VOTE: SJ County Martin Dentistry's Football Week 8 Athlete of the Week

Friday nights are back, and so is The Record's weekly search for the top high school football performance in San Joaquin County.Each week during the 2026 season, one standout player will be voted the Martin Dentistry Football Athlete of the Week.The choice belongs to you, the readers.This week's ballot features 11 nominees from Stockton, Manteca, Lodi, Tracy and Ripon after their Week 8 performances.Everyone is encouraged to submit nominations for the upcoming week by emailing dackermann@gannett.com.The poll at the bottom of this page closes at noon Thursday, Oct. 29. There are no voting restrictions, so vote now and vote often.Here are the Week 8 nominees (athletes listed in alphabetical order by last name):Christian Adame, defensive end, StaggFour straight shutouts don't happen without a dominant defense, and Christian Adame made sure Stagg kept its streak alive. The junior defensive end recorded six tackles, four of which were sacks, and forced a fumble in a 19-0 win over Bear Creek. He entered the matchup with just 15 tackles and one sack this season.Darrion Brown, running back, East UnionA debut featuring 147 rushing yards and three touchdowns was quite the introduction for Darrion Brown. But after totaling just 74 yards over his next four games, the junior had been waiting for another chance to shine. He made it count, carrying the ball 23 times for 139 yards and a touchdown in East Union's 49-6 victory over Mountain House.Jeremiah Brown, athlete, St. Mary'sThree years lost to injuries. Another torn ACL during a championship run. For Jeremiah Brown, the road back to the field has been anything but easy. Yet after rushing for just 22 yards through five games this season, the St. Mary's fifth-year senior broke through with 96 yards on 16 carries and two catches for 25 yards in a crucial 18-15 win over Edison.Gunnar Fay, wide receiver/linebacker, East UnionFour straight losses can take a toll on any team. For East Union, though, Gunnar Fay helped turn things around in a big way. The junior hauled in three catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns while adding an interception on defense in a 49-6 victory over Mountain House. He now has 593 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns this season.Taevion Gibson, wide receiver/ defensive back, McNairNot every game needs to be a career night for Taevion Gibson to make his presence felt. The McNair junior hauled in four passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns and grabbed an interception in a 71-0 rout of Weston Ranch. Gibson's breakout season now stands at 876 receiving yards and 13 total touchdowns.Darnell Holmes, running back, StaggSometimes, one player can make all the difference, and Stagg found that in Darnell Holmes. While his teammates combined for just 48 passing yards and minus-1 rushing yard, the senior carried the offense with 140 yards and three touchdowns in a 19-0 win over Bear Creek. Holmes now has 3,261 career rushing yards and 55 touchdowns.Nikko Juarez, running back, MantecaWith the 107th edition of the Manteca-Oakdale rivalry turning into one of the closest battles in years, the Buffaloes needed their all-time leading rusher to deliver. Nikko Juarez did just that, rushing for 141 yards and five touchdowns on 21 carries in a 43-35 victory. The senior pushed his career totals to 4,717 rushing yards and 74 touchdowns.Shawn San, quarterback, McNairA 71-point victory meant Shawn San wasn't needed on the field for long, but the McNair quarterback still found a way to produce. The junior completed 9-of-10 passes for 108 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Weston Ranch. San now has 2,193 passing yards, 30 total touchdowns and just one interception this season.Andrew Shaw, quarterback, RiponThe odds weren't exactly in Ripon's favor. Needing two wins in its final three games to reach the playoffs, the Indians weren't favored in two of them. But Andrew Shaw helped secure the first, throwing for 129 yards on 5-of-10 passing and rushing for 28 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-21 upset of back-to-back state champion Sonora.Mason Zeer, running back/linebacker, TokayOn paper, 42 rushing yards might not seem like much, especially for Mason Zeer. But the Tokay junior turned three of his seven carries into touchdowns in a 62-0 win over Franklin, adding four tackles and his first career interception. Zeer, who matched his career low in rushing yards, now has 734 yards and 17 touchdowns this season.David Wyatt, wide receiver/defensive back, KimballEight games into the season, Kimball is still looking for its first victory, but David Wyatt keeps finding ways to produce. The junior turned five carries into 88 yards and caught two passes for 54 yards and a touchdown in a 48-6 loss to Lodi. His season totals now stand at 810 yards and six touchdowns.VOTE HEREThis article originally appeared on The Record: VOTE: SJ County Martin Dentistry's Football Week 8 Athlete of the Week