10 must-see players in the playoffs
Get out your highlight markers, Metro football fans: Here are the 10 players to watch in this week’s NorCal games: RB Kazmeir Allen, Tulare Union-Tulare (13-0) Game/opponent: Division 2-AA/Serra (11-2) Time and place: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bob Mathias Stadium-Tulare
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound UCLA commit has scored a California state-record 70 touchdowns this season, 60 on the ground to go with 2,989 yards on 228 carries. He also has caught 29 passes for 833 yards (28.6 per reception) and nine TDs, and added 361 return yards. He reminds Serra coach Patrick Walsh of Kansas City running back De’Anthony Thomas when he played at Crenshaw-Los Angeles. “Every time he touches the ball, he’s a threat to go the distance,” Walsh said. OT Will Craig, Granite Bay (12-2) Game/opponent: D1-A/Pittsburg (8-2) Time and place: 6 p.m. Saturday at Granite Bay
The 6-5, 280-pounder powers a balanced offensive attack and has been called by his coach Jeff Evans “the best player” in the Sac Joaquin Section. Craig and leading rusher and linebacker Evan Tattersall (6-3, 225) are committed to Cal. RB/CB Tariq Bracy, Milpitas (12-1) and QB/S John Torchio, Campolindo-Moraga (10-4) Game: D4-A Time and place: 6 p.m. Saturday at Campolindo
Bracy — a fleet 6-foot, 180pound senior — has rushed for 1,527 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also averaged 20.9 yards on his 12 receptions (and scored two more TDs), and made three interceptions on defense. Among his 11 FBS offers are ones from Notre Dame and Cal.
At 6-3, 205 pounds, Torchio has completed 201 of 311 passes for 2,962 yards and 33 touchdowns. The senior also has rushed for 650 yards and 10 scores and contributed 71 tackles and seven interceptions from his safety spot, where he’ll play in college. QB Gino Campiotti, Manteca (12-2) Game/opponent: D2-A/St. Francis (9-4) Time and place: 6 p.m. Saturday at Manteca
The 6-3, 194-pound senior is a dual-threat on the field. In 13 games, he has completed 173 of 271 passes for 2,629 yards, with 30 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He also has rushed for 545 yards and 14 TDs. RB Vinnie Smith, ShastaRedding (11-1) Game/opponent: D3-AA/ Marin Catholic-Kentfield (12-0) Time and place: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Shasta
The 5-9, 190-pound senior fullback, nicknamed “Thunder,” powers Shasta’s Wing-T offense, having rushed 233 times for 2,101 yards and 22 touchdowns. His backfield teammate, Seth Park (5-11, 175), known as “Lightning,” has rushed 161 times for 1,733 yards and 30 scores. RB Joseph Garcia, Strathmore (14-0) Game/opponent: Division 6-AA, St. Patrick-St. VincentVallejo (11-1) Time and place: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Strathmore
The 5-10, 178-pound senior has rushed 256 times for 2,356 yards and 40 touchdowns, matching almost identically his totals in his junior season (323, 2,345, 40), which ended when he rushed for 150 yards and two scores in a 29-28 loss to SPSV in the 6-A state title game. QB Tyler Reynolds, Sutter (12-1) Game/opponent: D3-A/Half Moon Bay (13-0) Time and place: 6 p.m. Saturday at Half Moon Bay
The 5-11, 190-pound senior has completed 154 of 203 for 2,498 yards, with 24 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He also has rushed for 933 yards and 11 scores. RB/SS Ryan Hurley, Rio Vista (9-3) Game/opponent: D6-A/Galileo Time and place: 6 p.m. Saturday at Rio Vista
The 5-8, 190-pound junior has rushed 152 times for 1,320 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also has caught 14 passes for 238 yards and three more scores. On defense, he has racked up 61 tackles. QB/LB Gavin McAuliff, East Nicolaus (13-0) Game/opponent: D5-AA/ McClymonds Oakland (12-0) Time and place: 7:30 p.m. Friday at East Nicolaus
A sophomore, the 5-10, 170 pounder accounted for 2,071 yards and 25 touchdowns, plus he has contributed 48 tackles.