Billy Blanton

School: Mater Dei High School

Sport: Football

Position: Quarterback

Class: Junior

As the season progressed, Blanton has grown into the role he was groomed for last year as Danny O’Neil’s backup. But it was in Mater Dei’s two playoff games that Blanton really took off. In the first round, he completed 16 of 20 passes for 243 yards and five touchdowns in a 58-31 victory over Long Beach Poly. Friday night, he completed 13 of 17 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns as the Monarchs upset top-seeded Eisenhower, 34-20. That’s eight touchdown passes in two playoff games--more than half as many as he had in 10 regular-season games. “Billy is playing with a lot of confidence right now and he’s throwing the ball well, but what I’m seeing now is him developing into a leader on the field,” Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson said. “He hangs in the pocket and he’s taken some tremendous shots and he just bounces up. That kind of toughness is contagious.” Blanton’s passing success also opened up Mater Dei’s running game, giving Derek Sparks the space to average 200 yards per game in the playoffs. Other top performers:

Ron Goods, who gained 244 yards and scored two touchdowns in 15 carries to lead Tustin to a 44-14 victory over Pacifica in a Division VI quarterfinal game Friday.

Ken Lee, who intercepted two passes in the fourth quarter that set up two Valencia touchdowns and helped the Tigers to a 42-15 victory over La Quinta Friday in a Division VI quarterfinal.

Daniel Niednagel, a Dana Hills runner who finished third in the state Division I cross-country championships Saturday with a time of 15:37 for three miles.

Jarod Smith, who gained 278 yards and scored three touchdowns in 16 carries in Esperanza’s 31-7 victory over Leuzinger in a Division III quarterfinal game Friday.

Bobby Sullivan, who intercepted two passes and had two sacks for Sunny Hills in a 27-7 victory over Newport Harbor in a Division VI quarterfinal game Friday.