Helix senior Carter Ross is SBLive's Southern California Football Athlete of the Week (8/26/2023)
Nobody has ever done better. Not with an interception return for touchdown. Not in California.
Carter Ross, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound senior defensive back for the Helix football team, returned an interception 99 yards in a 45-21 win at Saint Francis of Mountain View on Aug. 25.
He tied a state record (all returns out of the end zone are credited with 99 yards) with the return and it upped the Highlanders' record to 2-0. They are currently 3-0 and ranked No. 22 in California.
That return put Ross' name in a top performer's list when his numbers really skyrocketed. He piled up more than 4,000 votes and 51 percent of the vote to earn the SBLive Southern California Football Athlete of the Week for the week of Aug. 24-26.
We are currently accepting Southern California Athlete of the Week nominations. If you would like to nominate an athlete, please email sblive-social@scorebooklive.com or message us on Twitter or Instagram at @sbliveca.
Here are the other nominees for the Week of Aug. 17-19.
Seth Shigg, Chaminade: Shigg completed 17 of 21 passes for 158 yards and rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns in Friday's win over Cathedral Catholic.
Travis Wood, Newport Harbor: Wood had 211 total yards and two rushing touchdowns in Thursday's 17-14 win over Tesoro.
Jake Garcia, Baldwin Park: Garcia passed for 316 yards and five touchdowns and also added 117 rushing yards and two more touchdowns in Thursday's win over El Monte.
Cornell Hatcher Jr., Corona Centennial: Hatcher Jr. rushed for 159 yards and three touchdowns in Friday's win over Santa Margarita.
Louis Alvis, Temescal Canyon: Alvis rushed for three touchdowns and passed for two touchdowns against Hilltop on Thursday.
Carter Christie, Villa Park: Christie rushed for 147 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries in Thursday's win over Orange.
DeShawn Cobbs, Fullerton: Cobbs rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns in Friday's win over Whittier.
Sammy Silvia, Culver City: Silvia passed for 408 yards and eight touchdowns in Friday's win over San Jacinto.
Malachi Brown, San Jacinto: Brown rushed for 285 yards and five touchdowns on 31 carries in Friday's loss to Culver City.
Dylan Riley, Rancho Verde: Riley rushed for 218 yards and four touchdowns in Thursday's shutout against Santiago.
Eimesse Essis, Tustin: Essis rushed for 250 yards and two touchdowns in Friday's 36-35 win over Foothill.
Karson Cox, Oak Hills: Cox had 232 total yards and three touchdowns in Friday's win over Highland.
Brody Guinn, Vista Murrieta: Guinn caught nine passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns in Friday's win over Murrieta Mesa.
Ryan Luce, Trabuco Hills: Luce caught 11 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns in Thursday's win over Huntington Beach.
Brodie Stump, Kearny: Stump had 210 passing yards and three passing touchdowns and also rushed for 54 yards in Thursday's win over Monte Vista.
Brady Palmer, St. Augustine: Palmer was 13 of 16 passing for 200 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown in Friday's win over Poway.
Keontae McClay, Lincoln: McClay had an interception, a blocked punt, and returned a fumble for a touchdown in Friday's win over Alemany.
Carter Ross, Helix: Ross had a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown in Friday's win over St. Francis.
Caden Thompson, Escondido: Thompson, a freshman, threw for 322 yards and six touchdowns in Friday's win over Orange Glen.
Matthew Barton, Mount Miguel: Barton was nearly perfect on Friday night, completing 13 of 15 passes for 364 yards and five touchdowns.
Griffin Seals, Santa Monica: Seals caught 10 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns in Santa Monica's 36-20 win over El Segundo.
