SoCal/NorCal Players of the Week

Three pick six plays in one game and eight TDs puts both Darrius Vukobradovich (left) & Maurice Washington into state record files. Photos: StudentSports.com & Willie Eashman.

DB from unbeaten Grace Brethren of Simi Valley ties a state record by getting three interception return TDs in playoff opener while sophomore RB from Sunnyvale The King’s Academy shines in regular season finale. More honorees from Santa Ana, Palm Desert, Hayward and Tulare.

Note: For purposes of this feature, we are considering the CIF Central Section to be in the north.

To nominate a player for next week, email markjtennis@gmail.com by Monday at 12 noon and be sure to include a photo that we can use (which means it’s not from the local newspaper or from another web site).

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Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Offensive Player of the Week

Bryan Ibarra (Godinez, Santa Ana) Jr.

For the first time in program history, the Grizzlies won a CIF Southern Section playoff game and they primarily have Ibarra to thank for it.

He completed seven of his eight pass attempts for 126 yards and one touchdown while doing the bulk of his work running with the ball as he rushed for 401 yards and four touchdowns during a 49-48 overtime win over Westminster.

Godinez (7-4) plays next in the CIFSS Southern Division playoffs against Brea Olinda.

Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Defensive Player of the Week

Darrius Vukobradovich (Grace Brethren, Simi Valley) Sr.

It’s been more than 10 years since a California prep football player had three interception return TDs in one game and it didn’t take that long for Vukobradovich to do it in Grace Brethren’s 61-7 victory last Friday over Mary Star of San Pedro in the CIFSS East Valley Division playoffs.

Vukobradovich didn’t get his first pick six until the second quarter and with the Lancers already leading 27-7. That one was from 23 yards out. Vukobradovich, who also had 11 tackles in the game, got one from 70 yards later in the quarter and came up with his third on a 95-yard return for Grace Brethren’s final score in the fourth quarter.

According to our own Cal-Hi Sports state record book, the first to have three interception return TDs in one game was Jim McClain of Tulelake in 1978. That record wasn’t matched until 1994 by Earl Kahanu of Patterson. It was tied for a third time in 2003 by Jared Billups from St. Bernard of Playa del Rey.

We’ll now add Vukobradovich to the files, but we’re pretty sure his top priority now is helping Grace Brethren win a section title and then compete for a CIF state bowl title.

Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Special Teams Player of the Week

Tommy Jacobson (Palm Desert) Sr.

Known more for his play on the defensive side of the ball at linebacker, he also has had a solid season as a kicker.

Showing he is fully healthy after missing part of last season, Jacobson went 5 for 5 on extra points and 2 for 2 on field goals with a long of 40 yards during a 47-7 win by Palm Desert (7-4) over Silverado of Victorville in the CIFSS Eastern Division playoffs. He also caught two passes as a tight end and now has nine field goals this season.

Christian Silva is one of the most versatile players in the East Bay. Photo: SportStarsOnline.com.

Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Offensive Player of the Week

Maurice Washington (The King’s Academy, Sunnyvale) Soph.

Just a sophomore, Maurice had a night that will not be easy to forget and we were lucky because photographer Willie Eashman was there to see it.

Washington got the night going quickly against Jefferson of Daly City when he returned the opening kickoff for a 98-yard touchdown. He was hardly done. On 18 carries from scrimmage, Washington piled up 402 yards and six TDs and he scored on a 49-yard reception.

It all added up to a 62-49 win over Jefferson and put Washington into the state record book with his eight TDs. The eight TDs also ties the CIF Central Coast Section record set in 1996 by David Jackson of Cupertino.

Washington and his team (8-2) play at Carmel this Saturday in the first round of the CCS Division V playoffs.

Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Defensive Player of the Week

Christian Silva (Tennyson, Hayward) Sr.

Known more for his play on the offensive side of the ball as Tennyson’s rush-pass quarterback, we couldn’t help ourselves to select him for defense with the game he had when the Lancers beat Alameda last week 30-0 in the CIF North Coast Section Division II playoffs.

Silva helped his own cause in a big way while playing defense as he intercepted three passes, was in on seven tackles and forced a fumble.

On offense, he passed for two TDs and rushed for two TDs and now has more than 2,500 combined yards and 39 TDs accounted for.

Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Special Teams Player of the Week

Cameron Horsting (Tulare Western, Tulare) Sr.

He now has 10 field goals this season after going 2 for 2 with a long of 41 yards during a 41-7 win over North of Bakersfield in the CIF Central Section Division III playoffs.

Horsting also connected on all five extra points in that game, had a 40-yard punt and drilled six of seven kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.

In addition, it was the second week in a row Horsting made two field goals in a game without missing and helped the Mustangs (8-3) advance to a matchup this week vs. Tehachapi.

Thanks to Stockton office assistant editor Paul Muyskens for contributions to this post. Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports