VOTE: SJ County Martin Dentistry's Football Week 4 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, Lodi, Manteca, Tracy, Linden and Escalon after their Week 4 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. 1. There are no voting restrictions, so vote now and vote often.

Here are the Week 4 nominees (athletes listed in alphabetical order by last name):

Mason Addington, middle

linebacker, Tokay

Tokay’s Mason Addington, right, reached for a pass In front of Lodi’s Bodie Hill during a variety football game at Tokay High School in Lodi on Aug. 22, 2025. The pass was incomplete. Tokay won 31-7. CLIFFORD OTO/THE STOCKTON RECORD

Good luck keeping Mason Addington away from the football. The Tokay senior recorded 15 tackles, six solo and nine assisted, in a 42-14 win over McNair after piling up 18 the week before and 20 the week before that. With 71 total tackles, Addington leads the entire Sac-Joaquin Section.

Ares Araujo, quarterback, Millennium

Zero wins last year. Two in each of the two seasons before that. Ares Araujo has already helped Millennium surpass all three. The senior went 5-of-9 for 235 yards and two touchdowns while rushing 13 times for 144 yards and two more scores in a 48-22 win over Kairos Public, moving the Falcons to 3-1.

Fallon Barquet, defensive end/outside linebacker, Lincoln

Lincoln’s Rylan Tuuaga, left, and Fallon Barquet tackle Turlock’s Armani Alvarado during the Sac-Joaquin Section football bowl game at Lincoln’s Spanos Stadium in Stockton on Nov. 7, 2025. Lincoln won 54-15.

First overtime solved nothing. Fallon Barquet made sure the second one did. Downey got the ball first, but last year's TCAL Defensive Player of the Year ended the possession with his fourth sack of the night on fourth down, setting up Lincoln's winning score in a 42-36 victory and its first double-overtime game in 15 years.

Jake Ferreira, athlete, Escalon

Escalon’s Jake Ferreira evades Ripon’s Ben Medhurst during a varsity football game at Engel Field in Escalon on Sept. 25, 2026. Escalon won 38-7.

Jake Ferreira experienced the 38-8 loss to Ripon Christian a year ago. This time, he helped Escalon turn it completely around. The junior recorded his first 100-yard rushing game with a career-high 133 yards and a touchdown on just seven carries, and added a 21-yard touchdown catch as the Cougars erupted for 38 first-half points in a 38-7 win.

Ryder Harmison, running back, Merrill West

West’s Ryder Harmison, left, runs his way to a touchdown during a varsity football game at McNair High in Stockton on Sept. 26, 2025. McNair won 40-21.

Last season's 246 rushing yards and three touchdowns are already distant memories for Ryder Harmison. The Merrill West senior has exploded for 878 yards and 13 touchdowns through four games, adding 182 yards and five scores on 25 carries in a 43-6 win over Weston Ranch. He's scored at least twice in every game after rushing for 274, 310 and 108 yards in the previous three.

Albie Menchaca, running back/defensive back, East Union

No matter the score, Albie Menchaca made something happen nearly every time he touched the ball. The East Union senior ran for a career-high 154 yards and a touchdown on only 13 carries in a 47-28 loss to Placer, giving him back-to-back 100-yard games after entering the stretch with just 62 rushing yards.

Nikko Juarez, running back, Manteca

The Manteca High Buffalos Nikko Juarez runs through the East Union Lancers Anthony Oteri Friday October 17, 2025. Manteca won 56-20.

Nikko Juarez already owns Manteca's career rushing record. Now he's making sure the next person has quite the chase. Two weeks after passing 2023 graduate Blake Nichelson's mark of 4,078 yards, the senior added 142 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries in a 47-7 win over Patterson.

E'Aiden McCullough, athlete, Chavez

Freshman football a year ago. No touchdowns through his first four varsity games. Then E'Aiden McCullough broke out. The Chavez sophomore scored three different ways in a 43-23 win over Bear Creek, rushing three times for 21 yards and a touchdown, catching one pass for 11 yards and a score, and returning two kicks for 119 yards with another touchdown.

Isaac Ruvalcaba, running back, Linden

Every game this season, Isaac Ruvalcaba has one-upped his previous career high in rushing yards. His latest might be the craziest yet, with the Linden senior rushing for 149 yards and three touchdowns on just six carries in a 35-7 win over Riverbank. It was his fourth straight 100-yard game and fourth of his career.

Elijah Walker, quarterback, Chavez

Chavez’s quarterback Elijah Walker during a varsity football game at Engel Field in Escalon on Sept. 4, 2026. Chavez won 27-22.

Make that seven career 300-yard passing games and 10 with at least four touchdowns for Elijah Walker. The Chavez junior went 21-of-29 for 304 yards, four touchdowns and one interception in a 43-21 win over Bear Creek, moving him within 131 yards of 6,000 career passing yards and one touchdown shy of 80.

Mason Zeer, running back/linebacker, Tokay

Tokay’s Mason Zeer runs the ball up the middle during a varsity football game at Tokay’s Hubbard Field in Lodi on Sept. 18, 2026. Stagg won 22-20.

Maybe holding Mason Zeer under 100 all-purpose yards really was a one-time thing. One week after it happened for the first time in his varsity career, the Tokay junior erupted for 186 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries, including a 99-yard run, while adding six tackles and a sack in a 42-14 win over McNair.