2025 has brought the second breakthrough season in a row for Van Nuys football.
After going 8-6 with an L.A. City Section D3 finals appearance in 2024, the Wolves are 9-1 entering the playoffs to tie their best regular season record of the MaxPreps era (2004-present). And it's no coincidence that Van Nuys' rise has occurred with one of the best quarterbacks the program has had in decades, if not ever.
Three-year starter Carlos Herrera has been at the center – more like under center – of the Wolves' success, breaking out as a dual-threat star in 2024 and 2025 after a promising sophomore campaign in 2023. This season has brought Herrera's most efficient season passing the ball and most prolific season running it for a team that averaged more than 35 points per game this regular season. Herrera averaged 110 yards per game both passing and rushing with nine touchdown passes to two interceptions and 13 rushing touchdowns on a whopping 8.9 yards per carry.
In Week Nine, Herrera had arguably the best game of his career statistically to spearhead a 46-0 domination of rival Reseda in Valley Mission League play. He completed 14 of 20 passes (70%) for 287 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions, good for a career-high 152.1 passer rating. That passing display put Herrera above 4,000 career passing yards, and it wasn't all – he also ran for 48 yards and two touchdowns on just three carries.
For his huge night, Herrera received an impressive 10,337 votes to account for 50.16% of the voting and earn SN's Southern California Player of the Week Honors for Week Nine.
Coming in second was Beaumont CB Jeremiah McCarty, who racked up 7,916 votes (38.41% of the polling) for grabbing two interceptions including a pick-six in a 57-10 blowout of Yucaipa. La Sierra QB Steven Moore came in third with 1,848 votes (8.97%) after tossing for 464 yards and five touchdowns to beat Jurupa Valley 52-28. And Chino Hills RB Jacob Jimenez got 305 votes for his 97 yards and three touchdowns rushing in a 33-19 victory against Etiwanda.
Van Nuys followed up the rout of Reseda by coming back from a two-touchdown deficit to hold off Panorama City, and now has a Week 10 bye to rest up for what could be another long playoff run.
Voting results for Week 8 SoCal Player of the Week
Meet the candidates for Week 8 SoCal Player of the Week
Khalil Abdul-Aziz, Orange Vista: Abdul-Aziz completed 27 of 31 passes (87.1%) for 379 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions and ran for a touchdown as Orange Vista beat Vista del Lago (Moreno Valley) 38-14.
Parker Alexander, Bonita: Alexander snatched two interceptions in a 31-7 win against Claremont.
Enrique Armas, Holtville: Armas rushed for 211 yards, three touchdowns, and a two-point conversion in a 36-7 rout of Brawley.
Landon Armenta, La Serna: Armenta hauled in four catches for four touchdowns and 133 yards in a 42-27 win against California (Whittier).
Elijah Ayala, San Juan Hills: Ayala ran for 102 yards and three touchdowns on just nine carries and had a 16-yard reception as the Stallions steamrolled Newport Harbor 47-10.
Brady Berg, Santa Fe Christian: Berg ran for two touchdowns, snagged an interception, and broke up two more passes in a 42-7 rout of La Jolla Country Day.
Ezrah Brown, Orange Lutheran: Brown completed all 17 of his passes for 368 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a touchdown too as the Lancers blew out JSerra 63-23.
Melion Busano, Eagle Rock: Busano ran for 92 yards and a touchdown, made a 24-yard touchdown catch, and returned a kickoff for a touchdown as Eagle Rock defeated rival Franklin (Los Angeles) 42-28.
Derek Carrillo, Century: Carrillo rumbled for 260 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries to help Century beat Savanna 34-13.
Romeo Carter, Point Loma: Carter went off for seven receptions, six touchdowns, and 214 yards to lift the Pointers to a 55-26 win against Madison.
Matteo Correia, Point Loma: Correia exploded for 13 tackles, 10 solo tackles, four tackles for loss, and two interceptions in a 55-26 victory over Madison.
Samuel Crawford, Bishop Diego: Crawford grabbed a pair of picks and made two catches for 29 yards to help the Cardinals to a 24-12 win against Simi Valley.
Jack Cunningham, Ventura: Cunningham reeled in 13 catches for 200 yards and three touchdowns in a 44-9 blowout of Royal.
Niles Davis, Westlake: Davis cooked up 11 catches for 193 yards and two touchdowns to help Westlake outlast Newbury Park 29-23 in overtime.
Ayden Edwards, Tustin: Edwards completed 15 of 18 passes (83.3%) for 298 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions as Tustin rinsed El Modena 51-7.
Honor Fa'alave-Johnson, Cathedral Catholic: Fa'alave-Johnson ran for 95 yards and a touchdown on one carry, had a 50-yard touchdown catch, and grabbed an interception in a 41-0 demolition of Scripps Ranch.
Aiden Farrell, La Jolla: Farrell powered the Vikings to a 36-33 victory against San Diego with 202 yards and two touchdowns rushing plus four catches for 46 yards.
Trey Gamble, Muir: Gamble completed 11 of 13 passes for 264 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions as the Mustangs crushed Burroughs (Burbank) 63-0, good for a whopping 164.3 passer rating.
Derek Garcia, Ventura: Garcia threw for 352 yards and six touchdowns to one pick on 22-26 completion (84.6%) in a 44-9 rout of Royal.
Travon Garrison, Damien: Garrison made six catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-14 victory against Upland.
Dominik Hernando, Palos Verdes: Hernando lifted the Sea Kings to a 40-14 victory against Lawndale by rumbling for 211 yards and two touchdowns.
Carlos Herrera, Van Nuys: Herrera led Van Nuys to a 46-0 blowout of Reseda with 287 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions on 14-20 completion (70%) and three carries for 48 yards and two touchdowns.
Ronnell Hewitt, Chaminade: Hewitt ran for 108 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries and led the Eagles with six tackles, five solo tackles, and two tackles for loss in a 37-27 win against Serra (Gardena).
Jordan Hicks, Mission Viejo: Hicks grabbed two picks and forced a fumble in a 34-16 win over rival San Clemente.
Jack Hurst, Laguna Beach: Hurst tossed for 320 yards, five touchdowns, and no picks to lead the Breakers to a 48-20 victory against Aliso Niguel.
Jaden Jefferson, Cathedral: Jefferson completed 14 of 18 passes (77.8%) for 378 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions to lead the Phantoms to a 49-28 win against Paraclete, and he ran eight times for 71 yards and a touchdown as well.
Jacob Jimenez, Chino Hills: Jimenez ran for 97 yards and three touchdowns to lift the Huskies to a 33-19 win against Etiwanda.
Taylor Johnson, Cajon: The USC commit led the Cowboys with 12 tackles, nine solo tackles, three TFLs, a forced fumble, and a 27-yard pick-six in a 54-0 destruction of Redlands East Valley.
Ty Johnson, Crean Lutheran: Johnson had five catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns to go with a pick-six as Crean Lutheran cruised past La Habra 56-21.
Caden Jones, Crean Lutheran: Jones steered the Saints to a 56-21 win against La Habra with 322 yards and five touchdowns without an interception on 19-22 completion (86.4%) plus five carries for 37 yards.
Lenny Ibarra, Los Alamitos: Ibarra ran for 216 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-22 Alpha League victory against Edison.
Brent Lanning, Apple Valley: Lanning threw for 274 yards and four touchdowns to zero interceptions and ran for a touchdown as well in a 34-6 rout of Burroughs (Ridgecrest).
Jaydin Lewis, Lincoln (San Diego): Lewis erupted for three sacks in a 56-0 annihilation of University City.
Isaiah Lucero, Northview: Lucero recorded five catches for 164 yards and three touchdowns plus an interception as the Vikings rolled past San Dimas 42-7.
Ben Major, M.L. King: Major helped the Wolves outduel Temecula Valley 47-39 with 250 yards and two touchdowns rushing.
Koa Malau'ulu, St. John Bosco: Malau'ulu guided the Braves to a 27-14 win against Santa Margarita for first place in the Trinity League by completing 17 of 21 passes (81%) for four touchdowns and 289 yards to zero interceptions.
Jeremiah McCarty, Beaumont: McCarty recorded two picks that he returned for a combined 82 yards and one touchdown in a 57-10 dismantling of Yucaipa.
Steven Moore, La Sierra: Moore completed 22 of 36 passes (61.1%) for 464 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Eagles to a 52-28 win against Jurupa Valley.
Ethan Mundt, Troy: Mundt ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns as the Warriors routed Canyon (Anaheim) 37-0.
Somto Nwude, Crespi: Nwude went off for four tackles for loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble to beat Salesian (Los Angeles) 31-16.
Antonio Reasby, Charter Oak: Reasby had 10 catches for 212 yards and two touchdowns plus a rushing touchdown in a 41-20 victory against Los Osos.
Liam Pasten, Eagle Rock: Pasten completed 16 of 23 passes (69.6%) for 290 yards and four touchdowns with no picks to help lead the Eagles to a 42-28 win over rival Franklin (Los Angeles).
Nathan Radwich, Ventura: Radwich amassed five TFLs and three sacks in Ventura's 44-9 win against Royal.
Vaughn Reinert, Torrance: Reinert ran for 218 yards and two touchdowns and also had a receiving touchdown and an interception in a 48-28 victory against South (Torrance).
Ceasar Reyes, Garfield: Reyes, who was named Player of the Week in Week Five, ran for 420 yards and four touchdowns in a 39-28 win against South Gate to clinch at least a share of the Eastern League title.
Charlie Reyes, Aquinas: Reyes completed 10 of 11 passes (90.9%) for 239 yards and three touchdowns and ran five times for 36 yards and a touchdown to help the Falcons to a 49-7 rout of Heritage Christian.
Oscar Rios, Downey (Downey): The 4-star Arizona commit threw for 295 yards and five touchdowns without an interception and ran six times for 91 yards in a 48-9 blowout of Paramount.
Quinn Roth, La Costa Canyon: Roth threw for 268 yards and four touchdowns on just nine pass attempts, completing seven of them (77.8%) without an interception in a 36-14 win against El Camino (Oceanside).
Jeremiah Salvant, Tustin: Salvant had four catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns plus one carry for 45 yards in a 51-7 blowout of El Modena.
Trevor Schneider, Chaparral: Schneider ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns and had three catches for 34 yards and a touchdown as the Pumas defeated Norco 56-28.
Ryder Smith, Great Oak: Smith ran for 204 yards and made two touchdowns catches plus six tackles in a 50-24 victory against Santiago (Corona).
Talon Spencer, Capistrano Valley: Spencer completed 10 of 13 passes (76.9%) for 135 yards and two touchdowns and ran nine times for 96 yards and two more touchdowns in a 41-7 blowout of Trabuco Hills.
Brady Stringham, Laguna Beach: Stringham made 10 catches for 134 yards and three touchdowns, broke up three passes, and returned three kickoffs a combined 76 yards in a 48-20 win versus Aliso Niguel.
Davion Swan-Satterwhite, Apple Valley: Swan-Satterwhite recorded 10 catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns as the Sun Devils rolled past Burroughs (Ridgecrest) 34-6.
Jerod Terry, Sierra Canyon: Terry ran for 241 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries to lead the Trailblazers to a 45-10 rout of Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks).
Journee Tonga, Leuzinger: Tonga ran seven times for 75 yards and two touchdowns, completed two of four passes for 43 yards, and ran for five two-point conversions in a 47-7 rout of Culver City.
Paul Turner, Birmingham: Turner had game-highs of 122 receiving yards, three touchdown catches, and four pass break-ups in a 69-14 beatdown of Taft (Woodland Hills).
Dane Weber, Chaparral: Weber completed 20 of 22 passes (90.9%) for 339 yards and four touchdowns and ran seven times for 101 yards and two touchdowns in a 56-28 win against Norco.
Jacob Webster, Oak Hills: Webster threw for 211 yards and four touchdowns with two carries for 46 yards and a touchdown in a 63-6 domination of Sultana.
Eli Woodard, Chaparral: Woodard grabbed four receptions for 107 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-28 victory against Norco.
More California high school football news
- Ferndale's Prescott Langer named SN's NorCal Player of the Week (Week 8)
- Vote for SN's SoCal Player of the Week (Week 9)
- Vote for SN's NorCal Player of the Week (Week 9)
- Vote for SN's Team of the Week (Week 9)
- California high school football top 25 rankings (Week 10)
- SN's CIF-Southern Section football top 25 (Week 10)