Sweetwater’s Rodgers Is Top Player

Sweetwater High School running back Terry Rodgers, son of 1972 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers, was named 1985 California high school football Player of the Year by Cal-Hi Sports.

The 5-foot 10-inch, 165-pound senior rushed for 1,732 yards, scored 32 touchdowns and led Sweetwater to an 11-1 record. Cal-Hi Sports, a Sacramento-based publication, selected Rodgers on Thursday.

“It caught me by surprise . . . I didn’t really expect it,” Rodgers said. “But it feels pretty good to be selected for the whole state. It’s a pretty big state, so I guess it’s a pretty big honor.”

Vista High was named the Cal-Hi Team of the Year. Vista finished with a 13-0 record and won the San Diego Section title.

Rodgers finished his career at Sweetwater High with 3,764 yards to become San Diego County’s all-time leading rusher. He is the county’s second-leading all-time scorer with 360 points.

“Here’s a kid that played under a lot of pressure because of who his dad is,” Sweetwater Coach Gene Alim said. “No. 1, he never showed it. And No. 2, he did what everyone expected him to do.”

Previous winners of Cal-Hi Player of the Year honors include Heisman Trophy winners and National Football League players Marcus Allen, Charles White and Jim Plunkett. John Elway and Freeman McNeil were also Cal-Hi Players of the Year.

Johnny Rodgers won the Heisman Trophy while playing for Nebraska.