Game Balls: Week 9 – Central Texas
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The high school football season continues to roll on and so do the top-notch performances. This past week served up many performances worthy of a game ball all across Central Texas. 1. Brandon Cray (SR-DB) – Shoemaker High School (Killeen,…
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Continue ReadingThe high school football season continues to roll on and so do the top-notch performances. This past week served up many performances worthy of a game ball all across Central Texas.
1. Brandon Cray (SR-DB) – Shoemaker High School (Killeen, TX)
The Shoemaker Wolves defeated the Killeen Kangaroos 45-24 last Thursday and while there was plenty of scoring in the game by the Wolves offense, the defense played a key role in the win. Cray had a lot to do with the excellent defensive play as he racked up 10 total tackles with six being solo. On top of that, he also forced two fumbles and recovered one fumble. Turnovers proved very hurtful for Killeen as sophomore Darrion Burleson also benefited with two fumble recoveries. As a whole, the Shoemaker defensive will be one to watch especially Cray.
2. Dior Bradfield (JR-QB) – Weiss High School (Pflugerville, TX)
Another Wolves team also had a big week last week as Weiss steamrolled Leander 63-34 in large part due to Weiss’ starting quarterback, Bradfield. He threw for 355 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions in just 15 completions. Bradfield was unstoppable in this game with his favorite targets being freshman wide receiver Cai Morgan and junior wide receiver Jeremiah Robinson. This is the third-game straight Bradfield has thrown for over 300 yards. His last performance against Rudder, he threw for six touchdowns. So far this season, Bradfield totals 982 passing yards and 14 touchdowns with still no interceptions. However, this was Weiss’ first win of the season. Defense has been a struggle for the Wolves, but Bradfield has been balling out all year.
3. Kevin Adams (JR-RB) – Cedar Park High School (Cedar Park, TX)
Although the Central Texas star senior quarterback Ryder Hernandez Ryder Hernandez 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Cedar Park | 2021 TX still balled out with 307 yards and four touchdowns, it was the junior running back Adams who made a mark against Anderson last Friday. Cedar Park simply could not be stopped as the Timberwolves obliterated Anderson, 82-0. Adams had a lot to do with that high score alongside Hernandez, as he rushed for 111 yards and three touchdowns. This was Adams’ biggest game yet as this was the first time this season he has broken 100 yards in a game. Given the high scoring, highly-competitive Cedar Park rushing attack, it will be interesting to see if Adams or if senior running back Cade Haught will make the biggest mark this season.
4. Cam’Ron Valdez Cam’Ron Valdez 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB Rockdalde | 2021 TX (SR-RB) – Rockdale High School (Rockdale, TX)
Having just committed to Texas Tech, Valdez showed out last Friday in Rockdale’s 44-13 win over Little River Academy. Valdez rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns. With this game, Valdez has passed 1,000 rushing yards this season. He now totals 1,056 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. The future Red Raider is not quite done yet as he has two more games against Troy and Lorena to continue to show he is among the best rushing attacks in Central Texas.
5. Case Kuykendall (SR-QB) – Llano High School (Llano, TX)
Although he did not have elite passing stats, Kuykendall had elite rushing stats against Blanco as the Yellowjackets defeated the Panthers, 42-26. Kuykendall rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns which includes a 70-yard dash. He also threw for 187 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. On top of that, he threw a 90-yard bomb against the struggling Blanco defense. Kuykendall has been a dark horse this season, as he has thrown for 1,366 yards and 20 touchdowns with just three interceptions while also rushing for 887 yards and six touchdowns. On top of that, in the season-opener against Gatesville, Kuykendall had 106 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
6. Ian Box (JR-DE) – Seguin High School (Seguin, TX)
What grabs the headlines is how Seguin defeated Veterans Memorial 47-14, but what goes unseen is often the defensive performances. Box had a performance that deserves a game ball as he racked up four sacks for a total of 20 yards lost. Box also totaled eight tackles including five tackles for a loss. Although the entire defense was a force to be reckoned with last Friday, Box made sure Veterans Memorial remembred his name as he was an unstoppable disruptive force.
7. Trapper Ensor (SR-QB) – Bruceville-Eddy High School (Bruceville-Eddy, TX)
While his teammate, junior running back Hunter Diaz also put up big numbers (149 rushing yards and two touchdowns), Ensor had the bigger impact for the Bruceville-Eddy Eagles with 135 yards and four touchdowns. On top of his rushing performance, he also threw for 73 yards and one touchdown with one interception. The Eagles rolled past Moody, 49-19 last Friday and Ensor had a lot to do with the comfortable win for Bruceville-Eddy. Ensor has made his mark as a mobile quarterback, totaling 757 passing yards and three touchdowns with seven interceptions while also rushing for 529 yards and 11 touchdowns.
8. Trey Seward (SR-RB) – Liberty Hill High School (Liberty Hill, TX)
The Panthers breezed past McCallum, 42-0, and Seward had himself a game. He rushed for 142 rushing yards and three touchdowns. This was one of the biggest performances for Seward this season, falling shy of his season-opening performance against Ellison when he rushed for 238 yards and three touchdowns. Seward has rushed for over 100 yards in four out of five games this season so far, and he will likely continue to have success as the season rolls on.
9. Bo Edmundson (SO-QB) – Lake Travis High School (Austin, TX)
Edmundson has received another game ball from this past week as he threw for 362 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions against Austin this past weekend. He was simply unstoppable, finishing the game with a 153.9 quarterback rating and a completion percentage of 78.1%. Lake Travis did not have problems offensively against Austin, defeating the Maroons, 62-20. Edmundson has balled out all season and it is fair to say he will continue his reign of terror over defenses in Central Texas.
10. Humberto Arizmendi (SR-QB) – Temple High School (Temple, TX)
Temple had no problems handling Bryan in the Wildcats’ 44-7 victory last Friday. The win was in large part due to Temple’s quarterback, Arizmendi, who threw for 246 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. While he has not had quite a season as Hernandez or Vista Ridge’s senior quarterback Kyle Brown Kyle Brown 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Vista Ridge | 2021 TX , Arizmendi has been consistently balling out for Temple, totaling 959 passing yards and 14 touchdowns with three interceptions.
11. DeWayne Coleman (SR-RB) – San Antonio Roosevelt (San Antonio, TX)
Last but not least to receive a game ball this week is Coleman, who rushed for 181 yards and scored an impressive five rushing touchdowns in the Rough Riders’ 43-28 win over MacArthur last Friday. This was easily the best performance for Coleman this season as this was just the second time he broke 100 rushing yards in a game. The five touchdowns also essentially gave Roosevelt the win over MacArthur, accounting for at least 30 points of the 43 give or take any made or missed PATs. With four more games to go for Roosevelt, Coleman could be a name to look out for especially if he posts as big of numbers as he has this past week.