Zeke Payne was named the Co-Offensive Player of the Year. Photo by Hugh Cox (taken 10/2/2021).

Posted: Nov 17, 2021

Payne co-offensive player of the year, 16 other Comets honored

SAN MARCOS, CA (11/16/2021) -- The Southern California Football Association has released their All-Conference accolades for the 2021 football season and 17 Comets found their names on the list.

Standout quarterback, Zeke Payne (Rancho Bernardo), was named the Co-Offensive Player of the Year and was also named to the 1st Team, Offense. Payne led the conference in passing yards a game with 247.1. He finished the season with 2471 yards and 22 touchdowns. He had back-to-back games with six touchdowns, Mt. San Antonio College and El Camino College, respectively. In the final game of the regular season, Payne threw for 431 yards and was 28-39 for a completion percentage of 71.8. Payne's knowledge of the game was on display all season, knowing when to throw the ball and when to keep it himself to get the first down.

Sophomore wide receiver Malachi Russell (El Camino) received the 1st Team, Offense honor. He had 409 yards and five touchdowns in six games this season. He had a season-high 160 yards against Mt. San Antonio College on nine receptions.

Running back Tawee Walker (Centennial, AZ) dominated the run game for the Comets this season averaging 76.1 yards a game to receive a 1st Team, Offense award. He finished with 761 yards and seven touchdowns. He recorded 176 yards against Cerritos College on 23 carries. Walker also picked up 189 receiving yards. He had 44 yards against San Diego Mesa on two receptions for a long of 35 yards.

Jalen Dye, a freshman defensive back from Cathedral Catholic, was the lone Comet on the 1st Team, Defense list. Dye recorded 49 tackles in 10 games. He had 12 against El Camino in the last game of the regular season. He also had one forced fumble against San Diego Mesa College to along with two interceptions that night.

Tyler Pye received 1st Team, All-Purpose for his efforts on kickoff returns, punt returns and receiving yards. He totaled 871 all-purpose yards this season. He had 95 receiving yards against Riverside City College to go along with four punt returns and 69 kickoff return yards for a total of 168, a season-high for Pye.

Placekicker/punter Landon Ogles (Rancho Bernardo), was named to both the 2nd Team, Placekicker and 2nd Team, Punter for this tremendous efforts this season. Ogles broke a Palomar record and tied a CCCAA football field goal made record when he nailed a 56-yarder at Riverside City College. The next week, he nailed a 50-yard attempt. Ogles finished the season 13-16 for field goals and only missed three extra points this season. Ogles pinned 13 punts inside the 20-yard line this season and had a long of 67 yards against College of the Canyons.

Freshman wide receiver Brandon Johnson (El Camino) was Payne's go-to this season for the long ball and his efforts paid off earning him a 2nd Team, Offense award. Johnson finished the season with 544 yards in 10 games and seven touchdowns. This season, he had four games where his longest receptions were over 50 yards, including a 75-yard reception from Payne against El Camino for a touchdown. He finished that game with 119 yards on four receptions and two touchdowns.

Defensive back Rickie Davis Jr. (Arbor View), a freshman from Las Vegas, made his presence known in every game this season was given the 2nd Team, Defense accolade. He finished the year with 37 tackles, four interceptions, one forced fumble and three pass breakups. In the very first game of the season, Davis Jr., recorded two interceptions for 65 yards and one touchdown. Two weeks later he picked the ball again. Against Chaffey College, he had two tackles, a fumble recovery, a pass breakup and an interception returned 30 yards for a touchdown.

Kris Sanchez (La Costa Canyon), also named 2nd Team, Defense, recorded 47 tackles this season and two interceptions.He had a season-high nine tackles against El Camino and two tackles for loss for five yards. He had five pass breakups on the season.

Linebacker Khalid Walker (Mojave) finished the season with 46 tackles, one interception and two sacks to make the 2nd Team, Defense. He had seven tackles against Cerritos College, one sack for five yards and one tackle for loss for five yards. He head a season-high nine tackles and one sack against Southwestern College.

Defensive lineman Emmit Vaiese (Saint Louis School, HI) had 19 tackles and three sacks in 10 games for the Comets. The speedy Vaiese was able to get past the offensive linemen of Chaffey College to get to the quarterback for a sack of five yards. At Riverside, he recorded two tackles for loss totaling eight yards. Vaiese was awarded the 2nd Team, Defense accolade.

On the opposite side of the defensive line, Sid Weddington (Valley Center) recorded 41 tackles and two sacks in 10 games for the Comets, earning the 2nd Team, Defense honor. Weddington's three tackles against El Camino were one sack for 10 yards and two tackles for loss totaling 13 yards. He had a season-high seven tackles against Victor Valley and had six against Chaffey College.

The third piece of the defensive line, Shiloh Seau (Mission Hills), earned an Honorable Mention award. Seau finished the season with 13 tackles in eight games. He had a season-high four tackles against Mt. San Antonio College, including one tackle for loss for one yard.

Freshman linebacker, Luke Manos (Rancho Bernardo), finished the season with 55 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble, to earn an Honorable Mention award. Manos came up big for the Comets against El Camino College totaling 10 tackles, one sack for nine yards and four tackles for loss for 25 yards. Manos led the team in tackles this season.

In a year where the offensive line struggled at times, the unit came together and protected their quarterback when it mattered the most. The line is the heartbeat of the team's offensive success and four Comet linemen were honored for their hard work and determination this season. Jonas Woods (1st Team)(Greenfield, WI), Jared Furubotton (Honorable Mention)(Chaparral), Daniel Shelly (Honorable Mention)(Carlsbad) and Jude Steffen (Honorable Mention)(La Costa Canyon) were this season's winners.

A huge congratulations to all of these Comets on an amazing season!

Full List of Palomar College Honors

Co-Offensive Player of the Year