With the 2017-18 school year approaching, Prep2Prep takes a look at some of the top quarterbacks for each coverage area, along with a few others to keep an eye on. This feature focuses on some of the top signal-callers within the Central Coast Section. This is not a comprehensive list, and all athletes are listed in alphabetical order.
John Bell, Sobrato
Bell needs to cut down on the turnovers this season, but showed potential as a junior in a young Sobrato offense last season. Now is the time for the Bulldogs to take the next step, after the 6-foot-5 Bell threw for 1,899 yards last year, and the team returns its leading rusher (Jared Jones), plus five of the team’s top eight receivers – Jones, Marcos Ramirez, Jamel Jones, Nathaniel Campbell, and Ryan Monahan.
Luke Bottari, Serra
Bottari gives coach Patrick Walsh plenty of options in the passing game, after getting his feet wet behind standout Leki Nunn last season. Rotating in last season as a sophomore, so Nunn could also play some receiver, Bottari completed 57 percent of his passes for 1,123 yards and 14 touchdowns, with just four interceptions. Two more reasons why Bottari could have a huge season are receivers Shane Villaroman and Patrick Nunn. Villaroman re-wrote a chunk of the Padres’ single-season receiving record book last year.
Tyree Bracy, Milpitas
The strong-armed Bracy is a dual threat for the Trojans, after throwing for 2,600 yards and 24 touchdowns last fall, while also running for six scores. In a come-from-behind playoff win over San Benito last year, he threw for 289 yards while also running for 88 yards and a score. His receiving corps is led by twin brother Tariq, who had 1,036 yards and 13 touchdowns through the air, and Tuni Fifita, who had 33 catches for 487 yards last year. Both are top Division I prospects.
Chris Brown, Santa Clara
The Bruins were young at the skill positions last season, which led to a slight dip in Brown’s numbers from his sophomore year to his junior year. However, he has now thrown for 4,093 yards and 51 touchdowns as a varsity starter, and has plenty of returners back with him this season. That includes leading rusher Erik Ketton, and juniors Nick Garcia and Richard Corona at receiver, who were his top two targets last year.
Jon Jon Castro, Gilroy
The Mustangs are certainly among the rising teams to watch this year, with the return of Castro, plus the return of their top five rushers and top four receivers from last fall. Castro needs to complete a higher percentage of his throws this year, and eliminate a few turnovers, but he did throw for 11 touchdowns last season while also running for 304 yards and six scores. He was also named first-team MBL-Pacific last year.
Jackson Chryst, Palo Alto
Chryst struggled with completion percentage and interceptions last season, but with all the top weapons back in the running game and passing game, Chryst is a name to watch for this season as a junior. He did throw for 868 yards as a sophomore, and top target Jackson Hall also returns, along with top running backs Paul Jackson III and Sione Latu.
Marvin Anthony Escobar, Prospect
Prospect got back to .500 last season, and its chances of posting its first winning season in a decade hinge largely on the performance of Escobar, who threw for 16 touchdowns with just six interceptions last year, completing 61 percent of his passes. Junior Jesse Lopez is his top returning target this season.
Nathan Gordon, Terra Nova
With Gordon back at the helm after throwing for 1,917 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior, the Tigers’ usually prolific passing game figures to take a big step in the right direction this year. Helping matters is also the return of Gordon’s top two targets from last season, Richard Walls and Scotty Tomei, who combined for 74 catches last fall.
David Hernandez, Wilcox
The Chargers’ option-based run game averaged over 350 yards per game on the ground last season, and it runs through the hands and legs of Hernandez. Last fall, he ran for 1,175 yards and threw for 925 yards and seven touchdowns. With sophomore Paul Rosa, Jr. back alongside Hernandez in 2017, one should expect Wilcox to continue humming along offensively.
Will Irons, Sacred Heart Cathedral
New head coach, but longtime assistant coach Barry McLaughlin, inherits a group of returners who all saw plenty of action last season. That includes Irons, who threw for 1,011 yards and eight scores as a junior, and should benefit from the return of the team’s top two leading rushers (Aer’on Mitchell and Anthony Heard) as well as the top two leading receivers (Mitchell and Ronan Orford).
Joseph King, Woodside
A bit more will fall on King’s shoulders this fall, after the graduation of standout Marcelous Chester-Riley, but he certainly showed potential as a sophomore last season, throwing for 1,830 yards and 13 touchdowns. The return of senior receiver Adrian Juilland-Johnson certainly helps.
Carlo Lopiccolo, Burlingame
The Panthers certainly prefer to run the ball, doing that more than three times as often as throwing the ball last year, but the return of Lopiccolo will aid the passing game. The three-sport athlete tossed a no-hitter last spring, while posting a 0.78 ERA, after throwing for 1,138 yards and eight touchdowns last fall.
Brett Reade, Salinas
The 6-foot-2 Reade is back to lead a Cowboys team which is creating a lot of buzz as one of the early favorites in the MBL-Gabilan. He threw for 1,527 yards and 11 touchdowns last year, while also running for a team-high eight touchdowns. Other weapons are back with him this season, including leading rusher Richard Cerda and top receivers Sunnie Arreola and Jeffrey Weimer.
Jonathan Singleton, Live Oak
Singleton was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year in the BVAL-Mt. Hamilton last season as a sophomore, after throwing for 2,422 yards and 22 touchdowns, while also running for 275 yards and four scores. Singleton and senior running back Cole Davis could be a dynamic tandem in 2017.
Roman Stein, Fremont
Not many teams throw the ball as often as the Firebirds, and Stein is the beneficiary of that approach. He threw for 3,131 yards last season, completing 60 percent of his passes, with 35 touchdowns. It certainly helps to return two of his top four targets from last season, including Rodney Chand, who had a team-high 62 catches for 833 yards and eight touchdowns last fall.
Thomas Stephens, King City
The undersized Stephens threw for 1,840 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, including five games of 200 yards or more. In a pair of season-ending wins over Marina and Gonzales, he threw for nine scores with no interceptions. He also ran for 383 yards and seven scores. Helping Stephens this year is the return of dual-sport standout Clay Barbree, who had a team-high 44 catches for 779 yards and nine touchdowns last fall.
Jeremy Teteak, Hiilsdale
After sharing time at quarterback last season, and battling a couple injuries, the 6-foot-4 Teteak will be key for the Fighting Knights as they look to improve in the PAL-Bay this season. He did throw for 15 touchdowns with just five interceptions last season, while completing 56 percent of his passes for 1,174 yards. The return of receiver Joey Sabel should also help the passing game.
Gavin Tomberlin, Half Moon Bay
The defending CCS Division V champions return most of their firepower from last year, and that includes Tomberlin, who threw for 11 touchdowns and just one interception. All of Tomberlin’s primary weapons also return, including standout receiver Hayden Von Almen and running backs Chase Hofmann and Jake Quosig. Tomberlin also averaged nearly 38 yards per punt last fall.
Reed Vettel, Saint Francis
Vettel steps into the spotlight in 2017, after being surrounded by veteran playmakers for the past couple seasons. He threw for 1,330 yards and 10 touchdowns last year, but every player who caught a touchdown last season has graduated. The running game has a couple weapons returning, but the 6-foot-5 Vettel will be tasked with breaking in a new receiving corps, though tight end Junior Fehoko is certainly a nice target.
Brad Yaffe, Sacred Heart Prep
Yaffe did not see action at quarterback until mid-October last season, and then took over as the starter down the stretch. New head coach Mark Grieb should certainly aid in development at his former position, and the 6-foot-2 Yaffe showed tremendous potential late last season, including a 9-of-12, 159-yard, two-touchdown performance in a playoff win over Carmel.
Half a dozen more to keep an eye on . . .
Chris Boccignone, The King's Academy
Boccignone takes over at quarterback with the departure of Michael Johnson, Jr., and has drawn some good reviews this summer. New coach Pete Lavorato is confident in the 6-foot-2 senior who played tight end and free safety last season. He had 20 catches at tight end last year, and three interceptions on defense. He was the junior varsity quarterback two years ago, when he threw for 18 touchdowns.
Miles Conrad, Menlo-Atherton
The 6-foot-3 Conrad got some playing time behind Aajon Johnson last season, and takes the reins full time this fall. He threw for 165 yards last year, and also showed some breakaway running skills with a 64-yard scoring jaunt against Woodside. He also has a top target returning, with Spencer Corona, who had 29 catches for 443 yards last season.
Clay Crisafulli, Archbishop Mitty
Crisafulli attempted just seven passes as a junior, waiting behind starter Phillip Tran, but completed five of those passes for 95 yards and a touchdown, and also demonstrated athleticism and mobility, averaging 7.8 yards per carry on 12 attempts. The 6-foot-3 senior also played some receiver and strong safety last year, racking up 12 tackles in the CCS title game loss to Serra, and averaged over 35 yards per punt.
Alex Murray, Stevenson
After playing behind Casey Mornhinweg last season, Murray should get his shot this fall, and has a prolific returner at receiver to help with the transition, as sophomore Dakota Mornhinweg had 36 catches for 553 yards as a freshman last year. Murray did complete 11 of his 17 pass attempts last season.
Nikolas Rositano, Saratoga
Stepping behind center in Saratoga’s offense gives a quarterback a chance to put up some big numbers, and Rositano showed potential while waiting behind Will Liddle last season. Rositano completed 37 of 56 passes for 374 yards and four scores last season, and plays in an offense which attempted 481 passes last fall.
Emilio Simbeck, Menlo
Simbeck had limited playing time last fall behind standout Hayden Pegley, but did attempt 34 passes, and completed 62 percent of those throws, including four touchdowns and no interceptions. With the graduation of both Pegley and leading rusher Charlie Ferguson, Simbeck could have plenty of opportunity this fall.
