Important announcement from Cal-Hi Sports | Archived Cal-Hi Sports content
Five of the six who have gained Cal-Hi Sports All-State first team honors in this category are quarterbacks who run and pass, including the most prolific rusher-passer for one season in state history.
Note: This is the fourth release of several highlighting the 33rd annual edition of the ESPNHS Cal-Hi Sports All-State Football Team. Previous releases focused on small schools, medium schools and underclass.
Here is a closer look at the six players chosen first team multi-purpose:
QB/RB Brandon Lewis (Helix, La Mesa) 5-11, 175, Sr.
After an impressive junior year, Lewis had an even better senior season as he led the Highlanders to the Division II state championship. On the year, he passed for 2,750 yards and 34 touchdowns to earn the San Diego Section Offensive Player of the Year honor. Lacking the size that would make him more recruited, he may end up getting picked later this spring in the Major League Baseball amateur draft as he was a starting pitcher for the school's baseball team. Lewis also could scramble for first downs when needed and shined in Helix’s biggest games.
QB/RB Travis McHugh (Bellarmine, San Jose) 6-3, 205, Sr.
If a few plays went differently this season, the Bells could have ended the season as the state's top team with McHugh possibly taking home the state player of the year award. He passed for 1,014 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 1,519 yards and 22 scores. Running for 89 yards and two scores, a missed extra-point prevented the Bells from defeating De La Salle of Concord in their season opener and their lone other loss came in the CIF Division I Bowl Game as he passed for 167 yards and a score while running for 146 yards and a score in a last-second loss to Santa Margarita. The San Jose Mercury News Player of the Year is likely going to the Ivy League for college. His academic accomplishments are perhaps even more impressive.
LB/TE Butch Paa’u (Servite, Anaheim) 6-0, 220, Sr.
Some colleges may wish he was taller but there is no doubting his talent and his hard hitting ability after three impressive seasons starting for the Friars. Paa’u was named the Trinity League Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-Orange County for the second year in a row. Before the season started, he gave a verbal to BYU but that hasn't stopped teams like Nebraska and Colorado to also offer in hopes of getting him to change his mind. He also played tight end on offense and repeatedly opened holes for Servite’s various running backs. When the team played Bishop Gorman of Nevada in an ESPN TV game, there were many who thought Paa’u was the best player on the field.
QB/RB Johnny Stanton (Santa Margarita, Rancho SM) 6-2, 225, Jr.
One of five finalists for our Mr. Football State Player of the Year award, this junior came up a little short of being named for that as well as the top junior, but didn’t come up short when it mattered most. Stanton led the Eagles to the CIFSS Pac-5 Division title and the CIF Division I state bowl crown. He passed for 2,133 yards and nine touchdowns and rushed for 1,351 yards and 20 touchdowns with the final rushing touchdown of his season coming with 16 seconds remaining on fourth down to win the state title.
QB/RB Tanner Trosin (Folsom) 6-1, 175, Sr.
There were big shoes to fill at the quarterback position at Folsom after Dano Graves won last year's Mr. Football State Player of the Year honor, but Trosin filled those shoes just fine as he set state records on his way to being a Mr. Football finalist. Trosin passed for a state record 5,185 yards and 49 touchdowns and rushed for 1,179 yards to become the first player in state history to go over 6,000 all-purpose yards in a single season. His total of 6,364 yards shattered the previous state record by over 1,000 yards. Trosin also ran for 14 touchdowns and his total of 69 touchdowns accounted for in a season was second best in state history.
QB/RB Troy Williams (Narbonne, Harbor City) 6-3, 185, Jr.
Williams is the fifth junior to make it on the first team, joining Su’a Cravens, Johnny Stanton, Justin Davis and Olito Thompson. He does it after leading Narbonne to the CIF L.A. City Section championship. Williams, who already has been picked player of the year by the section’s coaches as well as the South Bay Daily Breeze, passed for 3,247 yards and 34 touchdowns. He also rushed for 587 yards and scored 11 times.
Comments or corrections? Email Mark.Tennis@espn.com.