Kennedy's Diego Montes is SBLive/Sports Illustrated's Southern California Athlete of the Week (10/30/2023)
As a sophomore, Diego Montes has been asked to come through in clutch situations more than once.
In a 55-20 win over Panorama on Oct. 19, the Kennedy of Granada Hills 5-foot-10, 150-pound quarterback came through time after time while completing 11 of 12 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed the ball 10 times for 82 yards and three more scores.
The performance put him on a SBLive Sports top performance list, before he put up even more big numbers.
Montes gathered a whopping 23,919 votes to edge Sammy Silvia, a senior quarterback for Culver City, who gathered 23,431 votes in what is one of the closest votes ever in the SBLive/Sports illustrated Southern California Athlete of the Week vote.
Montes is the second straight Kennedy athlete to win the award as Alonzo Fuentes-Gutierrez captured the vote for games played Oct. 12-14. Montes' award went to a football player who starred in a Southern California game between Oct. 19-21.
Here are the other nominees whom Montes beat out:
Kevin Allen III, Helix: Allen rushed for 289 yards and five touchdowns in Friday's double overtime loss against Granite Hills.
Julian Sayin, Carlsbad: Sayin had 441 passing yards and four passing touchdowns in Friday's win over La Costa Canyon.
Paco Martinez, La Costa Canyon: Martinez caught nine passes for 265 yards and had three touchdown receptions in a 41-34 loss to Carlsbad.
Isaiah Hasten, St. Augustine: Hasten had five catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns and also had an interception in Friday's win over Madison.
Kade Wilken, Torrey Pines: Wilken had eight tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles in Thursday's win over Poway.
Chris Bausch, Fallbrook: Bausch had 240 all-purpose yards and four rushing touchdowns against Mt. Carmel.
Matthew Barton, Mount Miguel: Barton had 412 passing yards and four touchdown passes against El Cajon Valley.
Jack Schneider, Del Norte: Schneider had 309 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns against Ramona.
Robert Renteria, San Pasqual: Renteria had 291 yards on 20 of 24 passing and finished with three touchdown passes against Vista.
Cash Herrera, Bishop's: Herrera was 22 of 25 passing for 283 yards and six touchdowns in Friday's win over Francis Parker.
Jackson Askins, Valencia: Askins had 289 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown against Hart.
Kyle Bayle, Canyon: Bayle had a school record 19 catches for 213 yards and three touchdowns against Esperanza on Friday.
Kalib Pacheco, Don Lugo: Pacheco had 503 passing yards and four touchdown to beat West Covina, 41-40.
Jacob Duronslet, Covina: Duronslet tossed four touchdowns against Pomona and now has 60 in his career.
Sammy Silvia, Culver City: Silvia had 359 passing yards and three passing touchdowns against Palos Verdes.
Cornell Hatcher Jr., Corona Centennial: Hatcher Jr. had 265 total yards and six rushing touchdowns against Murrieta Valley.
Jackson Kollock, Laguna Beach: Kollock had 325 passing yards and seven passing touchdowns in Friday's win over Godinez Fundamental.
Leo Hannan, Servite: Hannan had 343 passing yards and four passing touchdowns in Friday's 50-42 win over Santa Margarita.
Emiliano Villarreal, Rancho Cucamonga: Villarreal had 297 passing yards and three passing touchdowns in Friday's 36-35 win over Damien.
