{"id":8713987,"date":"2023-01-12T07:00:07","date_gmt":"2023-01-12T15:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eastbaytimes.com\/?p=8713987&preview=true&preview_id=8713987"},"modified":"2023-01-16T09:52:41","modified_gmt":"2023-01-16T17:52:41","slug":"bay-area-news-group-high-school-football-player-of-the-year-luke-baker-san-ramon-valley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eastbaytimes.com\/2023\/01\/12\/bay-area-news-group-high-school-football-player-of-the-year-luke-baker-san-ramon-valley\/","title":{"rendered":"Bay Area News Group high school football player of the year: Luke Baker, San Ramon Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"

DANVILLE \u2014\u00a0Luke Baker accounted for 51 touchdowns this season while leading San Ramon Valley to section and regional championships and overtime of a state title game.<\/p>\n

Even when the Danville school lost, accolades followed the 5-foot-11, 180-pound junior quarterback.<\/p>\n

\u201cLuke Baker is a heck of a quarterback,\u201d Granite Hills-El Cajon coach Kellan Cobbs said after his team held off San Ramon Valley in overtime to capture the Division 2-A state championship.<\/p>\n

McClymonds coach Michael Peters praised Baker similarly after his team edged San Ramon Valley 45-42 in early October.<\/p>\n

Baker threw for 3,733 and 46 touchdowns, completing 270 of 420 attempts (64.3%). He also ran for 237 yards and five TDs.<\/p>\n

San Ramon Valley finished 12-3, a resume that included a 35-21 victory over previously undefeated Campolindo in the North Coast Section Division II final and a 19-17 win over Marin Catholic for the NorCal 2-A title.<\/p>\n

In the 2-A state final, Baker threw two TD passes and ran for a TD as San Ramon Valley charged back to force overtime before losing 31-24.<\/p>\n

It all added to a clear decision for our staff: Baker is the Bay Area News Group\u2019s 2022 high school football player of the year.<\/p>\n

The youngest of three brothers who have started at quarterback for San Ramon Valley \u2013 Zack Baker (2014) and Clark Baker (2016 and 2017) also made a home behind center for the Wolves \u2013 Luke has separated himself from the pack.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s the best. He\u2019s the best I\u2019ve ever coached,\u201d Aaron Becker, San Ramon Valley\u2019s head coach since 2013, said about Luke after the state championship game.<\/p>\n

A Santa Clara University baseball commit, Baker took the loss in the state final hard, saying through tears that he wanted to win for the seniors.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish I could have done a little more to make that happen for the guys,\u201d Baker said.<\/p>\n

One of those seniors, receiver Trevor Scott, had nothing but appreciation for the QB.<\/p>\n

\u201cLuke showed tremendous leadership all year,\u201d Scott said. \u201cI am really proud of him and excited to see what he\u2019ll do next year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Baker is rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com. He has no football offers, according to the website.<\/p>\n

With another season like this fall, maybe that\u2019ll change.<\/p>\n

ALL-BAY AREA NEWS GROUP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Monday, Jan. 9<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kickers\/punters<\/a><\/p>\n

Offensive linemen<\/a><\/p>\n

Defensive linemen<\/a><\/p>\n

Athletes<\/a><\/p>\n

Tuesday, Jan. 10<\/strong><\/p>\n

Utility players<\/a><\/p>\n

Linebackers<\/a><\/p>\n

Running backs<\/a><\/p>\n

Wednesday, Jan. 11<\/strong><\/p>\n

Defensive backs<\/a><\/p>\n

Wide receivers\/tight ends<\/a><\/p>\n