The key, of course, to any game or Player of the Year award is how one finishes. These 10 gents (in alphabetical order) have earned early consideration for the California Player of the Year. Here are the early contenders.
QB Peter Costelli — Mission Viejo
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound junior has stepped in nicely and been the steadying force the Diablos needed to get off to a 6-0 start and No. 5 state ranking. He's thrown for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns, including six on eight completions last week in a 56-0 win over El Toro. He's best performance was going 12-of-13 for 220 yards and five touchdowns in a 63-7 win Sept. 20 over St. Mary's (Stockton). Clearly the first-year starter is getting better as the season progresses.