Friday Night Stars: Top Bay Area prep football playoff performers
Week 14: Encinal's John Brindley, Oak Grove's Malique Sumler, Valley Christian's Isaiah McElvane among picks.
For the second week in a row, a kicker made the playoff edition of Friday Night Stars.
One week after Nathan Price’s field goal in the waning seconds sent Monte Vista to the next round, Encinal’s John Brindley booted a field goal as time expired to keep the Jets’ season alive.
This week’s version also includes heroes in Oak Grove’s dramatic victory over Palo Alto, De La Salle’s rout of Monte Vista, Valley Christian’s win over St.Ignatius, Las Lomas’ thumping of Hayward and Clayton Valley Charter’s pasting of Foothill.
Here are the details:
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Encinal’s John Brindley
Kicked a 26-yard field goal as time expired to send top-seeded Encinal into the North Coast Section Division V final with a 24-21 victory over De Anza. “We’ve been training for months and months to get to the NCS finals,” Brindley said. “Our eventual goal is state, so it’s just another step in that direction.”
Oak Grove’s Malique Sumler
Was a workhorse in a 40-36 victory at Palo Alto in the CCS Division II semifinals. the 5-foot-10, 191-pound running back kept plugging away and only got stronger, with over 100 rushing yards in the second half. Sumler finished with 25 carries for 184 yards, including the eventual game-winner from 11 yards out with 5:31 left in the fourth quarter.
Oak Grove’s Elias Herrera
Don’t judge the junior by his stature. At 5-foo-4 and 150 pounds, the junior is a big-time playmaker. Herrera intercepted a pass with nine seconds left in the third quarter of a 40-36 thriller at Palo Alto to help the Eagles reach the CCS Division II championship game. He capped the ensuing drive on a 4-yard fly sweep to reclaim a lead that he originated with a 44-yard touchdown on the game’s opening drive. Herrera finished with eight carries for 108 yards and a pair of scores.
Palo Alto’s Jamir Shepard
The Fresno State commit displayed his speed in a 40-36 loss to Oak Grove that ended his season one game shy of a shot at a CCS title. The wide receiver caught a pair of short passes from sophomore QB Danny Peters and turned them in 83- and 80-yard touchdowns that shifted showed only a glimpse of what he’ll look like at the next level.
De La Salle’s Zeke Berry
Caught four passes for 118 yards and a touchdown as the top-seeded Spartans, as expected, had no problem getting past Monte Vista, winning 49-13 to advance to the NCS Division I final next week.
Valley Christian’s Isaiah McElvane
Carried 15 times for 120 yards and also had an interception as the Warriors, playing on their home field, defeated St. Ignatius 28-7 to advance to the CCS Division I final next week.
Valley Christian’s Michael Corini
Scored two of the Warriors’ touchdowns on short runs, finishing with 75 yards in 15 carries, as Valley Christian reached a CCS final for the 11th time under coach Mike Machado.
Clayton Valley Charter’s Omari Taylor
Scored three touchdowns and finished with 188 yards on the ground as the Ugly Eagles, the top seed in the NCS Division II bracket, reached the final with a 49-7 rout of Foothill.
Las Lomas’ Everett Johnson
Completed 12 of 20 passes for 199 yards and four touchdowns with different receivers. He hit Isaiah Newell on a wheel route for 48 yards, Zack Patterson on a post for 31 yards, Elijah Lash on a flat route for 27 yards and Tyler Darr on a slant from 5 yards.