MIDSEASON REPORT

A look at players who are performing at the highest standards through the first five games of the high school football season:

QUARTERBACKS

Southern Section

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Rank Player School Yr. With comment by Eric Sondheimer 1. Kyle Matter Hart Sr. Completing 61% of his passes 2. John Sciarra St. Francis Sr. Passed for 1,076 yards, seven TDs 3. Hudson Gossard Crescenta Valley Jr. Has 12 TD passes in first varsity season 4. Chris Denove Agoura Sr. Could lead Chargers into playoffs 5. Erik Vose Chaminade So. Led Eagles to four consecutive victories

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City Section

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Rank Player School Yr. With comment by Eric Sondheimer 1. Rick Clausen Taft Sr. Has 65% completion rate, 14 TDs 2. Adam Geery Kennedy Jr. Proving he’s not just an All-City pitcher 3. John Valdez Sylmar Sr. Spartans finally have a passing attack 4. Ruben Nevarez San Fernando Jr. 6-5 QB with improving skills 5. Bobby Baca Granada Hills Sr. Has thrown 12 TD passes

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RUNNING BACKS

Southern Section

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Rank Player School Yr. With comment by Eric Sondheimer 1. Tyler Ebell Ventura Sr. Averaging 13.2 yards per carry 2. Lorenzo Booker St. Bonaventure Jr. Keeps breaking loose against everyone 3. Leslie Lee Hueneme Sr. Averaging 10.1 yards per carry 4. Loren Cerny Camarillo Sr. Picks up yardage any way he can 5. Gary Sonkur Montclair Prep Sr. Four consecutive 200-yard games

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City Section

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Rank Player School Yr. With comment by Eric Sondheimer 1. Kevin McCleary Birmingham Jr. His speed has Patriots at 5-0 2. Perry Clayton Grant Sr. Has a punishing running style 3. Eddie Robinson Reseda Sr. Runs, catches, passes, blocks 4. Lee Marks Taft Sr. Keeps playing despite broken hand 5. Robert Ortega Granada Hills Sr. Doesn’t go down without a battle

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RECEIVERS

Southern Section

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Rank Player School Yr. With comment by Eric Sondheimer 1. Jason Hogan Crescenta Valley Sr. Keeps making plays that save Falcons 2. Dave Anderson Thousand Oaks Jr. If only he had a little help 3. Whitney Lewis St. Bonaventure So. One missed tackle and he’s gone 4. Will Broadous Valencia Sr. Hoopster averaging 27.9 yards per catch 5. David Wolfe Calabasas Sr. Averaging 20.0 yards per reception

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City Section

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Rank Player School Yr. With comment by Eric Sondheimer 1. Steve Smith Taft So. Leads region despite double coverage 2. James Norris Kennedy Sr. A threat to score whenever he touches the ball 3. Joey Rodriguez Granada Hills Sr. Averaging 28.9 yards per reception 4. Chris Morgan Taft Sr. Has great speed and is making catches 5. Ramon Perry San Fernando Jr. Has eight touchdown receptions

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OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

Southern Section

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Rank Player School Yr. With comment by Eric Sondheimer 1. Michael Graves Antelope Valley Sr. 300-pounder is knocking down defenders 2. Philip Clark Newbury Park Sr. Doing his best for struggling Panthers 3. Bill Griffin Ventura Sr. Center helps clear way for Ebell 4. Mark Manning Westlake Sr. Key blocker for top-ranked Warriors 5. Matt Augusta Royal Jr. Has allowed no sacks at left tackle

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City Section

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Rank Player School Yr. With comment by Eric Sondheimer 1. Mario Palomino Birmingham Sr. He’s 6-5 and smashing defenders 2. Robert Avina Kennedy Sr. Leader of best offensive line in the City 3. Victor Romero Kennedy Jr. 6-5, 305-pound transfer making huge impact 4. David Velasquez Chatsworth Sr. Productive run, pass blocker

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DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Southern Section

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Rank Player School Yr. With comment by Eric Sondheimer 1. Pete Dubsky Hart Sr. Has eight sacks and counting 2. Tim Volk Notre Dame Jr. Who needs Travis Johnson? 3. Kaelen Jakes Valencia Sr. Has been seeing constant double teams 4. Evan Allen Hart Sr. He’s relentless rushing the QB 5. Joe Lemma Westlake Sr. Teams try to run away from him

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City Section

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Rank Player School Yr. With comment by Eric Sondheimer 1. Nestor Robles Sylmar Sr. Big, tough, aggressive 2. Mark Walker Granada Hills Sr. Defensive end who doesn’t give ground 3. Randy Lang San Fernando So. Defensive end makes big plays

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LINEBACKERS

Southern Section

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Rank Player School Yr. With comment by Eric Sondheimer 1. Leo Reed Westlake Sr. Leads team with 36 tackles, 7 sacks 2. Tom Curiel Notre Dame Sr. If they get past Volk, Curiel gets them 3. Colin MacNeil Canyon Sr. Fills holes like putty 4. Jared DePaiva Saugus Sr. Plays all-out every play 5. Matt Sikorski St. Francis Sr. Has 56 tackles at inside linebacker

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City Section

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Rank Player School Yr. With comment by Eric Sondheimer 1. Josh Martin Sylmar Sr. It’s not fun trying to block him 2. Josh Rivas Granada Hills Sr. Picking up tackles in bunches 3. Kris Govea Taft Sr. Leads Toreadors in tackles

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DEFENSIVE BACKS

Southern Section

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Rank Player School Yr. With comment by Eric Sondheimer 1. Ryan Foltz Westlake Sr. Simply the best 2. Albert Griffin Alemany Jr. Hits hard, makes big plays 3. Jimmy Sharp Notre Dame Sr. Has five interceptions at cornerback 4. Terry Furlow Palmdale Sr. Playing magnificently at QB, DB 5. Derrick Williams Campbell Hall So. Free safety with eight interceptions

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City Section

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Rank Player School Yr. With comment by Eric Sondheimer 1. Brandon Browner Monroe Jr. Five interceptions in four games 2. John Walker Birmingham Sr. Showing off speed, athleticism 3. Felipe Samano Sylmar Sr. Free safety has strengthened secondary 4. Jeremy Boyle El Camino Real Jr. Averaging 13 tackles at free safety 5. Bryan Wilson Granada Hills Jr. Tackles and covers with the best

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KICKERS

Southern Section

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Rank Player School Yr. With comment by Eric Sondheimer 1. Jason Tompkins Frazier Mountain Sr. Has 57-yard field goal 2. Monte McNair Oak Park Jr. Terrific two-way kicking threat 3. Justin Shagrin Calabasas Jr. Six of eight on field goals 4. Garret Marxen Alemany Sr. Averaging close to 43 yards per punt 5. Matt Smooke Agoura Sr. Made all five field goals

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City Section

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Rank Player School Yr. With comment by Eric Sondheimer 1. Carlos Mendez Grant Sr. Made four of five field goals 2. Richard Ploesch Taft Sr. Reliable punter, kicker 3. David Franco Kennedy Sr. Rarely misses within his range

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