Tulare County Football: Top stat leaders, 45 top performers, rankings
The 2023 Central Section high school football regular season is nearly at its halfway point.
Here’s a quick look at some of Tulare County’s statistical leaders (leaders are a reflection of stats submitted to MaxPreps.com):
Passing yards: Jordan Crisp, Tulare Union
The sophomore starting quarterback unofficially leads the Central Section in passing with 1,360 yards. Crisp is averaging 340 yards per game and has completed nearly 72% of his attempts and 18 touchdowns. The Tribe are 3-1.
Rushing yards: Bryson Donelson, Central Valley Christian
The three-star college prospect has rushed for 797 yards and is averaging nearly 200 yards per game in the Cavaliers’ 3-1 start. Donelson, a senior, has scored 13 rushing touchdowns and is also averaging nearly 17 yards per carry. He has a reported seven scholarship offers (Boise State, Boston College, Colorado State, Fresno State, New Mexico, San Jose State, Washington State).
More: CVC falls to Clovis North in a battle of unbeatens
Receiving yards: Damaje Riley, Tulare Union
Riley, a freshman, is one of the section’s biggest breakout stars this season. He has caught 21 passes for 397 yards and five touchdowns, averaging nearly 19 yards per catch. Longtime Tribe head coach compared Riley to former Tulare Union standouts Dominique Dorsey and Awan Diles. Dorsey is Tulare County’s all-time leader rusher with 7,761 yards.
Tackles: Leo Gonzalez, Golden West
Gonzalez, a linebacker, has racked up 52 tackles through four games. He is averaging 13 tackles per game and also has seven stops for a loss.
Sacks: Chase Dempsey, Redwood
Dempsey anchors one of Tulare County's top defenses with 3.5 sacks for a loss of 27 yards.
More: Redwood rallies late to defeat previously unbeaten Tulare Union
Interceptions: Jason De La Cruz, Orosi
De La Cruz has already registered a section-leading five interceptions.
Redwood honors 1973 section championship team
Redwood honored its 1973 Central Section championship football team in its 17-6 win over Tulare Union on Sept. 8 at Mineral King Bowl.
Members of that undefeated 12-0 team served as honorary captains to celebrate its 50th anniversary of winning a Valley title.
That 1973 Redwood squad is considered to be one of the best teams in Rangers history. That team was coached by Roger Kelly and led by future Cal tight end and NFL draft pick George Freitas.
Here's a look at Redwood's unbeaten run that season:
Redwood 21, Porterville 16
Redwood 17, Tulare Western 6
Redwood 21, East Bakersfield 14
Redwood 34, Tulare Union 19
Redwood 22, Delano 15
Redwood 26, Reedley 7
Redwood 14, Sanger 7
Redwood 35, Lemoore 6
Redwood 17, Hanford 14
Redwood 34, Mt. Whitney 0
Redwood 27, West Bakersfield 12
Redwood 28, Delano 21
The Rangers allowed an average of only 11.4 points per game that season.
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:
Samuel Alcantar, Porterville: Alcantar registered 74 yards rushing and a touchdown as the Panthers won their third consecutive game. He also had 78 yards receiving and a pair of scores through the air.
Rocky Arguijo, Porterville: Arguijo threw for 207 yards and three touchdowns.
Ayden Aguilar, Monache: Aguilar recorded a pair of interceptions in the Marauders' first win of the season.
Ty Baxter, Monache: Baxter rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns and made seven tackles on defense.
Nico Calderon, Exeter: Calderon had a touchdown as the Monarchs won their fourth straight game.
Bryce Crook, Central Valley Christian: Crook caught a 55-yard touchdown in a loss to unbeaten Clovis North.
Jordan Crisp, Tulare Union: Crisp fired six touchdowns and passed for 361 yards to help Tulare Union beat Justin Garza.
Chase Dempsey, Redwood: Dempsey blocked a punt and finished with five tackles and a half-sack.
Isaac Elias, Golden West: Elias found the end zone three times (two rushing, one receiving) but the Trailblazers fell to undefeated Kingsburg. He registered nine receptions for 180 yards.
Ethan Enriquez, Porterville: Enriquez had two passing touchdowns.
Chris Garcia, Golden West: Garcia had eight catches for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Leo Gonzalez, Golden West: Gonzalez piled up a team-best 15 tackles and a sack.
Sonny Guess, Tulare Union: Guess recorded four catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns.
Dallas Harris, Redwood: Harris had an interception and added three tackles in Redwood's win over Tulare Western. He also converted a field goal.
Paul Huerta, Dinuba: Huerta scored a rushing touchdown with three tackles and a sack in the team's win against Selma.
Mathew Isais, Farmersville: Isais returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
Kenny Jackson, Mission Oak: Jackson scored two touchdowns to lead the Hawks to a win over Mt. Whitney. He ran for 57 yards and also caught four passes for 71 yards.
Franklin Lockard, Tulare Union: Lockard had a touchdown on two catches for 27 yards.
Christian Lopez, Dinuba: Lopez rushed for 141 yards and a touchdown on just eight carries.
Jeffrey Macumber, Golden West: Macumber had an interception and six tackles.
Xavier Martinez, Porterville: Martinez totaled four receptions for 59 yards receiving and a touchdown.
Jacob Molina, Exeter: Molina ran for 128 yards and three touchdowns as the Monarchs topped Granite Hills.
Adrian Melgar, Exeter: Melgar posted 94 yards rushing with a touchdown.
Dominique Nunez, Dinuba: Nunez had a rushing touchdown.
Dominic Perez, Porterville: Perez had a receiving touchdown and 48 yards receiving on three catches.
Alex Perch, Redwood: Perch scored a touchdown.
Tieler Peterson, Tulare Union: Peterson erupted for 180 yards rushing and four total touchdowns (three rushing, receiving). He also tallied three catches for 56 yards.
Kai Preisendorf, Redwood: Preisendorf had six tackles, including two for a loss, and a sack.
Jayce Prendez, Dinuba: Prendez threw for 209 yards and a touchdown.
Julian Ramirez, Dinuba: Ramirez scored a rushing touchdown and recovered a fumble.
Damaje Riley, Tulare Union: Riley led the Tribe with nine receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown.
Brody Riggi, Exeter: Riggi had an interception.
Joseph Ruiz, Exeter: Ruiz intercepted a pass.
Jonathan Ruiz, Porterville: Ruiz scored a touchdown on a 23-yard catch.
Aidan Robertson, Exeter: Robertson scored a rushing touchdown.
Micah Rodriguez, Mt. Whitney: Rodriguez passed for 107 yards and a touchdown. He also scored a rushing touchdown.
Angel Saldana, Porterville: Saldana chipped in two sacks and six tackles.
Mark Salinas, Porterville: Salinas made six tackles and had two sacks.
Enrique Segura, Redwood: Segura returned a blocked punt for a touchdown. He also had a team-high nine tackles.
Kysen Sing, Mt. Whitney: Sing scored a pair of touchdowns (receiving, rushing) and finished with 148 yards rushing and 38 yards receiving.
Wyatt Stockton, Exeter: Stockton found the end zone on a rushing touchdown.
Brayden Stevenson, Tulare Union: Stevenson had six catches for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Jayden Steverson, Tulare Western: Steverson led the Mustangs with eight tackles.
Diego Tuttle, Dinuba: Tuttle broke free for 120 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Isaiah Vallin, Porterville: Vallin had an interception.
Raymon Velazquez, Golden West: The Trailblazers quarterback passed for 344 yards and two touchdowns.
Tulare County Cream of the Crop Power Rankings
1. Central Valley Christian (3-1): The Cavaliers suffered their first loss of the season in a 48-14 defeat to undefeated Division I power Clovis North.
Up next: at Mission Oak (4-0)
2. Redwood (2-2): The Rangers have won back-to-back games and are coming off a 17-6 win over Tulare Western.
Up next: Hanford (3-1)
3. Tulare Union (3-1): The Tribe are the highest-scoring team in Tulare County, averaging 50 points per game.
Up next: Bye
4. Mission Oak (4-0): Quarterback Danny Gonzalez has thrown for 800 yards and 10 touchdowns in the Hawks’ unbeaten run.
Up next: Central Valley Christian (3-1)
5. Porterville (3-0): The Panthers are allowing just nine points per game.
Up next: Highland-Bakersfield (2-2)
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Tulare County Football: Top stat leaders, 45 top performers, rankings
