With visions of Waterford's miraculous comeback still fresh in his mind, FrontRowPreps.com reporter Ron Agostini selected Wildcat quarterback Michael Vivo with the first overall pick in this week's Fantasy Draft.
Vivo accounted for seven touchdowns and more than 400 yards of total offense in last week's 51-44 victory at Rio Vista in the first round of the Division VI playoffs. The Wildcats trailed 44-20 with 5 minutes, 29 seconds left.
The do-it-all, three-sport senior headlines Team Agostini, which also features Manteca junior stars Trabron Russell and Jacob DeJesus. An East Union alumnus, Agostini put rivalry aside when selecting this week's fantasy team. The Buffaloes, a two-time defending section champion, travel to Antelope on Friday.
Rounding out Team Agostini is Ripon Christian running back Michael Kamps, Merced wide receiver Xavier Stewart and Central Catholic's defense. Stewart has at least one receiving touchdown in every game this season and 14 overall.
The Fantasy Draft scoring is simple ... really simple: Players are awarded a point for every 10 yards of offense they produce and six points for every touchdown. They won't be penalized for turnovers and attempts, catches and completions don't count. Defensively, teams receive 20 points for allowing 10 points or less, 10 points for giving up 11 to 20 points, and five points for allowing 21 to 30 points. If a team gives up more than 30 points, they receive zero fantasy points. Defenses will receive five points for every turnover they create and six points for every touchdown scored.
FrontRowPreps.com co-editor Joe Cortez was so confident in his selections that he made a bold declaration following the draft video shoot at Big Valley Christian on Wednesday afternoon: "You guys are dead."
Cortez's confidence is rooted in a star-studded backfield. With the second overall pick Cortez selected the region's only 2,000-yard running back, Big Valley Christian junior Javyn Drobnick. The Lions host Golden Sierra in a Division VII semifinal.
Joining Drobnick is Central Catholic's Dawaiian McNeely, a national recruit with fresh legs. McNeely hasn't played a full four-quarter game since September, because of a string of blowouts in the Valley Oak League.
Team Cortez also features Downey wide receivers Anderson Grover and Bryce Peterson, Turlock quarterback Jonah Kosakiewicz, and the Ripon Christian defense.
Co-editor James Burns used four of his six picks on small-school stars: Sonora quarterback Jake Gookin, Hilmar running back Isaac Sharp, Denair running back Steffin Winston, and the Modesto Christian defense. Sharp and Winston rank among the region's top producers; both have more than 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The wide receiving corps is comprised of Manteca's Jorge Cedano and Merced's Ezra Morales. Cedano has 55 receptions and 10 touchdowns, but more importantly, first-year coach Mark Varnum wants to target the sure-handed Cedano at least 10 times per game.
The FrontRowPreps.com crew will re-draft teams next week. If you'd like to play along, tweet or email us your fantasy team.
QB: Michael Vivo, Waterford
RB: Trabron Russell, Manteca
RB: Michael Kamps, Ripon Christian
WR: Jacob DeJesus, Manteca
WR: Xavier Stewart, Merced
DEFENSE: Central Catholic
QB: Jake Gookin, Sonora
RB: Isaac Sharp, Hilmar
RB: Steffin Winston, Denair
WR: Jorge Cedano, Manteca
WR: Ezra Morales, Merced
DEFENSE: Modesto Christian
QB: Jonah Kosakiewicz, Turlock
RB: Javyn Drobnick, Big Valley Christian
RB: Dawaiian McNeely, Central Catholic
WR: Anderson Grover, Downey
WR: Bryce Peterson, Downey
DEFENSE: Ripon Christian
Follow James Burns on Twitter @jburns1980, or email him at frontrowpreps@gmail.com.
