LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Cortessis led nation in sacks after one game


Alex Cortessis Photo provided

The MaxPreps website keeps the offensive and defensive statistics for every high school football player in all 50 states. To be atop any of the lists is a major accomplishment. Despite losing their opening game 12-6 to Las Lomas, Acalanes outside linebacker Alex Cortessis had a game for the ages. Cortessis had 5 1/2 sacks for 47 yards along with seven solo tackles and 14 assisted tackles. Cortessis, who had all of two sacks in the entire 2017 season, was the nation's sack leader as listed below:

MaxPreps National Sack Leaders

1. Alex Cortessis - 5.5

2. Michael Daley - 5.0

3. Deondric Henderson - 5.0

4. Myhael Douthard - 4.0

5. Connor Barbato - 4.0

National average - .65

Acalanes head coach Floyd Burnsed was not surprised at Cortessis' dominant play: "Alex is playing really well. Playing rugby in the off-season really helped him. This year he is quicker off the ball, faster, stronger and has very good technique. He is just hard to block."

Playing on the outside, Cortessis is complemented on the other side by Nick Bettencourt.

Cortessis' place as the nation's sack leaders was short-lived as he was held without a sack in the second week win at Vantage High School. Says Burnsed: "Alex did not have a chance to get any sacks against Vantage because they only passed 10 times. He is only going to get better each week."