Bee’s Best: Which Sacramento-area high school football players dazzled last week?
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 9.
Brad Blankenheim, Amador
The senior quarterback passed for 155 yards and three touchdowns, and he rushed 17 times for 185 yards and two scores in a 48-22 win over El Dorado.
The Buffaloes of Sutter Creek are 3-3 in the Sierra Valley Conference and 5-4 overall.
Joseph Franklin, Wheatland
The junior quarterback completed 4 of 8 passes for 59 yards and two touchdowns, and he rushed nine times for 53 yards and two scores in a 29-12 win over Center.
The Pirates are 4-1 in the Pioneer Valley League and 7-2 overall.
Andrew Gerondakis, Golden Sierra
The junior quarterback completed 15 of 22 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-22 win over Rio Vista.
The Grizzlies of Garden Valley in El Dorado County are 5-1 in the Sierra Delta League and 7-2 overall.
Joe Lara, Liberty Ranch
The junior running back rushed 22 times for 178 yards and three touchdowns, and he caught a 12-yard touchdown from Ryan Ogas, in addition to making four tackles on defense with two pass deflections, in a 56-28 win over Rosemont.
Ogas ran for two scores and had six pass deflections on defense for the Hawks of Galt, who moved to 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the Sierra Valley Conference.
Rob Larson, Folsom
The junior receiver had seven catches for 107 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-7 victory over Jesuit.
Larson has 12 TD catches this season for Folsom, which is 8-1 overall and 5-0 in the Sierra Foothill League.
Luke Longwedel, Pleasant Grove
The senior defensive back made five tackles, caused a fumble, recovered two fumbles and broke up a pass in a 10-7 win over Elk Grove.
His teammate Zac Black, a senior linebacker, had 14 tackles in a victory that moved the Eagles to 3-2 in the Delta League and 6-3 overall.
Ma’Kai Little, Esparto
The freshman quarterback completed six passes for 175 yards and four touchdowns, two each to Charles Foreman and Toulon Thurston, in a 50-34 victory over Elite of Vallejo.
That was Esparto’s first victory of a trying season, one that has included not being able to finish games due to injuries and the roster down to 13 players.
K’Aden Minor, Destiny Christian Academy
The sophomore running back rushed 16 times for 124 yards and three touchdowns in a 29-23 win over Antelope.
The Lions of Sacramento are 2-2 in the Metro League and 4-5 overall.
Vincent Navarro, Foresthill
The senior two-way player rushed 17 times for 267 yards and two touchdowns, made eight tackles, caused a fumble and recovered one in a 44-12 win over Encina in 8-man action.
Foresthill is 7-1 overall and 2-1 in the Sac Metro Athletic League.
Kvonta Phienemanh, Lindhurst
The senior had 201 all-purpose yards in a 35-28 win over Mesa Verde in a Sierra Delta League game. He had 134 yards rushing on 18 carries and a touchdown, had 40 on kickoff returns and 27 on an interception return.
Phienemanh also had two tackles for a loss, returned a fumble 17 yards and scored on two point-after-touchdown conversions. Lindhurst is 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the league play.
Colton Ridgley, Ponderosa
The junior quarterback completed 18 of 26 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-34 win over Vista del Lago.
The Bruins of Shingle Springs are 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the Capital Valley Conference.
Ben Rivas, Oak Ridge
The sophomore outside linebacker had three sacks, nine tackles and three fumble recoveries in a 28-6 win over Whitney to set a defensive tone.
Oak Ridge is 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the Sierra Foothill League.
Alex Van Dam, Woodland
The junior running back rushed nine times for 72 yards and three touchdowns in a 29-28 win over Rio Linda.
Woodland is 3-2 in the Golden Empire League and 3-6 overall.
This story was originally published October 28, 2025 at 1:42 PM.