OCVarsity has started something new this season to recognize the players who have done exceptional work on the field.
It’s our version of handing out a game ball or helmet sticker.
We call it the OCVarsity Leaderboard Legends of the week.
Every team in the county can nominate a player (or players) for this weekly honor.
The only rule: the player(s) nominated must have current stats on the OCVarsity leaderboards. (Coaches and teams have until 4 p.m. each Monday to update their stats.)
How do you nominate a player? It’s easy.
A coach or coaching staff can send a player’s name, grade and position via Twitter to Kenny Connolly (@KConnolly89). Please include the hash tag #ocvlegend.
We’ll announce the names of the weekly Leaderboard Legends on Monday evening.
Here are this week’s OCV Leaderboard Legends:
LEADERBOARD LEGENDS: RUNNING BACKS
Jahquon Speed, Valencia
He’s got the best name of any running back in Orange County, and last Friday night, Jahquon Speed turned in one of the best individual performances around too. The Tigers senior rushed for 182 yards and three touchdowns in leading his squad to their first win of the season, a 28-14 victory over Pacifica. Speed carried the ball 25 times in total, and his 68-yard touchdown run in the second quarter broke what was a 7-7 stalemate, putting Valencia ahead for good in their Empire League opener.
Chris Hernandez and Sherman Thomas, Santa Ana Valley
When a pair of backs run rampant like Hernandez and Thomas did against Century last week, you have to give credit to the big guys who line up with their hands in the dirt. Behind a dominant performance from their offensive line, the Falcons rushing tandem accumulated 370 yards and seven touchdowns on 32 carries in a 49-21 win. Hernandez – who is No. 15 in the county rushing rankings – totaled 189 yards on 22 attempts. Thomas averaged a gaudy 18 yards per carry, tallying 181 yards on just 10 carries.
O.C. LEADERS: RUSHING
1. KC Carr, Tustin: 1,494 yards
2. Jordan Leonard, Brethren Christian: 1,378 yards
3. Alex Jung, Sunny Hills: 1,030 yards
4. Steven Hernandez, Los Amigos: 962 yards
5. Justin Osborn, Whittier Christian: 880 yards
6. Edgar Galindo, Los Amigos: 828 yards
7. Brandon Castelo, Sunny Hills: 823 yards
8. Kiki Mendoza, Fairmont Prep: 781 yards
9. Alonzo Pineda, Kennedy: 765 yards
10. Cade Henjum, Saddleback Valley Christian: 759 yards
11. Connor McBride, Woodbridge: 741 yards
12. Ben Jefferson, Pacifica: 696 yards
13. Raul Balderas, Pacifica: 692 yards
14. Cole Kinder, Newport Harbor: 682 yards
15. Noah Rivera, Brea Olinda: 659 yards
16. Chris Hernandez, Santa Ana Valley: 653 yards
17. Denilson Santamaria, Segerstrom: 638 yards
18. Francisco Pineda, Katella: 635 yards
19. Jack Johnson, Crean Lutheran: 606 yards
20. Andre Cotton, Aliso Niguel: 583 yards
LEADERBOARD LEGENDS: QUARTERBACKS
Xavier Saglado, Ocean View
Efficient and explosive. There’s no better combo if you’re a starting quarterback, and that depicts exactly how Salgado played against Loara on Saturday night in a 40-0 win. The Seahawks dual-threat signal caller completed 12 of 15 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns, and added 92 yards rushing on 16 attempts. The senior accounted for five total touchdowns, which included a 73-yard strike to Nathaniel Washington. One of his two rushing scores came on a 49-yard run.
Dean Nagle, Beckman
The Patriots provided one of last week’s more notable upsets, knocking off previously unbeaten University, 24-21, to open Pacific Coast League play. Nagle threw for a season-high 263 yards and two touchdowns, helping build a 17-0 lead Beckman took (and needed) in the fourth quarter.
O.C. LEADERS: PASSING
1. Quinn Commans, Whittier Christian: 2,664 yards
2. JT Daniels, Mater Dei: 2,214 yards
3. Cooper Jones, El Toro: 2,019 yards
4. Cade Henjum, Saddleback Valley Christian: 1,873 yards
5. Kevin Brown, Capistrano Valley: 1,784 yards
6. Chase Garbers, Corona del Mar: 1,662 yards
7. George Krantz, St. Margaret’s: 1,639 yards
8. Deshaun Harvey, Buena Park: 1,613 yards
9. Nick Sipe, Villa Park: 1,551 yards
10. Corey Cisowski, Dana Hills: 1,530 yards
11. Matthew McDonald, Mission Viejo: 1,491 yards
12. Joey Gutierrez, Brethren Christian: 1,476 yards
13. Tommy Germain, Trabuco Hills: 1,341 yards
14. Tyler Lytle, Servite: 1,270 yards
15. Ben Jefferson, Pacifica: 1,248 yards
16. Matthew Robinson, JSerra: 1,237 yards
17. Nate Sorensen, Aliso Niguel: 1,184 yards
18. Griffin O’Connor, Edison: 1,150 yards
19. Alex Ashcraft, Cypress: 1,132 yards
20. Luke Wilson, Yorba Linda: 1,041 yards
LEADERBOARD LEGENDS: WIDE RECEIVERS
Michael Bellas, Northwood
The senior wideout hauled in six passes for a season-high 175 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Timberwolves to their first win of the season in a 29-28 thriller over Irvine.
Dylan Bonilla, Villa Park
Just about everything went right for Villa Park in its 50-7 win against Esperanza last week, including a five-catch, 152-yard outing from its sophomore receiver. Bonilla caught two of Nick Sipe’s three touchdown passes as the Spartans rolled to their third straight win against a North Hills League foe.
O.C. LEADERS: RECEIVING
1. Austin Derrico, El Toro: 739 yards
2. Cade McGee, Whittier Christian: 735 yards
3. Tae Le, Corona del Mar: 634 yards
4. Tyler Jones, Aliso Niguel: 629 yards
5. Auston Locke, St. Margaret’s: 627 yards
6. Noah Aguilar, El Toro: 627 yards
7. Nico Albertini, Whittier Christian: 587 yards
T8. Ryder Lynch, Dana Hills: 585 yards
T8. Jack De Avila, Saddleback Valley Christian: 585 yards
10. Cayden McCluskey, San Juan Hills: 582 yards
11. Justin Osborn, Whittier Christian: 571 yards
T12. Joshua Gorrell, Brethren Christian: 553 yards
T12. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Mater Dei: 551 yards
14. Jacob Huff, San Juan Hills: 541 yards
15. Noah Sanchez, Whittier Christian: 539 yards
16. Victor Bates, Buena Park: 513 yards
17. Osiris St. Brown, Mater Dei: 498 yards
18. E.J. Ginnis, Edison: 496 yards
T19. Shane Coleman, Tesoro: 495 yards
T19. Gavin Pappagalo, Dana Hills: 495 yards
