Prep2Prep NCS Football
Performances of the Year
It's no surprise that Freedom RB Ronnie Rivers was a multiple honoree in the Prep2Prep NCS Honor Roll during the course of the 2016 season. (Tessie Robinson/Prep2Prep)


By NATE SMITH
Prep2Prep

Week 1

MONTAZ THOMPSON, PITTSBURG
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

Thompson earned the honors for his week one performance, in which he ran for 307 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-14 season-opening win over CCS preseason 11th-ranked Archbishop Mitty. The Pirates scored the final 34 points of the game behind Thompson’s dominance on the ground.

For the complete story on this game, please click here.


ANDREW MEREDITH, PIEDMONT
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: Senior

Meredith had a game every receiver dreams about, catching five passes for 224 yards and four touchdowns, in the Highlanders’ 48-14 season-opening win over Justin-Siena.


Week 2

VINCENT LARSEN, KENNEDY-FREMONT
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

Larsen stepped to the head of the class for his week two performance, in which he ran for 304 yards and two scores as the Titans improved to 2-0 with a 49-39 win over then-ranked Berean Christian.


RAEQUAN WASHINGTON, ST. BERNARD'S
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

Washington led a huge effort on the ground for the Crusaders, rushing for 263 yards and a touchdown, as St. Bernard’s knocked off Casa Grande, a school more than 10 times its size, 42-28.


Week 3

JORDON BROOKSHIRE, CARDINAL NEWMAN
Position: Quarterback
Year: Senior

Brookshire put forth a huge effort in what turned out to be a signature win for the Cardinals. The dual-threat quarterback completed 13 of 14 passes for 111 yards and used his legs to rush for an astounding 327 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-26 win over Analy, handing the Tigers their only loss of the regular season.


DARIUS MOSES, KENNEDY-FREMONT
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

The Titans had the luxury of two dynamic backs, with Moses eventually becoming the workhorse in the backfield. On this night, he ran for 301 yards and two touchdowns in a 39-13 win over Castro Valley.


Week 4

BAYLEI COSTON, FREEDOM
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: Junior

Coston led a huge second-half, and especially fourth-quarter, effort for the Falcons, as they defeated San Leandro, 48-20. Coston had seven catches for 259 yards and three touchdowns, and Freedom scored the final 20 points of the game for a big win.

For the complete story on this game, please click here.


JACK NEWMAN, ANALY
Position: Quarterback
Year: Senior

Newman was at his best in a shootout victory over Acalanes, completing 35 passes for 518 yards and four touchdowns in a 49-30 win.


Week 5

NICK ZELL, HERITAGE
Position: Quarterback
Year: Senior

Zell was the focal point of a Homecoming victory for the Patriots, who started 5-0 for the first time in school history. The senior quarterback completed 26 of 33 passes for 267 yards and six touchdowns, while adding another 87 yards and a score on the ground, in a 56-20 win over Berkeley.

For the complete story on this game, please click here.


ZANE HINOJOSA, LIBERTY
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: Junior

Hinojosa was unstoppable during the Lions’ 42-14 win over Tracy, catching eight passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns.


Week 6

DEIONTAE MALAN, HERCULES
Position: Quarterback
Year: Junior

Malan displayed his dual-threat ability for the Titans, as they escaped with a 28-27 win over Pinole Valley. Malan completed 9 of 11 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns, and also ran for 219 yards and a score, giving him 472 yards from scrimmage in the victory.


CLARK BAKER, SAN RAMON VALLEY
Position: Quarterback
Year: Junior

Baker coolly completed 13 of 17 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns as the Wolves rolled past Amador Valley, 40-0.



Week 7

RONNIE RIVERS, FREEDOM
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

Rivers saved one of his best performances for one of the Falcons’ biggest games, running for a school-record 389 yards, and tying current Oklahoma standout Joe Mixon’s school record of seven touchdowns in a single game. Behind his big night, Freedom knocked off defending BVAL champion Antioch, 65-28.

For the complete story on this game, please click here.


JAKE SIMMONS, RANCHO COTATE
Position: Quarterback
Year: Junior

Simmons led a complete offensive outburst in a 51-23 win over eventual Division 2 finalist Windsor. Simmons completed 28 passes for 475 yards and five touchdowns in an explosive night for the junior signal-caller.


Week 8

ROBBIE ROWELL, ACALANES
Position: Quarterback
Year: Junior

Rowell accounted for five total touchdowns, as the Dons beat Las Lomas for their first league win, 35-14. The junior quarterback completed 16 of 26 passes for 331 yards and three touchdowns, while also running for 77 yards and two more scores.


ODALE HICKMAN, HAYWARD
Position: Linebacker
Year: Junior

Rarely do defensive performances put up the numbers to get top billing, but Hickman was an exception during the Farmers’ 12-6 win over Encinal. Hickman had 12 tackles, two sacks, blocked a punt which was returned for a touchdown, forced a fumble, and returned the fumble for another touchdown in the victory.


Week 9

JOCQUIL VEAZEY, MT. EDEN
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

After starting league play with consecutive losses, the Monarchs turned to Veazey in a game against Hayward, which entered the game unbeaten in league play. Veazey responded, rushing for 346 yards and five touchdowns as Mt. Eden took down the Farmers, 50-27.


OMARI LAND, SAN LEANDRO
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

It was a big night for WACC running backs, as Land ran for 248 yards and three touchdowns in the Pirates’ 46-36 win over Berkeley.


Week 10

TIM TAGUE, MIRAMONTE
Position: Quarterback
Year: Senior

Tague did it all for the Matadors in a 42-34 win over Concord, completing 18 of 26 passes for 258 yards and four touchdowns, while also running for 94 yards in a crucial DAL-Valley victory.


JAX PEDERSEN, CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
Position: Quarterback
Year: Senior

Playing on a nationally-televised stage, Pedersen played one of his best games, completing 18 of 24 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns in a 43-0 win over Woodland Christian, while also carrying the ball three times for 59 yards.


Week 11

NICK ZELL, HERITAGE
Position: Quarterback
Year: Senior

Heritage’s record-holder in every passing category led the Patriots to a big regular-season ending win over Deer Valley, 56-33. Zell completed 21 of 36 passes for 345 yards and seven touchdowns as the Patriots broke a three-game losing streak and built momentum for the playoffs.


KAIREE ROBINSON, DE LA SALLE
Position: Running Back
Year: Junior

Robinson broke loose against Monte Vista in the regular season finale, rushing for 265 yards and four touchdowns as the Spartans ended the Mustangs’ unbeaten regular season with a 45-17 victory.


Week 12

NICK CALZARETTA, REDWOOD
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

Calzaretta carried the Giants to their first playoff win in school history, 56-14 over higher-seeded Casa Grande. The Most Valuable Player out of the Marin Catholic Athletic League ran for 356 yards and six touchdowns in the first-round playoff victory.


NAJEE HARRIS, ANTIOCH
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

Harris made it three straight years where he had a 300-yard plus performance in the playoffs, rushing for 304 yards and three touchdowns in the Panthers’ 29-17 win over San Ramon Valley, while also catching four passes for 62 yards.


Week 13

RONNIE RIVERS, FREEDOM
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

The Bay Valley Athletic League’s Most Valuable Player and Fresno State commit earned his second trip to the Head of the Class with 299 yards and five rushing touchdowns in a 55-35 win over Pittsburg in the Open Division semifinals. He also caught three passes for 59 yards and another score.

For the complete story on this game, please click here.


KALEI AUKAI, SANTA ROSA
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: Senior

Despite falling 38-37 to Windsor in the Division 2 quarterfinals, Aukai was simply phenomenal in his final high school game, catching 10 passes for 262 yards and a touchdown in the loss.


Week 14

JACK RICE, ST. BERNARD'S
Position: Quarterback
Year: Senior

Rice carried the Crusaders to their second straight berth in a section championship game, defeating Salesian, 71-40 in the Division 4 semifinals. Rice completed 18 of 29 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns, while running for 217 yards and four more scores.

For the complete story on this game, please click here.


MARSHEL MARTIN, ST. PATRICK-ST. VINCENT
Position: Running Back
Year: Junior

Martin ran for 256 yards and one touchdown, leading the Bruins past top seed Berean Christian, 30-16, in the Division 5 semifinals.


Week 15

SHANE PERRY, MONTE VISTA
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior

Perry was the driving force behind the Mustangs’ 42-18 win over Antioch in the Division 1 championship game, capping his career with a 254-yard, three-touchdown performance as Monte Vista hung a section championship banner for the first time since 2002.

For the complete story on this game, please click here.


AKIL EDWARDS, ST. PATRICK-ST. VINCENT
Position: Quarterback
Year: Sophomore

Edwards was the catalyst behind the Bruins’ 49-35 win over Fort Bragg for the Division 5 title, throwing for 238 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 93 yards and two more scores.