Harris Ross is the front-runner for Bay Area Player of the Year after rushing for 272 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-13 win over Freedom on Friday.
File photo by Dennis Lee
We're closing hard on November and all the Heisman Watch forecasts are out in full bloom. Around the Bay Area, the race is wide open for the Regional Player of the Year.
With three weeks left in the regular season and the entire postseason — where these things are largely won and lost — are are my Top 15 nominees in order. Note, players from top teams always get the nod. There's a couple on the list who are top recruits and even having good seasons. But with a losing season, it's hard to jump to the top.
Let us know what you think of the list.
1. Harris Ross, Pittsburg (Calif.) —The 5-foot-10, 195-pound senior is a late bloomer and appears to be getting better and stronger. He leads the area in rushing yards at 1,831 with 23 touchdowns and he broke an East Bay record with 464 yards rushing against Monte Vista-Danville. Pittsburg is 6-2.
Nsimba Webster, Deer Valley
File photo by Dennis Lee
There is no offensive player who does more for his team as the senior dual-threat quarterback has passed for 1,335 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 791 yards and 17 scores. The No. 5 Wolverines (8-0) play at No. 6 Pittsburg in a game that could go a long way in determining this award.
3. Adarius Pickett, El Cerrito — The UCLA-bound defensive back has led the team in rushing, receiving and, of course, is Northern California's top-rated cornerback for the 6-2 Gauchos.
4. JaJuan Lawson, Casa Grande (Petaluma) — The 6-1, 195-pound dual threat quarterback has thrown for 1,359 yards, 14 touchdowns and just one interceptions. He's also rushed for a team-best 605 and nine more scores. Casa Grande is off to a historic 8-0 start.
5. Blake Bierwith, California (San Ramon) — Not only has rushed for 1,157 yards and 19 touchdown, but he personifies the Grizzlies' bullish, straight-ahead approach. An almost assured East Bay Athletic League title for California (7-1) helps.
6. Morgan Mahalak, Marin Catholic (Kentfield) — The 6-2, 190-pound senior and Oregon commit has seamlessly replaced 2012 Metro Player of the Year Jared Goff. His overall stats are 94 of 155 for 1,826 yards and 25 TDs. The Wildcats are 9-0.
7. Jack Heneghan, Menlo (Atherton) — The chances for the 6-4, 220-pound senior quarterback were hurt by Friday's 44-25 home loss to Terra Nova-Pacifica, but it was no fault of his. He threw for 498 yards and accounted for four touchdowns and now leads the Bay Area with 2,381 passing yards and 28 touchdowns for 5-2 Menlo. He also has rushed for nine TDs.
8. Anthony Gordon, Terra Nova (Pacifica) — The Tigers have two other strong candidates but Gordon's 2,204 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and 68 percent completion rate has turned Terra Nova (7-0) into a Top 10 team.
9. Manny Wilkins, San Marin (Novato) — The 6-2, 180-pound Arizona State quarterback has passed for 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 678 and 10 more scores. The Mustangs (7-1) play Marin Catholic in two weeks to decide the MCAL crown.
10. Keller Chryst, Palo Alto — The Stanford-bound senior is one of the nation's top recruits and he has great numbers (1,706 passing yards, 18 touchdowns). Unfortunately for him, the Vikings are a disappointing 3-4.
Andrew Celis, Marin Catholic
File photo by Dennis Lee
There's not a more complete player in the Bay Area. He leads the MCAL in receiving (32 catches, 778 yards, 10 TDs), is a superb corner and maybe a better kicker. He's competing against teammate Mahalak.
12. Joe Mixon, Freedom (Oakley) — The state's No. 1 recruit has done it all for the Falcons, but it's been a disappointing 3-5 season thus far. The 6-2, 195-pounder has rushed for 1,175 yards and 14 touchdowns caught two other TD passes.
13. John Velasco, De La Salle (Concord) — This team is loaded with balance and talented linemen, but with 997 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, he's DLS's most pleasant surprise.
14. Kyle Nelson, Galileo (San Francisco) — The fourth-year starting QB has completed 66 percent of his passes for more than 1,900 yards but what puts him on the radar is his 26-to-3 TD-to-interception ratio and Galileo's 7-1 record.
15. Andrew Zolintakis, Campolindo (Moraga) — The heart of the Cougars has thrown for 1,680 yards and 19 touchdowns despite missing a game with a shoulder injury. He's braved through the injury leading the Cougars to an 8-0 record.
E-mail MaxPreps national columnist and longtime Bay Area journalist Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com with your picks. Follow him on Twitter @MitchMashMax
