Bass is the early POY leader

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It’s early. These things are never decided early. But I’m going to bring it up. You need to know.

Darrell Scott of St. Bonaventure ran for 285 yards and four touchdowns against Canyon Country Canyon.

Matt Barkley passed for 435 yards -- breaking the Mater Dei record he set a week earlier by 132 yards -- and five touchdowns against American Fork, Utah.

But in the running for player of the year, both are trailing Ryan Bass of Corona Centennial.

Bass rushed 39 times for 200 yards against Crespi, the No. 4 team in The Times top 25. Sure, the Celts were without their quarterback, but Kevin Prince doesn’t play defense.

In 2007, The Man among men is Bass, who is a smaller version of Scott.

Bass carried 25 times for 214 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-17 win over Dominguez, which is ranked No. 23 in the state by CalHiSports.com. Then he rushed 24 times for 146 yards and four touchdowns in a 49-14 victory over King.

And then he lit up Crespi, ranked 8th in the state.

Bass has already torched two of the best teams around. In two weeks, Centennial plays Clovis West, which is ranked No. 5 in the state. In three weeks, Centennial plays Mater Dei, the No. 1 team in the state. In the season finale, Centennial plays Norco, the No. 21 team in the state (at least, until it lost Friday to Leuzinger).

Centennial has already played as good a schedule as any. It will finish with as good a schedule as any. Everyone knows Bass is Centennial’s money train, but so far, nobody can catch it.

- Martin Henderson