One could make a strong argument that the pick-six is the most impactful play in football.
And when a defensive player can do it from his own end zone, that's as good as it gets.
That's what Sonora got from senior wide receiver and defensive back Steven Morfoot in the Wildcats' 49-14 rout of Escalon on Sep. 19 – a 99-yard interception-return touchdown, plus two more pass break-ups and three catches for 54 yards. The win moved Sonora to 5-0 and 1-0 in Trans Valley League play, and the Wildcats made it 6-0 (2-0) on Sep. 26 with a 56-0 beatdown of Orestimba in which Morfoot again had a big imprint on the game.
It's been quite a start to the season for the reigning CIF-SJS D6 champion and state 4-A champion, which has now won 13 games in a row with Morfoot helping lead the way with his ball-hawking defense and timely offensive contributions. Morfoot is already up to three interceptions in six games as a senior after grabbing four in 15 games as a junior, and he can legitimately rotate between WR, RB, and QB when needed.
For his role in Sonora's win over Escalon, Morfoot has been voted The Sporting News' California Player of the Week by fans for Week Four. Morfoot reeled in 5,478 votes to earn 57.94% of the polling out of 9,454 total votes.
For the second week in a row, Cardinal Newman running back Malakai Pathoumnourack earned thousands of votes to finish as the runner-up. He accounted for more than 41% of the polling with 3,889 votes after running for 161 yards and three touchdowns plus 31 receiving yards in a 39-7 steamrolling of Bishop O'Dowd. Between Week Three and Week Four, Pathoumnourack racked up a total of 335 yards and nine touchdowns rushing on just 28 carries.
Now one of just a small handful of six-win teams in California, Sonora continues its Trans Valley League title quest on Saturday at Hilmar followed by games against Hughson, Ripon, and Ripon Christian. Those four teams are currently a combined 18-5, but Sonora will be the favorite in all of them at the rate it's currently tearing through all challengers.
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