OVERTON’S EDWARDS, STILL SIGN! | Edwards to ETBU, Still with Howard Payne!

EDITOR’S NOTE: Our original story had a mistake: Bryce Still did not, in fact, sign with ETBU, but with Howard Payne! ETBlitz.com regrets the error, is happy to set the record straight, and tremendously happy for both Bryce and Jayden!

Look out, ETBU, and Howard Payne: some dogs are coming.

We mean dogs on the football field, two of them: Overton High School quarterback Bryce Still and wide receiver Jayden Edwards, who signed this week to continue their education and their football careers: Edwards at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, and Still at Howard Payne University in Brownwood.

The seniors were joined by family, friends, coaches and faculty earlier this week for their signing ceremony, and these are two of Overton’s most decorated athletes in the history of the school.

Both on a couple of occasions were the Whataburger / ETBlitz.com Players of the Week, and both were, on a few occasions, honored statewide, as well, including Edwards taking the Built Ford Tough Award for 2A, and Still winning honors as the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football / Panini America Quarterback of the Week.

Maybe more importantly, as juniors and seniors, they helped Overton to 20 combined wins the last two seasons, and just five total losses in that time frame.

Just this past season, they helped engineer a huge comeback win in overtime at Mount Enterprise, and also helped the Mustangs knock off 2A power Mart, a multiple-time state champion and state finalist, in the second round of the 2024 2A, Division II playoffs.

As a sophomore, Still completed 108-of-226 passes for 1,715 yards, 25 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, and ran for 563 yards and five touchdowns on 116 carries – right at 5 yards a carry.

In his junior season, Still was 227-of-346 (65 percent) for 3,200 yards, even, 38 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions. He ran for 456 yards and nine scores on 80 carries, averaging just under 6 yards a carry.

And as a senior in 2024, Still saved his best for last: 233-of-350 (66 percent completion rate), 3,435 yards, an eye-popping 42 passing touchdowns and just seven interceptions. He ran for 688 yards and 17 touchdowns, 6.7 yards a carry, on 103 carries.

So, if you’re keeping score, Still as a Mustang threw for a staggering 8,350 yards, 105 touchdowns, just 31 interceptions, rushed for 1,707 yards and 31 touchdowns, an absolutely incredible career.

Edwards was right there, doing some simply amazing feats.

As a sophomore, 29 catches for 658 yards and 14 touchdowns to go with six carries for 110 yards and a touchdown. That’s a fantastic year for just about anybody.

As it turned out, Edwards made that look average compared to what he would do as a junior and senior.

In 2023, 80 yards rushing and a score on just two carries. And in his natural position as receiver, a ridiculous 1,346 yards and 19 touchdowns on 75 catches, averaging 17.9 yards a catch and 112 a game, a long of 79 that year.

And as a senior in ’24, Edwards caught 80 balls for 1,501 yards and 22 touchdowns (!), averaged 18.8 yards a catch and 125 yards a GAME. His longest catch of the season: 97 yards, folks.

Edwards finished his high school career with 3,505 yards (!!) and 55 touchdowns on 184 catches.

These are numbers that most high school players would give real money to produce.

As mentioned, Edwards is headed to ETBU. The Tigers went 6-4 overall in 2024, 2-4 in the American Southwest Conference. ETBU is coached by Calvin Ruzicka, the former Cedar Hill (High School) coach that won state titles in 2006, 2013 and 2014, and reached the state title game in 2012, as well.

Howard Payne went 2-8 in 2024 and plays its games at Gordon Wood Stadium in Brownwood. They’re also a member of the American Southwest Conference, so Still and Edwards, longtime teammates, will be on the opposite end of the rivalry when the two programs meet.

Congratulations to Jayden Edwards and Bryce Still, and congratulations to ETBU and to Howard Payne for signing them!