Week 1 sees 13 nominees
The high school football season opened Friday night with six Imperial Valley teams earning a win in their first outing of the season.
Multiple teams had various athletes standout in their respective games, resulting in a stacked Week 1 voting cycle.
Readers can cast their votes for Gridiron Greats beginning at 8 a.m. today. Voting concludes at 2 p.m. on Thursday.
Vote at www.ivpressonline.com/gridirongreats
The winner will be announced in Friday’s print edition of the Imperial Valley Press.
NATE BANUELOS, CALIPATRIA HIGH
The Calipatria High football team opened the 2017 season with a stunning 44-19 win over Escondido Charter.
Nate Banuelos had a solid performance, running the ball 21 times for 172 yards with two rushing touchdowns of 2 yards and 20 yards.
Banuelos also had multiple tackles on defense for the Hornets.
THADEO CAMPBELL, CENTRAL UNION HIGH
The Central Union High football defeated Kofa 24-14, with Thadeo Campbell performing well for the Spartans on offense and defense.
The junior had four receptions for 55 yards and one touchdown catch and 22 punt-return yards.
On defense he had seven total tackles, two interceptions and returned one for a touchdown for a total of 62 interception return yards.
KEVIN EVEN, CENTRAL UNION HIGH
The Central Union High football team defeated Kofa on Friday in a solid 24-14 game.
Defensively, the Spartans saw Kevin Even finish with 10 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one fumble and one fumble recovery.
DIEGO HERNANDEZ, IMPERIAL HIGH
The Imperial High defense held Cibola to negative rushing yards in its 55-14 win over the Raiders on Friday.
Helping led the defense was senior Diego Hernandez.
Hernandez finished with 10 total tackles, one sack and caused one fumble in the win.
BRANDON HUESO, IMPERIAL HIGH
Senior running back Brandon Hueso helped Imperial High to a solid 55-14 victory over Cibola on Friday.
Hueso had 19 carries for a total of 133 yards and also had two rushing touchdowns in the win over the Yuma team.
CASEY KLINE, BRAWLEY UNION HIGH
Junior Casey Kline debuted as the Brawley Union High football team’s starting quarterback on Friday night against Steele Canyon.
While the Wildcats ultimately lost the contest 24-20, Kline did well in the air and on the ground for Brawley.
Kline had a touchdown pass of 27-yards to Branden Gutierrez and a 33-yard dash that set up another Brawley touchdown.
JACOB LEYBA, HOLTVILLE HIGH
Senior running back Jacob Leyba helped Holtville High to a 3513 season-opening win over Salvatierra Prep on Friday night.
Leyba had 156 rushing yards on 17 carries and a total of three rushing touchdowns.
Leyba scored on runs of 21, 36 and 14 yards.
DENIRO OSUNA, CENTRAL UNION HIGH
The Central Union High football team earned its first win under a new head coach after defeating Kofa 34-14 in the season opener.
The Spartans had a great game from sophomore quarterback Deniro Osuna, who finished 7-14 with 105 passing yards and three touchdown passes, two from 24 yards and one from 14.
ANDY PASCUAL, HOLTVILLE HIGH
The Holtville High football team opened with a strong 35-13 win over Salvatierra Prep with help from Andy Pascual.
The senior had 114 rushing yards on nine carries with two touchdowns on runs of 62 and 21 yards.
He also had one reception for 14 receiving yards.
JOEY RAMOS, IMPERIAL HIGH
Imperial High sophomore Joey Ramos had a solid debut for the varsity Tigers in a 55-14 victory over Cibola on Friday.
Ramos had three receptions for 96 yards and three touchdown catches.
He also finished with 118 total yards of offense.
WYATT RODRIGUEZ, IMPERIAL HIGH
The Imperial High football team recorded its first nonleague win since the 2014 season after defeating Cibola 55-14.
The Tigers were led by junior quarterback Wyatt Rodriguez in the win. Rodriguez finished 1526 with five touchdown passes for a total of 304 yards.
On the ground Rodriguez picked up nearly rushing 50 yards for a total of 353 offensive yards.
TYLER SAIKHON, SOUTHWEST HIGH
All-purpose player Tyler Saikhon helped Southwest High to a 3617 win over West Hills on Friday.
Saikhon tallied 252 yards of total offense including 67 receiving yards and 185 rushing yards.
Saikhon finished with three receptions, four rushing touchdowns and four tackles on defense.
EDUARDO VALENZUELA, VINCENT MEMORIAL
Senior quarterback Eduardo Valenzuela helped guide Vincent Memorial to a 33-15 road victory over Palo Verde on Friday.
Valenzuela had 254 passing yards, 104 rushing yard, threw three touchdown passes and also ran in two himself.