Quarterback Austin Kafentzis should become Utah's all-time leading rusher before the season's end. He's also a top candidate for National Player of the Year.
File photo by Steve Carnahan
A quarterback who became California's all-time leader in passing yardage (Jake Browning) and a quarterback who is on the verge of becoming Utah's all-time leading rusher (Austin Kafentzis) highlight this week's Player of the Year Watch, along with an all-time great performance by Allen's Kyler Murray.
See pro photo galleries from last week's football gamesNational Football Player of the Year Watch
Jake Browning, Folsom (Calif.)By throwing for 520 yards in a 55-10 win over Cathedral Catholic (San Diego),
Browning became the all-time career yardage leader in California with 11,505 yards. His seven touchdowns in the game give him 145 for his career, one short of the state record of 146 held by Jimmy Clausen of Oaks Christian.
Kellen Overstreet, Penney (Hamilton, Mo.)Just two weeks into the season and Overstreet is already closing in on 1,000 yards rushing. After rushing for 376 yards on 34 carries and five touchdowns in a 34-23 win over Gallatin, Overstreet has 813 yards on 74 carries with 10 touchdowns on the season. Overstreet could be in for a huge season. While rushing for 3,327 yards last year, he went over 376 yards only once. In just two games this year, he has run for 376 and 437 yards.
Austin Kafentzis, Jordan (Sandy, Utah)With 130 yards rushing on 21 carries in a 42-26 win over East last week, Kafentzis closed to within 209 yards of the all-time career rushing record of 5,663 yards in Utah, held by Fahu Tahi of Granger (1996-98), according to the Utah High Schools Activities Association record book. A big passing game this week could also put Kafentzis over 10,000 career passing yards. He has 9,636 after last week's 284 yards effort against East.
Aca'cedric Ware, Cedar Hill (Texas)While Damarkus Lodge is regarded as the top recruit for No. 1-ranked Cedar Hill, Ware cannot be overlooked. In a 56-34 win over South Oak Cliff, Cedar Hill threw for just 94 yards with Lodge catching two passes for 27 yards. Ware, however, ran 25 times for 209 yards and four touchdowns.
Kyler Murray, Allen (Texas)Murray opened the season with one of the best performances of his career as he completed 20 of 31 passes for 394 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed seven times for 106 yards and three scores in Allen's 55-41 win over Guyer (Denton, Texas). The 500 combined yards is the second-best performance in Murray's career, topped only by the 546 combined yards he had in last year's 49-27 season-opening win over Carroll (Southlake). Murray now has over 6,000 career passing yards and 66 touchdowns.
Cole Gest, St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)In a 38-7 win over Gilman (Baltimore), Gest came up big for St. Edward as he rushed for 194 yards and three touchdowns on just 11 carries.
Markell Jones, Columbus East (Ind.)The second-leading rusher in the nation behind Kellen Overstreet,
according to stats reported to MaxPreps, Jones rushed for 301 yards in the season opener and 295 yards on 27 carries with four touchdowns in a 42-14 win over Columbus North last week.
Maurice Alexander, Washington (Miami)In 2013, Treon Harris sparked Washington to a No. 1 national ranking and he was later chosen as the MaxPreps Medium Schools Player of the Year. In 2014, Alexander has assumed the role that Harris played so well and the Tornadoes haven't missed a beat. He threw for 384 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Oscar Smith in the season opener. He added a pair of touchdown throws in the pouring rain in a 19-7 win over Tucker (Ga.) last week. Alexander and the Tornadoes face their toughest test of the season this week against Central (Miami).
Ephraim Tuliloa, Punahou (Honolulu)The top-ranked Buff n' Blue had little trouble with St. Louis (Honolulu), winning 55-7. Tuliloa, a junior quarterback, was a big reason why as he completed 22 of 35 passes for 428 yards and six touchdowns. His yardage total (listed as 441 yards on the Hawaii Prep World website) is a new school record.
Brady White, Hart (Newhall, Calif.)Although his team lost to Chino Hills 63-48, White was spectacular as he broke his own school record with 537 yards passing and six touchdowns. He completed 30 of 56 passes and also ran for 83 yards and a touchdown. White lost his top receiver, Trent Irwin, late in the game and Irwin's status for this week is questionable according to the Santa Clarita Valley Signal. White threw for 4,535 yards and 41 touchdowns as a junior. His previous school record was 508 yards, which he did last year against Chaminade (West Hills). Hart faces Chaminade, the defending Division II state champions, this week.
