Each week, publications from the Southern California News Group’s 11 properties (Orange County Register, L.A. Daily News, Press-Enterprise, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Long Beach Press-Telegram, The Daily Breeze, San Bernardino Sun, Daily Bulletin, Redlands Daily Facts, Whittier Daily News and Pasadena-Star News) select the Athletes of the Week for their respective region.
Each athlete is then entered into the overall Southern California Athlete of the Week vote.
Click on the newspaper links below the athlete’s name to read about their performance from last week, and then vote for who you think deserves the top honor.
Readers are allowed to vote multiple times. Voting ends at midnight, but final totals aren’t always immediately reflected due to processing.
GIRLS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK VOTING
The overall winner will be announced on Friday, September 2.
Voting poll at bottom of the page.
Donovan Powell, Cleveland: The Cavaliers are off to a 2-0 start and Powell has a lot to do with it. The junior tailback rushed for 355 yards on 20 carries and scored three touchdowns (one receiving, two rushing) in Cleveland’s 40-27 comeback win over Grant on the road after trailing 14-0. He capped the night with a 99-yard touchdown run with two minutes left in the game.
Richie Munoz, Charter Oak: After spending three years at La Salle, Munoz transferred to Charter Oak for his senior year. In his debut with the Chargers, he passed for 355 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 55 yards in a 38-24 victory over Northview. Munoz and the Chargers have another tough test at home Friday against Glendora in a game for the annual Mayor’s Trophy.
Matt Espinoza, South Torrance: Espinoza kicked off his junior season in a big way, completing 27 of 28 passes for 442 yards and five touchdowns in a 51-15 win over Schurr.
D.J. Bryant, Tahquitz: Bryant scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams last week to help the Titans to a 34-13 nonleague victory over Lakeside. He rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns and also caught three passes for 23 yards on offense. Bryant had four tackles and intercepted two passes, returning both of them for touchdowns of 70 and 75 yards. He also returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. Tahquitz will host Desert Mirage in a nonleague game Friday night.
Devin Samples, Long Beach Poly: Samples ran for 183 yards and one touchdown on 37 carries in Long Beach Poly’s 17-3 win against rival Serra. The 5-foot-7 senior running back’s big game was highlighted by a 43-yard run late in the third quarter. Samples’ 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter sealed Poly’s victory.
Drew Faulkner, Western: He had 15 receptions for 187 yards and a touchdown and on defense he contributed nine tackles and a win-clinching interception in the Pioneers’ 35-22 victory over St. Margaret’s. Faulkner (5-10, 175) this season has 27 receptions for 300 yards. He is being recruited as a cornerback and has offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Idaho and San Diego State. “He loves every part of the game,” Western coach Dan Davidson said. “The conditioning, the weightlifting, the film work, everything.”
