PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Will Hammond
Senior
Quarterback
Hutto High School
Class 6A
Last year, new Hutto coach Will Compton brought with him his own offensive coordinator and system, and his junior quarterback Will Hammond had to learn on the fly. One year later they are seeing the fruits of that labor.
It showed in Hutto’s season-opening 66-35 win over San Marcos. Hammond, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound Texas Tech-bound senior, passed for 410 yards and six touchdowns while adding another 100 yards and a score on the ground. He averaged 24 yards a completion.
“The biggest thing is that Will and my OC and myself are a lot more on the same page now,” Compton said. “Now he knows what we’re looking for on each play. Texas Tech is getting a phenomenal kid first and foremost, just a great person who cares about other people, but a phenomenal football player too, with a cannon for an arm and a very high football IQ.”
– HUTTO HEAD COACH WILL COMPTON
Cam McGuire
Senior
Quarterback
Woodrow Wilson High School
Class 5A
Meet Cam McGuire, the standout senior QB from Woodrow Wilson. McGuire had an incredible performance last week as he completed 25 passes for 454 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also added 5 rushes for 46 yards and 1 touchdown on the ground.
He helped contribute 500 yards of the team’s total 538 yards of total offense and if that wasn’t enough he lead them down the field twice in the 4th quarter to scores in a very close game. This included a walk off 44-yard field goal to win the game.
If there was a play needed McGuire found a way as he helped lead the Wildcats to a hard fought 38-35 season opener over Irving MacArthur.
“Cam is the standard in Texas HS Quarterbacks. He not only is a student of the game, he leads by example on and off the field. His leadership and work ethic as allowed him the opportunity to be one of the top quarterbacks in the state. His impressive numbers are only the beginning. He leads on campus in the classroom and within the community. If it is 4th and inches for the state championship, the ball will be in Cam’s hands. We know because of who he is, not what he does, Cam will be a champion on and off the field.
– WOODROW WILSON HEAD COACH JOHN FISH
Demetrius Brisbon
Junior
Quarterback
Chapel Hill High School
Class 4A
Chapel Hill head football coach Jeff Riordan has seen quarterback Demetrius Brisbon do some spectacular things since he arrived on the scene as a freshman two seasons ago, so he isn’t surprised at his junior signal caller’s performance in Week 1 of the season. Not surprised, but still impressed.
Brisbon had a hand in seven touchdowns in Chapel Hill’s 71-53 win over Gilmer. He carried 15 times for 330 yards and four touchdowns and completed 8 of 11 passes for 74 yards and three more scores.
“Demetrius is a special kid, a once in a lifetime player,” Riordan said. “He has unbelievable God-given talent. He is a very humble kid who wants to win. He can beat you with his arm or legs and will do whatever is needed for his team to be successful. He is a kid that everyone loves. …teachers, principals, coaches, and community.”
– CHAPEL HILL HEAD COACH JEFF RIORDAN
Austin Perkins
Senior
Wide Receiver
Coahoma High School
Class 3A
Perkins’ three-phase performance helped Coahoma take home the coveted Howard County Bowl trophy with a 50-34 victory over rival Forsan at Big Spring’s Memorial Stadium.
The track standout was tough to cover on offense, as he made six catches for 284 yards and four TDs.
Perkins scored on a game-opening 75-yard TD reception, and he set a school record with a 99-yard scoring catch later in the game.
The 6-foot, 180-pound Perkins shined on defense with 12 tackles, two tackles for loss and a pass break up. He also recovered a fumble on special teams in addition to his punting duties.
Perkins and the Bulldogs snapped a two-game losing streak against the Buffaloes in what head coach Chris Joslin calls his team’s biggest game of the year.
Perkins is involved with his church and several community service activities in Coahoma. He serves on the school’s Athletic Council and is a team captain on the Bulldogs’ football team.
“I think his performance has been in the works. He’s been on varsity for three years and works extremely hard. He shows up every day in the summer. He shows up early here in the morning to do stuff on his own. It’s been a work in progress and it kind of all came to fruition (last Friday). He means a ton to our program. Him and Billy (Bailey) and a couple of other kids, they can move all over the place and make matchup problems.”
– COAHOMA HEAD COACH CHRIS JOSLIN
H.D. Davis
Sophomore
Running Back
Wolfe City High School
Class 2A
It’s hard to decide which stat line is more impressive when discussing the performance H.D. Davis put on in his team’s season-opening 60-35 win over Leonard – the number of carries, the yards gained or the number of times Davis reached the end zone.
On a smoldering hot evening, Davis carried 43 times for 451 yards and scored six times.
“Twice during the game I looked at him and asked if he needed a break, and he said ‘No. I want more.’ “ Wolfe City head coach Brad Smithey said of his sophomore standout’s performance. “He just wanted to put the team on his back and help us start the year with a bang.”
Davis, a multi-sport athlete at Wolfe City (baseball, track and powerlifting) will occasionally play defense for the Wolves this season, but opponents should expect to see him mostly on the offensive side.
“We’re blessed with depth, especially for a 2A school, and we’re not playing a lot of guys both ways. He’s special. He’s one of those kids who is going to get the ball 30-35 times per game, but when we need something big to happen on defense, we will put him over there.”
– WOLFE CITY HEAD COACH BRAD SMITHEY
Hunter McCoy
Senior
Quarterback
First Baptist Academy Dallas
Private School
Senior QB Hunter McCoy pulled off an amazing performance last week as he completed 16 passes for 508 yards and an incredible 7 touchdowns. Plus, he added 67 yards on the ground and a touchdown. He did most of this in the 1st half as he led the Saints to a 55-13 victory over Brazos Christian who made the playoffs last season.
McCoy and previous Built Ford Tough Player of the Week Alijah Cason teamed up for 5 touchdowns on 303 receiving yards. These 2 played against each other last season so it is going to be a fun season watching this dynamic duo.
“I haven’t been around many quarterbacks, or people, like Hunter McCoy. He has the “it” factor that we hear the elite quarterbacks possess. Hunter prepares like a pro, is intensely competitive, and raises the level of play of everyone around him. I’m excited to see him have such success in a huge game to start off the season! The award is perfect for him because there aren’t many guys built tougher than Hunter McCoy.”
– FIRST BAPTIST ACADEMY HEAD COACH JASON LOVVORN
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Charlie Peters
Junior
Quarterback
Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas
Class 6A
After throwing a touchdown pass to pull Jesuit to within a point of Rockwall in the final minute, quarterback Charlie Peters knew exactly what had to be done. And coach Brandon Hickman agreed. Go for two and the win. Peters hit Cooper Cutler for the conversion, and Jesuit completed its second half uphill climb to win, 60-59. Peters was masterful – 37-of-48 for 370 yards and six touchdowns, five of them after halftime as Jesuit rallied from a 16-point deficit for its first win of the season.
“I thought Charlie played really well Friday. He was in command of the offense, he made plays with his feet and his arm, and he really had a big night for us. I thought it was a really gutsy performance by him and showed what kind of leader that he can be for our football team.”
- JESUIT HEAD COACH BRANDON HICKMAN
Ben Carter
Senior
Fullback
Liberty Hill High School
Class 5A
In a game that saw 162 total points scored and many incredible performances, standout Senior Fullback Ben Carter made the biggest impact not only because of his stats, but his overall contributions away from the ball.
Carter carried the ball 25 times for 396 yards and 4 touchdowns, but his blocking made a difference and of course his 2-point conversion which just happened to be the scoring difference in the game as Liberty Hill beat Hutto 82-80.
“Ben is a great young man that works extremely hard! Ben had a fantastic night last Friday. He not only had a great night running the ball, but he carried out his fakes and blocked extremely well for his teammates.”
- LIBERTY HILL HEAD COACH KENT WALKER
Kiefer Sibley
Senior
Running Back/Safety
Connally High School
Class 4A
Connally High School in Waco has produced great talent over the years and great leadership including most recently from Kavian Gaither who is now at Sam Houston State or Jay’Veon Sunday, now at Abilene Christian University after originally signing with Washington out of high school.
Enter senior running back Kiefer Sibley who is known as the hardest worker in the Cadets program, a quiet young man who leads by example.
And what an example Sibley set against arch-rival La Vega as he exploded on offense in a 48-40 victory against arch-rival La Vega, two schools separated by I-35 in Waco.
Sibley ran for 356-yards on 27-carries and scored six touchdowns while adding four tackles on defense as the Cadets started the season with their second consecutive win.
“One of the most important things is how Kiefer gets excited when his teammates have a great game or do something great. As a person you will never see him be disrespectful towards anyone at the school. He never thinks he’s all that…and we knew he was special when as a freshman he went 50-yards during a varsity scrimmage against Lorena and it validated what we thought of him coming out of 8th grade. Kiefer is a great kid; great person and we are all lucky he is a Connally Cadet.”
- CONNALLY HEAD COACH TERRY GERIK
Ricky Rubio
Senior
Linebacker
Tidehaven High School
Class 3A
Ricky Rubio took on some additional responsibilities when Bobby Gonzalez became the defensive coordinator at Tidehaven this season. But Rubio, a senior, has not let any of the changes deter his performance.
Rubio and the No. 3 Tigers posted their second shutout of the season in a 58-0 win over Odem.
Rubio had 13 tackles, one forced fumble, recovered a fumble and two interceptions to spark the Tidehaven defense.
“Bobby’s (Gonzalez) added some different coverages. There was some learning going on with that. They started installing it in 7on7 so that helped. He’s a safety, but he’s one of those downhill safeties. He sits in the middle of the field and is a ballhawk for us. The stats were great. He hits so hard, but it’s clean. He does these body tackles where he puts his shoulder pads on the kids’ hip. He had probably two or three hits that were just nasty. He does it every game, That had probably just as big an impact as him making interceptions and getting tackles.”
- TIDEHAVEN HEAD COACH DAVID LUCIO
Chance Parker
Junior
Quarterback
Thrall High School
Class 2A
Chance Parker has stepped into the starting quarterback spot at Thrall this year and is running away with the job. Literally.
In two games, Parker has sparked the Tigers to wins by scoring 42 and 56 points, including a 309-yard passing performance combined with 214 rushing yards and a total of eight touchdowns in a 56-42 win over Johnson City.
“Chance has done a great job growing into the starting QB position. He’s worked hard, been highly coachable, and trusted the process. The fruits of his labor are starting to pay off, and Friday night’s game was a perfect example of what he’s capable of. He’d be the first to tell you how proud we were of his teammates for producing and making plays around him. This award goes to Chance and his incredible performance, but it was truly a team effort. We are proud of Chance and his teammates for their efforts.”
- THRALL HEAD COACH AARON VANECEK
Larry Benton III
Senior
Wide Receiver
St. Thomas High School
Private School
Offensive coaches instruct their players to take advantage of what the defense allows, and Lumberton last week got a full dose of wide receiver Larry Benton III, who accounted for all five St. Thomas touchdowns in a 35-21 victory.
Benton, a TAPPS academic all-state honoree who is considering Air Force and Ivy League schools, caught eight passes from quarterback Donte Lewis for 221 yards and five scores, the longest a 75-yarder, against UIL Class 4A Division I Lumberton. He is a returning TAPPS all-district performer and the defending state champion in the shot put, an event more suited for big linemen than fleet receivers, which attests to his technique and attention to detail.
“Larry is a technician in everything he does. He is one of the hardest-working kids I’ve been around. To have the discipline it takes to do the academic and academic work at this level … I don’t think I have the discipline he does.”
- THOMAS HEAD COACH RICH MCGUIRE
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Mabrey Mettauer
Senior
Quarterback
The Woodlands High School
Class 6A
Senior QB Mabrey Mettauer was responsible for 521 of the 606 yards in a decisive 55-26 district win over Oak Ridge.
Mettauer, who had a record setting night, finished 21 of 29 passing for 416 yards, 6 touchdowns and no interceptions. He also carried the ball 9 times for 105 yards and one touchdown. He wasted no time putting defensive minded Oak Ridge on notice that it was going to be a long night as he rambled 62-yards for a touchdown on the second play of the game.
“Mabrey had a special night. He had a TD run of 62 yards on our second offensive snap of the game and made big plays throughout the rest of the game. He completed 72% of his passes and threw for a school record 416 yards on a 21 of 29 night, including 6 TD’s. He finished the game with 105 yards rushing on 9 carries. Mabrey is a huge weapon for us, he made some tough throws and hit some wide-open receivers. He connected with 6 different receivers in the game.”
– THE WOODLANDS HEAD COACH JIM RAPP
Aazeryuan “Z” Voss
Junior
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
San Antonio Southwest High School
Class 5A
The Southwest Dragons moved to 3-0 last week with a 26-12 hard fought victory over Laredo Martin.
The highlight of the game was watching Junior, WR/DB, 2-way player Aazeryuan Voss dominate. ‘Z’ as his teammates and coaches refer to him, was all over the field making huge plays. Offensively he finished the night with 4 receptions for 142 yards and one 88-yard touchdown. Defensively he secured 4 tackles, 3 interceptions, 134 return yards including a touchdown, and he returned a 2-point conversion try.
“As great as Z is on the field, he is just as great off the field. He is humble, quiet, and puts his head down and goes to work. He is very coachable and represents our school with great pride. His is what we look for in a student-athlete and a multi-sport athlete. He is a great basketball player and track runner as well. And we feel the best is yet to come.”
- SOUTHWEST HEAD COACH ALEJANDRO FRANCO
Blake Hildreth
Senior
Quarterback/Defensive Back
North Lamar High School
Class 4A
Brenton Whitaker has seen it all before, so Blake Hildreth’s Week 3 performance in North Lamar’s 49-14 win over Bonham didn’t surprise the North Lamar head coach. However, it was still fun to watch.
Hildreth, a four-year starter, was the team’s leader in rushing, passing and interceptions heading into the season and he’s off to another strong start after finishing with 18 carries for 201 yards and five touchdowns to go along with eight tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception against Bonham.
“Blake is a senior leader on both sides of the ball, and to see him give that kind of fanatical effort every play is something to be seen. When I got here he was a sophomore, and he’s part of a crew that dug in and really helped turn this place around. It has been on his back on both sides of the ball. He has the most game experience of anyone in the program, and he’s really a vocal leader for us on and off the field.”
- NORTH LAMAR HEAD COACH BRENTON WHITAKER
Alexis Franco
Senior
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
Breckenridge High School
Class 3A
Franco is described by head coach Casey Pearce as the Buckaroos’ Swiss Army knife. Franco can play any position the coaching staff asks him to play. Franco displayed that versatility as an impact defender and special teams player during Breckenridge’s 41-6 win over Cisco.
He returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. Franco also had 17 tackles, two interceptions for 26 yards, two fumbles caused and two pass deflections. Franco caught two passes for 49 yards and had two punt returns for 88 yards.
Pearce says Franco’s across the board performance set up the Buckaroos for success early en route to their first win. The three-year starter is called a program kid and a dynamic athlete by his head coach.
“His nickname is Smiley in the coaches’ office because he’s got a smile on his face every day. He enjoys practice and being around his teammates. He’s just a worker. He just shows up, ready to go. He works his tail off. Whatever you ask him to do, he’s going to do it and he’s going to do it 100 miles per hour. He makes people around him a lot better.”
- BRECKENRIDGE HEAD COACH CASEY PEARCE
Caden Soliz
Senior
Quarterback
Three Rivers High School
Class 2A
Caden Soliz’s numbers in Three Rivers’ non-district victory against Taft were impressive on both sides of the ball. The senior signal-caller completed 27 of 32 passes for 301 yards and six touchdowns and that went along with him intercepting two passes and forcing a fumble on defense.
But what might be most impressive about Soliz is that during COVID, he taught himself how to play the piano. One day while school was shut down, Soliz’s father, Ramon, who is also Three Rivers head football coach, heard Caden playing a song that he learned while doing some searching online.
It’s one more addition to the resume for the talented quarterback of the Bulldogs, who are 3-0 this season. Caden Soliz is also the National Honor Society President and the senior class president at the school and is a multi-sport athlete that also runs track and plays basketball.
“He managed the offense (against Taft) extremely well and we allow him quite a bit of latitude on the field as far as his play calling. His accuracy was really good. Those numbers could’ve been a lot better but we were in such positive field position,” Ramon Soliz said. “He is definitely a lead by example kind of guy,” Ramon Soliz said. “In game he is much more vocal and gets very excited when his teammates do well and doesn’t get too excited whenever things go wrong.”
- THREE RIVERS HEAD COACH RAMON SOLIZ
David Phillips
Junior
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
T.K. Gorman Catholic High School
Private School
David Phillips joined the T.K. Gorman program during the summer, and coaches immediately knew they had a player who could help them in all phases of the game.
In a Week 3 win over All Saints, Phillips did just that, catching seven passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns, rushing for 53 yards and recording two tackles and an interception on defense in a 34-6 win.
“David came to us as a transfer, and you could just see the energy and playmaking ability all summer. He was electrifying, and we knew early on we wanted to get the ball in his hands and let him help us win ball games. He had an amazing game (against All Saints). He plays receiver and DB for us, returns kicks and is on all special teams. He’s just an all-around player and a leader on and off the field.”
- T.K. GORMAN HEAD COACH ED BURNS
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Owen Cossette
Junior
Quarterback
Cypress Ranch High School
Class 6A
Cypress Ranch has been a consistent contender since opening its doors in 2010, and Owen is the latest in a line of successful quarterbacks for the Mustangs. He completed 28 of 35 with an interception for 479 yards and a Cy-Fair ISD record eight touchdowns in a 66-41 win over Cypress Woods. He also had 81 rushing yards and a score.
“Owen is “a hockey player by trade,” says referring to his family’s Canadian ancestry, but he has unlimited football potential a month into his junior year. He missed most of the Mustangs’ season opener with an injury but is nearing 1,000 total yards for the year. He is an academic all-district performer and a volunteer in Cy-Fair’s Toys for Tots and Thanksgiving Can Drive campaigns.”
- CYPRESS RANCH HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH SEAN MCAULIFFE
Christopher Davis
Senior
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
Bel Air High School
Class 5A
In a 44-37 win over Clint last Friday night, Bel Air’s Christopher Davis was all over the field. The senior made an impact on both sides of the football and even special teams, rarely coming off the field for the Highlanders. Davis finished the game with eight receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns. He also tallied 152 return yards while registering a whopping 23 tackles and two interceptions on defense. Davis’ performance and leadership has Bel Air off to a 4-0 start to the 2023 season.
“Chris is one of the nicest, most selfless kids you’ll ever meet, and he just happens to be an outstanding student-athlete. He is a leader on campus serving on the Principal’s Advisory Council and a leader in our school district, serving on the Ysleta Independent School District Student-Athlete Leadership Council. He is arguably one of the top players, not just in El Paso, but in the state at each of his respective positions (wide receiver and defensive back). Chris works as hard as I’ve ever seen a young person work when it comes to academics and being successful in athletics.”
- BEL AIR HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH ERIC SCOGIN
Braeden Massengale
Junior
Offensive Tackle/Center
Canyon Randall High School
Class 4A
Massengale’s performance against Wichita Falls was described by Randall head coach Dan Sherwood as one of the best he has ever seen from an offensive lineman. The right tackle had nine pancake blocks to lead the Raiders to a 30-28 road win over Wichita Falls. Sherwood said Massengale was at the forefront of an offensive line showing that totaled 30 pancakes. Massengale and the Raider O-line paved the way for a 344-yard effort on the ground, highlighted by a 185-yard performance with two touchdowns from running back Dylan Ray. Sherwood said the game plan was to put the game on the shoulders of the O-line and Massengale and his linemates delivered by winning in the trenches.
“He’s one of those kids that will shake your hand and tell you thank you after every single practice. Everything is ‘yes, sir. No, sir.’ He is a tremendously respectful kid, tremendously hard working. He’s just a very easy kid to like and he’s a joy to be around. He’s a special kid and only being a junior, we’re excited to have him for another year after this one.”
- RANDALL HEAD COACH DAN SHERWOOD
Sam Oakland
Junior
Running Back/Linebacker
Randolph High School
Class 3A
Described by Randolph coach Elliott Ortiz as “an exemplary student-athlete,” Oakland is the Ro-Hawks’ leader on and off the field. He sets the tone for the team with his work ethic, grit and commitment to excellence in football and academics.
Tackling the books with the same dedication he consistently demonstrates as an athlete, Oakland has a 3.96 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale in the classroom, He is a second-year varsity starter on the football team and is also a member of the Randolph track and baseball squads.
A two-way starter at wingback and inside linebacker, Oakland was at the top of his game in the Ro-Hawks’ 51-0 rout of San Antonio Kennedy last Friday. He scored on a 55-yard interception return, returned a fumble 2 yards for another score, and finished with 10 tackles, 4 for loss, and one sack. Oakland also ran for a 10-yard TD. Oakland, 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, has 41 tackles, 11 for loss, and 3 sacks this season. Randolph is 4-0 heading into its district opener Friday.
“Sam’s interception return was actually quite athletic. On the return, he hurdled a defender and then he ran 45 more yards to the end zone. That was a pretty dynamic, pretty explosive, play. Sam is the leader of our defense. He’s a team captain as a junior, which for us is pretty rare. Most of our captains are almost always seniors. He’s always encouraging his teammates. On their (Kennedy) first possession, Sam had the hit of the game on an inside run. He came up and kind of set the tone for the entire game. Sam is one of those guys who lives and breathes football. His goal is to continue playing football (after high school). Everything he’s doing, he has that mindset of what I’m doing now is going to help propel me in my future goals.
- RANDOLPH HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH ELLIOTT ORTIZ
Edgar DeLuna
Senior
Running Back/Linebacker
Sonora High School
Class 2A
In a 45-18 win over Alpine last Friday night, Sonora’s Edgar DeLuna made his impact felt on both sides of the football. The senior tallied 218 yards on 16 carries, including a 94-yard touchdown run, one of four rushing touchdowns on the day for this impact player. DeLuna also hauled in five receptions for 71 yards. On defense, he registered 20 total tackles, three tackles for loss, including a sack for the Broncos. DeLuna has the Broncos off to a 4-0 start to the 2023 season.
“Edgar has led us on the defensive side since his sophomore year. This year, he has had to take on more of a roll offensively and he doesn’t disappoint. Edgar is a very smart football player and a great combination of power and finesse at the running back position. He makes people miss and doesn’t mind getting the tough yards as well. He wants the ball in his hands and so far, that has been a great thing for the Broncos. Defensively he is extremely hard to block and plays sideline-to-sideline. When you need a big play on either side of the ball, Edgar DeLuna is there.”
- SONORA HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH BLAKE WESTON
Ryan Wood
Senior
Strong Safety/Wide Receiver
Legacy Christian Academy
Private School
Legacy Christian, senior 2-way player, Ryan Wood delivered an impressive performance last week as he led the Eagles to a 28-14 victory over St. Mark’s.
Wood made an impact on both sides of the ball. Offensively he recorded 5 catches for 125 yards and 3 touchdowns. While defensively he made 9 tackles, 6 of them solo, had 2 pass break-ups and made 2 interceptions in the redzone .
“Ryan Wood is a highly committed man of God, and a by-product of who he is as a man leads him to enjoy being a great football player. He is relentless in his work, all his work, coachable, and resilient to overcome. I am honored to walk alongside Ryan Wood as he sharpens himself daily for something great.”
- LEGACY CHRISTIAN HEAD COACH DOUG HIX