This week's look at MaxPreps.com's National Player of the Year candidates;
Mike Blakely, RB, Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.)
Team record: 4-0, No. 20 in this week's Xcellent 25 High School Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
Last weekend: Blakely's workload was light in a 34-7 win over Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton), carrying just 12 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns. He threw for a third TD, connecting on a 30-yard pass.
Season: Still uncommitted, Blakely has 538 yards and 11 touchdowns on 67 carries this fall. He has another 108 yards on 10 receptions and has completed both passes he has attempted.
Chevelle Buie, RB, Cocoa (Fla.)
Team record: 5-0, No. 22 in this week's Xcellent 25
Last weekend: Buie ran 20 times for 163 yards and two scores in a 24-0 win over Merritt Island.
Season: The 5-foot-9, 165-pound speedster has 814 all-purpose yards – including 546 on the ground – to go along with 11 touchdowns. Cocoa has beaten strong programs from three different states outside of Florida.
Paul Canevari, Don Bosco Prep
Photo by Ken Inness
Team record: 4-0, No. 8 in this week's Xcellent 25
Last weekend: Canevari rushed 26 times for 155 yards and two touchdowns as the Ironmen hammered rival Bergen Catholic, 38-18.
Season: The 6-foot, 220-pound senior has spearheaded one statement-making victory after another for Don Bosco this season, totaling 891 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground for the defending national champions.
Jeff Driskel, QB, Hagerty (Oviedo, Fla.)
Team record: 3-1
Last weekend: Did not play
Season: One of the nation's most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks, Driskel has combined for 1,051 passing and rushing yards to go along with 12 touchdowns. The future Florida Gator has touchdown runs of 75 and 67 yards.
Aaron Green, RB, Madison (San Antonio, Texas)
Team record: 4-1
Last weekend: Easy Street for Green and Madison as the uncommitted back ran for 173 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-6 win over Johnson (San Antonio). Green popped an 87-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
Season: Green now has 930 yards (186 yards per game) and 12 touchdowns on the ground this fall despite an ankle injury and sitting out most of the second half against Johnson.
Qyendairs Griffin, RB, South Panola (Batesville, Miss.)
Team record: 6-0, No. 2 in this week's Xcellent 25
Last weekend: Griffin's production has slowed a bit the past two weeks as the Tigers simply haven't needed him much in blowout wins, including Friday's 42-7 domination of Olive Branch. The 6-foot, 215-pound senior carried 16 times for 103 yards and two touchdowns in that contest.
Season: Griffin surpassed the 1,000-yard mark on the ground against Olive Branch and finished with 1,095 yards and 16 touchdowns on 109 carries.
Jeremy Hill, RB, Redemptorist (Baton Rouge, La.)
Team record: 5-0
Last weekend: Hill rushed 30 times for 176 yards and three touchdowns in a 44-33 win over Washington-Marion (Lake Charles).
Season: Like Griffin, Hill also topped the 1,000-yard mark over the weekend. The 6-1, 220-pound back has been a workhorse for the Wolves with 1,091 yards and 18 scores in just five games.
Johnny Manziel, QB, Tivy (Kerrville, Texas)
Team record: 5-1
Last weekend: Manziel got the hook before halftime in a 66-13 win over McCollum after completing 13 of 17 passes for 207 yards and four touchdowns and rushing 111 yards and three more scores.
Season: The future Texas A&M Aggie has completed 130 of 198 pass attempts for 1,784 yards and 23 touchdowns while running for 820 yards and 14 scores.
Maty Mauk, QB, Kenton (Ohio)
Team record: 5-1
Last weekend: The nation's leading passer according to statistics submitted to MaxPreps.com, Mauk hit on 29 of 42 pass attempts for 395 yards and six touchdowns. Since suffering its first loss three weeks ago, Kenton has outscored two opponents 130-21 and Mauk has thrown 13 TD passes.
Season: Mauk could surpass the 3,000-yard mark through the air next week – just the seventh game of the season for his Wildcats. The 6-2, 185-pound junior has completed 193 of 287 pass attempts for 2,714 yards and 33 touchdowns against just eight interceptions.
Shaq Thompson, RB, Grant (Sacramento, Calif.)
Team record: 5-0, No. 3 in this week's Xcellent 25
Last weekend: Thompson exited Grant's 55-7 win over Merced early due to injury but is expected to be ready to go next week against Elk Grove. The 6-1, 195-pound junior carried the ball just eight times for 57 yards and a touchdown against Merced.
Season: Offensively, Thompson has rushed for 689 yards and 13 touchdowns on 76 carries. Defensively, he has 19 tackles and a forced fumble. The star junior has even contributed on special teams as a punter, averaging 34.1 yards per attempt. Grant has outscored opponents 271-48.
Marquise Williams, QB, Mallard Creek (Charlotte, N.C.)
Team record: 6-0, No. 25 in this week's Xcellent 25
Last weekend: Williams connected on 15 of 21 pass attempts for 264 yards and four touchdowns during a 55-7 thumping of Lake Norman.
Season: The Mavericks have scored 55 or more in four of six games this season – including a season-high 74 against East Mecklenburg in early September. Much thanks for that offensive success goes to Williams, who has combined to pass and run for 31 touchdowns.
Justin Worley, QB, Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.)
Team record: 6-0, No. 21 in this week's Xcellent 25
Last weekend: Worley's ultra-productive senior season continued in a 42-14 win over North Augusta, connecting on 39 of 49 pass attempts for 434 yards and four touchdowns.
Season: During a nightmarish weekend for Tennessee fans, Worley continued to provide a ray of hope for the Vols after bringing his season totals to 2,063 yards through the air with 27 touchdowns against just five interceptions.
