By Kevin Askeland
MaxPreps.com
Escambia’s Trent Richardson went over 350 yards for the second time this year and Washaun Ealey of Emanuel County Institute and Montee Ball of Timberland each scored five touchdowns to highlight this week’s Player of the Year Watch.
Matt Barkley, Mater Dei, Santa Ana (Calif.)
Mater Dei had little trouble with Santa Margarita, winning 57-28 to raise its record to 6-2. Barkley completed 14 of 23 passes in the win for 227 yards and two touchdowns. For the season, Barkley has completed 137 of 234 passes for 2,148 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Garrett Gilbert, Lake Travis, Austin (Texas)
The Cavaliers ripped through previously unbeaten Dripping Springs 42-3 to stay undefeated at 9-0. Gilbert threw sparingly, completing 12 of 21 passes for 222 yards and two scores. He also threw just his second interception of the season; however he also ran seven times for 69 yards and a touchdown. For the season, Gilbert has completed 162 of 244 passes for 2,699 yards and 32 touchdowns.
Russell Shepard, Cypress Ridge, Houston (Texas)
Cy Ridge jumped out to a big early lead en route to a 56-28 win over Cy Springs. Shepard accounted for five touchdowns as he completed 9 of 15 passes for 192 yards and three scores and ran 16 times for 133 yards and two touchdowns. For the season, Shepard has completed 84 of 153 passes for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns while rushing 145 times for 948 yards and 13 scores.
Bryce Brown, Wichita East (Kan.)
Brown’s spectacular career came to an end with a 44-26 loss to Southeast in the first round of the Kansas state playoffs. Brown rushed for 192 yards on 25 carries and scored one touchdown in the loss. He finishes the season with a league record 1,872 yards on the season on 203 carries with 30 touchdowns. For his career, Brown ran for 6,809 yards.
Morgan Newton, Carmel (Ind.)
Newton threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score in Carmel’s 44-21 win over Lafayette. He rushed 10 times for 97 yards and completed 10 of 12 passes for 104 yards. He has completed 132 of 192 passes for 1,520 yards and 17 touchdowns. Newton has gained 1,105 yards rushing on 157 carries with 16 touchdowns.
Trent Richardson, Escambia (Fla.)
Richardson is coming on strong heading into the playoffs. He carried a season-high 39 times in a 21-14 win over Pensacola Catholic and gained 351 yards with three touchdowns. For the season, Richardson has carried the ball 191 times for 1,849 yards and 24 scores.
Washaun Ealey, Emanuel County Institute (Ga.)
Ealey was held to his lowest rushing total of the season in a 39-7 win over Montgomery County, however that was due to the fact that the Bulldogs had a huge early lead. Ealey touched the ball just seven times and scored five times. He ran five times for 82 yards and three touchdowns and caught two passes for 56 yards and two scores.Easley has rushed for 1,758 yards on 162 carries with 30 total touchdowns.
Jeremiah Young, Steelton-Highspire (Pa.)
Young sat out the Steamrollers’ 28-20 win over Camp Hill with an ankle sprain, but he is expected back for this week’s district playoff game against Columbia. Young is just 412 yards shy of the all-time Pennsylvania rushing record. For his career, Young has 8,021 yards and 103 total touchdowns. For the season, Young has carried 170 times for 1,808 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Cierre Wood, Santa Clara, Oxnard (Calif.)
Heading into the much-anticipated matchup with Oaks Christian, Santa Clara and Wood defeated Bishop Diego 42-10 for their eighth straight win. Wood carried 15 times for 149 yards and two touchdowns, including a 76-yard run. For the season, Wood has rushed 121 times for 1,526 yards and 26 total touchdowns. He has also caught 8 passes for 182 yards.
Rex Burkhead, Plano (Texas)
Burkhead and the Plano Wildcats had a bye last week but will play their final regular season game against Jesuit on Friday. Burkhead has run 195 times for 1,319 yards and 21 touchdowns on the season. He has also caught 27 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns.
Marcus Lattimore, Byrnes, Duncan (S.C.)
Byrnes rebounded from its loss to Dorman by blasting Mauldin 70-27. Lattimore ran for 148 yards and scored three times in the victory For the year, Lattimore has 1,509 yards with 20 touchdowns.
Scott Young, Denton Ryan (Texas)
Young tossed six more touchdown passes, giving him 48 on the season, in a 42-24 win over The Colony. Young completed 25 of 33 passes for 358 yards. He has completed 198 of 303 passes for 3,146 yards.
Montee Ball, Timberland (Mo.)
Timberland finished the regular season at 10-0 with a 48-13 win over Holt. Ball ran for five touchdowns and gained 233 yards on 27 carries. For the season, Ball has rushed 181 times for 1,990 yards and a Missouri best 39 touchdowns.
Ryan Kasdorf, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.)
Kasdorf came up big in Notre Dame’s 37-17 win over Crespi as he completed 20 of 26 passes for 320 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran seven times for 59 yards. His performance helped Notre Dame move to No. 2 in the MaxPreps/National Guard rankings. Kasdorf has completed 118 of 173 passes for 2,401 yards and 26 touchdowns and has run 67 times for 459 yards and three scores.
Tavon Austin, Dunbar (Baltimore, Md.)
Dunbar went over 50 points again last week, routing Edmondson 52-20. Austin had just one touchdown, raising his season total to 22. He also rushed for 163 yards on 23 carries, giving him 1,515 yards on the season. He is closing in on 7,000 career rushing yards with 6,802 after last week’s effort.
