HS FOOTBALL: Notre Dame's Kasdorf selected Gatorade State Player of the Year

Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks junior quarterback Ryan Kasdorf, who threw for 3,291 yards and 36 touchdowns in leading the Knights to the Southern Section Pac-5 Division quarterfinals, has been selected California Football Player of the Year by Gatorade and ESPN/Rise Magazine.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Kasdorf, who completed 69 percent of his passes and was intercepted only eight times in 249 attempts, helped Notre Dame capture a Serra League title and finish the regular season unbeaten before the Knights lost 24-14 on Friday to Orange Lutheran.

Kasdorf is the second local football player in three years to receive the Gatorade state award, as former Oaks Christian of Westlake Village standout Marc Tyler (USC) was honored in 2006. Mater Dei of Santa Ana quarterback Matt Barkley, a USC signee, was the Gatorade recipient as a junior last season.

Kasdorf also becomes a finalist for the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award, which will be named later this month.

In addition to his success on the field, Kasdorf boasts a 3.75 GPA and has volunteered in fundraiser initiatives for his church and service missions at Notre Dame, including the 2009 Special Olympic Summer Games.

For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, visit www.gatorade.com/playeroftheyear