rn Most Valuable Player
Despite losing in the Pac-5 championship game, St. John Bosco running back Sean McGrew had a great year.
McGrew had a record breaking season, rushing for 29 touchdowns, breaking a school record and finishing the year with 1,814 rushing yards. He added 312 receiving yards and four touchdowns, ranking him among the premier backs in CIF-SS.
He led his team in touchdowns, rushing yards, and total yards. With the help of UCLA bound Josh Rosen, McGrew led the Bosco Braves to a second straight undefeated record in one of the hardest leagues in CIF, the Trinity League.
McGrew was named the Most Valuable Offensive Player for the Trinity League. He will return for his senior year, looking to lead his team to yet another big season.
rnBreakout performer of the year
St. Francis quarterback Jeremiah Martin wasn’t even sure he would play this year. The senior skipped last year to focus on baseball, but could not take any more time away from football. So he asked the coach to put him back on the team. Coach Jim Bonds obliged, and he is glad he did.
Martin threw for 2,460 yards and 29 touchdowns without a single interception. He led his Golden Knights to a perfect 11-0 record, including playoffs.
Martin’s season ended in a disappointing fashion when he broke his collarbone late in the CIF-SS Southeast Division first round matchup against Mayfair. He stood on the sidelines, helpless as he watched La Serna defeat St. Francis, despite a valiant comeback effort by the Golden Knights.
Jeremiah Martin may be done with football, but he is set to be a force on the baseball diamond before his high school career ends.
rnBreakout team of the year
Bishop Amat stunned Los Angeles, advancing all the way to the CIF-SS Pac-5 semifinal game, where they narrowly lost to eventual champion Corona Centennial.
Amat started their season strong, when they traveled to Texas and beat up on powerhouse Aledo, winning 42-7. However, upon returning home, they lost their first league game to Crespi, 6-0.
But quarterback Damian Garcia led the Lancers undefeated through October, throwing for 2,027 yards and 21 touchdowns. However, a rib injury put him out for a few weeks, leaving the team without a starting quarterback.
Enter Ryder Ruiz. Ruiz, a junior fill-in who played well enough to become the starter for the remainder of the season. He racked up 1,881 yards and 14 touchdowns in the remaining five games, including playoffs.
The team’s success was not solely reliant on quarterbacks. They had some of the best receiving talent, including standout Tyler Vaughns, who caught for 1,183 yards and 12 touchdowns. The junior will definitely attract some collegiate attention as he enters his senior year.
Running back Torreanho Sweet also had a season to remember, with 851 yards and 13 touchdowns.
With most of their playmakers being juniors, watch for this team to be a favorite for the Pac-5 championship entering the 2015 season.
