PAL-Bay Player of the Year
COLE CARRITHERS, QB, HILLSDALE
Cole Carrithers has a few things in common with New England Patriots' great Tom Brady.
Both quarterbacks were mentored by the late Bay Area quarterback guru Tom Martinez. Carrithers also starred at Hillsdale High where
Brady's sisters were all softball stars.
Carrithers made a name for himself this season, completing 146-of-268 passes for 2,243 yards and 24 touchdowns with 15 interceptions.
He also ran 23 times for 85 yards and two touchdowns in leading the Knights to the PAL-Lake title and a 7-4 overall record.
"I learned a lot," Carrithers said of his time with Martinez. "He taught me how to move my feet faster and keep my throwing arm up. And
I practiced throwing at moving targets."
The Carrithers family was friends with Martinez and Carrithers attended the former College of San Mateo coach's QB camps for years.
Brady has credited Martinez with much of his success and still went back to him for mentoring well into his pro career.
Carrithers met Brady on a few occasions.
"I saw him at the (Martinez) funeral and at camp one time," Carrithers said of Brady, the former Serra High great. "I idolized him
and watched him for a long time. He's the best quarterback and my favorite player. To get to meet him was a dream come true."
Like Brady, Carrithers said he benefited greatly from Martinez's tutelage.
"He was a great guy and very intelligent," Carrithers said. "He knew everything about football and helped any way he could. Every time
I went to his camp I learned something new."
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