San Diego, CA
Del Norte’s Diesel Taylor voted top quarterback in the CIF-San Diego Section by fans
Diesel Taylor hasn’t yet played a minute of official high school football in California.
But clearly the word has already gotten out about Del Norte’s new quarterback, an intriguing senior transfer from Perry (AZ).
Fans have voted Taylor the top quarterback in the CIF-San Diego Section entering the 2024 California high school football season, and they did it with oomph. Taylor received 3,145 votes to collect 91.1-percent of the votes.
MORE – SAN DIEGO SECTION PLAYER RANKINGS: Top breakout candidates | Top quarterbacks | Top running backs | Top receivers | Top defensive linemen | Top linebackers | Top defensive backs |Top special teams players | Top 20 out-of-section games | Top 25 regular season game
Starring for one of Arizona’s better teams in 2023, Taylor threw for 2,296 yards and 29 touchdowns against eight interceptions, completing 58.2-percent (178-306) of his passes, and also ran for 110 yards and two more touchdowns.
And there’s plenty of reason to believe that he’s only scratched the surface. Taylor is 6-5 with serious downfield arm strength, so if he parlays a very good junior season into an amazing senior season, he’ll be impossible for scouts to miss. Especially joining the defending CIF-SDS Division 2 champion.
Another compelling characteristic of Taylor is his knack for producing against top opponents. All four of Perry’s losses last season came against powerhouses well within Arizona’s top 10 teams and arguably within the nation’s top 100 – Basha, Hamilton, Chandler, and Saguaro. Despite losing, Perry managed at least 27 points in three of those four games thanks in large part to strong showings from Taylor, especially a season-high 406-passing yard effort in the Pumas’ 59-34 loss to Hamilton.
Del Norte went 11-3 last season and won its first CIF-SDS title last year, which was its first under head coach Nick Barnett, who played 11 years in the NFL as a linebacker. Despite graduating many of their top players and losing star receiver Ty Olsen to Lincoln via transfer, the Nighthawks may well be ready to build on last season’s success.
They come in ranked 11th in SBLive’s preseason San Diego Section countdown, and pair Taylor with one of the section’s top returning running back tandems in Ryan Remigio and Anthony Mattar. Del Norte’s defense was arguably its strongest suit last year, and while it graduated most of its core on that end as well, we could see another staunch Nighthawks defense with defensive backs Kaden Barnett and Charlie Bowers and defensive lineman Marcus Hernandez back as seniors.
Del Norte opens the season on Friday at Point Loma.
San Diego, CA
Gas prices soar nearly another dime overnight
On Thursday, the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County recorded its largest increase since Sept. 28, 2023, rising 8.7 cents to $4.894, its highest amount since Nov. 13.
The average price has increased 15 consecutive days, rising 28.7 cents, including 7 cents on Wednesday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 22.4 cents more than one week ago, 38.6 cents higher than one month ago and 14.5 cents greater than one year ago.
The average price has dropped $1.541 since rising to a record $6.435 on Oct. 5, 2022.
“Gas prices are rising primarily due to a recent surge in crude oil following strikes on Iran by the U.S. and Israel,” Kandace Redd, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s senior public affairs specialist, told City News Service. “Any conflict with Iran can send oil prices higher, as Iran is a major oil producer and about a fifth of the oil consumed globally travels through the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman.
“Gas prices are increasing because of seasonal factors too. Refineries are beginning the switch to more expensive summer-blend fuel, and demand is picking up as we head into the spring break season with more people on the road.”
The national average price rose 5.3 cents to $3.251, its highest amount since Sept. 11, 2024. It has risen five consecutive days, increasing 26.9 cents, including 8.9 cents on Wednesday.
The national average price is 26.8 cents more than one week ago, 36 cents higher than one month ago and 14.4 cents greater than one year ago. It has dropped $1.765 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.
San Diego, CA
UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance
UNLV Rebels (16-14, 11-8 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (19-10, 13-6 MWC)
San Diego; Friday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: UNLV faces San Diego State after Kimani Hamilton scored 24 points in UNLV’s 92-65 victory over the Utah State Aggies.
The Aztecs have gone 13-2 in home games. San Diego State is eighth in the MWC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Miles Heide averaging 2.0.
The Rebels have gone 11-8 against MWC opponents. UNLV ranks eighth in the MWC shooting 34.4% from 3-point range.
San Diego State averages 79.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 78.5 UNLV gives up. UNLV averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game San Diego State allows.
The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. San Diego State won the last meeting 82-71 on Jan. 24. Miles Byrd scored 23 points points to help lead the Aztecs to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Reese Dixon-Waters is shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, while averaging 13 points. Byrd is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is shooting 50.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Rebels. Hamilton is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.0 points per game.
Rebels: 6-4, averaging 84.1 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
San Diego, CA
Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Military bases in San Diego County and nationwide have increased security measures due to last weekend’s U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, prompting traffic delays near base entrances, enhanced ID checks and access restrictions.
The Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado ports three aircraft carriers, including the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln, which led some of the first-wave attacks on Saturday.
Naval Base Coronado warned motorists of possible traffic delays at all base entry points due to the increased security measures.
Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.
The U.S. operation, dubbed “Epic Fury,” and Israeli operation, “Raging Lion,” began striking targets at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.
As of Tuesday, at least six U.S. service members had been killed in action.
The strikes also killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who had been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.
Iran’s offensive forces claimed to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles, but according to an X post from U.S central Command, “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”
Those with concerns regarding the heightened security can contact San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services at 858-565-3490 or oes@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.
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