It was another exciting weekend of great high school football matchups across the Bay Area! Week three has come to an end, but not without big plays and high scoring games!
This week's High School Player of the Week is Paul Rosa Jr. of the Wilcox Chargers. The star running back had a stellar performance on offense and defense against the Aragon Dons, putting up 11 carries for 287 yards and three touchdowns, along with six tackles on defense. It was a hard-fought battle between the trenches, but Wilcox came up victorious with a final score of 55-14.
The Chargers came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, scoring 20 unanswered points in the first quarter. "We came into the game knowing it was going to be a hard-fought battle," head coach Paul Rosa Sr. said. "The Dons were 9-1 last season and they are known for their physicality, but we had a lot of big plays on offense that broke the game open. I think we scored on every possession."
In football, there are nights when teams can't get one thing to go their way but then there are others when everything seems to work. Rosa Sr. and the Chargers had everything working for them Friday night. "We ran six plays our first three possessions, three of those plays ended with a touchdown" said Rosa Sr. "During the entirety of the game Paul had a run for 75 yards, Isaiah (Flores) had a run for 72 yards, Issa Diallo had a break for 46 yards, and our QB- Alex Adame, threw one TD for 27 yards, "Rosa Sr. recounted. Play on the defensive side was just as stout.
It was a tough outing for the Dons offense, as they scored 14 points total, one touchdown in each half, but the score does not reflect their offensive performance. "The Dons did a great job putting drives together," Rosa Sr. said. "Our defense was just making plays. They have been solid against the run so far this year, so I think we were prepped going into it. We tackled and played solid defense."
Shifting the focus to Paul Rosa Jr., the 5'7", 175-pound junior, who is the son of Wilcox head coach Paul Rosa Sr., has played varsity football and baseball since his freshman year. "He's always been playing a grade or two up since he was little, so stepping into high school he was a little more seasoned than most freshman," Rosa Sr. said. "He knew what to do to keep himself safe and had the physical ability to play varsity."
When asked about his son's leadership qualities, Rosa Sr. said, "He is a lead by example type of guy, he works hard in all aspects; the weight room, during conditioning, in practice, and in the classroom. He is a well-rounded kid that just makes the right decisions." He also added the amazing fact that, "When we're in the weight room he lifts with the lineman, even though he's a skill guy. He wants to get stronger so he puts himself around bigger, stronger players." This is a great lesson to those reading: it is important to put yourself around the right people, those that will lift you up and help you achieve your goals!
In addition to being a great football player, Rosa Jr. is three-year short stop on the Chargers varsity baseball team and an exceptional student, maintaining a cumulative 4.2 GPA. This is no easy feat for any student, let alone a two sport varsity student-athlete! In terms of his future, Paul Jr. has a passion for aeronautics, space exploration and enjoys science. He also has a passion for helping others; in his free time, Paul Jr. spends time volunteering at bingo nights at the senior center. We are excited to nominate him as the Player of the Week, and can't wait to see how the season turns out for #2!
As the home school of the 49ers High School Player of the Week presented by U.S. Bank, Wilcox will receive a $500 grant for their football program from the 49ers Foundation. As part of this award, Rosa Jr. will receive two tickets to a 49ers home game where he will be recognized on the field during pre-game. At the end of the season, Rosa Jr. will be invited to the SAP Performance Facility to watch a closed practice where 49ers head coach, Kyle Shanahan, will officially present him with his award.
Congratulations, Paul Jr!
