'Super sophomore': Jimmie Burk rises to top of depth chart at Redwood, 53 top performers
Jimmie Burk had only four carries heading into the month of October.
The Redwood High School sophomore running back was buried on the depth chart behind much more seasoned senior players.
But with Redwood (5-3, 3-0) averaging just 20 points per game through the team’s first six contests and battling some injuries, Rangers head coach Kevin Scharton and his staff made a change to the starting lineup.
He moved senior running back Alex Perch to fullback and slotted Burk as the team’s featured back.
That has resulted in back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances by Burk — the Rangers’ only two 100-yard outings for an individual player this season.
Burk erupted for a career-high 159 yards and a touchdown in a 21-0 win over Porterville on Oct. 6 in Strathmore.
The following week, the 5-foot-9, 146-pound Burk bolted for 123 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Rangers ran past Monache 47-7.
Where did Burk come from?
“He’s a little super sophomore that we kind of had in the cupboard,” Scharton said after Redwood’s third straight victory over the Marauders on Oct. 12. “He just kind of got an opportunity. When that opportunity arrived, he stepped up and never looked back. I think we have our running back.”
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Burk led the way in Redwood’s fifth win of the season against Monache. He scored twice, one on a 15-yard run and the other on an impressive one-yard dash where he cut back the play and raced toward the pylon for six.
That gave the Rangers a 14-0 lead and the rout was on.
“Anytime you have a player like that, I think he does possess some special skills that normal kids don't have, that’s his vision," Scharton said of Burk. "To have him there, I couldn’t be any happier. The best part is, though, I have him for a couple more years.”
Only a sophomore, how did Burk rise to the challenge and pressure of being Redwood’s starting running back?
“I had a lot of nerves but once I stepped up and played my first game, it wasn’t too bad after that,” Burk said.
With Burk in the starting backfield, the Rangers are averaging more than 200 yards rushing per contest and have scored a combined 10 touchdowns during that two-game span.
“It feels good,” Burk said. “I feel accomplished that I get to have this job because it’s my first year on varsity and I get to actually start as a sophomore. I just feel accomplished helping our team win.”
When Burk needs guidance or leadership, he doesn't have to go far. His older brother, Moses, is a senior receiver on the squad.
As a junior last year, Moses Burk led all Rangers pass-catchers in receiving yards and touchdowns to earn All-EYL first-team honors during that breakout 2022 campaign.
“He helps me a lot on every single play,” Burk said of Moses. “Before the snap, everything. It helps me a lot having him on the team.”
Moses Burk has combated injuries this season but he’s not surprised with how well his sibling has been playing the past two weeks.
Will the younger Burk be better than him by the time his senior season rolls around?
“He already is,” Moses Burk said.
The undefeated: Exeter, Orosi roll to perfect 8-0 records
Exeter and Orosi both remain undefeated heading into Week 10 of the 2023 Central Section high school football season.
The Monarchs (8-0, 2-0) are coming off a 54-32 win over Immanuel and also have victories this season against Strathmore, Woodlake, Lindsay, Granite Hills, Porterville, Hanford West and Washington Union.
Exeter can clinch at least a share of the Tri-County Conference-Sequoia championship if it beats Sierra Pacific (6-2, 0-2) on Friday at Monarch Stadium.
The Monarchs are averaging 36.3 points per game behind the dual-threat play of quarterback Jacob Molina (1,364 yards passing, 19 passing touchdowns; 524 yards rushing, eight rushing touchdowns).
Orosi (8-0, 5-0) is off to one of the best starts in school history.
The Cardinals are currently atop the East Sequoia League standings and have a chance to claim at least a piece of a conference title on Friday when they host Woodlake (3-4, 3-2) at George Millhorn Stadium. Orosi won last year's All-Tulare County showdown 28-14.
Orosi is led by one of the state's top running backs in Andrew Camarillo (1,701 yards rushing, 25 rushing touchdowns) and a defense giving up just 11.7 points per game.
Mt. Whitney on the verge of potential league championship
Mt. Whitney (5-3, 3-0) is enjoying one of its best starts in league play this century.
Mt. Whitney is tied atop the EYL standings with defending league champion Redwood (5-3, 3-0). The Pioneers host Monache (1-7, 0-3) on Friday night at Mineral King Bowl. Redwood plays at Golden West (2-6, 2-1).
According to the Central Section historian Bob Barnett, the Pioneers last won a league championship, a West Yosemite League crown, in 2000 when they shared the conference title with Golden West that season.
More: Tulare Union rallies in second half to down Mission Oak
That Mt. Whitney team finished with a 4-1 league record and was coached by the late Scott Nelson.
Since a 1-3 start, the Pioneers have won four straight with victories over Reedley, Porterville, Golden West and El Diamante. Quarterback Micah Rodriguez has thrown 10 touchdowns during that streak with receiver Israel Briggs hauling in four of those scores.
Performances of the week
Every week, the Times-Delta/Advance-Register will recognize the top football performances of the week (Coaches, email your top impact players to vyang2@gannett.com).
Here are this week's top performers:
Cameron Azevedo, Mission Oak: Azevedo had three catches for 17 yards and a touchdown.
Ty Baxter, Monache: Baxter ran for 133 yards and a touchdown.
Max Benson, CVC: Benson racked up seven tackles to help the Cavaliers beat Kingsburg.
Bryson Bias, Strathmore: Bias threw for 137 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Spartans past Granite Hills. He also found the end zone on a three-yard run.
Israel Briggs, Mt. Whitney: Briggs recorded an interception and also had four catches for 53 yards on offense.
Jimmie Burk, Redwood: Burk erupted for a game-high 223 yards and two touchdowns in the Rangers win over Monache.
Moses Burk, Redwood: Burk found the end zone on a one-yard run.
Niqo Calderon, Exeter: Calderon scored a rushing touchdown and had 62 yards rushing to go along with eight receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown. The Monarchs defeated Immanuel.
Andrew Camarillo, Orosi: Camarillo exploded for 229 yards rushing and two touchdowns as the Cardinals edged Corcoran.
Julian Ceballos, Strathmore: Ceballos had two catches for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Rowen Collins, Golden West: Collins led the Trailblazers with 11 tackles in a win against Porterville.
Jose Cortes, Lindsay: Cortes had 111 yards rushing and a touchdown.
Jason De La Cruz, Orosi: The sophomore scored a 25-yard touchdown run.
Chase Dempsey, Redwood: Dempsey generated a sack-fumble and two tackles.
Bryson Donelson, CVC: Donelson rushed for 92 yards and scored three total touchdowns (two rushing, receiving). He also added 58 yards receiving.
A.J. Garza, Redwood: Garza rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Danny Gonzalez, Mission Oak: Gonzalez tossed three touchdowns with 171 yards. He also scored a rushing touchdown.
Sacramento Gonzalez, Strathmore: Gonzalez caught a 37-yard touchdown. He also had an interception on defense.
Trent Greidanus, CVC: Greidanus delivered four tackles, a sack and an interception. He also caused a fumble and blocked a punt.
Uriah Guerrero, Lindsay: Guerrero threw a touchdown pass.
Andrew Guzman, Golden West: Guzman had two tackles and a sack.
Abee Hernandez, Strathmore: Hernandez had a rushing touchdown.
Jesse Huerta, Golden West: Huerta scored a rushing touchdown and also found the end zone on a nine-yard catch.
Kenny Jackson, Mission Oak: Jackson rushed for 62 yards and added five catches for 69 yards and a receiving touchdown. He also had an interception on defense.
Mikey Johnson, Tulare Western: Johnson broke free for 114 yards rushing and a touchdown.
Brent Kroeze, CVC: Kroeze hit 12-of-23 attempts for 213 yards and two touchdowns.
Elijah Mendez, Mt. Whitney: Mendez intercepted a pass.
Jacob Molina, Exeter: Molina hit 21-of-29 passes for 362 yards and four touchdowns. He also finished with 136 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns on the ground.
Carter Myers, Mt. Whitney: Myers hauled in five passes for 99 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Jayden Najera, Golden West: Najera had three receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown.
Alex Perch, Redwood: Perch rushed for 37 yards and scored on a 23-yard catch.
Xavier Perez, Redwood: Perez led the defense with six tackles.
Gunnar Piepgrass, CVC: Piepgrass had five catches for 126 yards and a touchdown.
Aidan Robertson, Exeter: Robertson made eight catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns.
Ethan Rodriguez, Mission Oak: Rodriguez had three tackles and a sack.
Erik Rico, Redwood: Rico threw for 93 yards and a touchdown on 5-of-8 passing. He also scored on a nine-yard run.
Caden Ritchie, CVC: Ritchie had seven tackles.
Isaiah Rivera, Mission Oak: Rivera racked up 10 tackles.
Micah Rodriguez, Mt. Whitney: Rodriguez completed 16-of-30 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns.
Gerardo Ruiz, Strathmore: Ruiz ran for 63 yards and two touchdowns.
Ruben Ruiz, Exeter: Ruiz had two catches for 14 yards and a touchdown.
Ethan Sanchez, Tulare Union: Sanchez netted a sack.
Luke Sanchez, Redwood: Sanchez completed 3-of-4 passes for 62 yards and a touchdown.
Will Salisbury, CVC: Salisbury totaled five tackles and a sack.
Ezra Schuyler, CVC: Schuyler led the Cavaliers with eight tackles.
Isaac Seechan, Mt. Whitney: Seechan had a sack and three tackles.
Achilles Sierra, Mission Oak: Sierra recorded four catches for 84 yards and a touchdown and also ran for 21 yards.
Daymion Soto, Mt. Whitney: Soto registered three tackles and a sack. He also blocked a punt.
Aubrey Taylor, Tulare Western: Taylor tallied an interception and five tackles.
Thomas Tellez, Lindsay: Tellez had four catches for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Raymon Velazquez, Golden West: Velazquez completed 22-of-34 attempts for 255 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 76 yards.
Jalon Wilkerson, Redwood: Wilkerson had two receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Dominic Wilson, Tulare Union: Wilson had a team-high seven tackles.
Tulare County Cream of the Crop Power Rankings
1. Central Valley Christian (7-1): The Cavaliers lead Tulare County in scoring with 329 total points this season.
Up next: at Washington Union (3-5)
2. Redwood (5-3): The Rangers have allowed just 14 combined points in three EYL games.
Up next: at Golden West (2-6)
3. Tulare Union (5-3): Linebacker Dominic Wilson is one of the county's top players at his position with 85 tackles and a pick-6.
Up next: at Dinuba (4-4)
4. Mission Oak (4-4): The Hawks have lost three of their past four games.
Up next: Hanford (7-1)
5. Exeter (8-0): The Monarchs are averaging 36.3 points per game.
Up next: Siera Pacific (6-2)
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: 'Super sophomore': Jimmie Burk rises to top of depth chart at Redwood
