Santa's MaxPreps gift bag for 2010

1. Kris Richardson and Folsom - another Dano Graves
Folsom (Calif.) quarterback Dano Graves concluded a spectacular senior season in which he completed 236 of 366 passes for 3,702 yards and 62 touchdowns. He also rushed 165 times for 994 yards and 23 scores. His 85 touchdowns accounted for is a state record. In leading the Bulldogs (14-1) to a 48-20 win over Serra (Gardena) in the CIF Division II State Bowl Game, Graves had three rushing touchdowns and three passing touchdowns. According to Richardson, though, the Bulldogs may have already received an early present from Santa. Junior Tanner Trosin is expected to take over the duties from Graves next year and Richardson says he's a good one.
{PAGEBREAK}2. CIF - Artificial Turf
During the first four years the CIF State Bowl Games were held at the Home Depot Center, the field conditions and the weather cooperated. Not so this year. A steady rain, courtesy of the Pineapple Express weather system that surged through the entire state of California, turned the grass field to a mud pit by Friday evening. The poor field conditions left many wondering what the results would have been on a dry field. Despite the muddy field, all of the games were relatively high scoring with at least 40 points scored in four of the five contests. {PAGEBREAK}3. Texas District 21-4A boys basketball teams - Defense
Last year the Yates (Houston, Texas) boys basketball team finished the season ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps. Along the way, the Lions averaged 116 points per game in racking up a 34-0 record and a Texas 4A state championship. But that was nothing compared to Yates' performance in District 21-4A play. The Lions scored over 100 points in 13 of the 14 district games and averaged 122 points. That average included highs of 170 points against Lee (Houston) in a 170-35 win. {PAGEBREAK}4. Sumrall baseball - a third No. 1 national ranking
Despite losing its first game in nearly three years, the Sumrall (Miss.) Bobcats finished 35-1, won a third straight Mississippi 3A state championship and ended the year ranked No. 1 by MaxPreps for the second year in a row. Another run at a No. 1 national ranking wouldn't be out of the question for the Bobcats as they return all-state standouts Connor Barron (SS), Austin Knight (C), and Luke Lowery (P). {PAGEBREAK}5. Jonathan Gray - Another deep run into the playoffs and an injury free season
For two straight season Aledo (Texas) has reached the state championship game, winning a pair of Texas 4A state titles and racking up 28 straight wins. A big reason for the success has been junior running back Johnathan Gray. As a sophomore, Gray reportedly ran for 2,814 yards and scored 59 touchdowns. As a junior, Gray rushed for 3,221 yards and scored 61 touchdowns. Freshman totals of 967 yards and 15 TDs have also been reported, giving Gray unofficial career totals of 6,999 yards and 135 touchdowns. A deep run into the playoffs and a healthy season next year could see Gray go over 10,000 career rushing yards and 200 touchdowns. {PAGEBREAK}6. Maty Mauk - Sure-handed receiver to replace Max Morrison
Kenton (Kenton, Ohio) quarterback Maty Mauk is on pace to break the national passing yardage and touchdown marks next season. He has 13,519 career passing yards (the record is held by his brother Ben with 17,364) and 151 touchdowns (the record is 185 by Chris Leak). One thing Mauk will need is a sure-handed receiver to replace three-year standout Max Morrison, who graduates with three year totals of 289 receptions, 4,147 yards and 56 touchdowns. {PAGEBREAK}7. UIL - A second year at Cowboys Stadium
The UIL held the Texas football state championships in the new Cowboys Stadium and the results were impressive. The weekend of games at the massive home of the Dallas Cowboys marked the first time that the UIL had hosted five of the 10 championship games at one site. Games included the 5A Division I and II, 4A Division I and II and 3A Division II on Friday and Saturday. The result was a whopping 43,321 fans to watch the final game between Pearland and Trinity (Euless). {PAGEBREAK}8. Winter Park - Another son from Glenn "Doc" Rivers
So far, having Boston Celtics coach Glenn "Doc" Rivers living within the school district has worked out pretty well for the Winter Park (Fla.) Wildcats. Rivers' son Austin Rivers led the Wildcats to their first ever 6A state championship in Florida and he enters his senior season as the No. 1 recruit in the country. He has already committed to Duke and he enters his senior year with 1,967 career points. Rivers and the Wildcats are already off to a good start with Rivers averaging 30 points per game and the Winter Park sporting a 10-1 record. Winter Park did get a bit of an early Christmas present this year since Austin's brother Spencer, a freshman, has joined the Wildcat varsity team. {PAGEBREAK}9. Palo Alto - Another year like 2010
It would be hard to beat the fall sports season at Palo Alto (Calif.). Flying just under the radar all season long in both football and volleyball, the Vikings knocked off nationally-ranked teams in the state finals of both sports and vaulted into the national consciousness. The Palo Alto football team (14-0) stunned the No. 4-ranked Centennial Huskies, limiting the Corona school to just two touchdowns in a 15-13 win in the CIF State Division I Bowl Game. Meanwhile the Palo Alto volleyball team knocked off No. 10 ranked Long Beach Poly 3-2 to win the Division I CIF championship and finish the year with a 41-1 record. {PAGEBREAK}10. Brea Olinda and Mater Dei - More head-to-head match-ups
Arguably the two best girls high school basketball teams in the country - Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) and Brea Olinda (Brea, Calif.) reside in Orange County in California. Yet they aren't currently scheduled to play each other this year. Last season, the two teams split their two meetings. Brea Olinda handed Mater Dei its only loss of the season in the Tony Matson Memorial Classic last January while the Monarchs avenged the loss in the Southern California Division I finals in March. Prior to this week, Mater Dei was ranked No. 1 in the country in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 while Brea Olinda was ranked No. 3.