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.
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 Aug. 28-Sept. 2.
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 [email protected].
We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.
We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.
On to the nominees:
Keion Ashjaee-Marshall, Saratoga football: The junior ran for 267 yards and three touchdowns in 10 carries as Saratoga rolled over Santa Cruz 69-0 to improve its record to 1-1.
Jason Auzenne, Palo Alto football: The senior caught five passes for 170 yards and a touchdown and returned a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown to help lead Palo Alto to a win on the road over Leland 38-20.
AJ Cenizal, Archbishop Mitty football: The senior rushed for 251 and two touchdowns in 24 carries as Mitty outlasted Aptos 41-28 at Foothill College to improve to 2-0.
Ta’Jir Golden, McClymonds football: The senior opened the season by rushing for 186 yards and three touchdowns in 22 carries as McClymonds breezed past Bellarmine 40-0. Also caught three passes for 20 yards.
Kamani Jackson, El Cerrito football: The senior had a huge game in El Cerrito’s 63-14 rout of Freedom. Ran 50 yards for a touchdown, scored on a 60-yard pick-six, returned a kickoff 75 yards for a TD and caught a 21-yard TD pass. The Gauchos are 2-0.
Elijah McDaniel, Dublin football: The senior caught four passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 82 yards and a touchdown as Dublin improved to 2-0 with a 49-14 victory over Ukiah.
Mikhail Popov, College Park water polo: The junior has 22 goals on the season after he scored six last week in a 23-9 victory over Vintage-Napa. Also had five steals and two assists in the victory as College Park improved to 3-2.
Noah Taylor, Sobrato football: The senior rushed for 296 yards and four touchdowns in 13 carries to lead Sobrato to a 52-12 victory over Del Mar. Sobrato is 1-1.
Jordyn Wilson, Hayward football: The sophomore helped lead the Farmers to a 53-14 rout of Novato, rushing for 148 yards and four touchdowns in 10 carries. Hayward improved to 2-0.
Josiah Yeager, Hillsdale water polo: In his team’s thrilling 15-14 victory over Clayton Valley, the senior led the way with nine goals, four assists and three steals. Hillsdale is 1-1 on the season.