With the 2018-19 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 North Coast Section. This is not a comprehensive list, and all athletes are listed in alphabetical order.
Joey Aguilar, Freedom
Aguilar made an immediate impact in his first year on the Freedom campus, throwing for 2,501 yards and 27 touchdowns, with just five interceptions, as the Falcons reached the NCS title game for the second straight year. He should be poised for a big senior season, with the return of Giles Jackson at running back and Mekel Ealy at receiver.
Aavani Bailey, Mt. Eden
Bailey was efficient as a junior behind center last year for the Monarchs, leading them to the playoffs after completing 62 percent of his passes for 901 yards and 12 touchdowns during the nine-game regular season, with just three interceptions, and also running for 420 yards and four scores.
Jay Butterfield, Liberty
After sharing reps for most of last season, Butterfield took over as the Lions’ undisputed leader behind center in the final game of the regular season last year, and promptly led them to the NCS Division I title. For the season, the 6-foot-6 pocket quarterback threw for 1,394 yards and 15 touchdowns, against four interceptions. With multiple weapons returning alongside the rising junior, expectations in 2018 are even higher.
Cooper Carroll, Tamalpais
In just eight games last season, Carroll threw for 1,334 yards and 18 touchdowns. With a few experienced targets returning at receiver, one of the big areas for improvement this year will be cutting down on the turnovers, after throwing 16 interceptions last fall.
Akil Edwards, St. Patrick-St. Vincent
Edwards is simply dangerous as a dual-threat quarterback, and could easily be a 2,000-1,000 guy in pass and rush yards this fall as SPSV moves up to Division IV after winning back-to-back Division V titles. He is also one of the top dual-sport athletes, playing in the backcourt for the Bruins’ basketball team in the winter, one which is a perennial section title contender.
Jack Fulp, De La Salle
We likely won’t hear from Fulp until after the four-game sit-out period this fall, following his transfer from Northgate. He was a three-year starter for the Broncos, however, throwing for 1,800 yards and 26 touchdowns last season, while also running for over 400 yards and nine scores, displaying his ability to fit smoothly into the Spartans’ system.
Grant Harper, Campolindo
Harper’s talent was strong enough as a sophomore that Campo found time to get him on the field, despite having John Torchio as its starter. The 6-foot-2 left-hander showed more than just promise during his limited playing time, completing 65 percent of his passes for 836 yards and eight touchdowns, with just one interception. The Cougars did graduate a pair of 1,000-yard receivers, but Lucas Allen gives Harper a bona-fide go-to guy in the passing game.
Willem Karnthong, Antioch
Karnthong has accounted for 40 touchdowns from scrimmage over the past two seasons at Antioch, and has the ability to be a 2,000-1,000 yard threat passing and rushing, as one of the top dual threat quarterbacks in Northern California. He accounted for over 2,400 yards from scrimmage last fall, and benefits from the return of Gaudie Campbell and Tommy Jenkins at receiver.
Dominic Mazzotti, Amador Valley
The 6-foot-4 Mazzotti is comfortable in and out of the pocket, and showed his all-around athleticism as a junior, when he threw for 1,102 yards and 10 touchdowns, with just three interceptions, while also running for 488 yards and six scores. The Dons’ top two receivers from last year graduated, but Korey Russell has shown promise to develop into a go-to guy, and rising junior Cal Ewanich is a solid returner next to Mazzotti in the backfield.
Cruz Montana, Eureka
Montana was sparkling behind center for the Loggers last fall, and nearly led them to an upset win over Rancho Cotate in the NCS Division III playoffs. For the year, he completed 59 percent of his passes for 1,618 yards and 18 touchdowns, with just three interceptions. His top five receivers from last season all return in 2018.
Joey Thresh, Montgomery
Thresh had a prolific junior season in just nine games, throwing for 2,711 yards and 30 touchdowns, with just seven interceptions. Now, he and teammate BJ Johnson could be one of the top pass-catch combinations in the section.
Trey Turner, Pittsburg
The amazing part of Turner being on this list is that Justin Boyd was so good in his absence last year. Boyd threw for 1,953 yards and 26 touchdowns, with just three interceptions, while Turner recovered from a torn ACL. Turner appears to have made a full recovery, and looks to build on the solid debut he made as a sophomore, when he accounted for nearly 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns from scrimmage despite splitting time behind center. Having Boyd, Willie Harts III, Jaden Taunau’u, and Premier Murphy back on the field with him certainly won’t hurt.
Half a dozen more to keep an eye on . . .
AJ Fraser, Miramonte
The 6-foot-5 Fraser could be poised for a big junior year after getting some experience behind starters Xavier Clark and Will Cassriel last fall. Fraser’s best game last season was an 8-of-13 performance, for 130 yards and a touchdown, during a loss to Campolindo. The Matadors graduated the majority of their play-makers, but Keilan Stone showed promise as a top target last year at receiver.
Nick Kresnak, Acalanes
Coach Floyd Burnsed likes to move the ball through the air, and Kresnak appears ready to take over for graduated Robby Rowell, who had a prolific career for the Dons. Kresnak completed 61 percent of his passes during spot duty as a sophomore last fall, for 423 yards and five touchdowns, and showed his all-around athleticism with a phenomenal baseball season, sporting a 1.67 ERA on the mound, with 41 strikeouts in 37 innings pitched while also batting .347 with 18 RBIs.
Jackson Pavitt, Cardinal Newman
Pavitt threw just nine passes last fall, playing behind Beau Barrington, but should be the heir apparent in the Cardinals’ system, and will have a couple of experienced targets in the passing game, with the return of Jake Woods and Chauncey Leberthon. Pavitt did shine at safety last fall, with 54 tackles, so continuing the Cardinal Newman tradition of utilizing a dual-threat athlete at quarterback will not be an issue.
Quincy Rhone, Berean Christian
Rhone and the Eagles got off to a slow start in 2017, as the rising junior was thrown into the fire early in his sophomore campaign. The ship was righted, however, as Rhone showed increasing promise and productivity late in the year, finishing with 770 yards and 12 touchdowns. With senior Jayden Jackson back as his top receiver, and junior Justice Jackson returning at running back, the tools are in place for another run into the post-season.
Jack Stewardson, Monte Vista
A season-ending injury cut short a promising sophomore campaign in 2017 after just five games, but Stewardson did complete 58 percent of his passes for 846 yards and six touchdowns during that time, and will have a few top targets coming back in 2018, ready to build on what they started last year.
Logan Sumter, Clayton Valley
Sumter had limited reps after transferring to the Ugly Eagles as a junior last year, but the 6-foot-2 senior could play a big role on a team which returns a ton of talent. As usual, Clayton Valley won’t throw the ball too much, especially with Thomas Alatini coming back after rushing for over 1,300 yards last year, but Sumter will have a couple top targets in the passing game, including senior Andre White.
