ATHLETE OF THE WEEK : After Impressing Nearly Everyone Else, White Wins Over Southern Section Chief

So it’s basketball season. Football is dead and buried. But reflect one last time on the accomplishments of Crespi’s Russell White.

The sophomore tailback finished a record-breaking season by rushing for 256 yards and 4 touchdowns on 19 carries in Friday night’s Big Five Conference championship game at Anaheim Stadium. And White was three days shy of his 16th birthday.

“I will never forget doing something like that,” he said. “Even if I try to forget it, I won’t be able to. But if I do, I’ll always have that championship ring on my finger to help remind me.”

White, who finished with 2,354 yards and 31 touchdowns, has impressed everyone who has seen him play. He added another fan after he led the Celts to the 49-14 victory over previously unbeaten St. John Bosco.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 10th-grader that good,” said Stan Thomas, commissioner of the Southern Section. “And I mean ever . Keep in mind that I have been involved with the Southern Section for 25 years and I also played against Hugh McElhenny.”

If White continues his pace the next two seasons, he will shatter Southern Section records, rushing for 7,062 yards and scoring 564 points.