Game Balls: Week 15 – Central Texas
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There was plenty of offense to go around this past week in Central Texas as the regular season has wrapped up for every class this season. Now, teams are preparing for playoffs but it is important to take a look…
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Continue ReadingThere was plenty of offense to go around this past week in Central Texas as the regular season has wrapped up for every class this season. Now, teams are preparing for playoffs but it is important to take a look at who stood out this week.
1. Re’Shaun Sanford Re’Shaun Sanford 5'7" | 155 lbs | RB Harker Heights | 2023 State TX II (SO-RB) – Harker Heights High School (Harker Heights, TX)
In the final game for Harker Heights’ regular season, the Knights defeated Belton 42-20. Essentially all of the points came from the Harker Heights rushing attack but Sanford stood out because of his 333 yards and one touchdown. Although, junior quarterback Terrance Carter and sophomore running back Aimeer Washington also deserve praise. Carter rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns while Washington scored two touchdowns. For Sanford, he has had a successful season rushing for 1,369 yards and six touchdowns with arguably his best performance coming against Killeen when he rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns.
2. Israel Morgan (SR-RB) – Round Rock High School (Round Rock, TX)
Morgan has done it once again, but this time, he took a huge leap to close out the regular season. Round Rock defeated Westwood with an unprecedented 70-41 win. For Morgan, he rushed for an electric 458 yards and six touchdowns. That stat is not a typo and is probably the best stat in Central Texas this season for football to say the least. Few running backs ever close a game with that many yards and that many touchdowns. Now that Round Rock is heading to the playoffs, Morgan looks to keep padding his stats as he has 1,886 yards and 25 touchdowns. The good news is, playoff football gives Morgan more of a chance to impress college scouts.
3. R.J. Martinez (SR-QB) – Westwood High School (Round Rock, TX)
For the other team, Martinez stood out for Westwood as he threw for 510 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. Although Westwood took a loss to its rival, Martinez still had a good game to add to his successful season. He has thrown for 2,538 yards and 22 touchdowns with eight interceptions this year. He also rushed for 477 yards and seven touchdowns this season. Although Westwood will miss the playoffs, Martinez should be proud of the work he has done this season.
4. Ryder Hernandez Ryder Hernandez 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Cedar Park | 2021 TX (SR-QB) – Cedar Park High School (Cedar Park, TX)
Hernandez makes his way back to the Game Balls list as he threw for 213 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions in Cedar Park’s 59-18 win over Manor. Hernandez finished out the regular season with no interceptions and has thrown for 2,436 yards and 34 touchdowns. Cedar Park is an elite team and a state championship favorite, so the Timberwolves will be a team to watch in this postseason.
5. Caleb King (JR-DB) – Veterans Memorial High School (San Antonio, TX)
King deserves a game ball this week after he recorded a 75-yard interception. On top of a huge interception return, King also recorded seven total tackles in Veterans Memorial’s 49-7 win over Lehman on Friday. King has two interceptions this season as Veterans Memorial gets prepared to take on Cedar Park for the first round of the playoffs.
6. Cameron O’Banan (SR-WR) – Dripping Springs High School (Dripping Springs, TX)
There are many offensive players that could have received a game ball given the final score of this game as Seguin defeated Dripping Springs 70-63. However, O’Banan is one of the ones who stood out, have 15 receptions for 410 yards and six touchdowns. Much like Morgan, few receivers get numbers like this and something just made O’Banan explode in this game as he only had four receptions for 48 yards and two touchdowns in the game before. Although, O’Banan exploded against Mansfield Timberview with 306 yards and two touchdowns as well. So, O’Banan has some great potential to just shock whoever is in attendance.
7. Tristan Moreno (SO-WR) – Seguin High School (Seguin, TX)
For Seguin, it was Moreno who stood out as he had eight receptions for 166 yards and three touchdowns. Moreno has been successful this season with 977 yards and 12 touchdowns on his receiving sophomore season. Given that he is just a sophomore, Moreno has a lot of potential to be an even more elite receiver these next two years for Seguin.