With the 2017-18 school year approaching, Prep2Prep takes a look at some of the top returning quarterbacks for each coverage area, plus a few more to keep an eye on. This feature focuses on some of the top signal-callers within the Sac-Joaquin Section. This is not a comprehensive list, and all athletes are listed in alphabetical order.
Marco Baldacchino, Oak Ridge
Easily one of the top dual threat quarterbacks in Northern California, Baldacchino has Oak Ridge primed for a strong run in the SFL once again. Last season, he threw for 1,841 yards and 22 touchdowns, with just six interceptions, and also ran for 991 yards and 17 scores. His top receiver from last year, Justin Poerio, also returns.
Aric Barton, Pacheco
Playing in the Panthers’ option-based offense, Barton was still able to throw for 1,545 yards and 18 touchdowns. Of course, he also ran for 568 yards and five scores, averaging nearly nine yards per carry.
Gino Campiotti, Manteca
A multi-sport standout, Campiotti is also a dual threat on the football field, and gives Manteca the ability to be much more diverse in its offensive approach, while looking to defend its section title. Last season, Campiotti threw for 2,101 yards and 24 touchdowns, with just five interceptions, and also ran for 402 yards and eight scores. The Buffaloes do need to replace their top three receivers from a year ago.
Jake Cruz, Whitney
Cruz threw for 2,684 yards and 26 touchdowns as a junior, leading the Wildcats to the playoffs. He completed 61 percent of his passes last season, and has his top target back for the upcoming senior campaign, as Justin Kraft had 67 catches for 1,174 yards as a junior.
Tyler Dimino, Del Campo
Dimino led the Cougars to the quarterfinals last season, throwing for 1,752 yards and 19 touchdowns, and has his top two targets, David Joseph and Trevor Brouhns, back again this year for their senior seasons.
Quincy Glasper, Bear Creek
Glasper probably won’t throw the ball nearly 400 times at Bear Creek, like he did at Brookside Christian last year, but being a junior now will also probably lead to a drastically reduced interception ratio, after throwing 23 picks last season. He also threw for 3,587 yards and 45 touchdowns in his sophomore campaign, and averaged nearly nine yards per carry.
Mike Griffiths, Union Mine
The Diamondbacks may have struggled last season, but Griffiths showed great potential behind center, throwing for 1,731 and 12 touchdowns. If he can reduce the interception rate this year, Union Mine could benefit in the win column.
Xavier Johnson, Cordova
A rising junior, Johnson led Cordova to a 7-4 record last season, throwing for 2,043 yards and 20 touchdowns, while rushing for 613 yards and seven scores. One big challenge for this season will be cutting down on his 13 interceptions. He does return his top two targets from last year, senior Calvin Augusta and junior Alvin Banks.
Isaiah Randalle/Derek Shelton, Sacramento
This duo split time last year as juniors, and combined to throw for 2,102 yards in the process. Shelton had an impressive 16:2 touchdown to interception ratio, but Randalle also threw for 11 scores. With the graduation of Tariq Hollandsworth at running back, they could both have a nice target on their backs.
Carson Strong, Wood
This one has a bit of an asterisk, as it remains to be seen whether Strong will be able to battle back from a knee injury this summer. However, the Nevada commit is coming off a terrific junior season, having thrown for 2,732 yards and 26 touchdowns, with just four interceptions, and with a 69 percent completion rate.
Five more to keep an eye on . . .
Kaiden Bennett, Folsom
A rising junior, the six-foot Bennett showed flashes of explosive potential while playing behind Joe Curry last season. He completed 11 of his 13 passes last fall for 227 yards and two scores, while also running for 351 yards and nine touchdowns, including a 108-yard effort against Granite Bay.
Nate Cromwell, Vista del Lago
Now a senior, Cromwell got into just six games last year playing behind standout Brent Schaeffer, but completed 10 of his 13 passes for 114 yards. And there is no doubt that the Eagles’ attack is friendly to its quarterbacks, after throwing the ball 411 times last year.
Quinton Gaines, Lincoln-Stockton
Playing behind multi-talented Aaron Thomas last season, Gaines still made an impact as a junior, and seems more than capable to hold the keys to the offense on a full-time basis. He completed 58 percent of his passes last year, for 581 yards and five touchdowns, though he did also throw four interceptions in that limited time.
Jacob Tanori, Stone Ridge Christian
Tanori burst on the scene for the Knights last season, throwing for 742 yards and 15 touchdowns as a freshman, while also recording 58 tackles as a defensive back.
Dhameer Warren, Merced
Warren got some time on the field last year, despite playing behind Joe Foss, and showed his dynamic dual-threat ability. He completed 69 percent of his passes for 788 yards and 11 touchdowns, with just three interceptions, and also ran for 364 yards and three scores.
