Bee’s Best Prep football: As we reach midway point, here are leaders in the award races
The high school football marathon is really an 11-week sprint to squeeze in 10 games, and the fortunate programs advance to the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs. With that, let’s size things up a the unofficial midway point of the regular season with MVP candidates and Coach of the Year Candidates.
MVP race: Offense
The Bee has named a Player of the Year since the 1950s, and since 1993 there has been a Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and a Defensive Player of the Year.
Leading movers and shakers for Bee top honors include:
Rico Flores, Jr., WR/DB, Folsom, Sr.
When your top player is your hardest worker, and the most-talented and most-determined, you’re in good hands. That’s Flores for the top-ranked Bulldogs who need his efforts to repeat as Sac-Joaquin Section and Northern California champions.
Carter Jackson, Granite Bay, RB, Soph.
It’s rare when a sophomore earns Bee honors, but Jake Browning did it at Folsom in 2012, and Jackson is rare: Fast, determined, prolific, with 16 touchdowns.
Arthur Draeger, RB, Liberty Ranch, Sr.
A year after chugging and sprinting for 1,781 yards and 24 touchdowns, AD is even better: 859 yards, 15 scores in a 5-0 start.
Jagger Shaddix, RB/LB, Jesuit, Sr.
We applaud the cool name, his versatility and relentless drive for the 4-0 Marauders.
Scott Nixon, WR/DB, Sheldon, Sr.
He makes diving catches, scores touchdowns, produces sacks on defense and never seems tired. Teammates Jesiah Machado (QB) and Devin Green (RB) are also in the running.
Matt Long, WR, Vista del Lago, Sr.
A blur with hands, Long goes long a lot, having caught 12 touchdowns on 38 catches in five games from QB ace Johnny Koett.
Phillip Bell, WR, Christian Brothers, Soph.
The CB coaches may give the ball to the national recruit any way possible, including handoffs.
Cole Owens, WR, Casa Roble, Jr.
Hard to cover, to tackle, to deal with, Owens averages 31.5 yards a catch, has nine TDs and will burn you on returns.
Jack Carner, RB, Pioneer, Sr.
He’s averaging 220 yards rushing a game and has 11 scores in three games for a team seeking another playoff berth.
Anthony Mahaffey, QB, El Dorado, Sr.
He’s lighting up every defense thrown his way with 20 touchdowns in five games, and he especially wants playoff scoring drives.
Develle Barksdale, QB, West Park, Sr.
He runs, he throws, he dazzles he wins. A section crown works wonders for new programs.
Curron Borders, RB, Antelope, Sr.
A year after going for 2,000 yards, here comes Borders again with 851 in five games.
Wayshawn Parker, RB/LB, Elk Grove, Jr.
Don’t let the shy smiles fool you. This guy is a “game-changer” as coach John Heffernan said. Can bust an 80-yard TD run or pick-6.
Jett Harris, QB, Dixon, Sr.
Dazzling as a passer, runner and leader with the best skill name anywhere for a team seeking their first section crown since the 1970s.
Bee MVP race: Defense
Fata Puloka, LB, Monterey Trail, Sr.
He blocks punts for touchdowns, piles up tackles and wills his grit crew to success, and a first-time section championship is his program’s goal.
Jake Hall, Oak Ridge, LB/FB, Sr.
He’s brute strong as a runner and even more ferocious as a stopper for a defense that has smothered and battered teams.
Thomas Graham II, Del Oro, DB, Sr.
A cover corner with monstrous efforts who also makes plays on special teams for the surging Golden Eagles (5-0).
Peyton Rapper, LB, Lincoln, Sr.
Here’s a guy who keeps his helmet next to his bed, just in case, and records a section-leading 16.4 stops a game, and teammate DT Sean Cotten averages 13.0.
Auckland Asiata, DE, Sutter, Sr.
AA is Class A on D, second in the section with 8.5 sacks, he is relentless off the edge for the 5-0 Huskies.
Jhayson Fowler, DB/WR, Johnson, Sr.
How’s this for a first-time varsity player: 82 total points scored and a section-best five interceptions on defense?
Coach of the Year
Paul Doherty, Folsom
If he beats De La Salle again and beats Serra or DLS in the NorCal playoffs and wins out, yeah. He’s the guy.
Joe Cattolico, Granite Bay
A big-time winner at all of his stops and now doing it with a young team; winning the brutal Sierra Foothill League would be a talking point.
Casey Taylor, Oak Ridge
He won it all at Del Oro, produced a 13-1 team at Capital Christian and could have a section championship team here.
Marlon Blanton, Jesuit
If Big Red goes 10-0 in the regular season and makes another run at the program’s first section championship in 20 seasons, good guys can in fact finish first.
Mike Maben, Del Oro
An alum of the school, it’s not easy keeping a juggernaut rolling. Maben is doing so.
Carl Reed, Grant
A year after a winless showing on the field, the Grant alum has the Pacers rolling in his second season. It feels like Grant football again.
Ryan Reynolds, Sutter
No, not the movie star Reynolds, we’re talking the football coaching guru at Sutter, which is 5-0 and has another powerhouse.
Warren Schroeder, Liberty Ranch
A 10-0 season is right there for the taking, and that momentum could lead to a section championship.
Jason Tenner, West Park
What he did a year ago with a first-time varsity program was remarkable. This season? Even more so.
Chris Bean, Twelve Bridges
First-time varsity programs are supposed to take it square on the chin strap. Not these guys from Placer County.
Jim Gray, Bella Vista
After years of defeat, the Broncos are 4-0 and loving life.
Every City Program Coach
Yes, the loyal leaders who stick it out because he believes in his players, in football, in the lessons learned, even if a lot of them are about dealing with long odds and defeat.
This story was originally published September 22, 2022 at 5:00 AM.