By Kevin Askeland
MaxPreps.com
Garrett Gilbert, Lake Travis, Austin (Texas)
Gilbert and the Cavaliers produced their most impressive win of the season in the Texas 4A Division I quarterfinal with a 71-9 blasting of Killeen. Gilbert completed 20 of 27 passes for 363 yards and four touchdowns. He also added 52 yards rushing with a score. For the season, Gilbert is 256 of 372 for 4,231 yards and 48 touchdowns. He has run the ball 84 times for 557 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Spencer Keith, Pulaski Academy (Little Rock, Ark.)
Keith and the Pulaski Academy Bruins avenged their only loss of the season by defeating Helena-West Helena Central 35-32 for the Arkansas 5A state title. Keith completed 20 of 41 passes on the night for 244 yards and two touchdowns. Keith breaks the Arkansas state record for passing yards in a season, topping former Pulaski Academy standout Thomas Thrash with 5,318. Thrash’s old mark was 5,272 set in 2001. Keith completes his career with 795 completions on 1,299 attempts for 10,378 yards and 122 touchdowns. For the season, Keith has completed 396 of 625 passes for 5,318 yards and 70 touchdowns.
Zach Barket, Schuylkill Haven (Pa.)
Barket saw his remarkable season come to an end in a 20-9 loss to Steelton-Highspire in the Pennsylvania Class A state semifinals. Barket ran 38 times for 145 yards and a touchdown. He finishes the season with 4,187 yards on 406 carries with 65 touchdowns. His season total is the third highest in national history. His rushing touchdowns are also the third most in national history.
Washaun Ealey, Emanuel County Institute (Ga.)
The Bulldogs squeaked out another win in the Georgia 1A playoffs, getting a fourth-quarter touchdown from Ealey to beat Wilkinson County 15-7. Ealey ran 25 times for 125 yards and two touchdowns in the win. For the season, Ealey has 2,727 yards rushing on 284 carries. He also had 43 total touchdowns.
Jeremiah Young, Steelton-Highspire (Pa.)
Young played sparingly in Steel-High’s 20-9 win over Schuylkill Haven in the Pennsylvania Class A semifinals due to injury, but he still managed to rush for 88 yards on seven carries with one touchdown. For the season, Young has 2,731 yards on 263 carries with 31 touchdowns.
Tavon Austin, Dunbar (Baltimore, Md.)
Austin scored two touchdowns and the game-winning two-point conversion to lift Dunbar to its third straight 1A state championship. Austin finished the season with 36 rushing touchdowns and state records for career points scored, touchdowns, career rushing yards and total offensive yards.
Matt Barkley, Mater Dei, Santa Ana (Calif.)
Season over. For the season, Barkley has completed 178 of 322 passes for 2,877 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Russell Shepard, Cypress Ridge, Houston (Texas)
Season over. For the season, Shepard had 115 completions in 211 attempts for 1,849 yards and 18 touchdowns. He carried 257 times for 1,947 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Bryce Brown, Wichita East, (Kan.)
Season Over. For the season, Brown ran for 1,872 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Morgan Newton, Carmel (Ind.)
Season over. For the season, Newton completed 172 of 257 passes for 1,924 yards and 22 touchdowns and gained 1,668 yards rushing on 233 carries with 26 touchdowns.
Trent Richardson, Escambia (Fla.)
Season over. For the season, Richardson had 225 carries for 2,090 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Cierre Wood, Santa Clara, Oxnard (Calif.)
Season over. For the season, Wood rushed 144 times for 1,636 yards and 26 total touchdowns. He also caught 8 passes for 182 yards.
Rex Burkhead, Plano (Texas)
Season over. For the season, Burkhead ran 256 times for 1,775 yards and 28 touchdowns. He caught 42 passes for 592 yards and five touchdowns.
Scott Young, Denton Ryan (Texas)
Season over. For the season, Young had 289 completions on 458 attempts for 4,495 yards and 65 touchdowns.
Montee Ball, Timberland (Mo.)
Season over. For the season, Ball had 2,187 yards on 203 carries with 41 touchdowns.
Ryan Kasdorf, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.)
Season over. For the season, Kasdorf completed 171 of 248 passes for 3,291 yards and 36 touchdowns.
Brandon Wegher, Bishop Heelan Catholic (Sioux City, Iowa)
Season over. For the season, Wegher had 362 carries for 3,238 yards and 51 touchdowns.
