Notre Dame’s Kasdorf is state player of year

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High quarterback Ryan Kasdorf, a junior who before this season had never played on the varsity, on Thursday was announced as Gatorade state player of the year.

Kasdorf passed for 3,291 yards and 36 touchdowns while completing 69% of his passes in leading Notre Dame to a Serra League championship and an 11-1 record. He also had a 3.75 grade-point average, an important component in the selection process.

Last season, Kasdorf led Notre Dame’s sophomore team to a 10-0 record, but varsity Coach Kevin Rooney said, “Going into the season I don’t think any of us knew what he was going to do because he hadn’t played varsity.”

-- Eric Sondheimer