Six Texas high school football stars are being recognized as the 2011 Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Players of the Year.
For the sixth consecutive year, Ford Motor Company recognized six outstanding student-athletes each week of the regular season. The Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Week program honors one student-athlete in six of the state's athletic classifications every week during the regular season for his accomplishments on and off the field.
"It's an honor every year for Ford Motor Company to recognize the best of the best when it comes to high school football in Texas," said Philip Podgorny, Ford Central Market Area sales and marketing manager. "Nothing says Texas like trucks and football. We couldn't be more proud of these outstanding athletes."
Here are this year's winners:
CLASS 5-A: Trey Williams, Dekaney High School Senior, Running Back (Spring, TX)
It was a signature moment that best defined Trey Williams. When the Spring Dekaney running back burst through for the second of his three TDs in the UIL Class 5-A, Division II championship game at Cowboys Stadium, his helmet popped off and fell to the turf. He would not be denied. "Trey's tough as nails," raved Coach Willie Amendola. That determination fueled Williams, named the game's Offensive MVP, to a 197-yard rushing, three TD performance. The Wildcats' (15-1) 34-14 victory over previously unbeaten Cibolo Steele shocked the Texas football world. It was heady stuff for a program created only four years ago. Trey, who concluded this season with 3,890 rushing yards and totaled 53 TDs, had endured seasons of 0-9, 5-5, and 6-4 before helping Dekaney to its first post-season berth--and, of course, its first state title. His eye-popping career math reads: 8,497 rushing yards, 104 TDs, and 9,795 all-purpose yards.
In addition to football, Trey manages to juggle a busy schedule. He's a three-time all-district outfielder in baseball, holds a part-time job, and still maintains a healthy 3.1 GPA. He was the Built Ford Tough 5-A Player of the Week for Week 1 (an award he also won as a sophomore in 2009) and was recently tabbed as Rivals.com's National Offensive Player of the Year. Trey's off-season included work at a youth camp and when the Wildcats gather for a pre-game prayer, Trey is the leader. Williams will attend A&M in the fall.
Coach Amendola says his unassuming star remains grounded but productive. "He never missed a game in three years and carried the ball 904 times against the top-rated 5-A teams in the state every week. Every year, Trey got better and better and did it with unparalleled speed, quickness, and vision. I've never coached or even seen a running back with such vision and a burst of speed that allowed him to outmaneuver defenders with an angle."
CLASS 4-A: Johnathan Gray, Aledo High School Senior, Running Back (Aledo, TX)
The winner of numerous accolades, Aledo running back Johnathan Gray stands alone in at least one: He's the first two-time winner of the Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Year award. It shouldn't come as a shock. Gray departs Aledo as one of the most decorated players in state history. For those who follow in his footsteps, he has set an incredibly high bar. But even more important, he led Aledo (14-2) to its third straight Class 4-A, Division II, championship with a 49-28 dismantling of Manvel. Earlier, his nationally televised performance against Birdville (259 yards, seven TDs) convinced viewers around the country of his greatness.
His career performance cast his brand all over the record books. The 5-11, 202-pound future Texas Longhorn heads to Austin as the as the all-time career leader in TDs with 205, finished second all-time in career points with 1,232 (only 14 points short of the national record), and the number three all-time rusher with 10,908 yards. His 70 TDs this season placed him second in history.
Along with his enormous talent on the gridiron, Gray has been a standout basketball player and track athlete. His 3.25 GPA and his activities with both his church youth group and the local chapter of the FCA just add to his legend. He also volunteered at Baylor All-Saints Hospital's Helping Hand Foundation. He comes from great stock; his father, James, is Texas Tech's No. 2 all-time leading rusher and was an All-America in 1989 before an NFL career with the Patriots and 49ers.
"All the honors Johnathan received this year (including Gatorade National Player of the Year) have been well-deserved," says Coach Tim Buchanan. "As good a player as he is, he is an even better human being. Anytime we were in a critical situation, we knew we could get the ball into his hands and he'd deliver."
CLASS 3-A: Joseph Sadler, Devine High School Senior, Running Back, Punter, Kicker, Defensive Back (Devine, TX)
On the biggest stage, special players produce special performances. Cue Joseph Sadler of Devine. In the third round of the UIL Class 3-A, Division II, playoffs, Devine let Sadler do his thing. The red-headed senior was a one-man wrecking crew, putting up staggering numbers in the convincing 56-24 win over Wharton. He rushed for 394 yards and seven TDs on 41 carries, kicked six extra-points, and tacked on a two-point conversion. But his true legacy was the entire 2011 season. He set a Texas single-season scoring mark with 451 points, surpassing the standard set a half-century ago by the legendary Ken Hall of Sugar Land. He fell just two points short of the national record of 453 points. Though the Warhorses (13-1) lost in the Region IV final, Joseph finished the season with 3,887 rushing yards on 385 carries, establishing a regional record and finishing second nationally to Aledo's Jonathan Gray.
Sadler also plays baseball and basketball and ran the anchor leg on three relay teams last spring. Throw in a regional qualifier in golf and powerlifting and you can see he's a special talent. That extends to the classroom (B+ average) and beyond (Future Farmers of America, drug awareness program, and reading to and mentoring elementary school kids). Sadler will join Class 2-A winner Trent Brittain at University of the Incarnate Word in the fall.
"He's the most competitive player, the one with the best vision and balance, and will finish a run if it's 80 yards or converting a fourth-and-one," raves Coach Chad Quisenberry. "Joseph led Devine to its best season ever and because of his efforts, he raised the awareness of our program in our community and the area. Through it all, he always stayed humble. He often deflected praise to his blockers and teammates. He has a brilliant future!"
CLASS 2-A: Trent Brittain, Eastland High School Senior, Quarterback, Punter (Eastland, TX):
All of the great ones have it. For quarterbacks like Eastland's Trent Brittain, the "it" factor meant calmness under duress, thereby earning the trust of both coaches and teammates. "Trent never allowed us to give up and when he had to, he took over the game," says Coach Brian Hulett. Trent helped the Mavericks win the District 4-2A title before losing in the regional final in Class 2-A, Division I. In his final game, he threw for 231 yards and two TDs and ran for 109 yards and two more scores on 10 carries in a 43-36 loss to Muleshoe. That gave the 6-2, 170-pound Brittain 3,518 passing yards and 42 TDs (only nine INTs) as well as 940 rushing yards and 16 more scores on 129 carries. He also punted 18 times, averaging 40 yards and placing six balls inside the 20. His storybook career totals are 5,365 passing yards, 63 TDs, 1,378 rushing yards and 24 scores. That's nearly 6,700 total yards and 87 TDs.
Trent plays basketball (he was district defensive player of the year) and is a track star, competing in five events at the regional meet last spring. He also maintains a 94 percent scholastic average and is a member of the local FCA chapter and Beta Club Honor Society. He's also extremely active in the youth group at the Frist Baptist Church in Eastland. Brittain will join Class 3-A winner Joseph Sadler at University of the Incarnate Word in the fall.
"Trent never got rattled on the field," says Coach Hulett. "He could beat you with his arm or legs. He has legit 4.5 speed and can throw it a ton. He did a super job this season coming back from an injury during his junior year."
CLASS 1-A: David Mora, Mason High School Senior, Running Back (Mason, TX)
December 15 may become a "national" holiday in Mason. Fans of the Mason Punchers will always remember December 15, 2011 as the date of the team's first Class 1-A, Division I, state championship (in its first state final). Running back David Mora stole every heart in town (population 2,036) with his 258-yard, five-TD performance which capped the Punchers' 15-0 season. His 41 carries included TD runs of 7, 2, 6, 7, and 6 yards. Though he's usually one of the smallest players on the field (he's 5-7, 170 pounds), he played like a giant all season with 2,466 yards and 54 TDs on 258 attempts. During his remarkable three-year career, Mora ran for 7,642 yards, 14th all-time in Texas history.
The owner of a nifty 90 percent academic average (top 15 percent of his class), David balances books and athletics. He plays basketball and ran track. He's also a member of the local chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and reads weekly to Mason's elementary school children.
"Honestly, he's a better person than an athlete," says first-year coach Kade Burns. "David is completely unselfish. When we told him that his carries would decrease this season, he understood that was the plan to win the big one. When he did run, he was a model player, showing great vision and lateral quickness. You'd want your kid to be exactly like David."
PRIVATE SCHOOL: Ford Childress, The Kinkaid School Senior, Quarterback (Houston, TX)
Ford Childress's latest reading project is the West Virginia playbook. After graduating from Houston Kinkaid in December, Childress is now a month into his classes at WVU. Ford had a habit of consuming opponents at Kinkaid and if that's any indication, West Virginia's transition from the Big East to the Big 12 should go smoothly. The 6-5, 220-pound quarterback, son of former Texas A&M All-America and Houston Oiler All-Pro defensive tackle Ray Childress, left his mark at Kinkaid. He won back-to-back SPC Division I titles with an 11-0 mark in 2011 and a 21-1 record as a two-year starter at QB. Though he rarely saw action in the second-half of games, Ford crafted quite a season, completing 217 of 333 passes (a .650 percentage) for 3,588 yards and 47 TDs (only five INTs). Those who follow private school football won't forget his leadership skills, play-calling prowess, and powerful right arm.
While his size, ability, and athletic heritage first attracted attention from a horde of FBS schools, his straight-A average was another powerful draw. A basketball and baseball player, he participated in a variety of off-field projects, including the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, the Children's Foundation Academy for at-risk students, and a program which adopts families, collecting and delivering gifts and groceries.
Coach Stephen Hill already misses his once-in-a-lifetime signal caller. "Ford led by example at practice. He was so positive and treated all his teammates equally," says Hill. He was one of the hardest working players and never took his God-given abilities for granted. He has the quickest release; the ball flies off his hand--and his accuracy is unreal. Whenever a play broke down, he kept his eyes focused downfield. That's something college QBs might not learn for a few years."