Friday Night Lights: A Look Into the Future of Cal Football - Part III
How Cal Football's 2026 commits performed in their Friday (or Thursday/Saturday) high school football games - with lots of big wins this time around!
While the present continues to draw eyeballs and generate headlines in Berkeley, the future of Cal football seems to be really rounding itself out as the high school football season is now moving at full speed. Cal’s 2026 commits saw easily their most productive week yet in the “Friday Night Lights” series thus far, with standout performances and improvements from Cal’s recruits and huge victories against top-tier opponents on the largest high school football stages.
Let’s get right into it, shall we!?
Taimane Purcell - Kamehameha (Honolulu, HI) – Bye Week!
Victor Santino - Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, CA) - DNP: Season Forfeited.
Nemyah Telona - De La Salle (Concord, CA) – Nemyah Telona and the De La Salle Spartans defeated the Saint Francis Lancers in commanding fashion with a 40-0 shutout win in Mountain View. Telona recorded 4 total tackles (1 solo, 3 assisted) for a loss of 1 yard while also picking up his first sack of the season against QB Drew Cumby.
Cam Brooks - Thomas County Central (Thomasville, GA) – The Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets improved to 5-0 and are No. 8 in the state of Georgia on MaxPreps as they continue to steamroll their opponents and outscore them 295-28. Cam Brooks had a quieter day compared to the loud Yellow Jacket defense, picking up 1 tackle (1 solo) for a loss of 1 yard in the 49-0 win over the Bainbridge Bearcats.
Kamo'i Huihui-White - St. Louis (Honolulu, HI) – Bye Week!
Nainoa Lopes - St. Louis (Honolulu, HI) – Bye Week!
EJ Morgan - Central East (Fresno, CA) – EJ Morgan brought in 6 receptions for 64 yards in the Central East Bengals’ 55-17 victory over the Edison Vikings, averaging 10.7 yards per reception and bringing in a longest catch of 16 yards. The senior is currently ranked No. 6 in the Tri-River region in receiving yards with 231.
Tyree Sams - Clovis North (Clovis, CA) – The Clovis North Broncos are coming off a 53-14 win over The Central Valley Christian (Visalia, CA) Cavaliers, where future Golden Bear Tyree Sams had himself a game to remember. Sams Brought in 88 yards on 6 receptions, including a touchdown in the 1st quarter, AS WELL as a fumble recovery on defense after his teammate David Williams forced the ball out. The senior WR/DB Tyree Sams and the Clovis North Broncos host my former high school’s rival, San Ramon Valley, on Friday, the 19th – so please, do what needs to be done, Tyree.
Ernest Nunley - Western (Anaheim, CA) – Playing both sides of the ball for Western, Senior WR/DB Ernest Nunley saw one single target play on offense that he took to the house for a 75-yard touchdown reception, one of 5 TD passes on the day for Pioneers QB Chance Thomas (who only had 10 completions). On defense, it was nothing but business as usual for Nunley. While in the secondary, the cornerback deflected 3 passes and intercepted 1, which he took back for an additional 12 yards. Nunley’s 4 interceptions on the season lead the team and are 18th in the state of California. (TD video footage via West Coast Prep, Los Angeles)
Jonathan McKinley II - Centennial (Corona, CA) – Mater Dei hate watchers got a treat from Centennial as the California-ranked No. 3 Huskies beat the No.4 Monarchs 43-36 after almost blowing a 33-point lead, but went on to score 10 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to secure the huge win at home. McKinley II was a central piece to the Huskies’ victory, as the Senior LB brought in 5 total tackles (3 solo, 2 assisted) for a loss of 3.5 yards, as well as an amazing 3.5 sacks and a QB hurry against the Wisconsin Badgers’ 3-Star QB-commit, Ryan Hopkins.
Esaiah Wong - Kailua (Kailua, HI) – The Surfriders lost a low-scoring close game to Waianae after their 50-3 blowout win against Kaiser on September 6th. The Kailua offensive line, spearheaded by Wong, was able to help generate 142 rushing yards for their RBs, including a Mellor TD, but the poor passing offense saw quick 3-and-outs for the offense and not much to rave home about.
Jaxon Pyatt - Arvada West (Arvada, CO) – Arvada West won an overtime battle against Legend High School, which has given Cal-commit Jaxon Pyatt even more of a stage to shine on. The senior LB made 13 total tackles (9 solo, 4 assisted) on Saturday, September 13th, for a loss of 1 yard, and currently leads the Wildcats/No. 6 team in the state of Colorado in tackles, averaging 8.8 per game.
Elisha Faamatuainu - Murrieta Valley (Murrieta, CA) – Faamatuainu and the OLine were lights out against the cross-town Murrieta Mesa Rams, helping generate 236 rushing yards, 4 rushing TDs, create enough time/pocket space for QBs Mielke II and Isaia to throw for a combined 241 yards and 4 TDs, while allowing 0 sacks. ABSOLUTE HOGS.
Brady Palmer - Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, CA) – Bye Week!
Jayden Crowder - Santa Margarita Catholic (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) – Bye Week!
Artem Korchagin - Thomas County Central (Thomasville, GA) – As part of the Thomas County Central High School Yellow Jackets’ 49-0 beatdown of the Bainbridge Bearcats, Artem Korchagin and the O-Line helped generate 206 rushing yards, 3 rushing TDs, created enough pass protection for 187 passing yards in 11 completions, as well as 3 passing TDs. The Yellow Jacket pass protection was also lights out all game, not allowing a single sack in 20:43 possession time.
Rocky Cummings - Carlsbad (Carlsbad, CA) – Carlsbad continues to tear up California as the No. 22 team in the state as Rocky Cummings and the Lancers improved to 4-0 after beating the Poway Titans 42-22. The senior TE/LB had a very productive game on both sides of the
ball, bringing in 1 lone reception for a 2-yard touchdown and recording 3 solo tackles on defense for a loss of 1 yard – plus 1 sack on the evening! Cummings also forced a fumble late in the game as the Lancers improved to 4-0, and automatically moved to 5-0 as their matchup against Valley Center was ruled a FF win.
Frank Fanua - Mount Miguel (Spring Valley, CA) – Last week, the Fanua family laid “Big Frank” Fanua, the father of Cal-commit Frank Fanua, to rest. Before highlighting the amazing talent and skill displayed by Fanua in his game against the Torrey Pines Falcons, please consider taking the time to donate to the Fauna family if you can, as they must now navigate their lives without someone they all loved so dearly. Fanua and the Matadors won a nailbiter 14-10 over Torrey Pines, with Fanua picking up a .5 sack, 6 assisted tackles, all for a loss of 1.5 yards. Fanua is currently 3rd in the Grossmont – Hills region in sacks with 1.5 (.5 / game)
Deon Jackson - Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, CA) – Bye Week!
Luca Wolf - NFL Academy (London, EN) – NFL Academy, London defeated the Düsseldorf Panthers 35-3, but did not upload final stats and the box score for the game.
Kingston “Lucky” Schirmer - Centennial (Corona, CA) – In Centennial’s 43-36 win over Mater Dei, Kingston “Lucky” Schirmer had 4 total tackles (1 solo, 3 assisted) with 2 deflected passes. His brother also had a great game, picking up 3 assisted tackles and a .5 sack for .5 yards (s) tackle for loss.
(Note: Video Highlights via Hudl)
EDIT: Nemyah Telona recorded a sack against Drew Cumby, not Andrew Franzino!
Just saw this: https://www.si.com/college/cal/football/lb-broncs-baker-commits-to-cal-for-the-class-of-2027-