Vote Now: Bay Area’s Top High School Boys Athlete of the Week
The Bay Area News Group is calling on readers to celebrate outstanding high school talent! Cast your vote for the Boys Athlete of the Week, highlighting stellar performances from November 17-22 across football and cross country. Your participation ensures these dedicated young athletes get the recognition they deserve.
Highlighting the Week’s Top Performances
The latest Bay Area News Group poll shines a spotlight on impressive achievements from high school boys athletes across various sports and divisions. From dominant football victories to record-setting cross country runs, the past week saw incredible displays of skill and determination.
Football Standouts
Several quarterbacks and running backs delivered game-changing plays in CCS and NCS semifinals. Caedon Afsharipour of St. Ignatius led with five passing touchdowns in a decisive 42-6 win over Menlo School, securing a spot in the CCS Division II title game against Sacred Heart Cathedral. Piedmont Hills’ Diego Arias showcased exceptional versatility with both a 32-yard pick-six and a 50-yard touchdown pass in their 41-14 victory over Jefferson in the CCS Division V semifinals, leading them to the championship against Sobrato.
El Cerrito’s Joeseph Broussard powered his team with two rushing scores in an impressive 26-9 win over Rancho Cotate, advancing to the Division III title game against Ukiah. Monte Vista’s Torin Dunphy also contributed two crucial touchdowns to secure their 35-21 win over California in the NCS Division II semifinals, setting up a final match against Clayton Valley.
Running backs continued to dominate, with San Mateo’s Lukas Fitzgerald rushing for 112 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries in a thrilling 40-36 win over Live Oak in the CCS Division III semifinals. San Mateo now plays for its first section title since 2003 against Menlo-Atherton. Piedmont’s Xavier Henderson scored four rushing touchdowns in their 28-10 win over Willits in the NCS Division VII semifinals, advancing to play Middletown for the section crown. Hayward’s Lamont McDonald amassed 190 rushing yards and two touchdowns in Hayward’s 41-18 win over Granada in the NCS Division IV semifinals, earning a spot in the final against Miramonte.
Defensive and overall impact players include Los Gatos’ Gavin Jordan, who was a force with 17 tackles – one behind the line of scrimmage – leading his team past Palma 45-21 in the CCS Division I semifinals to face Serra in the final. Sacred Heart Cathedral’s Michael Sargent accounted for an astounding six touchdowns (four passing, two rushing) in their 63-27 semifinal rout over Santa Teresa, setting up a CCS Division II championship clash with St. Ignatius.
Cross Country Excellence
On the cross country course, Dublin’s senior Daniel Santhiapillai demonstrated elite performance, running the fastest time at the NCS Division I championships with a blazing 15:51.8. His stellar run also contributed to Dublin winning the overall Division I championship.
Key Nominees at a Glance
Here’s a quick look at some of the standout football performances from the past week that secured a spot in the championship:
| Athlete | School | Key Performance (Nov. 17-22) | Next Game (Final) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caedon Afsharipour | St. Ignatius | 5 Passing TDs in 42-6 win | vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral (CCS DII) |
| Diego Arias | Piedmont Hills | 32-yard pick-six, 50-yard TD pass in 41-14 win | vs. Sobrato (CCS DV) |
| Joeseph Broussard | El Cerrito | 2 Rushing TDs in 26-9 win | vs. Ukiah (NCS DIII) |
| Torin Dunphy | Monte Vista | 2 TDs in 35-21 win | vs. Clayton Valley (NCS DII) |
| Lukas Fitzgerald | San Mateo | 112 Rushing Yards, 1 TD in 40-36 win | vs. Menlo-Atherton (CCS DIII) |
| Xavier Henderson | Piedmont | 4 Rushing TDs in 28-10 win | vs. Middletown (NCS DVII) |
| Gavin Jordan | Los Gatos | 17 Tackles in 45-21 win | vs. Serra (CCS DI) |
| Lamont McDonald | Hayward | 190 Rushing Yards, 2 TDs in 41-18 win | vs. Miramonte (NCS DIV) |
| Michael Sargent | Sacred Heart Cathedral | 6 Total TDs (4 Pass, 2 Rush) in 63-27 win | vs. St. Ignatius (CCS DII) |
Note: This table highlights a selection of football nominees. Full details for all nominees, including cross country standout Daniel Santhiapillai, are provided in the article.
How to Cast Your Vote
Voting is open now for the Bay Area News Group’s Boys Athlete of the Week. Readers can vote as many times as they wish to support their favorite athlete, but please remember to avoid using bots or other artificial voting methods, as such activity can lead to disqualification. Your vote helps highlight the incredible talent in our local high schools.
The poll closes promptly at 5 p.m. PST this Wednesday, November 26, 2025. Votes submitted via email or after the deadline will not be counted. The winner will be proudly announced online and in the print editions of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections every Friday.
Nominate Future Stars
Do you know an athlete who deserves recognition? Nominations for future Athlete of the Week polls are welcomed until 11 a.m. each Monday. Coaches and team statisticians are also encouraged to submit player stats to MaxPreps for consideration. Send your nominations to highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Poll
- When does the voting close?
The poll closes at 5 p.m. PST this Wednesday, November 26, 2025. - Can I vote multiple times?
Yes, you can vote as many times as you like without using bots or artificial methods. Suspicious activity may lead to disqualification. - How are candidates nominated?
Nominations can be submitted to highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com by 11 a.m. each Monday, or through stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches. - When will the winner be announced?
Winners are announced every Friday online and in the print editions of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections.
Don’t miss your chance to celebrate these remarkable young athletes. Cast your vote today and help determine who will be named the Bay Area News Group Boys Athlete of the Week!
Vote Bay Area High School Boys Athlete of Week
