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 Nov. 17-22.
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 highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.
We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.
We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.
On to the nominees:
Caedon Afsharipour, St. Ignatius football: Afsharipour threw for five touchdowns in St. Ignatius’ 42-6 win over Menlo School in the CCS Division II semifinals. St. Ignatius will play Sacred Heart Cathedral in the title game.
Diego Arias, Piedmont Hills football: Arias was excellent on both sides of the ball, getting a 32-yard pick-six and throwing a 50-yard touchdown in Piedmont Hills’ 41-14 win over Jefferson in the CCS Division V semifinals. Piedmont Hills will play Sobrato for the section title game on Saturday at MacDonald High School.
Joeseph Broussard, El Cerrito football: Broussard rushed for two scores to lead El Cerrito to an impressive 26-9 win over Rancho Cotate. The Gauchos will play Ukiah at American Canyon High School for the Division III title.
Torin Dunphy, Monte Vista football: Dunphy recorded two touchdowns to lead Monte Vista to a 35-21 win over California in the NCS Division II semifinals. Monte Vista will play Clayton Valley for the final on Friday at Dublin High School.
Lukas Fitzgerald, San Mateo football: Fitzgerald rushed for 112 yards and a score on 12 carries to lead San Mateo to a 40-36 win over Live Oak in the CCS Division III semifinals. San Mateo will play for its first section title since 2003 when it faces Menlo-Atherton on Saturday at MacDonald High.
Xavier Henderson, Piedmont football: Henderson rushed for four touchdowns in Piedmont’s 28-10 win over Willits in the NCS Division VII semifinals. The Highlanders will play Middletown for the section crown at Justin-Siena on Friday.
Gavin Jordan, Los Gatos football: Jordan delivered a dominant performance, recording 17 tackles – one behind the line of scrimmage – to lead Los Gatos past Palma 45-21 in the CCS Division I semifinals. The Wildcats will play Serra for the Division I crown at San Jose City College on Friday.
Lamont McDonald, Hayward football: McDonald rushed for 190 yards and two touchdowns in Hayward’s 41-18 win over Granada in the NCS Division IV semifinals. Hayward will play Miramonte for the section title on Saturday at Moreau Catholic.
Daniel Santhiapillai, Dublin cross country: The senior ran the fastest time at the NCS Division I cross country championships, crossing the finish line in 15:51.8. Dublin won the Division I championship.
Michael Sargent, Sacred Heart Cathedral football: Sargent accounted for six touchdowns – throwing for four and rushing for two – in SHC’s 63-27 win over Santa Teresa. SHC will play St. Ignatius for the CCS Division II championship.