Following a senior season in which he never threw for fewer than 250 yards in a game, and also emerged as one of the top dual-threat signal-callers in the Central Coast Section, it was impossible to overlook the year produced by Salinas’ Carl Richardson, as he led the Cowboys to an unbeaten run through the PCAL’s Gabilan Division.

Already known for his cannon arm, posture and poise in the pocket, Richardson showed defenses this past year that the Northwestern-bound senior was far from one-dimensional, rushing for 620 yards and six touchdowns to go with his 3,277 yards and 34 scores through the air, while completing 71 percent of his passes. Now, he is paving the way for other Monterey County-area athletes after being named the Gabilan Division MVP.

“Carl is the first football player from Monterey County in over 20 years to go straight to a Power Five school,” commented Salinas coach Steve Zenk. “He is showing guys from this area what is possible if you work hard to maximize your potential.”

Salinas lost just twice this past season with Richardson at the helm, and lost just one league game in two years with Richardson as the starter. And this past season, two of the most defining moments of the 6-foot-4 future Wildcat’s career came in the biggest games of the league season. In a 38-35 win over Palma that would eventually decide the league title, Richardson completed two-thirds of his pass attempts for 374 yards and four touchdowns. He also opened the eyes of his own coaching staff.

“When you have been doing this for a while, there are not a whole lot of things at the high school level that really make you say ‘Wow’,” Zenk said. “But Carl made some throws in that game which left my jaw hanging.”

The other indelible impression left by Richardson occurred in the Cowboys’ regular-season finale, looking to wrap up their unbeaten league slate against Aptos, and also looking to put the finishing touches on their third consecutive league title, a first in the program’s storied 100-year history. Richardson led his team to a quick 21-point lead on that night, but things nearly disintegrated when the Mariners scored 28 straight points to take the lead.

Faced with real adversity, Richardson marched his team down the field, then ended up on the receiving end of an eight-yard touchdown pass from Landon LaPorte, who had taken the ball on a reverse. Richardson broke a tackle to get in the end zone, and then iced the game with touchdown passes in the fog to JJ Chin and Cade Smith, finishing the night with five touchdown passes. The confidence to rally late in the game came as no surprise, and Richardson’s post-game comments echoed the mentality of himself and his team.

“We have a saying, ‘It’s always Cowboy weather,” Richardson said to Prep2Prep reporter Ethan Kassel after that game. “Tonight was Cowboy weather.”

Richardson’s ability to shine in the biggest moments also resonated with favorable comparisons from Aptos coach Randy Blankenship, who has gone up against some of the best in the state’s history during his storied coaching career.

“The last time I coached against a quarterback like that was Matt Leinart,” Blankenship said. “Carl’s got a great, quick release, and he can run.”

In his two years as a starter, plus a sophomore year in which he served as an understudy, Richardson left behind a career full of staggering totals. In those two-plus season, he racked up 7,178 passing yards and 59 touchdowns, to go with 1,284 yards and seven scores on the ground. And don’t forget that one big receiving touchdown.

For his efforts this past season, we are pleased to recognize Carl Richardson as the Prep2Prep Central Coast Section Senior of the Year.

Other players considered for this award include Palma’s Anthony Villegas, Wilcox’s Paul M Rosa, Valley Christian’s Isaiah McElvane and Serra’s Nate Sanchez.