Two of this week’s honorees are Xavior Jones from Central East of Fresno (left) and Darian Webb of Carlsbad. Jones is shown after getting an interception in 2025 CIF D1-A state championship. Webb is shown from earlier this season. Photos: dhampproductions / Instagram.com & Instagram.com.
We begin this week stopping at the current No. 1 team in the CIF San Diego Section at Carlsbad High, then it’s up to Riverside on the 1-15 and then it’s westward to Woodland Hills in the CIF L.A. City Section. For Northern California, the places landed this week are in Fresno, Loomis and finally we finish up in Monterey County.
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Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Offensive Player of the Week
Darian Webb (Carlsbad) Sr.
Earlier this season, Carlsbad head coach Thadd MacNeal told the San Diego Union-Tribune that Webb is “finally getting a chance to show how good he is.” And in the last two weeks, including last Friday’s 42-26 victory by the unbeaten Lancers over San Marcos, Webb has really taken off as the ball-carrying leader of the Lancers.
Webb took 28 carries for a season high of 271 yards and four touchdowns vs San Marcos, which was one week after he piled up 238 yards on 32 carries with three TDs in a 38-21 win against Mission Hills of San Marcos. That first game also was a No. 1 vs No. 2 matchup of top-ranked teams in the CIF San Diego Section. Darian also has had 200-yard rushing games this season vs El Camino of Oceanside and Poway. His season total of 1,409 yards rushing with 18 TDs plus his receiving totals of 18 catches for 209 yards and four scores also has Webb on a short list of mid-season leading player of the year candidates from the section.
Since this is the first season that Webb has been a No. 1 starting RB after he split time last season with two others and before that was playing at JSerra of San Juan Capistrano, there are no college offers showing for him on his recruiting profiles. The 5-foot-9, 200-pounder not only has proven he’s exceptional running in-between the tackles but also at catching passes out of the backfield. We’ll see if Webb can keep up his current pace and if a college coach or two gives him a chance.
Kicker Samuel Stewart of Riverside M.L. King hopes his leg can be a big difference in a showdown game this week vs Great Oak. Photo: M.L. King Athletics / MaxPreps.com.
Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Special Teams/Multi-Purpose Player of the Week
Samuel Stewart (M.L. King, Riverside) Sr.
The senior season for Stewart certainly took off after what he did in last week’s 33-20 victory over Roosevelt of Eastvale. The senior kicker helped the Wolves in all facets of his kicking game, but most importantly he was 4-for-4 on field goals, including a made field goal from 52 yards. Stewart also was perfect on PATs (3-for-3) and he put four of his seven kickoffs into the end zone.
For the season, the 6-foot-2, 180-pounder has almost been perfect on field goals. He enters this week’s showdown vs Great Oak of Temecula for the Big West – South League championship at 9-of-10 on field goals. He also 19 of 21 on the season for PATs. As a junior, Stewart wasn’t as prolific with five field goals, but he only missed two and had a longest of 47 yards.
Off the field, Sam is reported as being an Eagle Scout who built a Legacy Garden as his service project at M.L. King.
Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Defensive Player of the Week
Luke Ulibarri (El Camino Real, Woodland Hills) Jr.
For several weeks, Luke has been the reported tackles leader in the state by MaxPreps. He’s had more tackles in a game before what he did last Friday vs Chatsworth, but this one came in a 22-6 win for the Royals.
Ulibarri was charted with 16 tackles to lead the defense in the team’s win. He also came up with his first interception of the season. For the season, Luke now has a reported 148 tackles. He had 26 tackles and 20 tackles in his previous two games, but El Camino Real couldn’t get a win in either game. He also has notched some time on offense and for the season he has three touchdowns on receptions.
As a sophomore starter last season, Ulibarri ranked among the reported leaders in the CIF L.A. City Section with 121 tackles with 3.0 for loss, one interception and one fumble recovery.
Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Special Teams/Multi-Purpose Player of the Week
Xavior Jones (Central East, Fresno) Sr.
We checked out Xavior and the Bengals in their first game this season against Grant of Sacramento and he was someone who could make big plays on offense, defense or special teams. On that night, he caught three passes for 161 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown. Jones made his presence known in a major way last week when Central East put on a show in a 69-38 win over Buchanan of Clovis that also was a No. 1 vs No. 2 matchup of ranked teams in the CIF Central Section.
While Buchanan had some success on offense during the game, Jones broke the Bears’ hearts by taking back not one but two kickoff returns for touchdowns. According to section historian Bob Barnett, that’s a school record. Jones’ kickoff returns came on lengths of 99 nad 70 yards. He also kicked four PATs on the night.
Jones gained notice as a junior making mostly defensive plays for the Bengals in their run to the CIF D1-A state title. He had 13 D1 offers but during the summer pulled the trigger with a commitment to San Diego State.
Luke Taber already has an eye-opening QB outing for Del Oro after just gaining his eligibility. Photo: X.com.
Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Offensive Player of the Week
Luke Taber (Del Oro, Loomis) Jr.
Coming up with big-time passing stats in a typical high school game is one thing, but doing it in a Sierra Foothill League game is a bit more difficult. That’s why Taber’s night that he had for Del Oro last Friday in a 42-14 victory against Granite Bay has gained him this week’s NorCal Offensive Player of the Week honor.
Taber was almost perfect for the Golden Eagles on the night with 15 completions in 16 attempts. He totaled 382 yards with five of the completions going for touchdowns. His big outing also helped Del Oro improve to 6-1 (only loss to Oak Ridge) and move up to No. 30 in this week’s State TOP 50 heading into this Friday’s battle with unbeaten No. 8 Folsom.
Taber actually didn’t suit up for Del Oro’s first five games. He played last season at Oak Ridge, but transferred to the Golden Eagles and had to sit out before gaining eligibility. During the summer, Luke worked well with his new teammates in several passing camps and gained his first D1 scholarship offer from San Jose State. He also has a 3.5 GPA.
Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Defensive Player of the Week
Max Chongco (Marina) Sr.
One of the key factors in Marina getting a win in each of its last four games has been the defensive play of Chongco, a senior defensive end and linebacker at the school located in Monterey County eight miles northeast of Monterey and eight miles west of Salinas on the Monterey Bay.
In a 23-7 win last week over Gonzalez, Chongco charged in for 3.5 sacks and he had four tackles overall. He has 11.5 sacks over the past four games and in the previous three games the Mariners posted wins against Rancho San Juan of Salinas, Santa Cruz and Harbor of Santa Cruz.
For the season, Chongco’s total of 15.5 sacks is not listed in the MaxPreps state leaders, but it would be first among players from the CIF Central Coast Section and tied for second in the state.
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