Maui senior closing out ESPY-worthy football career; Green is a Golden Gopher; Houston's emerging star.
National High 5 is MaxPreps' new high school sports wire featuring top news, game and human interest stories from both our staff reporters and newspaper websites.
Wednesday, Oct. 24
1. His full name is Luna Maliuga Apele Kekoapono Emilio, and that alone might make for an interesting story. The 5-foot-11, 265-pound defensive tackle at King Kekaulike High School on the island of Maui plays just a handful of snaps each game, but is having a senior season that may be ESPY-worthy. Without going into anymore detail, I'll let Robert Collias of the Maui News tell Emilio's incredible story.
2. Here is another example of how unpredictable the recruiting game can be. Last week the University of Minnesota's football team was humiliated on its home field by North Dakota State, 27-21. I repeat, NORTH DAKOTA STATE. On hand for the shocker was Robeson High School (Chicago, Ill.) star receiver/defensive back Brandon Green, a MaxPreps All-American last fall as a junior. Apparently, Green was so impressed by the loss to the provisional Division I school, he decided to cast his lot with the Golden Gophers and head coach Tim Brewster on the spot. For more on Green's decision, check out "The Inside Scoop" with Bob Sakamoto of the Chicago Tribune.
3. The city that brought you Vince Young has a new star emerging at the same position. Remember the name Sam Carter, a sophomore quarterback at Sharpstown High School in Houston, Texas. Through seven games, Carter has combined to throw and run for nearly 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns while leading the traditionally-downtrodden Apollos to a 6-1 record. Check out Houston Chronicle writer Sam Khan's offering on this Hurricane Katrina transplant finding his way quite nicely in H-Town.
4. It didn't take long for former Canyon (Calif.) head coach Harry Welch to push his new program - St. Margaret's of San Juan Capistrano - into the headlines. Martin Henderson of the Los Angeles Times detailed Welch's impact and the small school's 21-game winning streak, now the longest in the state. Welch led Canyon to the state's Division I title with an upset of De La Salle a year ago.
5. Craig "Sideline Smitty" Smith of the Seattle Times - one of the more colorful and entertaining high school sports columnists you will find - weighs in on a few of the surprises this fall in the state of Washington. At the top of the list sits Renton, a program experiencing a Disney-like season just a year after struggling to field a team. The 7-1 Indians face a talented Kennedy squad Thursday night.
Compiled by Jason Hickman. E-mail him at jrhickman@maxpreps.com.
