Seven candidates make the cut for this week’s ballot
Week two of the high school football season produced a few blowouts, a couple of nail-biters and a definite heartbreaker for our local teams.
In the blowout column, the rebirth of the Imperial Valley Classic rivalry game between Imperial and Holtville high schools was anything but classic, with the Tigers steamrolling their former league mates, 46-0.
Meanwhile, preseason Imperial Valley League favorite Central Union handily took care of business on the road against Yuma’s Gila Ridge High School. And, the following day, Vincent Memorial continued its strong start with a drubbing of Southwest San Diego.
Calexico followed an opening week mugging at the hands of Kearny to edge Yuma High’s Criminals by two points, while Calipatria also managed to get itself in the win column in a high-scoring affair against Escondido Charter.
Probably the best game of the week was between Division III Brawley Union and Division I Steele Canyon High School. After dominating on the field and leading most of the game against the defending 3A state champs, the Wildcats had the contest slip through their fingers at the very end.
Needless to say, all that action on the field produced plenty of noteworthy performances. Here we’ve listed seven of them to give readers once again a chance to choose the past week’s Gridiron Great.
Cast your votes at www.ivpressonline.com/gridirongreats.
The winner will be announced in Friday’s edition of the Imperial Valley Press.
Kalin Sotelo, Calipatria
Hornet Head Coach Mike Swearingen wasn’t bashful lobbying for his junior running back this week after Calipatria’s 47-35 defeat of Escondido Charter on Saturday. Sotelo dashed for 235 yards on 14 carries and scored two touchdowns, including a 75yard scamper.
Between offensive series, Sotelo occupied himself by registering seven tackles, including a sack, and he threw in a blocked punt for good measure. “If that isn’t an athlete of the week, I don’t know what is,” Swearingen said.
Santiago de la Torre, Imperial
The Imperial quarterback passed for 155 yards and four touchdowns in leading his team to the shellacking of non-league Valley rival Holtville Friday night. De la Torre completed 11 of 15 passes with no interceptions and gained 45 yards on the ground to put up a quarterback rating of 145.8.
The senior also forced a fumble and picked off a pass on defense, not mention handling all of Imperial’s kickoff and punting duties.
Luis Andrade, Calexico
The senior runner helped the Bulldogs bounce back from a very tough day at the office in their season opener against Kearny to squeak by Yuma High School Friday night.
Andrade gained 118 yards on 10 carries and scored one TD.
He also recorded three tackles and one pick in helping his team to a 14-12 victory.
Daniel Rizzo, Vincent Memorial
The senior running back’s number was called 21 times in Friday’s road win over Southwest San Diego, and he didn’t disappoint. Rizzo picked up 180 yards on the ground, good for 8.6 yards per carry, and found the end zone three times in a 46-27 victory.
Michael Moreno, Brawley
The senior running back was a standout for the Wildcats in a heartbreaker against Steele Canyon. Moreno carried 20 times for 120 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown run, in a 14-13 loss to the defending 3A state champs.
Joey Ramos, Imperial
The junior receiver for the Tigers was nearly a foregone conclusion in Imperial’s passing game in its rivalry game with Holtville. Ramos was credited with 101 receiving yards out of the 155 possible, and he caught all four of teammate Santiago de la Torre’s touchdown throws. He also tallied 40 return yards and blocked a punt.
Thadeo Campbell, Central Union
Last year’s Imperial Valley League interception leader was up to his usual tricks Friday night against Yuma’s Gila Ridge High School. The senior defensive back/wide receiver had a solid two-way game, including two picks, four tackles and 60 receiving yards on four catches in Central’s 28-6 schooling of the Hawks.