It’s Feburary. Hey, let’s talk high school football!

Well, there’s NEVER a bad time to talk high school football, especially in the most high school football-crazed state in the nation.

But it is just a tad late, a bit after-the-fact, to have our football honors.

Here’s the explanation: we had a running list, with most of our honorees figured out. I have always, though, made no bones about the fact that our coverage is a REGION-WIDE effort. I wanted to hear thoughts, see numbers and get a larger perspective.

The result: the latest end-of-season awards ever. But still, I believe this is the most thorough, most complete of the football honors teams in the East Texas area – or at the very least, the one recognizing the most deserving players and coaches from the programs in our coverage area (Kilgore, Carthage, Henderson, Pine Tree, Gilmer, Gladewater, Sabine, White Oak, Tatum, Arp, Troup, West Rusk, Beckville and Overton — Leverett’s Chapel plays six-man, and isn’t included in this particular team).

So, without further delay, it’s long, but here it is…

The 2025 ETBLITZ.COM GRIDIRON TEAM

Superlative awards

ETBlitz.com Mr. Football 2025: JETT SURRATT, QB, CARTHAGE

The on-the-field leader of the offense of the back-to-back UIL Class 4A, Division II state champions, Surratt went 249-of-342 passes for 3,736 yards, threw 52 touchdown passes to just five interceptions, and also caught a touchdown pass. His most important numbers, though: 16-0, which was the Bulldogs’ record in 2025, and 2-0, as in Carthage’s record in state title games the last two years.

In a program that has 11 state football championships (read more on that below), Surratt, the son of coach Scott Surratt, holds every significant passing record in school history.

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Offensive Player of the Year: K.J. EDWARDS, RB, CARTHAGE

In a testament to their depth, the Bulldogs kept rolling through the opposition even when the Texas A&M signee was injured, but when you see his numbers, it’s difficult to disagree with our choice here. Edwards scored 31 touchdowns on the ground and one receiving TD, and rushed for 2,085 yards on 152 carries, a ridiculous near 14-yards-per-carry average. His rushing yardage total makes him the all-time leading rusher in school history.

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Defensive Player of the Year: ISAIAH WATTERS, LB, KILGORE

Coach Clint Fuller relied on a lot of players to raise their games over the last two years on the path to a pair of 4A, Division I state championship games. One in particular did just about everything but cook the burgers at the concession stand.

Seriously, what Watters did was amazing, sharing time with Rayshaun Williams in the backfield, and then was one of the Bulldogs’ brightest stars at linebacker. In 16 games (a 14-2 record for the Ragin’ Red) in the 2025 season, Watters had 149 tackles, 71 of them solo, and 15 for loss; he had five sacks, an interception, defended four passes, had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, scored a defensive touchdown, and had two quarterback hurries.

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Coaching Staff of the Year: CARTHAGE

When the buzzer sounded back on Dec. 19 and made Carthage’s 49-21 rout of West Orange-Stark official, the Bulldogs laid claim to their 11^th state championship – every single one of them won under the helm of head coach Scott Surratt.

Prior to Surratt’s arrival as Carthage’s head football coach and athletic director in 2007, the Bulldogs had one quarterback in history to throw for over 2,000 yards (Joey Blissett, 2,043 yards in 1991), three seasons in which a running back rushed for over 2,000 yards (Johnnie Balous in 1994 and Kris Briggs twice, in 1997 and ’98), one year in history in which the ‘Dawgs scored over 400 points, one state title game appearance (in 1991,a loss to A&M Consolidated), and no state titles.

Since Surratt has been there, Carthage has had five undefeated seasons, regularly has passers and rushers go well past the 2,000-yard mark each season, and is UNBEATEN in winning 11 state title games.

Get this: Surratt has beaten 10 different programs for those 11 state championships. The Bulldogs did beat La Vega twice (2019 and 2024).

Surratt and his teams have gone 85-8 in the playoffs since he came to Carthage, and he and his coaches have an overall record of 250-31.

Of course, this past season, they went 16-0.

The Carthage coaching staff for the 2025 season, along with trainers and all personnel: Darren Preston, assistant head coach and defensive coordinator; Clinton Endsley, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach; Mike Morgan, defensive special teams coordinator and safeties coach; Zeke Dixon, passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach;  Micah Smith, offensive special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach; Demond Horsley, accountability coordinator and running backs coach; Ryan Marion, cornerbacks coach; Charlie Tucker, defensive line coach; James Foster, inside linebackers coach; Craig Fant, defensive line coach; Dalton Longenbaugh, wide receivers; Grant Johnson, offensive line; Art Horton, outside linebackers; Kaden Holcomb, tight ends; Austin Morgan, safeties; Reggie Hill, freshmen offense; Rob McFall, video coordinator; Lee Melton, video assistant; head athletic trainer Kristin Croley; Derek Foster, offensive line; and of course, Surratt himself.

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FIRST TEAM

Quarterback: Kayson Brooks, Kilgore; Josh Childress, Troup.

Brooks went 221-of-329 for 3,134 yards and 29 touchdowns to eight interceptions, and ran for 244 yards and eight TDs on 66 carries – obviously, he was a huge part of Kilgore returning to the 4A-DI state title game, a 10-0 loss there to Stephenville.

Childress, in his first year as a starter for coach Sam Wells’ Tigers, helped Troup to a 12-1 record and a district championship. Childress, a junior, went 142-of-218 for 2,456 yards, 27 touchdowns and five interceptions, and also ran for 377 yards on 47 carries for three touchdowns.

Running back: Rayshaun Williams, Kilgore; Brett Wells, Troup; Jesstin Starling, Henderson; Josh Smith, Arp.

Williams looked like a star even two seasons ago as a freshman. He’s played like a star, for the most part, ever since. In 2025, Williams finished with 1,883 yards and scored 18 touchdowns, and also had 162 yards receiving for the Bulldogs.

Wells – well, he was a huge part of the Tigers’ offense: 1,949 yards and a staggering 33 rushing touchdowns on 208 carries, and also had 12 catches for 118 yards and a score.

“Meaty” Starling came oh-so-close to breaking Henderson’s career rushing yardage record. The Lion finished 2025 with 1,245 yards and 21 touchdowns on 144 carries.

And Arp’s Tigers went 12-2 – and nobody on the opponents’ side wanted to tackle big Josh Smith. Smith finished with 1,835 yards and 30 touchdowns on 210 carries, an 8.7-yards-per-carry average.

Wide receiver: LaKeyleon Graves, Kilgore; Junior Henderson, Carthage; J.D. Edwards, Carthage; Bosston Johnson, Pine Tree; Jacob Osburn, Overton.

Graves was one of Brooks’ leading targets. The Texas State signee had 787 yards and eight touchdowns on 57 catches, and is one of just two players – Carson Crawford of Carthage is the other – to make the ETBlitz Gridiron Team’s first team at two positions. You’ll also find him as a starter on defense.

Junior Henderson missed some time, like teammate K.J. Edwards. But when he got back from being banged up, he sure didn’t let grass grow under his feet. The ‘Dawgs had a ton of weapons in ’25, and he certainly was one: 39 catches, but for 651 yards and 14 touchdowns.

And he was joined by J.D. Edwards, another big-time threat for quarterback Surratt. J.D. finished the season with 733 yards and six touchdowns on 50 catches.

One reason Pine Tree had an eight-win season was the play on both sides of the ball of Johnson, who on offense had 42 catches for 970 yards and scored eight TDs, and had a knack for making the big play.

Osburn continued the Mustangs’ tradition in recent years of top-talent receivers. Osburn had 54 catches for the Mustangs for 725 yards and eight scores.

Tight end: Carson Crawford, Carthage.

Speaking of Mr. Crawford, the man that his coach, Scott Surratt, said could do it all just about DID do it all in 2025. The Colorado signee had an amazing year on defense (see below), caught 17 passes for 202 yards and five touchdowns and helped with the Bulldogs’ blocking as a tight end, and even threw a touchdown pass to Jett Surratt.

Offensive line: Carson Carter, Carthage; Cooper Walters, Carthage; Jeremiah Jones, Carthage; Jaden Pastor, Kilgore; Hunter Whipkey, Kilgore; Ismael Camara, Gilmer; Damarion Tolbert, Tatum.

Yes, we can do math and we realize this is more than five. But every single one of these young men were integral to their teams’ success in 2025 up front, and all of them deserved to be first team. In fact, there are likely young men on the second and third team O-lines that ALSO deserved to be here. Offensive line was probably the deepest position on our ETBlitz.com Gridiron Team in the 2025 season.

Kicker: Eddie Jiminez, Kilgore.

Defensive line: Cameron Christian, Kilgore; Bi’Syn Williams, Kilgore; Zay Owens, Carthage; Tyler Hagler, Gilmer.

Kilgore’s duo of Christian and Williams were more than most teams could overcome – in fact, Kilgore just might have had the best defense in Class 4A in the state this past season AND the season before that.

Christian had 86 total tackles, 35 of them solo, eight for loss, 2 ½ sacks, three interceptions (as a freakin’ defensive lineman!), four blocked kicks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, a defensive touchdown and 25 quarterback hurries.

If Carthage opponents made it past Zay Owens, they likely didn’t get past Crawford and Beck and the rest of the defense. But not much got past Owens in 2025. A part of a very talented defense, Owens had 71 tackles, 20 for loss, seven sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Hagler and the Buckeyes didn’t have a deep playoff run, as the Buckeyes are accustomed to having, but it wasn’t for lack of production at his spot. Hagler had 73 total tackles, six sacks, blocked three kicks, had a forced fumble and a recovery, and also had 15 quarterback hurries.

Linebacker: Carson Crawford, Carthage; DaQuives Beck, Carthage; David “Bubba” McGowan, Kilgore; Justin Weir, Overton.

The vote for our defensive player of the year came down to Kilgore’s Watters and Carthage’s Crawford, and it easily could’ve gone either way.

You read Watters’ numbers above. Here are Crawford’s: 135 total tackles, 23 for loss, 10 sacks, 33 hurries, three forced fumbles and two recoveries, two interceptions and seven pass break-ups. Crawford even scored four touchdowns on those turnovers.

Beck, a fearsome presence for the ‘Dawgs and headed to A&M (like the running back, Edwards), left a mark again on his way out. The defensive MVP of last year’s 4A-DII state championship win over La Vega, Beck had 89 tackles, nine for loss, five sacks, 14 quarterback hurries, three pass break-ups, and four fumble recoveries. He scored two defensive TDs in the 2025 season.

The nickname “Bubba” is kind of funny. But none of Kilgore’s opponents were laughing at David “Bubba” McGowan. McGowan led the Bulldogs in tackles (154), and 74 of those were solo. He also had three for loss, two sacks, an interception returned for a touchdown, a pass break-up, four fumble recoveries, and two quarterback hurries.

Defensive back: LaKeyleon Graves, Kilgore; Dre’ Sanders, Kilgore; Ja’Kalen Sheffield, Kilgore; Kam Brown, West Rusk; Ty Langley, Arp.

Like the offensive linemen we mentioned, we added an extra spot or two for defensive backs on the first team, and we could’ve kept adding. This position was that deep in the ETBlitz.com coverage area in 2025.

Graves, who could just about play any position on the field it seems, was named the 4A-DI District 9 most valuable player in the all-district voting for a reason. Graves’ fantastic 2025 actually began back last summer in a fantastic series of performances at the Texas State 7-on-7 Tournament, and he continued it into the year. You saw his numbers on offense. Here are his defensive numbers: 137 tackles, three for loss, a sack, six interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery and 10 pass break-ups.

Sheffield was one of Kilgore’s best defensive players once again in 2025, now two years’ running. The Ragin’ Red DB had 143 tackles, 78 solo, four for loss, three interceptions, an outstanding 14 pass break-ups (tied with Sanders in that category for the team lead by FAR), and two forced fumbles.

Sanders is actually a talented receiver, too – in fact, he could have a future as a dual threat at the collegiate level, as well. The younger brother of Notre Dame defensive back Jayden Sanders, Dre’ is making his own path: 54 tackles, 43 solo, two for loss, four interceptions, and those 14 pass breakups.

Brown had an eye for the interception. In fact, he had an eye for eight of them, one for a touchdown, to go with 45 tackles.

And Ty Langley was on the money, as well: 80 total tackles and six interceptions for the Arp Tiger.

Punter: Jaxson Ludlow, White Oak.

This young man, like a lot of East Texas talented football players, had double duty again in 2025, and also made this team as a quarterback.

Here, though, as a punter, our pick as the best punter in our coverage area. Ludlow had 12 punts this season, and averaged 43 yards a punt, landing six of them inside the opponents’ 20-yard-line.

Utility player: Lemarion Coleman, Henderson.

Another one who could do it all, hence his title as utility player on the first team.

Coach Ricky Meeks could always count on Coleman. In addition to 416 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries on offense, he had two kick returns for a score and three punt returns for scores, as well.

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SECOND TEAM

Quarterback: Rylan Holleman, Overton; Jaxson Ludlow, White Oak; Zade Taylor, Gilmer.

Let’s be honest: Holleman, who is just a fantastic athlete no matter what he’s doing (if it has a ball, he excels at it – if it doesn’t, he’d probably find a way to win that, too). But he had quite some shoes to fill in following Bryce Still at quarterback for the Mustangs.

Holleman did an admirable job, helping the Mustangs not only to another good season, but listen to his stats: 155-of-291 through the air for 2,028 yards, 25 touchdowns (excellent!) and just five interceptions. And here’s where Holleman is dangerous: moving around. He finished with 1,323 yards on 166 carries, scoring TWENTY-THREE TOUCHDOWNS.

We mentioned White Oak’s Ludlow as a punter – now he’s up as a quarterback, and he’s a talented one. Ludlow in 10 games went 121-of-212 for 2,112 yards, threw 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions, but also ran for 966 yards and 14 scores on 110 carries, averaging right at 9 yards a carry. He also had six catches for 58 yards and a touchdown, thrown to him by younger brother Tucker.

We couldn’t have this end-of-the-year team without at least mentioning someone who dealt with pressure all year: the pressure that comes with being the starting quarterback for the Gilmer Buckeyes.

But Zade Taylor didn’t get enough credit for handling that pressure, so here’s some credit now, Zade. He finished the season 151-of-249 for 2,155 yards, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions, and also ran for seven touchdowns and 660 yards on 101 carries. He was just a junior last season, so he’ll return for coach Alan Metzel this fall.

Running back: Jorden Prince, Beckville; Benny Smith, Carthage; Jeremiah Flanagan, Gladewater; Taveon Horne, Gilmer.

Prince was banged up early in the season, but once he got into the lineup and got his sea legs, so to speak, he was every bit as special as many around the state predicted he would be. He finished with 941 yards and 14 touchdowns on 179 carries.

Smith was on the reverse end of that: Smith is “second string” for the Carthage Bulldogs, but playing with K.J. Edwards, a lot of people would be second string. Smith didn’t care – either that, or nobody told him he wasn’t supposed to be so good. Smith was excellent: 1,001 yards and 15 touchdowns on 128 carries for Surratt and the Bulldogs, often bailing them out of bad situations.

Flanagan was among a host of players that helped first-year head coach Jermaine Lewis have a season to remember: a district championship and a 10-2 overall record right out of the gate.

Flanagan finished with 923 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns on 141 carries.

Horne and the Buckeyes always seem to have a dynamic offense; they didn’t put up the numbers they normally do, but they were hardly anemic. And Horne had a good year, his sophomore year: 991 yards and 15 touchdowns on 164 carries, and then caught 21 passes for 184 additional yards and another score. We can see big things for this young man.

Wide receiver: Jayden Jeffress, Carthage; Solomon Jackson, Gilmer; Trace Haynes, Gilmer; Gabe Johnson, Beckville.

Some list Jayden Jeffress as a tight end, or as an H back. We’re listing him here as a receiver because he’s what we call a butt-kicker: when Jeffress got the ball, he looked like he was running from something very bad. He finished up with 48 catches for 815 yards and 10 scores, and oh yeah, a state championship for the Bulldogs.

Jackson and Haynes each put together a solid senior season. Jackson finished with 904 yards and 11 scores on 62 catches, and Haynes was solid for the Buckeyes, as well: 629 yards and eight scores on 27 catches, averaging 23.3 yards a catch.

Beckville’s Johnson kind of had one of those quiet but very good years: 808 yards receiving and nine touchdowns on 52 balls caught for Johnson.

Tight end: Jax Schminkey, Arp.

Schminkey is one of those guys, you know what we mean? He only had six catches for 55 yards this season, but in a primarily run-oriented offense, Schminkey was a key factor in the Tigers’ offense rolling up a whopping 4,176 yards rushing.

Offensive line: Jonathan Barron, Kilgore; Aaron Chavaria, Gladewater; Elijah Dorsey, Overton; Kyron Reed, West Rusk; A.J. Dewberry, Troup; Cooper Bridges, White Oak.

Again, most of these guys are first-teamers. Barron helped Kilgore return to a second-straight state title game; Chavaria, a key factor in Gladewater’s 10-win season; big Kyron Reed got West Rusk its respect and back to the playoffs; Dorsey was a fixture on an Overton offensive AND defensive front that just keeps winning; Dewberry was one of the factors that made 2025 very special for Troup, a 12-win season; and Bridges was one of the area’s best linemen on an underrated Roughnecks offense.

Kicker: Brady Prazak, White Oak.

Brady was a good shining light for the ‘Necks this past season. He went 42-of-44 in extra point kicks (both misses were blocked), was 5-of-7 on field goal kicks, his long a 41-yarder, and scored 57 total points. He also helped greatly with field position, with nine touchbacks.

Defensive line: Caden Starkey, Troup; Zee Pearley, Carthage; Caleb Smith, Carthage; Gunnar Whitfield, Overton; Isaiah Vasquez, West Rusk.

Starkey could’ve easily broken into the first team here. He finished with 76 tackles, and check out this number: 21 for loss. He also had seven sacks and scored a defensive touchdown for the Tigers.

Pearley and Smith helped form one of the best defensive fronts in 4A-DII for Surratt’s ‘Dawgs. Pearly finished with 91 tackles, eight for loss, six sacks, eight quarterback hurries, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, and Smith – he finished with 86 tackles, 17 for loss, and five sacks. He also had 22 quarterback hurries (that’s a LOT) and was credited with three pass break-ups.

Overton’s Whitfield and the rest of the Mustangs had one tough schedule, but still had a pretty successful 2025. Whitfield finished with 91 tackles, 16 for loss, seven sacks, eight quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

And anyone who tried to gain a yard against the West Rusk Raiders’ defense knows that doing so meant avoiding Vasquez. The Raider had another good year: 86 stops, 16 of them for loss, three sacks, 12 quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Linebacker: Chrisden Ellis, Arp; Mason Budro, Gladewater; Travis Holmes, Kilgore; Noble Kendrick, Troup; Brett Wells, Troup.

Ellis was one of the players Arp coach Wes Schminkey could count on when the big plays needed to be made, and he made some: 96 total tackles, 16 for loss, led the Tigers with five sacks and had 11 quarterback hurries, and had an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

How about big Mason Budro for the Gladewater Bears? He went out with a bang: 161 (!) total tackles, nine for loss as a classic linebacker-all-around-the-ball. He had a sack, five hurries, three passes defended and a forced fumble.

Travis Holmes – another member of that crazy-talented Kilgore defense of Chad Loper’s. Holmes might have been the most underrated – he caused havoc all year, with 93 total tackles, 41 solo, 5 ½ for loss; he had two sacks, an interception and a pass break-up, as well as a caused fumble and a fumble recovery, and three hurries.

Kendrick and Wells weren’t Batman and Robin for Troup’s Tigers – they were more like Batman and Superman.

Wells, in another fantastic performance as a junior, just as he did in that incredible sophomore year, had 109 tackles, nine for loss, a 68-yard interception return, five passes successfully defended, two caused fumbles and two fumble recoveries, and Kendrick – he had a heck of a senior year: 91 total tackles, 11 for loss, a sack, an interception and a return of 31 yards, a blocked punt, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Defensive back: Madaxx Vasquez, Gladewater; Tyler Johnigan, Kilgore; Rashaad Wofford, Pine Tree; Tylin Williams, Carthage.

Vasquez had one of the great moments of the 2025 season: an interception late against Jefferson that set up a 28-27 Bears’ win. Vasquez finished with 42 tackles, five interceptions, and 10 passes successfully defended.

Johnigan was one of Kilgore’s Fantastic Four, a defensive backfield without a weak link. Tyler had 47 tackles, 28 solo, and five passes defended.

Rashaad Wofford has defined “ball-hawking” the last couple of years, and is one of those guys that, if you’re a quarterback, you think twice before throwing his way, one of the biggest compliments we can give a DB. Wofford finished with just 20 tackles, but with seven interceptions, two for scores.

And what more can we say about Carthage’s state title-winning defense than yet another member added to this team, in the form of Tylin Williams. Williams had a ridiculous 119 tackles – as a defensive back – for the ‘Dawgs, three tackles for loss and seven pass break-ups. He had four interceptions, three total defensive touchdowns, forced two fumbles and recovered two, and had a blocked punt – and a partridge in a pear tree, an unbelievable year.

Punter: Macen Jones, Henderson.

One of the reasons the Lions were consistent and improved in 2025 in Meeks’ first season was field position created by both their defense and by punter Macen Jones, the first-team all-district punter.

Utility player: Hunter McCandless, West Rusk, and Rudy Watts, Beckville.

McCandless was West Rusk’s Swiss Army knife. He did a little bit of everything. As a runner, he had 221 yards and four touchdowns on 40 carries. As a receiver, he had 19 catches for 341 yards and four MORE touchdowns. He had two successful two-point conversions for the Raiders, and defensively, he had 110 total tackles, six for loss, a sack, two hurries, three caused fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Watts was equally good for coach Cody Ross’ Bearcats. On offense, this dude had 546 yards and six touchdowns running the ball, and 542 yards and five MORE scores catching it. He had 11 punt returns for 179 yards – just over a 16-yard-per-return average; and on defense, he had 47 tackles, a blocked kick, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

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THIRD TEAM

Quarterback: Colton Croft, Pine Tree; Judson Dotson, West Rusk; Achilles Hess, Gladewater.

Pine Tree football has had more success, arguably, in the last two years than the Pirates have had in the history of their football program. Quarterback Colton Croft has been excellent, and helped the Pirates to an 8-5 overall record, and to their first-ever trip past the second round of the postseason.

Croft went 184-of-330 for 2,553 yards, threw 23 touchdowns to 14 interceptions, and also had a rushing touchdown. And the Pirates will get him back next year.

One of the best players for coach Rafe Mata’s West Rusk Raiders last fall was Dodson, also a dual threat. Dotson, a senior leader, went 95-of-212 for 1,920 yards, 23 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He also ran for 387 yards and seven more touchdowns on 71 carries.

And Hess was the trigger-man for the Gladewater offense that won 10 of 12 games – and remember, one of their two losses was a one-point loss to Dotson and the Raiders.

Hess, who has maybe the coolest name on the team, only threw for 846 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions this year. But it was his coolness under pressure in leading the Bears that won us over for him to get this spot. Hess, by the way, just a junior, also rushed for 466 yards and 11 touchdowns on 58 carries. We look for big things for Hess in 2026.

Running back: Carsin Cooper, Gladewater; Roger Attaway, Pine Tree; Gabe Miller, Overton.

Cooper was a big help for Hess out of the backfield: the senior had 1,087 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns on 144 carries.

Attaway will forever be known as likely the best runner on a Pirates team that got to the third round of the 4A-DI playoffs. Attaway had 894 yards and scored 10 TDs on 139 carries, and also had 10 catches for 108 yards.

And Miller is a tough runner AND a good blocker for coach Scotty Laymance. Miller trailed only Holleman in rushing yards – Miller finished with 1,005 yards and 10 scores on 115 carries, averaging almost 9 yards a carry.

Wide receiver: Cam Hollie, Troup; Dee Hollie, Troup; Logan Ladwig, White Oak; T.K. White, Kilgore.

We mentioned earlier what a big year Troup quarterback Josh Childress had in his first year as a starter. Well, the Hollies – not the band that gave us “Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)” but the brothers Hollie who suit up for coach Sam Wells’ Tigers.

Cam finished with 787 yards and 10 scores on 51 catches, and Dee had 749 yards and eight TDs on 39 catches.

Ladwig, meanwhile, was with his Rougneck teammates facing one heck of a schedule. But still, he made 35 catches for 747 yards and eight scores in just eight games played.

White was an unsung hero on Kilgore’s offense, his most dynamic play likely the 80-yard catch-and-run touchdown against Little Cypress-Mauriceville. White finished with 26 catches for 396 yards and five TDs.

Tight end: Chris Nickoles, Pine Tree.

A first-team all-district selection, Nickoles helped open holes for Attaway and along with the Pirates’ O-line, helped keep QB Colton Croft standing.

Offensive line: Eli Ladd, Arp; Daniel Garcia, Kilgore; Vernon Pittman, Carthage; Kelton Lee, Sabine; Devan Koger, Beckville.

Another excellent set of offensive linemen, all talented enough to play somewhere at the next level. Lee, of course, was on a winless Sabine team, but drew high praise for his efforts in protection and in the Cardinals’ running game. Koger helped a Beckville team that got off to a rough start back to respectability. We know Kilgore’s Garcia and Carthage’s Pittman helped their respective offenses back to the 4A state title games; and Eli Ladd was a cornerstone of the Arp offense that helped the Tigers get to a 12-2 season.

Kicker: Christian Monreal, Carthage.

Monreal only attempted three field goals all season. But did you SEE the Carthage offense? It’s no wonder.

He still scored 104 total points – and went 101-of-102 in extra points, a very good year – along with a state championship.

Defensive line: Varian Williams, Henderson; David Lively, Pine Tree; Aiden Smith, Pine Tree; Jordan Ervin, Henderson.

Williams and Ervin were bright spots on a Henderson team that improved even more in Meeks’ first year.

Lively and Smith did more than help PT be respectable: they made the Pirates’ defense good. Lively had 46 tackles, six for loss, two sacks, five hurries and a fumble recovery; Smith had 59 stops, seven for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Linebacker: Levi Sipes, White Oak; Cameron Venable, White Oak; Dalan Montgomery, Pine Tree; Josh Smith, Arp; Luke Skillern, Troup; Hunter Klima, Overton.

Sipes was fun to watch for Roughnecks fans in ’25: 74 tackles, 24 ½ for loss, eight quarterback hurries, three pass break-ups, a forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, an interception and a defensive score.

Right alongside Sipes was his linebacking corps teammate Venable: 82 stops, 10 ½ for loss, a hurry, two fumble recoveries, and an interception.

Montgomery was another member of that effective Pirates defense: 80 tackles, eight for loss, two sacks, four hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, an interception and a pass break-up.

Smith, who was huge as a running back for the Tigers (a first-team ETBlitz selection), was also big on defense. He had 117 tackles, 14 for loss, four sacks, 13 hurries, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Skillern finished with 94 tackles, six for loss, five sacks, and a caused fumble.

And Klima always seemed to make big plays: 107 tackles, 11 for loss, five sacks, six hurries, and a pass successfully defended.

Defensive back: Cal Jester, White Oak; Tyson McKinney, White Oak; James Pierce, Troup; Wyatt Johnson, Arp.

The one-two punch of Jester and McKinney was good for the ‘Necks. Jester, who was just a sophomore this season, was a safety who had 74 tackles, six for loss, an interception and a forced fumble, and McKinney finished with 55 tackles, three for loss, an interception, a fumble recovery and nine pass break-ups.

Pierce had 77 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, four pass break-ups and an interception and touchdown for the 12-win, district-champ Troup Tigers.

And Arp’s Johnson had 32 tackles, one for loss, but really shined in pass coverage: six interceptions and seven passes successfully defended, and also had a forced fumble.

Punter: Jordan Mojica, Beckville.

The Bearcats’ punter kicked 23 times and averaged 36 yards.

Utility player: Zane Borque, Arp.

The talented Arp Tiger played all over the place, hence this award. He and Langley shared quarterback duties – Borque went 33-of-54 for 512 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions, but the Tigers’ main goal was running the ball. He did that, too, for 682 yards and 10 scores, an average of 6.1 per carry (111 carries). He had 17 catches for 305 yards and five TDs, played sparingly on defense and also punted some for the Tigers.