Kingsburg High quarterback Tyler Bray has been named State Small Schools Player of the Year by Cal-Hi Sports.

That makes two in a row for the Central Section, following Bakersfield Christian quarterback Derek Carr last season. He's now at Fresno State.

Bray, who led the Vikings to a 13-0 record, the section's Division IV title and a state No. 3 ranking in the division, was also among seven finalists for Cal-Hi's Mr. Football State Player of the Year. It went to Mission Bay-San Diego quarterback Dillon Baxter, who rushed for 2,974 yards and set a state record with 79 total touchdowns.

The Small Schools award was Kingsburg's first in football on the state level since Johnny Baker was recognized for Medium Schools in 1927.

"It's a really cool thing for Tyler and it brings focus back to Kingsburg," Vikings coach Dave Steele said.

The Central Section has had three state players of the year since the inception of the award in 1925: Madera running back Kent Nance (1960), Clovis quarterback Daryle Lamonica (1958) and Fresno running back Jim Jurkovich (1938).

Bray, the Bee's Player of the Year, who has already enrolled at the University of Tennessee, completed 61.3% of his passes while throwing for 3,321 yards and 41 touchdowns. He went out with near perfection, going 19 of 23 for 259 yards and five touchdowns in a 47-16 conquest of Taft in the D-IV championship.

That closed an 85-touchdown, 7,759-yard passing career second only to Tulare's Emmanuel Lewis (8,667) in section history.