High School Sports

Prep football: 50 high school players who had big games last week in the Sacramento area

Friday was a big night for scores of Sacramento-area high school football players. Let’s take a closer look at 50 players who turned in stellar performances for their teams.

Keefer Abs, Placer: Had three tackles for loss and two interceptions in a 42-14 win over Ponderosa.

Jacob Beals, Pleasant Grove: Passed for two touchdowns and ran for two in a 73-20 win over Franklin.

Kirk Brown, Johnson: Had an 80-yard TD run, a TD catch, a kickoff return score and 256 all-purpose yards in a 33-6 win over Valley.

Xavier Bryan, Vista del Lago: Rushed for 86 yards and three TDs in a 56-0 win over El Camino.

Owen Burke, Laguna Creek: Tossed three TD passes on four pass attempts in a win over Kennedy.

Connor Campbell, Casa Roble: Passed for 259 yards and four touchdowns in a 57-6 win over Mesa Verde.

Michael Cherry, Rosemont: Had 186 yards of total offense and three TDs in a 53-14 win over Galt.

Bryson Claxton, Inderkum: Rushed for 103 yards on five carries in a 55-0 win over Bella Vista.

Logan Cleary, East Nicolaus: Rushed for 124 yards and two scores and made six tackles in a 45-33 win over Lindhurst.

Evan Combs, Casa Roble: Had 16 tackles, three for loss, against Mesa Verde.

Nathan Crawford, Twelve Bridges: Rushed for 203 yards on 21 carries and three TDs in a 36-7 win over Center.

Clifton Currie, Foothill: Had eight tackles, four for loss, and 2½ sacks in a 38-14 win over Cordova.

Frank Cusano, Granite Bay: Had 15 tackles, two for loss, and two QB hurries in a 53-28 win over Del Oro.

Landon Dahler, Pioneer: Rushed for 150 yards and three TDs in a 35-14 win over Woodland.

Dylan Eddings, Vacaville Christian: Scored the only touchdown on a reception from Zack Romeo in a 7-0 win over San Juan.

Cade Fair, Oak Ridge: Had three sacks in a 42-21 loss to Folsom.

Kymani Fenika, Liberty Ranch: Passed for 70 yards while rushing for 145 yards and two TDs on 10 carries in a 44-7 win over El Dorado.

Marino Fragata, Cosumnes Oaks: Had a touchdown pass and ran for two in a 42-8 win over Sheldon.

Lucas Gruia, Granite Bay: Had touchdown strikes of 50 and 58 yards and ran for two TDs against Del Oro.

Elijah Gulewich, Folsom: Had seven tackles, 1½ sacks and two QB hurries in a 42-21 win over Folsom.

Noah Hinke, Woodland Christian: Had a 57-yard TD run, caught a TD and had two interceptions on defense in a 45-7 win over Amador.

Elijah Huddle, Casa Roble: Had 229 all-purpose yards and four TDs, three receiving and one on a punt return, against Mesa Verde.

Carter Jackson, Granite Bay: Rushed for 270 yards and four TDs and played well at cornerback in a 53-28 win over Del Oro.

Granite Bay Grizzlies’ running back Carter Jackson (3) dives for the touchdown during the first half at Granite Bay High School on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Granite Bay.
Granite Bay Grizzlies’ running back Carter Jackson (3) dives for the touchdown during the first half at Granite Bay High School on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Granite Bay. Kevin Neri Sacramento Bee file

Jaden Jackson, West Park: Passed for 164 yards and two TDs and rushed for one in a 42-9 win over Oakmont.

Shaun Jones, Placer: Rushed for 104 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-13 win over Ponderosa.

Daniel Kamara, Christian Brothers: Rushed 11 times for 110 yards and two TDs in a 42-19 win over Capital Christian.

Derek Keeley, Rocklin: Rushed for 99 yards and five TDs and had six tackles in a 42-3 win over Whitney.

Baylor Kelley, Placer: Rushed 10 times for 94 yards and two scores against Ponderosa.

Kahirre Louis, Natomas: Had five tackles, three for loss, and 2½ sacks against Florin.

Ryder Lyons, Folsom: Passed for 411 yards and four TDs and ran for one against Oak Ridge.

Folsom Bulldogs quarterback Ryder Lyons (3) runs the ball for a first down with the De La Salle Spartans’ Andrew Cunningham (18) and Anthony Morgan (45) putting pressure on him in the second half of the game on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at Folsom High School in Folsom
Folsom Bulldogs quarterback Ryder Lyons (3) runs the ball for a first down with the De La Salle Spartans’ Andrew Cunningham (18) and Anthony Morgan (45) putting pressure on him in the second half of the game on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at Folsom High School in Folsom Sara Nevis snevis@sacbee.com

Gavin McAllister, Delta: Passed for 156 yards and two TDs in a win over Foresthill.

Jaylen Melvin, Natomas: Passed for 146 yards and three TDs and ran for one in a 55-0 win over Florin.

Mateo Mojica, Bradshaw Christian: Rushed for 53 yards and a score, made 11 tackles and recovered two fumbles in a 19-7 win over Union Mine.

Cam Monet, Liberty Ranch: Was the “pancake” blocker as his team rushed 52 times for 540 yards in a 44-7 win over El Dorado.

Erick Orme, Oak Ridge: Rushed for 85 yards and scored three TDs against Folsom.

Sine Paonago, Elk Grove: Had 11 tackles and a sack in a 34-7 win over Davis.

Dustin Philpott, Nevada Union: Passed for 189 yards and two TDs in a 25-6 win over Lincoln.

Brian Ray III, Folsom: Had 167 yards receiving and caught three TDs from Ryder Lyons in a 42-21 win over Oak Ridge.

Guillermo Reyna, Lindhurst: Passed for 167 yards and two TDs against East Nicolaus.

Thomas Rominger, Valley Christian: Passed for three TDs, two to Matthew Larson, and made 26 tackles, eight for loss, in a 47-0 win over Western Sierra.

Izaya Rubio, Delta: Rushed 18 times for 200 yards and three TDs, had nine tackles, kicked off and punted in a 50-0 win over Foresthill.

D’Adrien Sanders, Monterey Trail: Rushed for 108 yards on 11 carries and five TDs in a win over Burbank.

Antonio Seastrunck, Esparto: Rushed 32 times for 245 yards and five TDs in a 60-50 loss to Highlands.

Ryan Sisson, West Park: Caught three passes, two for touchdowns, in a win over Oakmont.

Xiavior Smith, Foothill: Passed for 195 yards and a TD and ran for one against Cordova.

Rigo Solano, West Park: Had 16 tackles, 12 solo, in a win over Oakmont.

Derrick Spears, Foothill: Had two interceptions and five tackles against Cordova.

Mason Taylor, East Nicolaus: Passed for two TDs and ran for three in a win over Lindhurst.

Mason Vicari, Christian Brothers: Had eight tackles, two for loss, in a 42-19 win over Capital Christian.

Bubba Webb, Pioneer: Had eight tackles and two sacks and returned a fumble for a TD against Woodland.

Covon Wheeler, Highlands: Rushed 10 times for 238 yards and four TDs and caught an 82-yard TD against Esparto.

Jeremiah Williams, Elk Grove: Had 215 all-purpose yards and two scores in a 34-7 win over Davis.

This story was originally published October 3, 2023 at 9:44 AM.

Joe Davidson
The Sacramento Bee
Joe Davidson has covered sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1989: preps, colleges, Kings and features. He was in early 2024 named the National Sports Media Association Sports Writer of the Year for California and he was in the fall of 2024 inducted into the California High School Football Hall of Fame. He is a 14-time award winner from the California Prep Sports Writer Association. In 2021, he was honored with the CIF Distinguished Service award. He is a member of the California Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Davidson participated in football and track in Oregon.
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