Editor’s note: We prohibit the use of bots and any other artificial methods of voting. Suspicious activity could lead to the disqualification of candidates and a permanent suspension of the Athlete of the Week poll. No voting by email: Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (Mercury News & East Bay Times) boys Athlete of the Week poll.
For the entire academic year, we will provide a list of candidates who stood out over the previous week and allow you, the reader, to vote for the winner.
This week, we consider performances from Sept. 25-30.
Polls close at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Vote as many times as you’d like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.
Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Scroll to the bottom for the poll.
Winners are announced each Friday online and in the print edition of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections.
Candidates for future Athlete of the Week polls can be nominated at [email protected].
We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.
We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.
On to the nominees:
Sully Bailey, Acalanes football: Accounted for five touchdowns — three on the ground, two passing — as Acalanes routed Vallejo 50-0 to improve to 2-3. The senior scored on runs of 29, 7 and 3 yards. Also threw for touchdowns from 25 and 21 yards out.
Noah Beedon, Los Altos football: The senior threw for 249 yards and four touchdowns as the Eagles opened Peninsula Athletic League El Camino Division play with a 30-26 victory over Carlmont. Los Altos improved to 2-3.
Olaf Dietz, Berkeley cross country: Finished first in Varsity Race No. 1 at the Westmoor Ram Invitational in Daly running, running the short course in 13 minutes, 42.00 seconds to edge teammate Mason Mullen by three seconds.
Jerry Graham, Kennedy-Richmond football: The senior ran for 243 yards and two touchdowns and had 11 tackles to lead Kennedy to a 38-0 victory over Millennium-Tracy. The win improved the Eagles’ record to 5-1 heading into Friday’s home game against St. Mary’s-Berkeley.
Mikey McGrath, Menlo School football: The senior completed 12 of 14 passes for 239 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions while splitting time with Jack Freehill, who also had a big day in the Knights’ 55-22 victory over Homestead in PAL De Anza Division game.
Michael Mitchell Jr., Archbishop Riordan: The sophomore threw six touchdown passes to break West Catholic Athletic League and school records in a 42-17 victory at home in San Francisco over Valley Christian. Four of the TDs went for at least 25 yards.
Anthony Noto, Sacred Heart Prep football: In his team’s 42-7 victory over Burlingame to open PAL Bay Division play, the senior rushed for 96 yards and three touchdowns in 18 carries, scored on a 38-yard pass reception and had five tackles and a forced fumble.
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Meru Onofeghara-Omoko, Berean Christian football: In his team’s 42-42 tie against Healdsburg, the junior defensive and offensive tackle finished with 16 tackles (14 were solo) and also started on offense and special teams. “Meru rarely comes off the field, a true team player,” coach Mark Barcelon said.
Mason Pound, Westmont football: The senior completed 10 of 11 passes for 305 yards and three touchdowns — all to Mason Price — as Westmont defeated Silver Creek 34-7 in a nonleague game. Pound also rushed for 61 yards as the Campbell school improved to 3-2.
Kamarri Robinson, Livermore football: The junior running back broke his own school record by rushing for 355 yards, to go with two touchdowns, as Livermore edged Foothill 30-28 in a nonleague game to improve to 3-3. A month ago, Robinson ran for a then-school record 317 yards in a 28-7 victory over Castro Valley.
Maealiuaki Smith, Serra football: The senior completed 19 of 26 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns and also scored on two sneaks as Serra cruised at home in San Mateo over St. Francis 45-17 in a WCAL game. The top-ranked Padres improved to 5-0.
Dylan Thomas, Las Lomas football: The sophomore helped Las Lomas rally from a 17-point halftime deficit to beat archrival Northgate 38-31 to stay undefeated. Completed 20 of 32 passes for 254 and two touchdowns and ran for 55 yards and a TD in two carries as the Knights upped their record to 5-0.
