D2-A State Championship Preview
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Previewing the players to watch in the Division 2-A CIF State Championship featuring San Ramon Valley and Granite Hills of El Cajon. San Ramon Valley boasts a productive passing attack led by QB Luke Baker Luke Baker 5'11" | 180…
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Continue ReadingPreviewing the players to watch in the Division 2-A CIF State Championship featuring San Ramon Valley and Granite Hills of El Cajon. San Ramon Valley boasts a productive passing attack led by QB Luke Baker Luke Baker 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB San Ramon Valley | 2024 State CA and WR Trevor Scott Trevor Scott 6'2" | 180 lbs | WR San Ramon Valley | 2023 State CA . Granite Hills leans on the run game behind an effective OL and an ability to break explosive plays. The two teams play at noon on Saturday 12/10 at Saddleback College.
San Ramon
Highlights
Baker led the North Coast Section in passing this season with over 3,400 yards, 43 TDs and 11 INTs. He’s an accurate, efficient pocket-passer that completed over 67% of his passes as a junior. He’s patient and comfortable in the pocket waiting for windows to open up and looks decisive progressing through reads. He has a strong arm that can add velocity into tight spots and put air under the deep ball. Baker faces a strong Granite Hills secondary with proven playmakers in Easton Peterson, Joaquin Thomas Joaquin Thomas 5'10" | 170 lbs | ATH Granite Hills | 2023 State CA , Davion Green, and Jordan Glaze Jordan Glaze 5'10" | 185 lbs | DB Granite Hills | 2024 State CA .
Scott’s the leading receiver for San Ramon Valley with 824 yards and 12 TDs on the season. He’s a physical receiver at the LOS at 6’2”/180 that can take advantage of 1v1 matchups on the outside. He excels at making plays on in-breaking routes and can beat press coverage with front-end releases. He tracks the ball well and shows soft hands finishing plays downfield. Scott will have important matchups outside against a talented and physical secondary.
Marco Jones
Marco Jones
Jones is a versatile two-way player at LB/TE. He’s a rangy athlete at 6’4”/205 that can tackle sideline-to-sideline and make plays in coverage. He’s an effective edge blitzer that’s explosive getting into the backfield and a physical tackler near the LOS. Jones leads the team in tackles with 124 total (73 solo) and just picked up an offer from Colorado in November. He could end up with 10+ tackles against a run-first Granite Hills offense.
Thomas is an athletic playmaker that impacts the game in all three phases. He’s a skilled cover corner with 3 INTs in the playoffs. He reacts fast to out-breaking routes underneath and plays physical in space. He creates turnovers and deflections with ball skills and timing. He brings top-end speed and elusiveness with the ball in his hands as a WR and return specialist. Thomas should be busy in the secondary against a talented passing attack in San Ramon Valley.
Easton Peterson
Easton Peterson
Peterson led San Diego in INTs with 8 as a senior. He’s an instinctive playmaker from his deep safety spot that can read eyes and anticipate throws at the third level. He moves fluid gaining depth and can flip his hips to turn and run. Peterson should see opportunities to make plays in the secondary against a team that can air the ball out and spread it around the field.
Zak Darling
Zak Darling
Darling and sophomore Isaiah Jackson lead an effective rushing attack for Granite Hills combining for 1,600 yards and 24 TDs on the season. He produces explosive plays out of the backfield running with patience and vision to find lanes at the LOS. He’s a physical back that runs behind a strong OL unit and can pick up yards after contact. Darling ran for 91 yards and 2 TDs on 8 carries in the SoCal Regional vs. Etiwanda.
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Granite Hills
- Isaiah Jackson- RB, 2025
- Derrick Ibarra- LB, 2023
- Jordan Glaze Jordan Glaze 5'10" | 185 lbs | DB Granite Hills | 2024 State CA – DB, 2024
- Parlan Sanders- QB, 2023
- Davion Green- ATH, 2023
- Damarrion White Damarrion White 6'4" | 215 lbs | LB Granite Hills | 2024 State CA – LB, 2024
San Ramon Valley
- Kevin Spears- DL, 2024
- John Pau Mendoza John Pau Mendoza 5'8" | 180 lbs | ATH San Ramon Valley | 2024 CA – RB, 2024
- Zack Dodson- WR, 2024
- Caleb Padrid Caleb Padrid 5'10" | 185 lbs | DB San Ramon Valley | 2023 State CA – DB, 2023