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FOOTBALL

DWIGHT TARDY

Sr., Santa Fe Springs St. Paul

Then: His 1,750 yards rushing as a sophomore were only 23 shy of the school season record. Tardy’s junior year wasn’t so fortuitous: He sat out five games because of two injuries to his ankle, including a fracture suffered against La Canada St. Francis in Week 10 that kept him out of three playoff games.

Now: Tardy (5 feet 11, 200 pounds) plays tailback, strong safety and returns kickoffs. On Friday, he rushed 18 times for 320 yards and nine touchdowns, on runs of nine, 42, 41, 63, five, seven, 46, 15 and six yards. He also recovered a fumble and returned two kickoffs for 101 yards. Tardy’s heroics helped provide a 77-35 Division III playoff victory over Crescenta Valley, which gave Coach Marijon Ancich a state-record 339 victories since 1961. It was the most rushing touchdowns in the state since at least 1929. Tardy has 35 touchdowns -- 33 of them rushing -- and has 2,063 yards in 211 carries for a 9.7 average. He also has two interceptions and three fumble recoveries.

Quote: “I’ve seen a lot of guys play, and there have been some sensational backs, but it was unbelievable,” Ancich said of Tardy’s recent performance. “Dwight had an incredible evening. He ran like Superman.”

-- Martin Henderson

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GIRLS’ TENNIS

McCALL JONES

Fr., Rancho Santa Margarita Tesoro

Then: Ranked as high as No. 22 in the country in the U.S. Tennis Assn. girls’ 14 division in 2003, Jones is now the top-ranked player in the Southern California Tennis Assn. girls’ 14 division and has jumped to No. 6 nationally. Her rise comes after runner-up finishes in singles and doubles at the USTA Easter Bowl/Super National Championships in April. She also won the girls’ 16 division at the Roxy Open in May and the SCTA sectional tournament in June.

Now: The Pacific Coast League singles runner-up to Laguna Beach’s Claire Rietsch, Jones led Tesoro (16-4) to the Southern Section Division I quarterfinals in team playoffs, and she beat Irvine Woodbridge’s Ashley Williams, 6-1, 6-0, Saturday to advance to the fourth round of the Southern Section individual tournament, which continues Dec. 2 and 3 at SeaCliff Country Club.

Quote: “If there’s been any girls’ tennis player at Tesoro who could turn pro someday, McCall is the one,” Coach Mark Mooney said.

-- Lauren Peterson

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BOYS’ CROSS-COUNTRY

NICK MOSEY

Sr., Anaheim Servite

Then: Took up cross-country as a freshman and dropped basketball the same year. Made a two-minute improvement as a sophomore, finishing second in the Serra League, eighth in Southern Section Division III and 23rd in state. Won league as a junior, finished third in Division III and 11th in state. Sat out the track and field season last spring because of a stress fracture in his left foot.

Now: Defended his league title earlier this month and Saturday won the Division III title in 15 minutes 7 seconds on the 2.91-mile course at Mt. San Antonio College. His eight-second victory over Colin Hacker of Lompoc Cabrillo helped the Friars finish runner-up to Cabrillo in the team competition, a remarkable feat considering the school did not even have enough runners to field a varsity team when Mosey was a freshman. Servite finished 11th in the state finals last year and will be making its second consecutive appearance Saturday at Woodward Park in Fresno.

Quote: “I wanted to get under 15:10,” Mosey said. “I was trying to stay with [Hacker] the first half of the race and then pull away; that’s usually my plan.”

-- Dan Arritt