Refugio's Jordan Kelley
@jmkelley61
and Shiner's A.J. Patek
@patek_j
feature on the
@Vicadvocate
2021 Kickoff cover as the rival schools begin season ranked No. 1 & 2 in Class 2A, Division I. Read the full story Thursday as part of 40 Hours of Football. Cover by
@duydotdecimal
Victoria East's Trent Zappe got the chance to continue his family legacy, following his brother Bailey's footsteps and signing to play football at Western Kentucky.
El Campo's Rueben Owens and Shiner's Dalton Brooks have already firmly planted their legacies at their respective schools. They hope their senior years can leave those legacies there for generations.
“I’m not leaving because of Cuero, the community of Cuero, the kids at Cuero,” Reeve said. “Cuero is an extremely special place for me and my family and it has been extremely good to us."
“We’re here to help kids promote their game for scouts and recruits in college,” said Renegades coach Kord Bratsen. “Coach (Matt) Anderson and I let them know we are here for them. Other than family, it’s important for them to have someone there for them.”
Shiner's Ryan Peterson made one of the biggest decisions of his life and made sure he will play beyond college by committing to Sam Houston State University
“My mom was always real hard on my grades,” Edwards said. “I had to come home with an A or B. If I came home with a C, there would be punishment. When we have STAAR tests at school, the whole week, I’m at the kitchen table studying.”
“My main goal and my dream have always been to go to the NFL,” he said. “But right now, I’m just focused on getting up there and being part of the Western Kentucky football team and winning a conference championship.”
In a game for the ages, the Refugio Bobcats had an incredible and improbable fourth-quarter comeback to beat Shiner on a 35-yard field goal with 5 seconds left.
“Football is great, but there are things more important than football,” said East coach Roland Gonzalez. “His health is way above all the other things. We’ll be thinking about him and keeping him close to us.”
Gadsden signed a letter of intent to play football at Wayland Baptist University on Wednesday before heading out with his parents to get settled in his dorm room before practice begins Monday.
“It means a lot to me,” Donyai Taylor said. “My brother and I used to work for moments like these. He just told me to stay humble and just keep doing me and just keep buying into the team.”
“Austin put the team on his back and willed us to a win,” said Refugio coach Jason Herring. “It was one of the most outstanding single-person performances I’ve ever seen.”
“When you’re facing one of the best offenses in the 2A division, you can’t stop it,” said Ochoa, who passed for 212 yards and rushed for 59. “We had some big-time plays from some big-time players. We came out and did our job and got the result we did
The Gatorade State Player of the Year award was established in 1985 to recognize the nation’s most outstanding high school student-athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character.
“They were lights out,” said El Campo tight ends coach Gary Figirova. “It’s everything they’ve done in the spring and in summer strength and conditioning. They’ve just worked their hearts out and that allowed them to compete at the level they did."
Justin Barr capped off the Victoria Generals' regular-season finale with a walk off RBI single to secure a 9-8 Texas Collegiate League win over the Acadiana Cane Cutters on Friday night at Riverside Stadium.
Girdy, a senior from Victoria West, was named to the HERO Sports All-America Team earlier this week, after being voted the first-team All-Southland Conference kick returner.
“It would feel great, especially when we’re older,” Jonathon Brooks said. “We could look back and say we all three won a state championship in the same year.”
Shiner (3-0) has passed every test thus far this season. The Comanches face their latest test Friday as they travel to Poth, the No. 10 ranked team in Class 3A, Division II.
“I’m very, very excited and I’m humbled at the same time,” Gantt said. “What a blessing. It’s definitely unprecedented time we’re in right now. So it’s exciting and scary at the same time. I’m ready to hit the ground running.”
Burks led the nation with 257 tackles and Brooks rushed for 2,530 yards and 37 touchdowns, and had six receptions for 202 yards and five touchdowns to earn All-American honors from MaxPreps.
“My goal is always to be better,” said Industrial head coach Jamie Dixon. “I want to win a district championship, that’s our first goal, and I want to go deeper in the playoffs. That’s how we approach everyday.”
Victoria East grad Bailey Zappe and Cuero's Caeveon Patton have put in all the work they can in hopes of realizing their longtime dream of playing in the NFL. Now, they wait to hopefully hear their names called in Las Vegas this weekend.