 when Ackermann was named State Coach of the Year.

Ackermann got the most satisfaction, however, when he’d visit with former players and students.

“Wins and losses are not as important as establishing relationships with students,” Ackermann was quoted as saying in the release by the school about his death. “As coaches, we need to open up about ourselves and show how much we care about the young men and women we coach. Sometimes they don’t get it instantly, but it opens doors for communication down the road. I get such pleasure staying in touch with our alumni, and when they come back to visit and I get to see their life’s success and their new families. That’s the real win.”

Pete was always supportive of the work we do at Cal-Hi Sports and he often took time to send in nominations of his players for various honors. We will miss our interactions with him and we send our deepest condolences to the Oaks Christian athletic community.

NorCal Tip-Off Classic Recaps

By Ronnie Flores | Published November 26, 2022

Here’s the results and recap from the 15th Annual NorCal Tip-Off Classic at Dublin. Preseason NorCal No. 1 and state No. 3 Modesto Christian fell for the second consecutive night in a loss to No. 5 Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks (which also had fallen in its first game last week).
Read more…

Local Lions All-Star FB Game To Return

By Mark Tennis | Published November 17, 2022

The 47th annual Central California Lions All-Star Football Game was supposed to have been played on June 14, 2020 at Lincoln High School’s Alex G. Spanos Stadium. That game, along with all high school sports at that time, were canceled due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic several months earlier.

There also was no All-Star Game in 2021 or 2022 due to the lingering after-effects of the pandemic as high school scheduling wasn’t back to normal until the current 2022-23 school year.

Mariposa’s Cody Wichmann is one of several from the Lions Game to later play in the NFL. Photo: Mark Tennis.


With dollars still on hand from the canceled game from 2020 and with most of those who were serving on the Lions All-Star Football Game committee still committed to seeing the local event honoring outstanding graduated local high school players continue, it is with pleasure to announce that the Central California Lions All-Star Football Game is returning in 2023.

The all-star game, which now will be the 47th in the series, will be staged on Friday, June 24, 2023 at 7 p.m. and will be held at Wayne Schneider Stadium in Tracy. The game had been held at Tracy High’s venue from 2013 to 2018 before moving to Lincoln High in Stockton in 2019.

Coaches from the two teams also have been selected and they are already working on their rosters.

For the North, since he was supposed to be coaching the team in 2019, Edison of Stockton’s Booker Guyton was asked again and he has accepted again. The Vikings were coming off of a league championship team in 2019 and they are once again.

For the South, one of the co-head coaches will be retiring Oakdale High legend Trent Merzon. He had never been able to coach the South team before, and the Lions All-Star Football Game committee couldn’t be more thrilled that a person of his stature is going to be involved this time. Merzon coached the Mustangs to a record of 225-62-1 in 23 seasons. His winning percentage of 78.3 is one of the highest in Northern California history among coaches with 200 wins or more. Note: Lions All-Star committee member Wayne Schneider retired from Tracy with a 224-59-5 record (almost the same as Merzon with a 78.6 win percentage).

Merzon will be co-coaching with longtime friend Tim Garcia, the Modesto Bee’s 2021 Coach of the Year from Grace Davis of Modesto.

Guyton will be assisted by one of Edison’s two coordinators, former NFL wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins.

The North won the 2019 game 19-18 and snapped a six-game winless streak in the series. The North also leads in the overall series 25-19-1.

There will be changes to the format of the event. In order to concentrate on getting the game itself back up and running, there will be no all-star banquet and players will not be housed at a college dorm for the week leading into the game. The Lions All-Star Football Committee may look into reviving those unique qualities of the event at a later time.

The Lions All-Star Football Classic began in 1974 and was held at the University of Pacific’s Memorial Stadium until 2011. With that stadium at the time being prepared for its eventual demolition, the Lions game moved to Modesto Junior College for two years and for six years from 2013 to 2018 had been held at Tracy High’s Wayne Schneider Stadium.

The committee, headed by Elizabeth Gibbs Olson, would like to specifically thank head coach Jeremy Plaa from Downey High of Modesto for joining the committee and offering invaluable insights as a former coach in the game and a former player in the game.

High Schools Represented In
District 4A-1 of Lions International

North – Amador (Sutter Creek), Argonaut (Jackson), Bear Creek (Stockton), Bret Harte (Altaville), Brookside Christian (Stockton), Calaveras (San Andreas), East Union (Manteca), Edison (Stockton), Escalon, Franklin (Stockton), Jim Elliot Christian (Lodi), Kimball (Tracy), Lathrop, Lincoln (Stockton), Lodi, Manteca, McNair (Stockton), Merrill West (Tracy), Millennium (Tracy), Mountain House, Ripon, Ripon Christian, St. Mary’s (Stockton), Sierra (Manteca), Sonora, Stagg (Stockton), Summerville (Tuolomne), Tokay (Lodi), Tracy, Weston Ranch (Stockton).

South – Atwater, Beyer (Modesto), Big Valley Christian (Modesto), Buhach Colony (Atwater), Central Catholic (Modesto), Central Valley (Ceres), Ceres, Chowchilla, Delhi, Denair, Dos Palos, Downey (Modesto), El Capitan (Merced), Enochs (Modesto), Golden Valley (Merced), Grace Davis (Modesto), Gregori (Modesto), Gustine, Hilmar, Hughson, Johansen (Modesto), Le Grand, Livingston, Los Banos, Madera, Madera South, Mariposa County (Mariposa), Merced, Modesto, Modesto Christian, Oakdale, Orestimba (Newman), Pacheco (Los Banos), Patterson, Pitman (Turlock), Riverbank, Stone Ridge Christian (Merced), Turlock, Turlock Christian.

Regular Season State Stat Leaders

By Mark Tennis | Published November 9, 2022

Jackson Harris of Berkeley (left) led the state for regular season TD catches. At right is regular season state receptions leader Cooper Hoch of Corona del Mar. Photos: 49ers.com & Mark Tennis (taken off of banner showing at football game).


These aren’t as simple as just looking at MaxPreps. This is due to several CIF sections around the state that don’t end the regular season on the same week as the others (mainly Central Coast, North Coast and Northern). In fact, San Francisco and Oakland still have one week to go but there are no players involved that would effect any of the lists. Plus, there are other players who didn’t play last week due to first-round playoff section byes.

FOR THIS WEEK’S STATE STAT STARS OF THE WEEK HONOR ROLL (GOLD CLUB), CLICK HERE.

Note: We hope you enjoy this free post on CalHiSports.com. After the preseason, all weekly and final state rankings are available only to our Gold Club members. To check out getting a Gold Club membership to see all of those rankings plus all of our updated state football record lists, totally authentic historical features, recruiting player ratings and more, CLICK HERE.

After doing all of the subtraction on some players from the MaxPreps leaders (those that did have playoff games last week), here are the leaders in each of the categories in which state records are maintained (number of games played listed in parentheses):

Luke Baker of San Ramon Valley is shown during preseason practice. Photo: Chace Bryson / SportStars.


Most Yards Passing
3,465 – Tanner Wilson, Fresno Sunnyside (10) Soph.
3,372 – Anders Lundsberg, Anaheim Canyon (10)
3,295 – Marino Fragata, Sacramento Johnson (9) Jr.
3,123 – Myles Jackson, Long Beach Millikan (9) Jr.
2,998 – Anthony Mahaffey, Placentia El Dorado (10)
2,960 – Luke Baker, Danville San Ramon Valley (10) Jr.
2,924 – Cavin Ross, Lompoc (10)

Most Touchdown Passes
46 – Anders Lundsberg, Anaheim Canyon (10)
45 – Marino Fragata, Sacramento Johnson (9) Jr.
41 – Myles Jackson, Long Beach Millikan (9) Jr.
40 – Tanner Wilson, Fresno Sunnyside (10) Soph.
39 – Cavin Ross, Lompoc (10)

Most Yards Rushing
2,235 – Delon Thompson, Ventura St. Bonaventure (10)
2,170 – Eric Terrazes, Baldwin Park Sierra Vista (10)
2,164 – Andrew Camarillo, Orosi (10)

Most Touchdowns Scored
36 – Beau Bruins, Riverside Ramona (10)
32 – Aaron Ramirez, Thermal Coachella Valley (8) Soph.
32 – Blake Nichelson, Manteca (9)
31 – Arthur Draeger, Galt Liberty Ranch (10)
29 – Troy Leigber, Laguna Hills) 10)
29 – Delon Thompson, Ventura St. Bonaventure (10)
Notes: Aaron Ramirez played for Coachella Valley last week in CIFSS playoff loss, but stats not reported. He is shown with 32 TDs in eight regular season games and then didn’t play in team’s final two regular season games. Jasiah Bateman of Antelope also is on the MaxPreps list with 33 TDs, but that’s TD passes not TDs scored.

Most Touchdown Catches
22 – Jackson Harris, Berkeley (10)
20 – Jeremiah Castillo, Spring Valley Mt. Miguel (10) Jr.
20 – Kayvon Monfared, Anaheim Canyon (10)
Note: Harris had 20 entering his final regular season game last week and caught two for the Yellowjackets in their 49-8 win over Irvington of Fremont. Castillo and Monfared were done the week before.

Most Receiving Yards
1,459 – Xavier Jordan, Los Angeles Cathedral (10) Jr.
1,427 – Jackson Harris, Berkeley (10)
1,313 – Tiger Bachmeier, Murrieta Murrieta Valley (10)

Most Receptions
86 – Cooper Hoch, Newport Beach Corona del Mar (10)
84 – Jeremiah Bernard, Modesto Christian (10) Jr.
83 – C.J. Jones, Fresno Sunnyside (10) Soph.
82 – Tiger Bachmeier, Murrieta Murrieta Valley (10)
80 – Drew Faulkner, Anaheim Western (9)
Notes: Hoch only had one catch in his team’s first playoff game in the CIFSS D3 bracket, but the good news for him is that Corona del Mar won and is still going. Bachmeier had 15 catches in his team’s 70-49 CIFSS D2 playoff loss to Bishop Amat and ended the season with 97.

Boys BB: 2022-23 Transfer Rundown

By Ronnie Flores | Published November 8, 2022


Here’s a quick-hitting list of transfers that will impact this year’s boys basketball state rankings. It’s been a hectic off-season and we offer a rundown of where some of California’s elite players ended up, including some who left the state, and some who just transferred as recently as the past week. Look for our preseason Cal-Hi Sports state rankings on November 11, as the basketball season should be about as normal as it was pre-COVID-19. The 2022-23 season officially begins November 14. The CIF state basketball championships are scheduled to take place March 10-11, 2023.  Read more…

Boys BB: Preseason FAB 50 Show

By Ronnie Flores | Published November 5, 2022

Our Managing Editor Ronnie Flores, who takes the lead on our boys basketball content as well, was an analyst and producer for the recently-released “Preseason FAB 50 Show” by Ballislife.com. The three plus-hour show broke down the boys basketball preseason FAB 50 National Team Rankings Flores produces each year (CLICK HERE to view rankings). This is the 36th consecutive season for the FAB 50, which started as the National Prep Poll by high school hall of fame journalist Doug Huff of West Virginia in 1987-88. Cal-Hi Sports Editor Mark Tennis combined forces with Huff to create the FAB 50 for the 1999-2000 season and the trio worked on it together until the conclusion of the 2011-2012 season.

The show’s other analyst was Texas scout Ani Umana and it was hosted by former San Diego State standout Chelsea Hopkins, who spent some time in the WNBA and currently plays professionally in Israel.

The California teams in the preseason FAB 50 this year were defending CIF open champ Corona Centennial at No. 9, North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake at No. 15, defending NorCal Open champ Modesto Christian at No. 27, Chatsworth Sierra Canyon at No. 32 and a third Mission League team, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, at No. 38.

Look for Flores’ Region-By-Region Top 20 Rankings (including the West Region) on November 9 and for our preseason state rankings by November 11. The 2022-23 season will be the 43rd consecutive season that Cal-Hi Sports/ CalHiSports.com will provide state rankings in boys hoops.

HR Leaders from Calif high schools

By Mark Tennis | Published October 13, 2022

Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees is shown at an event organized by the foundation he uses to that helps underprivileged kids. Photo: aaronjudgeallrisefoundation.org.


Whether you want to put an asterisk by the ones who achieved their totals during those years when steroids clearly were being used is up to you. But now with yet another from California moving up in the MLB record books, here is a look at all of the players from California high schools who have hit 50 or more home runs in a single season.

Congratulations to Linden’s Aaron Judge for breaking the American League record and for easily hitting the most home runs in the MLB regular season. We followed Aaron when he was playing football, basketball and baseball at Linden from 2007 to 2010. He was all-state small schools in baseball in 2010 and was all-state grid-hoop as well. He was considered runner-up for D4 State Athlete of the Year. Who could have topped him? It was Robbie Rowland of Cloverdale, a first-round MLB draft pick coming out of high school and who averaged 30 ppg in basketball.

Scan down through this first list as well to check out all of those from California high schools this season in MLB who hit at least 25 homers in the regular season.

ALL-TIME MLB HOME RUN LEADERS FROM CALIFORNIA

73 – Barry Bonds (Serra, San Mateo) SF Giants, 2001

70 – Mark McGwire (Damien, La Verne) St. Louis Cards, 1998

65 – Mark McGwire (Damien, La Verne) St. Louis Cards, 1999

62 – Aaron Judge (Linden) NY Yankees, 2022

59 – Giancarlo “Mike” Stanton (Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks) Miami Marlins, 2017

58 – Mark McGwire (Damien, La Verne) St. Louis Cards, 1997

54 – Ralph Kiner (Alhambra) Pittsburg Pirates, 1949

52 – George Foster (Leuzinger, Lawndale) Cincy Reds, 1977

52 – Aaron Judge (Linden) NY Yankees, 2017

52 – Mark McGwire (Damien, La Verne) Oakland A’s, 1996

51 – Cecil Fielder (Nogales, La Puente) Det Tigers, 1990

51 – Ralph Kiner (Alhambra) Pittsburg Pirates, 1947

50 – Brady Anderson (Carlsbad) Baltimore Orioles, 1996

50 – Greg Vaughn (Kennedy, Sacramento) SD Padres, 1998

49 – Barry Bonds (Serra, San Mateo) SF Giants, 2000

49 – Shawn Green (Tustin) LA Dodgers, 2001

49 – Mark McGwire (Damien, La Verne) Oakland A’s, 1987

49 – Frank Robinson (McClymonds, Oakland) Balt Orioles, 1966

48 – Willie Stargell (Encinal, Alameda) Pittsburg Pirates, 1971

MLB HOME RUN LEADERS FROM 2022 SEASON FROM CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOLS

62 – Aaron Judge (Linden) New York Yankees

35 – Rowdy Tellez (Elk Grove) Milwaukee Brewers

31 – Giancarlo Stanton (Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks) New York Yankees

30 – Nolan Aranado (El Toro, Lake Forest) St. Louis Cardinals

30 – Rhys Hoskins (Jesuit, Carmichael) Philadelphia Phillies

27 – Matt Chapman (El Toro, Lake Forest) Toronto Blue Jays

26 – Marcus Semien (St. Mary’s, Berkeley) Texas Rangers

25 – Patrick Wisdom (Murrieta Valley, Murrieta) Chicago Cubs

Medium/Small School Teams of Week

By Mark Tennis | Published September 27, 2022

In this salute to teams we have categorized as medium or small schools based on competitive equity, enrollment and other factors, it’s a new feature this season pointing the spotlight on two of them each week who just had impressive outings on the football field. Congrats to Charter Oak of Covina (medium) and Orland (small).
Read more…

    Latest News

    Insider Blog