Ontario Christian senior Hayden Slegers is SBLive's Southern California Athlete of the Week

As a third-year starter for Ontario Christian's football team, much was expected of senior quarterback Hayden Slegers in the 2023 season. 

He hasn't disappointed. 

The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder already has thrown for a career season-best of 1,337 yards and 16 touchdowns and the regular season is just half over. The Knights are 4-1. 

On Sept. 16, he completed 16 of 21 passes for 332 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 22 more in a 57-7 win over Bishop Union. That was a week after he threw for a career-high 437 yards and six touchdowns in a 50-22 win over Adelanto. 

After his game against Bishop Union, Slegers was put on an SBLive top performers list, when his numbers really soared. 

He collected a gaudy 22,526 votes to land the SBLive Southern California Athlete of the Week award for games played between Sept. 14-16. Slegers earned nearly 50 percent of the vote. 

We are currently accepting Southern California Athlete of the Week nominations. If you would like to nominate an athlete, please email sblive-social@scorebooklive.com or message us on Twitter or Instagram at @sbliveca.

Here were the other nominees:

Marquis Monroe, Ayala: Monroe had 135 rushing yards, three touchdowns and an interception in a win over Chino Hills.

Noah Kucera, Dana Hills: Kucera reeled in 12 passes for a school record 254 yards and two touchdowns in Thursday's win. He also added four tackles and a fumble recovery.

Mack Alleyne, Tustin: Alleyne had 218 total yards and four touchdowns in Friday's win over Trabuco Hills.

De'Markus Barnes, Sierra Canyon: Barnes had a 21-yard pick-six in Friday's win over Orange Lutheran.

Trey Wilson, Rancho Cucamonga: Wilson rushed for 203 yards and two touchdowns in Friday's win over Bishop Amat.

Tommy Acosta, Capistrano Valley: Acosta rushed for 181 yards and four touchdowns in 18 carries in Friday's win over El Toro.

Juysis Solis, Aquinas: Solis rushed for 296 yards and four touchdowns in Friday's win over Riverside Notre Dame.

Ayden Gutierrez, Damien: Gutierrez had a rushing touchdown, a receiving touchdown and a kickoff return for a touchdown against Charter Oak.

Jayce Venable, Chaparral: Venable had 215 total yards and three touchdowns in Friday's win over Great Oak.

Jaden Jefferson, Cathedral: Jefferson had 202 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, 57 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in Friday's win over Alemany.

Andranik Saryan, Crescenta Valley: Saryan had 165 all-purpose yards, scoring a rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown and an interception return for a touchdown.

Cincere Rhaney, Gardena Serra: Rhaney continued his big start to the season with 232 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Oaks Christian.

Mason Walsh, Carlsbad: Walsh rushed for 193 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries in Friday's win over Ramona.

Jerome Roberts, Lincoln: Roberts had 13 tackles and two blocked punts in Friday's shutout against Cajon.

Parker Johnson, St. Augustine: Johnson had 146 total yards, three touchdowns and eight tackles in Saturday's 32-30 win over Newport Harbor.

Raithe Lischewski, La Jolla Country Day: Lischewski had 12 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in Thursday's win over Escondido Charter.

Diego Bustamante, Bonita Vista: Bustamante had three sacks in Friday's shutout win over Mar Vista.

Kenyon Burnett, Otay Ranch: Burnett had 187 total yards and four touchdowns in Friday's win over San Diego.

Jayden Wade, San Diego: Wade caught eight passes, finishing with 193 yards and two touchdowns against Otay Ranch.