Recently in Walter Kazee Category

Right before going to bed I looked over the San Diego State boxscore and noticed that Aztec freshman RB Walter Kazee, a Cajon graduate and the 2008 All-Sun Most Valuable Player, had a breakout game to lead SDSU to a 34-17 victory over New Mexico State. Kazee ran for 101 yards on 22 carries against the Aggies, scoring his first career touchdown on a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter.

2007 Most Valuable Player Chris Polk also had a heck of day in a losing cause for Washington against Notre Dame. The redshirt freshman RB, a Redlands East Valley graduate, ran for 136 yards on 22 carries and caught two passes for 9 yards in the Huskies' 37-30 overtime loss to the Fighting Irish. Polk appeared to have scored on a 6-yard TD midway through the fourth quarter, which would have put Washington up 31-22 with a made extra point, but a video review ruled him down inside the Notre Dame 1. Washington couldn't push the ball in and settled for a field goal that would loom large later. He now has 452 yards rushing in five games for Washington.

Here is the complete breakdown of Division I-A and Division I-AA signees per high school and per college.

By High School:
1. Upland 4; 2 tie. Cajon 3; Colony 3; 4 tie. Arroyo Valley 2; Diamond Ranch 2; Etiwanda 2; Los Osos 2; Rancho Cucamonga 2; Redlands 2; Redlands East Valley 2; 11 tie. Aquinas 1; Ayala 1; Bloomington 1; Colton 1; Diamond Bar 1; Eisenhower 1; Kaiser 1; Norco 1; Pomona 1; Roosevelt 1; San Bernardino 1; San Dimas 1; Yucaipa 1.

Obviously Upland was the big winner individually, especially since they had two Pac-10 guys (Josh Nunes and Osahon Irabor) and a Big Ten guy (Davion Fleming). But the city of San Bernardino had seven players (Aarein Booker, Chris Bradford, Daron Griffin, Walter Kazee, Michael Philipp, Marlon Pollard and J.P. Ragan) sign, with Colton's Nat Berhe giving the SAL another signee.

By University
1. UCLA 5; 2 tie. Oregon State 3; San Diego State 3; 4 tie. Fresno State 2; Idaho 2; New Mexico State 2; Northwestern 2; 8 tie. Air Force 1; Arizona State 1; Cal Poly SLO 1; Colorado State 1; Columbia 1; Louisville 1; Montana 1; Navy 1; New Mexico 1; Northern Arizona 1; South Florida 1; Southern Utah 1; Stanford 1; SUNY Stony Brook 1; UNLV 1; Utah 1; UTEP 1; Washington State 1.

A couple things stand out to me. The first one is the dominance of UCLA. Rick Neuheisel seems to recognize the growth of the Inland Empire and made great efforts out here, signing Marlon Pollard, Jayson Allmond, Richard Brehaut, Jared Koster and Brandon Sermons. San Diego State, who "hasn't been out here in years" according to Cajon coach Kim Battin seems to be making an IE effort under new coach Brady Hoke. Oregon State had a big year, while Fresno State continues its steady haul of local talent.

A couple of oddities exist as you go further. One is Northwestern, which picked off Fleming and Arby Fields from the Baseline League despite its location in suburban Chicago. Another is SUNY Stony Brook, who signed Taj Johnson from Upland this year, took Dominick Reyes from Hesperia last year and was in on Daron Griffin. Seems like this Long Island school is a player.

Also, look out for New Mexico State and Eastern Michigan in the future. The Aggies are now coached by former UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker - who is well-versed in the area - while Eastern Michigan is now being coached by Ganesha graduate Ron English. English recruited Southern California well for Michigan while on Lloyd Carr's staff and pulled Titus Teague from Pomona for Louisville while serving as defensive coordinator there this past season. Don't be surprised if the Eagles start coming up in conversation among 2010 recruits.

Wednesday morning at Cajon High School will be a busy one, as running back Walter Kazee and offensive lineman Daron Griffin will be signing letters of intent. Kazee, the All-County Most Valuable Player, verbally committed to San Diego State after taking an official visit there over the weekend according to Cajon athletic director Rich Imbriani, while Griffin verbally committed to Division I-AA Southern Utah over the weekend. Griffin, another all-County first-team selection, also made his commitment after an official visit.

The two will be joining cornerback Marlon Pollard, who is expected to sign with UCLA after verbally committing to the Bruins three weeks ago. Pollard was committed to Notre Dame, who is still recruiting him heavily, before he switched to UCLA.

As I mentioned in earlier posts, I covered the Inland Empire All-Star Football Classic last night, a game that didn't go too well for the San Bernardino boys, who fell 38-7 to Riverside.

The San Bernardino team, coached by Los Osos' Tom Martinez, didn't have the full arsenal that Riverside had, as several highly-touted, Division I-committed players who were scheduled to play during the week dropped out. Among those were Arroyo Valley offensive lineman Michael Philipp - the No. 1 guard in the nation according to Rivals.com, Los Osos QB Richard Brehaut, Cajon CB Marlon Pollard, Upland CB Osahon Irabor and Upland CB Taj Johnson. Upland QB Josh Nunes also didn't play, as a hand injury suffered in the Central Division title game with Rancho Cucamonga hasn't fully healed.

Took a little while, but here's the all-SAL team.

Offense
MVP - Walter Kazee, Sr., Cajon

First Team
QB - T.J. Smith, Sr., San Bernardino; Nick Vasquez, Sr., Colton
RB - Nat Berhe, Sr., Colton; Kenneth Chapple, Sr., Pacific; Derrick Malone, Jr., Colton; Tre Meadors, Sr., San Gorgonio
WR - Derrick Osborne, Jr., San Gorgonio; Vanzell Richardson, Jr., San Bernardino; Mark Salaiz, Sr., Cajon; Steven Williams, Jr., Arroyo Valley
OL - Johnathan Aguila, Sr., San Gorgonio; Daron Griffin, Sr., Cajon; Kevin Guerra, Sr., Colton; Jared Lunt, Sr., Cajon; Michael Philipp, Sr., Arroyo Valley
K - Alejandro Maldonado, Jr., Colton

Second Team
RB - Aaerin Booker, Sr., San Bernardino; Reggie Hammond, Sr., Cajon; O'Shay Jelks, Jr., Colton; Terrance McClendon, Sr., San Gorgonio
WR - Demarrio Brooks, So., San Gorgonio; Isiah Collier, Sr., Cajon; Damon Ogburn, Jr., Arroyo Valley; Marlon Pollard, Sr., Cajon
OL - Steven Alonzo, Sr., San Gorgonio; Martin Estrada, Sr., San Gorgonio; John Gonzales, Sr., Colton; Joe Miranda, Sr., Cajon; Sebastian Tretola, Jr., Cajon

Defense
MVP - Isaiah Williams, Sr., Cajon

First Team
DL - Alex Boykins, Sr., Arroyo Valley; Chris Bradford, Sr., Arroyo Valley; Mike Newton, Jr., Colton; Derrick Osborne, Sr., San Gorgonio.
LB - Andrew Anderson, Sr., Cajon; Robert Balderrama, Sr., San Gorgonio; Ofa Fifita, Jr., Arroyo Valley; Fred Myers, Jr., Pacific
DB - Nat Berhe, Sr., Colton; Jeff Cooper, Sr., Cajon; Marlon Pollard, Sr., Cajon; T.J. Smith, Sr., San Gorgonio.
P - Jimmy Chester, Jr., San Gorgonio

Second Team
DL - Brandon Caruso, Sr., San Gorgonio; Darryl Coleman, Sr., Arroyo Valley; Paul Curiel, Sr., San Bernardino; Ma'alona Kiliona, Jr., Colton
LB - Abdul Arugandande, Sr., Cajon; Andre Cash, Sr., Cajon; Joseph Godsy, Sr., Cajon; Devan Hussey, So., Colton
DB - Fabian Calzada, Jr., Arroyo Valley; Kenneth Chapple, Sr., Pacific; Dominique Williams, Jr., San Bernardino; Vincent Williams, Jr., Cajon