Archbishop Riordan WR Judge Nash named The Sporting News Northern California Player of the Week for Week 5

Lance Smith

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Archbishop Riordan WR Judge Nash named The Sporting News Northern California Player of the Week for Week 5 image

Bewater Photography

How good has Harvard commit Judge Nash been through five games as a senior for Archbishop Riordan?

So good that merely calling him one of California's top breakout stars at wide receiver doesn't even fit the bill, although it's certainly true.

Simply put, Nash has been one of the absolute best wide receivers in California high school football in 2025. Period.

He's up to 19 catches for 598 yards and 11 touchdowns, which means he's averaging 3.8 catches for 119.6 yards and 2.2 touchdowns per game. And his Crusaders are 5-0 and ranked 12th in the state while averaging 44 PPG after facing McClymonds, Monte Vista (Danville), Pittsburg, Saint Francis (Mountain View), and Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep. Archbishop Riordan is ranked first in the CIF-Central Coast Section by a margin and third in Northern California (including the Central Section) by The Sporting News.

In Week Five, Nash helped lead Archbishop Riordan to a 47-28 win over Saint Francis to start West Catholic play with four catches for career-highs of 150 yards and three touchdowns. And despite their 19-point margin of victory, the Crusaders needed all of his contributions to secure the victory. He caught his first touchdown with 8:18 left in the first quarter to put Riordan up 13-0, but Saint Francis surged to a 21-20 halftime lead and 28-20 lead in the third quarter. Nash struck again with 4:44 left in the third to cut Riordan's deficit to 28-26, and he scored the go-ahead touchdown with 8:45 left in the game. For his Sep. 27 dominance, Nash was voted by fans as The Sporting News Northern California Player of the Week for Week Five by a landslide with 405 votes.

Nash stayed hot in Week Six with three catches for 132 yards and a touchdown to help the Crusaders to a 56-30 win over Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep and a 5-0 (2-0) record.

 

Nash's remarkably productive senior year might come as a surprise if you only look at his junior year production. In 10 games in 2024, he was fourth on the Crusaders with 22 receptions and three touchdown catches and fifth with 287 receiving yards, which was almost identical to his 2023 production in five games. But he wasn't at 100% health for much of the season, and Riordan had one of the premier receiver corps in California even without Nash in a starring role.

Watch the film from his best (and healthiest) moments as an underclassmen – plus his offseason work – and his potential was obvious. That's why before this season even started he was already a 3-star recruit and recipient of 17 D-1 offers including Ole Miss, Arkansas, Iowa State, Washington, Duke, UNLV, and of course, Harvard.

Now up to 6-1, 180, Nash says he's healthier and also stronger in 2025, and he sure looks the part as he outruns, out-jumps, and outmuscles many of Northern California's top defensive backs through heavy coverage on a regular basis. Nash and QB Michael Mitchell Jr., a high 3-star Vanderbilt commit, will be deeply entrenched in the running for status as the California's top passing battery if they continue near their current pace for the rest of the season.

Judge Nash Riordan football

Archbishop Riordan hosts St. Ignatius on Saturday and has the WCAL's other 2-0 teams, Archbishop Mitty and Serra (San Mateo), to close the regular season on Nov. 1 and No. 7, respectively. 

Voting results for Week 5 NorCal Player of the Week

Meet the candidates for Week 5 NorCal Player of the Week

Jaxon Bell, Liberty (Brentwood): Bell led the Lions to a 31-13 win against Clayton Valley Charter with 147 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries in addition to a punt return touchdown.

Jaret Bridwell, Red Bluff: Bridwell went off for 21 tackles, 11 solo tackles, three tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery as Red Bluff defeated Orland 35-14.

Max Bringgold, Sutter: Bringgold totaled six catches for 103 yards and a touchdown, one rushing touchdown, a rushing two-point conversion, and one interception in a 62-12 beatdown of Dixon.

Troy Bowens, Sutter: Bowens had two catches for 45 yards and a touchdown, 11 tackles, seven QB-hurries, and four tackles for loss including a sack in the Huskies' 62-12 rout of Dixon.

Ja'Khari Burrell, Central Valley Christian: Burrell ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries in a 49-7 blowout of Mission College Prep.

Brayden Camara, East Union: Camara helped the Lancers stay unbeaten with a 27-21 win over Patterson by rushing for 50 yards and two touchdowns, forcing two fumbles, and recovering a fumble.

Jayden Crane, Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep: In less than three quarters of action in a 71-14 dismantling of Bellarmine, Crane completed 14 of 17 passes (82.4%) for 257 yards and five touchdowns.

Teddy Dacey, Menlo-Atherton: Dacey tossed for 312 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions on 20-31 completion (64.5%) to beat San Mateo 42-28.

Tommy Devany, Buchanan (Clovis): Devany turned in a rare stat line by completing all 16 of his passes for 265 yards and rushing for a touchdown as well to lead the Bears to a 49-13 win over Paso Robles.

Lazaro Faraj-Washington, Archbishop Mitty: Faraj-Washington lifted Mitty to a 37-23 win over St. Ignatius with 227 yards and three touchdowns rushing.

Jack Freehill, Menlo School: Freehill guided the Knights to a 50-28 win against Northgate with 182 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions on 13-20 completion (65%) plus seven carries for 75 yards and two touchdowns.

Grayson Gaines, St. Joseph (Santa Maria): Gaines lifted the Knights to a 38-7 victory against Shafter by running for 105 yards and three touchdowns.

Darren Goodman, Redding Christian: In a 55-0 annihilation of Mt. Shasta, Goodman amassed three catches for 151 yards and three touchdowns, a receiving two-point conversion, six tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

Isaiah Flores, Garces Memorial: Flores recorded six catches for 56 yards and a touchdown, one interception, and one forced fumble in a 38-6 win against Righetti.

Jayden Harris, Manteca: Harris snagged two interceptions in a 49-7 blowout of Central Catholic.

Adrian Huerta, Golden West: Huerta hauled in eight catches for 182 yards and three touchdowns and also broke up three passes in a 32-3 rout of Tehachapi.

Cammarri Jackson, Merced: Jackson rushed for 124 yards and four touchdowns on 10 carries as Merced crushed Enochs 56-12.

Gage Jones, Live Oak (Morgan Hill): Jones led the Acorns to a 36-21 triumph over Pioneer (San Jose) by rushing for 235 yards and three touchdowns. 

Nikko Juarez, Manteca: Juarez had 18 carries for three touchdowns and a career-high 293 yards as Manteca dominated Central Catholic 49-7 in VOL play.

Henry Lasker, Monte Vista (Danville): Lasker powered the Mustangs to a 59-36 victory versus College Park with 210 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

Aidan Lopez, Casa Roble: Lopez threw for 220 yards and five touchdown passes, one apiece to five different receivers, on 14-21 completion (66.7%) in a 45-14 rout of Woodland.

Fernando Lopez, Windsor: Lopez recorded an interception and turned four carries into 55 yards and three touchdowns as Windsor rolled to a 59-21 win against Miramonte.

Vinnie Maiorana, Amador Valley: Maiorana dominated with 330 yards and six touchdowns rushing to lead the Dons to their first win, a 49-25 victory against Foothill (Pleasanton).

Michael Mitchell Jr., Archbishop Riordan: Mitchell helped lead the Crusaders to a 47-28 win at Saint Francis (Mountain View) by completing 18 of 28 passes (64.3%) for 376 yards and four touchdowns to zero interceptions.

Michael Murphy, Branham: Murphy couldn't be stopped in a 51-15 rout of Piedmont Hills, when he turned five carries into 122 yards and three touchdowns and turned two receptions into 73 yards and another touchdown.

Jayden Najera, Golden West: Najera tossed for 417 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions as the Trailblazers cruised past Tehachapi 32-3. 

Judge Nash, Archbishop Riordan: Nash registered four receptions for 150 yards and three touchdowns in a 47-28 win at Saint Francis (Mountain View).

Devin Rasmussen, Edison (Stockton): Rasmussen steered the Vikings to a 55-18 blowout of Armijo with 306 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions on 15-18 completion (83.3%).

Chayce Reed, West Valley: Reed helped the Eagles to a 48-12 rout of Enterprise with 171 yards and three touchdowns rushing.

Wyatt Shaw, Redding Christian: Shaw had a historically impressive passing line in a 55-0 blowout of Mt. Shasta: 376 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions on 17-20 completion (85%), good for a passer rating of 164.6.

Brock Sherman, Del Oro: Sherman ran for 156 yards and two touchdowns as the Golden Eagles cruised to a 49-21 win against Whitney (Rocklin).

Kai Sniffen, Archbishop Mitty: Sniffen recorded a 90-yard interception-return touchdown and a touchdown catch to help the Monarchs to a 37-23 win against St. Ignatius.

Kale Springer, West Valley: Springer produced a unique stat line to help West Valley to a 48-12 win over Enterprise. He completed four of five passes for 107 yards, ran nine times for 50 yards and two touchdowns, and had team-highs of 13 tackles, six solo tackles, and two forced fumbles.

Kordel Strane, Cardinal Newman: Strane helped the Cardinals pull out a 14-12 win at Pleasant Valley with two interceptions, a forced fumble, and a touchdown catch.

Ryan Todd, San Marin: Todd made nine catches for 185 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-14 victory over Ukiah.

Michael Topper, Foothill (Palo Cedro): Topper snagged two picks in a 40-7 demolition of Lassen.

Ashden Wehbey, Red Bluff: Wehbey completed 12 of 19 passes (65%) for 308 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions in a 35-14 victory against Orland.

Kyle Welch, Archbishop Riordan: Welch had six catches for 165 yards and a touchdown to go with an interception a 47-28 win at Saint Francis (Mountain View).

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Lance Smith

Lance has covered high school basketball, football and softball since 2019. A graduate of The USC Marshall School of Business, Smith dabbles in linear algebra and football and basketball computer rankings.