Local athletes earn All-State awards
Awards keep coming for several local high school football players.
The Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association, the Padilla Poll and the Texas High School Coaches Association all released post-season All-State and Super Elite teams with several players from Edna and Ganado high schools.
The most recent, the Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association All-State teams released last week, featured five players from Edna and three from Ganado.
Edna finished 11-3-1 overall, reaching the Class 3A Division 1 state semifinals for the second consecutive year. Ganado, which finished 12-3, also reached the Class 2A Division 1 state semifinals and was named the Class 2A Team of the Year by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine.
Ganado
Ganado senior Dylan Holt and freshman Logan Bures made the BB/TSWA Class 2A All-State third team, Holt on the defensive line and Bures as a utility player. Junior quarterback Bryce Ullman made honorable mention in his first year at the position.
In addition, Holt made first team defensive lineman, Ullman made 2nd team quarterback and sophomore Landon Hicks made 2nd team wide receiver and linebacker on the Padilla Poll Class 2A Div. 1 All-State team. Ullman also was selected to the Texas High School Coaches Association Super Elite Class 2A Team as a utility player.
Ganado head football coach/athletic director Josh Ervin said he was proud of his players for being honored for their hard work.
“It’s really special for Dylan to get All-State his senior year,” Ervin said. “Bryce did real good this season at quarterback. He really stepped into the role. It’s really special for Logan to get it as a freshman.”
“Landon had a great season on both sides of the ball,” Ervin said. “He kept improving each week and we’re excited to see how much he continues to improve as he heads into his junior season.”
Ullman completed 194 of 300 passes for 3,111 yards and 48 touchdowns and rushed for 510 yards and 11 touchdowns on 112 carries. He was chosen as first team All-District quarterback, punter and defensive back. This marked the second All-State team for Ullman.
Holt recorded 70 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, six sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and two touchdowns last season. For his high school career, Holt recorded 241 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and two touchdowns. He made first team All-District defensive line and running back for the past season.
Bures filled a number of roles for the Tribe, playing running back, wide receiver, linebacker and defensive back. Offensively, he gained 675 yards and 10 touchdowns on 63 rushes and caught 14 passes for 332 yards and seven touchdowns. On defense he made 93 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and one defensive touchdown. He was named Newcomer of the Year on the All-District team.
Hicks made 97 tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks. He earned All-District first team at wide receiver and at linebacker.
Edna
Edna junior wide receiver Braylen Harris made the BB/TSWA Class 3A first team, senior quarterback Jaiden Clay made the third team, and senior tight end Jaykub Reyes, junior running back Kade Rodas, and junior defensive back Campton Hicks made honorable mention. In addition, Harris made the Padilla Poll Coaches 2023 All-State Class 3A Div. 1 first team offense, senior Dylan Buehring made second team offensive line, Hicks made first team defense, and Reyes made second team defensive line.
Edna assistant coach Cass Mitchell said the team benefited greatly from the hard work and talent of the young men, and the seniors listed set a high standard.
Clay passed for over 2,000 yards and 105 touchdowns and rushed for 3,022 yards and 43 rushing touchdowns, earning Most Valuable Player of District 15-3A Div. 1.
“Jaiden Clay has been a four-year starter,” Mitchell said. “He led us to two straight state semifinals. He’s a good leader. He was a freshman, part of our first class when we first came in here.”
Harris caught 53 passes for 1,531 yards and 28 touchdowns; rushed four times for 94 yards and two touchdowns; and recorded 14 tackles, one interception and two fumble recoveries while earning all-district first team wide receiver and kick returner.
“He’s a big part of our offense,” Mitchell said. “We’re excited about what he can do for us next year.”
Rodas rushed for 1,630 yards and 21 touchdowns, returned a kickoff for an 86-yard touchdown, and caught seven passes for 89 yards and two scores. He was named 15-3A first team running back.
“He’s been a 1,000-yard rusher for us the past three years,” Mitchell said.
Hicks recorded 65 tackles, five tackles for loss, six interceptions, two touchdowns, eight pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery, while on offense he rushed twice for 83 yards and two touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns. He was all-district first team safety and second team wide receiver.
“Campton Hicks ran our secondary,” Mitchell said. “He was really the quarterback of our defense. He made everything work. He’ll be a tough one to lose, as well.”
Stats might be lacking for offensive linemen but leadership was not when it came to Buehring’s value, he said.
“He was the man on the line,” Mitchell said. “We had first-year guys on the line with him. He helped everybody and made sure everybody knew what to go on. He played three years for us up there.”
Reyes recorded 78 tackles, eight sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, earning himself the district’s Defensive Player of the Year. On offense, he caught eight passes for 238 yards and three touchdowns.
“He was a three-year starter for us,” Mitchell said. “He played multiple spots on the defensive line. Losing him will be big.”