Week nine gold mines

Defense was the theme in the Central Section this week. In the 805, an emerging Class of 2016 quarterback broke out and continues to lead a red hot team into the final week of the regular season, while a late bloomer on the recruiting trail continues to provide big plays for undefeated and surprising Pacifica of Oxnard.

Here's this week's gold mines:

BEN BAKER, LINEBACKER, BULLARD-FRESNO

Playing on a wet and rainy hostile environment at Sanger's Tom Flores Stadium, Baker finished his Halloween night with 20 tackles and one fumble recovery, as the Knights (6-3, 3-1 in the County Metro Athletic Conference) pulled out the 20-17 road victory to reappear in the CMAC title race.

COLBY SHERIDAN, LINEBACKER, LIBERTY-BAKERSFIELD

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound linebacker got 26 tackles and one sack during the Patriots' 55-0 smashing of Centennial-Bakersfield. Next up, state champion and top rival Bakersfield High for the Southwest Yosemite League championship.

BLAKE SCHMIEDERER, DEFENSIVE LINEMAN, SAN JOAQUIN MEMORIAL-FRESNO

The rising 6-foot-3, 230-pound Class of 2016 prospect tallied 12 tackles, nine solo stops and got one sack in the Panthers' narrow 14-12 victory over Madera South. Schmiederer is the Central Section's current leader in sacks with 15. 

JOEY RUIZ, LINEBACKER, SAN JOAQUIN MEMORIAL

Ruiz - Class of 2016 - finished with seven tackles, one sack and one interception in the Panthers' victory over Madera South.

COLLIN STOCKTON, DEFENSIVE BACK, CENTRAL VALLEY CHRISTIAN-VISALIA

Only 5-foot-9 and 150-pounds according to Max Preps, Stockton provided four tackles and two forced fumbles in the Cavaliers' 42-0 rout of Selma, in a game that was called at halftime due to lightning.

ANDY ACOSTA, DEFENSIVE TACKLE, TULARE WESTERN

Acosta controlled the trenches in the Mustangs' 20-0 shutout against Monache-Porterville, by getting nine tackles and three stops for a loss. Acosta and Tulare Western can now claim at least a share of the East Yosemite League championship if they defeat rival Tulare Union on Friday, Nov. 7, in the annual Bell Game.

BLAKE JAECKELS, QUARTERBACK, ST. JOSEPH-SANTA MARIA

Jaeckels engineered a fast start for the Knights, as his running and throwing ability got St. Joseph to build a 28-point lead en route to a 55-27 trouncing of Cabrillo-Lompoc. The Class of 2016 dual-threat prospect combined for five touchdowns - four through the air. He totaled 341 yards, including 146 through the ground game, as the Knights won their third game in the last four weeks to improve to 5-4 overall and 2-1 in the Los Padres League.

MARK ARMSTRONG, RUNNING BACK, PASO ROBLES

On a wild rainy night in Santa Maria and without star sophomore running back Christian Erickson (left the game with a leg injury during the second half), the reserve back Armstrong carved up Righetti with 142 yards on 16 carries and scored once, as Paso stayed undefeated at 9-0 following its 40-12 romp of the Warriors.

JOSIAH DEGUARA, WIDE RECEIVER, FOLSOM

The tall 6-foot-2 option caught six passes for 147 yards and three touchdowns during the Bulldogs' heavyweight battle against Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills, with Folsom winning easily 42-7. Folsom improved to 9-0 and 5-0 in the Sierra Foothill League.

DEONDRE VINES, WIDE RECEIVER, PACIFICA-OXNARD

Vines continued his sensational senior year with the surprising Tritons by hauling in nine catches for 190 yards and four touchdowns, as Pacifica stayed unbeaten with a high-scoring 49-46 victory over Rio Mesa. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound senior has 50 catches, 1,170 yards, an average of 23.4 yards per catch and 16 touchdowns for the 9-0 Tritons.