MBL-Gabilan Player of the Year
BRANDON OLIVARES, RB, PALMA
It was all about the togetherness for Palma running back Brandon Olivares. That's what made it difficult when Olivares missed Palma's
final game -- a shutout loss to Archbishop Mitty -- with an injury.
"I like my teammates and working together with them from 6 a.m. to 6 at night," Olivares said. "We were like a big family."
Olivares (5-9, 190) came through for his brothers, leading the Chieftains in rushing with 1,658 yards on 316 carries and scoring 14
touchdowns in pacing them to an MBL-Gabilan championship after a slow start to the season. Against Monterey he was held to 35 yards in
the first half, but exploded for 200 yards and three touchdowns in the second half of a Chieftain victory.
"It's amazing when I get into the open," Olivares said. "I feel like I'm in slow motion -- it's hard to explain -- I can't hear
anything. And then when I get to the end zone I get to celebrate for my teammates."
Olivares didn't play football until eighth grade, excelling instead in motocross as he competed on a national level. The youngster
who formerly lived in Hollister picked up a lot of trophies in motocross, but lately has been collecting the hardware for football,
including this award from Prep2Prep.
He said he is looking forward to become a firefighter and hopefully a fire chief in the future.
Also considered: Zach Hicks, RB, San Benito.
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