This week's look at MaxPreps.com's National Player of the Year candidates (listed alphabetically);
Dano Graves, Folsom
Photo by Anthony Brunsman
Team record: 13-1, No. 24 in this week's
Xcellent 25 High School Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
Last weekend: Folsom took a nationally-televised, 49-14 beating from Grant of Sacramento in late August. The Bulldogs turned the tables Friday night in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II finals, hammering Grant 41-20 behind Graves' 289 yards and four touchdowns through the air. He also rushed for 129 yards and two scores.
Season: Undefeated since the August loss to Grant, Graves has thrown for 3,488 yards and 59 touchdowns (against just five interceptions) and run for 911 yards and 20 touchdowns. The Bulldogs are averaging nearly 55 points per game over their last 13 contests.
Johnathan Gray, RB, Aledo (Aledo, Texas)
Team record: 14-0
Last weekend: Gray helped Aledo grind out an 18-10 win over Stephenville in Class 4A Division II regional final. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound junior ran 31 times for 109 yards. He was held without a rushing touchdown for the first time all season. Stephenville proved tough for Gray to break loose against back in August, as well, when he rushed for 84 yards on 19 carries in a 20-3 season-opening win.
Season: Gray has piled up 2,791 yards and 49 touchdowns on 294 carries (9.49 yards per carry). Aledo faces Mesquite Poteet next in the 4A-II semifinals.
Qyendairs Griffin, RB, South Panola (Batesville, Miss.)
Team record: 15-0, No. 2 in this week's Xcellent 25
Last weekend: Griffin helped South Panola capture its sixth state title in seven years by running for 174 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-7 win over Meridian.
Season: With seven 200-yard games to his credit, Griffin totaled 2,666 yards and 38 touchdowns for the Mississippi 6A champions.
Johnny Manziel, QB, Tivy (Kerrville, Texas)
Team record: 10-2 (season complete)
Season: The future Texas A&M Aggie saw his senior campaign come to an end Nov. 19 following a 48-42 loss to Lake Travis (Austin). Manziel finished with 3,559 yards and 44 touchdowns (against just five picks) through the air while running for another 1,695 yards and 30 TDs.
Maty Mauk, QB, Kenton (Ohio)
Team record: 11-2 (season complete)
Season: Mauk tossed for 5,670 yards and 69 touchdowns, ran for 974 yards and 16 TDs and helped Kenton average 51.5 points per game.
Quentin Williams, QB, Jefferson (Tampa, Fla.)
Team record: 13-0
Last weekend: Williams and Jefferson are two wins away from a Class 3A state title after beating Ocala Vanguard 49-27. The 6-1, 190-pound signal caller threw for 346 yards and two scores, running for another 54 yards and a TD.
Season: Heading into Jefferson's semifinal showdown with St. Augustine, Williams has thrown for 3,953 yards and 51 touchdowns, picking up another 797 yards and seven TDs on the ground.
Justin Worley, QB, Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.)
Team record: 15-0, No. 8 in this week's Xcellent 25
Last weekend: Worley was on point in his final high school game, leading Northwestern to South Carolina's Class AAAA-Division II state title by connecting on 26 of 42 pass attempts for 263 yards and five touchdowns.
Season: MaxPreps.com's National Sophomore of the Year in 2008, Worley could be closing in on more hardware after piling up 5,315 yards and 64 touchdowns through the air and leading the Trojans to a state title.
