With five weeks now in the books for the regular season, we take a moment to look at a dozen of the top athletes to break through for their respective programs in the North Coast Section. To qualify for this list, these athletes must not have received first, second, or third-team All-NCS honors at the conclusion of last season. And make sure to read all the way to the bottom, where he recognize our top mid-season breakthrough player award, separate from the first 12. All others are listed in alphabetical order.
Joey Aguilar, Freedom, QB
Aguilar is in his first year as a varsity quarterback, after starting for rival Liberty’s junior varsity team last season. Stepping in for graduated standout Jonathan Pierce, Aguilar has become the crucial missing piece for the offense, completing 58 percent of his passes for 1,247 yards and 18 touchdowns, with just two interceptions. Last week, against Bishop O’Dowd’s vaunted secondary, Aguilar threw for 368 yards with four scores and no picks.
Thomas Alatini, Clayton Valley, RB
Alatini became an integral part of the Ugly Eagles attack as a sophomore, but has really started to shoulder the load this year as a junior. After sitting out the loss to Reed, he has gotten progressively better each week, including a 205-yard effort last week against Deer Valley, following a 182-yard performance the previous week against Antioch. He is averaging close to nine yards per carry.
Taj Banks, Jr., Encinal, ATH
Banks has affected multiple aspects of the Jets’ performance this season, first as the team’s leading receiver in the first few games, and then switching over to running back for last week’s win over Piedmont. He has 557 yards and 10 touchdowns from scrimmage, and for good measure, the transfer from Alameda has notched 16 tackles and blocked a field goal.
Justin Boyd, Pittsburg, QB/DB
When Trey Turner was lost for the season with an ACL injury, Pittsburg’s season hopes shifted over to Boyd, and the uber-athletic junior has not disappointed. The dual-threat is difficult to prepare for, and he has led the Pirates to a 4-1 record against stiff competition. Boyd has completed 57 percent of his passes, with nine touchdowns and no interceptions, while adding three more scores on the ground. He is also returning to the defensive side as well, now that the offense has adjusted.
Zane Cribb, Monte Vista, RB/LB
The lone returning contributor from last year’s team, Cribb has shouldered the load this season, and is the primary factor behind the team’s 3-1 start. He leads the Mustangs in rushing and receiving, with 532 yards and five touchdowns from scrimmage, while adding three interceptions defensively.
Eli Dempsey, College Park, RB
The Falcons came flying out of the gate with four straight wins, and Dempsey’s production in the backfield has been a big reason why. Through five games, the senior has rushed for 988 yards and 12 touchdowns, including three 200-yard plus performances.
Akil Edwards, St. Patrick-St. Vincent, QB
The dual-threat junior signal-caller has lived up to the flashes of potential he showed during limited action last fall. He has completed 65 percent of his passes, and is averaging over 12 yards per carry, as the Bruins have cruised to a 4-0 start this year.
Austin Fields, Castro Valley, ATH
Offensively, Fields has been a big-play spark for the Trojans, rushing for 321 yards and three touchdowns, but averaging 10 yards per carry. He is also the team’s leading receiver with nine catches for 91 yards and two scores. Defensively, however, the senior is also the rock for Castro Valley, leading the team with 51 tackles and a whopping five interceptions from his safety position.
Robby Rowell, Acalanes, QB
Rowell was good last year, make no mistake about it. But he has been phenomenal this year, leading the Dons to a 5-0 start. The senior has completed 63 percent of his passes, with 20 touchdowns and just one interception, leading his team to one-sided victories in four of the five games.
Peter Stehr, Miramonte, RB/LB
With the graduation of standout Tim Tague at quarterback, and a veteran offensive line returning, it was no surprise that the Matadors planned to run the ball more. Stehr has made that possible, emerging as a featured back with 662 yards and 12 touchdowns in the first five games, averaging 9.3 yards per carry. He has also been a defensive stalwart, with 28 tackles and four tackles for a loss.
Alvonte Thornton, San Leandro, RB
Everyone knew coming into the season that they would have to stop San Leandro senior back Jermaine Jackson, but Thornton has caused fits for defenses after emerging as the other factor in the Pirates’ ground game. He has 61 carries for 624 yards through the first five games, a 10.2 yard per carry average, and has scored six times.
Sione Vaki, Liberty, ATH
While a lot of the focus entering centered on the Lions’ quarterback battle, which has evolved into a rotational system, this transfer from Antioch has been an impact player on both sides of the ball. Offensively, as a runner and receiver, Vaki has 655 yards and 10 touchdowns from scrimmage, while adding 19 tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception return for a touchdown on defense.
Midseason Top Breakthrough Player – Aidan Quinn, Heritage, RB
Quinn may have been the returning starter for the Patriots this season, but few outside of Brentwood were familiar with him. That is no longer the case, after the senior has gashed opposing defenses for a section-high 1,146 yards through five games, nearly double his season total from last year.
His yardage total also is no indicator of a heavy workload. Quinn is averaging 13.5 yards per carry, and has three games of 250 yards or more on the ground, along with 12 rushing touchdowns. In a win over Pacheco, he needed just eight carries to accumulate 264 yards, which was a school record until he ran for 338 yards in a win over a 3-1 Edison-Stockton team.
