OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Mater Dei's Matt Barkley picks up the award as only a junior. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER |
Mater Dei's Barkley is top offensive player
Junior quarterback adds another award to his growing list
SANTA ANA- Matt Barkley planned on his 2007 season lasting longer than it did.
"We were planning on going to the state championship," the Mater Dei quarterback said.
Unfortunately for the Monarchs, Crespi of Encino had other plans for the teams' Pac-5 Division quarterfinal.
But as sudden as the departure was for Mater Dei, the 48-26 loss wasn't strong enough to derail Barkley from posting a historic passing season for Orange County football.
The strong-armed junior passed for an Orange County-record 3,560 yards and an impressive 35 touchdowns in 11 games.
For his efforts, Barkley is the Register's offensive player of the year.
"It (was) kind of disappointing (losing to Crespi) but overall, it was a good year," Barkley said. "But hopefully, next year can be better."
The Register award is part of a growing collection of accolades for Barkley (6-foot-4, 225 pounds). Earlier this month, he became the first Orange County football player to be selected Gatorade national player of the year. He also was the first non-senior to win the award.
He also has been rated as the overall No. 1 prospect in the nation by rivals.com for the recruiting class of 2009. He has not committed yet but has been offered by USC and UCLA, among others.
Barkley entered the 2007 season carrying the weight of Mater Dei's offense. Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson said early on that the Monarchs were going ride the right arm of the three-year starter.
Barkley certainly delivered.
"My confidence was there," he said. "(With) all my receivers, we had such a great game plan each week. … I felt I could put it (the ball) anywhere."
Supported by a massive offensive line, he completed 63 percent of his passes and was intercepted only nine times. He also showed he could be a clutch performer.
"Matt did exactly what I thought he was capable of," Rollinson said. "(With) his confidence, his leadership, his ability to play under pressure and move the pocket and get the ball out of there, he ranks right up there."
Barkley posted 400-yard passing games against American Fork of Utah and JSerra but he also posted his third-highest total (365) against state Division I bowl runner-up Centennial of Corona.
"He's a great player," Centennial coach Matt Logan said in a statement to Gatorade for the player of the year award. "He's very accurate, makes good decisions and great throws."
Barkley's signature throw came in a 38-13 victory against Servite. With Mater Dei leading 21-13 in the fourth quarter, Servite seemed on the verge of dropping Barkley for a safety. But Barkley scrambled to his left and launched a pass 35 yards down the field despite having a defender pulling his legs. Andrew Abbott caught the pass and turned it into a 97-yard touchdown reception.
"It changed the game," Servite coach Troy Thomas said of the play.
Said Barkley: "I'll never forget that play."
Barkley doesn't get too absorbed by stats. He said his weekly numbers were where he hoped they would be. But he did believe that his season totals would reflect a 14 or 15-game schedule.
"I could really care less about stats," Barkley said. "The championship is what we are aiming for."
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
| Congratulations to a fine young man. |
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| Tim - Dec 27, 2007 08:46:35 AM | Remove Comment |
