The Golden Valley Grizzlies enjoyed their most successful regular season with an 8-2 record, and one of their own took home the top individual Foothill League honor with an exception season: senior Johnathan Kaelin.

The Player of the Year award won’t make up for the Grizzlies being inexplicably left out of the 2019 CIF Southern Section playoffs, but it’s a good start. Johnathan Kaelin was poised for a special season the moment he stepped foot on the Golden Valley practice field for Fall camp, and he did not dissapoint.

Related story: Foothill League Awards and First Team Selections

The senior led the Foothill League in total yards (1,555) and total touchdowns (23). He scored touchdowns in all three phases, including an interception return and a punt return. In his signature game of the season, Kaelin rushed for 366 yards and six touchdowns in a 55-27 win over Newbury Park. His 137 total yards and two rushing touchdown performance helped lead GV to their  signature win of the season, a 29-28 triumph over Hart in the final game of the year.

Kaelin was the most physically imposing player in the Foothill League in 2019, and is now recognized as the best player in 2019. He plans to continue his football career at the next level and he is in communication with a couple of schools, but no official offers yet. We’ll know more about his college football plans in the coming months.

KHTS Sports is your place for the 2019 Santa Clarita high school winter sports season and your Santa Clarita Dodgers coverage. Find all the latest news and updates on your hometown schools here as they compete in the Foothill League, Heritage League, Western State Conference and GSAC.