With the 2019-20 school year approaching, Prep2Prep takes a look at some of the top quarterbacks for each coverage area, along with a few others to keep an eye on. This feature focuses on some of the top signal-callers within the Central Coast Section. This is not a comprehensive list, and all athletes are listed in alphabetical order.
Kevin Alarcon, Menlo
Alarcon’s junior season ended early with injury, and the timing could not have been worse, coming right after a 232-yard, four-touchdown performance against Half Moon Bay. If the quarterback position can remain a healthy one in 2019 for the Knights, then the return of Samson Axe in the backfield and Jaden Richardson at receiver should also pay big dividends.
Nick Bandanza, Branham
The Bruins prefer to have success running the ball downhill on opponents, but that doesn’t mean they won’t also turn the ball over to Bandanza, a rising junior who completed 62 percent of his passes for 1,219 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore. He also ran for nearly 400 yards and a pair of scores, and defenses still need to focus on Cameron Rynhard in the running game.
Shamir Bey, Archbishop Mitty
Bey’s season ended prematurely as a junior due to injury, after a handful of moments which left Monarchs’ fans wondering what could have been if he had stayed healthy. The dual-threat signal-caller threw for 1,335 yards and 18 touchdowns while running for four more scores, including masterful performances in wins over Oakdale and Bellarmine.
Brody Crowley, Woodside
The 6-foot-3 Crowley saw his season end early in 2018, in just the fourth game of the season, and immediately after he had posted a 362-yard, three-touchdown performance in a win over Sequoia, and then threw for 246 yards in a loss to Leigh. The return of junior David Silk and senior Ethan Mooney give him a couple of veterans at the receiver position.
Ryan Daly, Saint Francis
The 6-foot-5 Daly did not take over as the Lancers’ starter until late September last season, but was efficient once the opportunity presented itself. He completed 54 percent of his passes for 1,116 yards and 15 touchdowns with just three interceptions, including a 215-yard, four-touchdown performance against Serra.
Kai Lee, Carmel
Lee returns for his senior season after leading the Padres to a CCS title game last year, a banner season in which he threw for 2,318 yards and 30 touchdowns, including a massive 332-yard, five-touchdown performance in a win over Salinas.
Jordan Malashus, Burlingame
The return of Malashus behind center and a few other key elements from last year’s offense make the Panthers a team to watch once again, despite the challenge of moving back up to the PAL-Bay. He completed 59 percent of his passes last season, for 979 yards and 12 touchdowns, and not only does Lucas Meredith return in the backfield but so do Burlingame’s top three receiving threats from last year’s section championship team.
Daylin McLemore, Serra
The 6-foot-3 McLemore had limited opportunity while playing behind Luke Bottari, but could be one of the biggest breakthrough names in 2019. He has tremendous speed, evidenced by his numbers on the track in the spring, and averaged nearly six yards per carry during his playing time last year.
Justin Munday, Oak Grove
The 6-foot-3, 240-pound rising senior proved to be more than just a solid frame in the pocket during his junior season, when he threw for 1,383 yards and 15 touchdowns, leading the Eagles back to the playoffs in the process. He has two other key returners for 2019 as well, with running back Malique Sumler and receiver Izaiah Nakanishi.
Domonic Piefer, Mills
Not a single senior touched the ball offensively last year for the Vikings, who still managed to win three wins are could be targeted as a team on the rise. Those returners include Piefer, who completed 54 percent of his passes for 1,443 yards and eight touchdowns, albeit with seven interceptions. He also ran for seven scores, however, and as was already stated, every offensive contributor returns in 2019.
Raymond Price III, Menlo-Atherton
Price guided Sacred Heart Prep to the CCS Division III title game as a sophomore, throwing for 935 yards and nine touchdowns with just three interceptions, while also rushing for 361 yards and five scores. Now he takes his talents to Menlo-Atherton, where he pairs with fellow junior Troy Franklin as one of the most talented junior duos in Northern California.
Carl Richardson, Salinas
The top returning passer from last season, Richardson threw for 3,606 yards and 24 touchdowns as a junior and is attracting offers from multiple schools. A big challenge in 2019, however, will be breaking in a new set of receivers after the top five pass-catchers on the Cowboys’ roster from last year all graduated.
Jacob Sneed, Prospect
Sneed battled injury during his junior year, but when healthy, gave the Panthers a chance despite the lack of a run game. Cutting down the interceptions will be a big area for improvement, but the potential is there after he threw for 1,273 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior.
Payton Stokes, Saratoga
Stokes thrived in coach Tim Lugo’s system last season, completing 64 percent of his passes for 3,168 yards and 36 touchdowns, with just eight interceptions. He also ran for 626 yards and nine scores, and should benefit even more in 2019 from the return of his top three receivers, the trio of George Bian, Max Muilenburg and Kelly Huesby.
Trent Steffen, Mountain View
As a sophomore, Steffen earned second-team SCVAL-El Camino honors. His role could certainly expand in his junior season, especially with the return of junior receiver Austin Flax and the graduation of the Spartans’ top two rushing threats from last year’s division championship team.
Cory Taylor, Valley Christian
Taylor is able to rely on a strong run game with the Warriors, but he also threw for 12 scores as a junior and having the speed of returners Deven Vanderbilt and Kavir Bains could make for a couple of big-play threats in 2019. Defenses also still have to worry about Isaiah McElvane in the run game.
Zach Taylor-Smith, St. Ignatius
The 6-foot-3 Taylor-Smith was the co-Junior of the Year in the WCAL last season, despite the Wildcats only winning three games. Those three wins came in the last four games of the regular season, however, so the offensive growth was evident after scoring at least 34 points in each of those wins and momentum should carry into the 2019 campaign.
Carson Yates, Leland
The dual-sport standout topped the 1,000-yard mark in passing and rushing last season, accounting for 27 touchdowns in the process. Interceptions were an issue in his junior year, but a more stable backfield with the return of Kekoa Lopez and a reliable target in junior Siddhant Thadani could take some pressure off Yates in his third year as the starter.
Half a dozen more to keep an eye on . . .
Raphael Bendo, Terra Nova
Bendo has big shoes to fill for the Tigers, taking over for dual-threat Jared Julian. He threw for four scores as a junior.
Cian Dowling, Sacred Heart Cathedral
Dowling emerged as a source of stability behind center late last season for the Fightin’ Irish, leading them to three straight wins in October, completing 59 percent of his passes with four touchdowns during his stint. The 6-foot-2 rising junior will have to break in a new core group of receivers in 2019.
Jayson Flores, Gonzales
Flores played sparingly at quarterback as a sophomore on the Spartans’ team which won its first 11 games, though he showed his athleticism by contributing at receiver. Gone is running back standout Gilbert Payton Flores, but Jayson Flores could be the leader of new talent which learned behind those successful seniors last season.
Antonio Gonzalez, King’s Academy
Gonzalez should take over for Caleb Tan behind center for the Knights, after throwing for 390 yards and seven touchdowns in limited action. He won’t be able to hand the ball to Bralyn Lux anymore, but senior Jayden Frazier was also explosive as a junior, and two other top targets return in the passing game.
Matthew Nguyen, Piedmont Hills
Nguyen backed up dual-threat standout Gabe Reclusado last season, but should get his chance to shine in 2019 after throwing for 300 yards and a pair of scores in limited duty as a junior.
Jordan Sheets, Ann Sobrato
The big challenge for Sheets in his senior season will be reducing the interceptions, but his potential became evident during a junior year in which he also threw for 1,512 yards and 10 scores. The return of running back Jesse Redmond and four of the top team’s five leading receivers should help, but moving from the West Valley to the Santa Teresa is certainly a big hurdle to overcome.
