Celestine’s Season Sets High Marks

Anthony Celestine of Ridgecrest Burroughs finished the season with 2,053 yards receiving to set a state record.

Seven other Southland football players will join Celestine in the Cal-Hi Sports record book, including Norco running back Toby Gerhart, who set a sophomore record with 3,035 yards rushing, which ranks 11th in state history.

Celestine, who helped Burroughs (12-2) reach the Southern Section Division VIII final, broke the previous record of 1,846 yards, which Steve Martinez of Los Angeles Wilson set in 1977 in 13 games.

Celestine made his mark in 13 games because he played sparingly on special teams because of asthma in a Southern Section Division VIII playoff victory over Palm Desert. He did not play wide receiver. Celestine finished with 24 touchdowns and 100 catches, 11th on the state list.

According to Student Sports magazine, Celestine’s 2,053 yards receiving ranks 10th all-time nationally, although totals from all states haven’t been reported. It is the second-best total this season. Jordan Shipley from Burnett, Texas, has 2,089 yards in 15 games with one left.

The 5-foot-10 senior also had an exceptional regular season. Through the 10-game regular season, his 1,506 yards were second on the state’s all-time list, behind the 1,560 of Greg Siwek of Cupertino Monta Vista in 1990.

“Obviously, like all the other big-time receivers that have come out of the Southern Section, Anthony has a great set of hands,” Burroughs Coach Jeff Steinberg said. “What separates him is he runs great pass patterns that a lot of high school athletes haven’t developed at that point.

“Every high school receiver who’s The Guy has the ability to go vertical. There comes a point where people are going to play off, and we had to hit Anthony with a lot of short and intermediate passes, and he has great vision in terms of seeing where players are coming from and setting up blocks.”

Other Southland players cracking the top-10 state list:

* Sean Coen of Canyon Country Canyon had 107 receptions, tying for third.

* Mike Herrick of Valencia completed 292 passes, which ranks fourth in state history, and attempted 452, which is eighth.

* Gerhart averaged 275.9 yards rushing a game, which ranks fourth.

* Tino Amancio of Fontana Kaiser scored 96 points, which is tied for fifth among kickers.

* Mark Sanchez of Mission Viejo completed 71.8% of his passes, good for seventh.

* Sean Norton of Newhall Hart threw for 4,067 yards, which ranks seventh.

* Chad Kackert of Simi Valley Grace Brethren scored 308 points, which is 10th.