James Burns: Who should be player of the year?

The Burn List doesn't get a Heisman vote and you know, it's probably for the best.

I had a laughable brush with the famous Gold Stiff-Arm.

Back in college, TBL wasted an entire semester, not to mention thousands and thousands of Daddy Burn's dollars, putting together a Heisman campaign for Sacramento State quarterback Ryan Leadingham.

TBL worked night and day turning the wheel of support. I drew up a plan to order T-shirts and hand them out at a rally in the library quad. Talked with facilities management about hanging a banner from the University Union. And, on a weekly basis, compared Leadingham -- an OK small-school quarterback -- to bonafide stars like UCLA running back DeShaun Foster and Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey in a blog.

Leadingham loved it.

So did his girlfriend, who genuinely thought she was dating a bonus baby.

Poor gal.

As one reader pointed out, The Burn must have been higher than a kite.

Huh?

Ultimately, there were two things inherently wrong with that campaign.

One, Sacramento State was a Division I-AA school.

And two, it was freakin' Sacramento State.

So suffice to say, The Burn List won't be running to check his mailbox when Heisman ballots go out.

There is one vote TBL covets and takes seriously, though -- the Sun-Star Football Player of the Year.

In years past, at this point in the season, the player of the year has been decided.

There was Merced quarterback Logan Todd in 2007, Merced wide receiver and current Cal tight end Jarrett Sparks in '08, and Merced's jack-of-all-trades Bernard Bolden a year ago.

This season, there doesn't appear to be a runaway favorite to take home the title. At least, not from where TBL sits.

Atwater senior Nathan Sanchez could be considered the clubhouse leader for his effort on both sides of the ball.

Sanchez has piled up nearly 2,000 yards of total offense and accounted for 23 touchdowns (12 passing, 11 rushing). Watching Sanchez work, it's as if the game has slowed down, allowing him to pick apart defenses with his arm and nimble feet.

The irony is that he might be a better safety.

Still, The Burn can't shake the image of Sanchez in a near-split. The POY candidate, who was so dynamic in a momentous victory over Merced, was thrown into the compromising position during a 41-0 loss a week later to Los Banos.

The game proved to be the difference-maker in the Central California Conference title race. Los Banos and Atwater entered the game tied atop the standings with Merced.

Los Banos won its last four games to claim its first CCC title, while Atwater and Merced's stumbles left them in a three-way tie with Pitman for second.

Speaking of Los Banos: There can't be a POY discussion without mention of quarterback Erik Martin and linebacker Julio Iglesias.

Martin missed time with a concussion, but returned with one of the more impressive four-game stretches of the season.

In the last four games, Martin was 47 of 83 for 846 yards and eight total touchdowns (six passing, two rushing).

What's more, he's had just one turnover, an interception in garbage time against Atwater.

Iglesias is the ultimate stopper on defense, topping 100 tackles for the second straight year.

He's had double-digit tackles in all but one game. The Burn likes consistency.

Then there are the stat monsters -- Buhach Colony junior Corey Chapman, Dos Palos junior Kevin Schofield and Merced junior Eric DeAnda.

All three are top-flight running backs with different skill sets.

Chapman is second in the area in rushing (1,546 yards) and might have been among the state leaders had he not missed nearly two games.

A typical Chapman run will leave you dizzy (as you try to find the smallish Chapman in a crowd of lineman) and then winded (as you chase him 80 yards to the far end zone).

Schofield topped the area in yards (1,677), carries (268), cuts (lost count), bloody bandages and grape-colored bruises.

DeAnda was one of the area's pleasant surprises, emerging from backup duty to lead Merced's pursuit of a fourth straight CCC title.

It didn't happen.

A fourth straight POY award for Merced is just as unlikely, too.

With a race this tight, The Burn List believes this year's Mr. Football will be decided by playoff performances, which leaves us with five contenders.

Sanchez. Martin. Iglesias. Chapman, though he's questionable tonight. And Schofield.

For my money -- and there it ain't much in Burn's pockets these days -- I'd vote for...

What, you thought The Burn List would tip his hand here?

TBL is nothing if not sharpened by his past.

This time around, a better Burn will just button his lip and cast his vote when the time comes.

I'll leave the campaigning -- the T-shirts and message board shout-outs -- to you.

James Burns is sports editor of the Sun-Star. He can be reached at jburns@mercedsun-star.com.