High School Sports

Bee’s Best: Which Sacramento-area high school football players dazzled last week?

The Del Oro Golden Eagles' Nolen Sauve (5) passes the ball in the first half as the Jesuit Marauders' defense pursues on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in Carmichael.
The Del Oro Golden Eagles' Nolen Sauve (5) passes the ball in the first half as the Jesuit Marauders' defense pursues on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in Carmichael. jvillegas@sacbee.com

The Sacramento Bee hands out game balls (in spirit) for superlative Sacramento-area high school football efforts, be it passing, rushing, receiving or for defensive plays.

Here were some of the standouts from Week 8.

Jordan Cole, Inderkum

The junior receiver had six catches for 121 yards and three touchdowns from his quarterback brother, Brody Cole, in a 38-35 win over Woodcreek.

The win moved Inderkum to 7-1 overall and 4-0 in the Capital Valley Conference.

The Inderkum Tigers’ Jordan Cole (5) takes a short fourth down pass 35 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Woodcreek Timberwolves on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in Roseville.
The Inderkum Tigers’ Jordan Cole (5) takes a short fourth down pass 35 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Woodcreek Timberwolves on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in Roseville. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com

Ryan Eddy, Laguna Creek

The senior running back/receiver rushed for two touchdowns and 108 yards, including an 84-yard sprint, and he had five catches for 85 yards in a 49-14 nonleague win over Davis.

Laguna Creek is 3-5, needing one more victory to become playoff eligible.

Rhyder Eelkema, Nevada Union

The senior running back rushed 14 times for 181 yards and two touchdowns in a wild 72-42 win over Del Campo in a Foothill Valley League game in Grass Valley.

The Miners moved 3-5 overall and 1-2 in the FVL.

The Nevada Union Miners' Rhyder Eelkema (3) congratulates Brandon McCallum (9) after he scores a 2-point conversion in the second quarter against the Christian Brothers Falcons in Sacramento on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.
The Nevada Union Miners' Rhyder Eelkema (3) congratulates Brandon McCallum (9) after he scores a 2-point conversion in the second quarter against the Christian Brothers Falcons in Sacramento on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com

Micah Eves, Rio Americano

The junior linebacker made 11 tackles, 2.5 for loss, and had 1.5 sacks in a 28-14 win over Ponderosa.

The Raiders improved to 3-1 in the Capital Valley Conference.

Hekili Hernandez, Pleasant Grove

The senior running back rushed 22 times for 264 yards and four touchdowns, including a 74-yarder, in a 40-20 in over Cosumnes Oaks.

Pleasant Grove is 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the Delta League.

Graeson Howard & Josiah Rubidoux, Colfax

Graeson, a junior running back, rushed 20 times for 184 yards and four touchdowns, and Rubidoux, a senior receiver, had six catches from sophomore quarterback Adan Amatangelo for 157 yards and two scores in a 45-34 River Bowl win over Bear River.

The series dates back to 1986, when Bear River opened its campus in Lake of the Pines/Grass Valley.

Isaiah Hunt, Woodland Christian

The senior quarterback completed 29 of 35 passes for 384 yards and four touchdowns, two to senior receiver Noah Hinkle and two to Elliott Holleman, in a 54-0 win over Rio Vista.

The Cardinals moved to 7-1 overall and 5-0 in the Sierra Delta League.

Gunnar Marsh, Christian Brothers

The junior receiver had nine receptions for 163 yards and three touchdowns, and he made 10 tackles on defense, in a 50-49 win over Bella Vista.

This effort gave CB its first win of the season and gives the Falcons a 1-8 record overall and 1-4 in Capital Valley Conference action.

Braxton Martinez, Oak Ridge

The sophomore running back/receiver had six receptions for 184 yards and a 68-yard touchdown, and he rushed for 37 yards in a 38-13 nonleague win over Monte Vista of Danville.

Oak Ridge senior star receiver/runner Jasen Womack also played big against Monte Vista. He rushed 13 times for 73 yards and scored two touchdowns, had four receptions for 78 yards and a score, had 78 yards of special teams returns, and he had a quarterback hurry on defense to go with a pass deflection.

Caleb Nelson, Highlands

The junior receiver caught four passes for 152 yards and three touchdowns in a 55-6 win over Elite of Vallejo.

Highlands junior quarterback Frank Cady complete eight passes for 249 yards and four TDs as the Scots improved to 3-5 overall and 2-3 in the Sierra Delta League.

Chase Parkinson, Delta

The senior quarterback completed 16 of 24 passes for 336 yards and seven touchdowns in a 54-20 win over Valley in 8-man action.

The Saints of Clarksburg improved to 5-3.

Andrew Quinn, Liberty Ranch

The junior running back/linebacker rushed 21 times for 134 yards and two scores, and he had eight tackles, three for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery on defense in a 28-21 win over Bradshaw Christian.

The win moved the Hawks to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the Sierra Valley Conference.

Nolen Sauve, Del Oro

The senior quarterback made all the throws — short, medium and long — and he took some hard hits and kept on competing against Jesuit. He completed 16 of 23 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns in the 29-16 Sierra Foothill League victory.

Del Oro is 5-3 overall and 2-3 in the SFL.

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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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