Cooper defensive back Dylon Davis and Hawley running Colton Marshall headlined a list of 48 Big Country players to earn all-state designation from The Associated Press Sports Editors last week, garnering player of the year honors for their respective classifications.
Davis, who led the state in interceptions this season with 16, was the defensive player of the year in Class 5A, while Marshall, a 3,500-yard rusher, was named Class 2A’s top offensive player.
Those two, who both led their teams to deep playoff runs, were among a group of 11 local or area players to earn first-team accolades, while the Big Country accounted for 15 second-team spots and 26 honorable mention nods across the five 11-man classifications.
The all-state awards were voted on based on regular-season accomplishments.
In helping coach Aaron Roan’s Cougars to a 9-1 regular season, Davis racked up 67 tackles, 12 interceptions, three interception returns for touchdowns, nine pass breakups and three fumble recoveries. Cooper finished at 11-2 with a loss in the Region I-6A Division I quarterfinals to eventual state runner-up Denton Ryan.
Marshall, meanwhile, led Mitch Ables’ Bearcats to their greatest season in school history, helping HHS (13-1) to a perfect regular season and a trip to the Region I-2A Division I championship game, where they fell to state runner-up Post. The standout senior rushed for 2,527 yards and 34 touchdowns during the regular season while adding 33 two-point conversions.
In addition to Davis, other big-school players from the area to earn first-team honors were Abilene High punter Eric Abbe in Class 6A, Stephenville punter Trace Morrison in Class 4A.
In Class 3A, Ballinger’s Adam Winn earned first-team recognition on both the offensive and defensive line, while Brock offensive lineman Jackson Finney, Brock defensive lineman Brett Drillette and Brady linebacker Mason Allsup also picked up first-team nods.
Joining Marshall on the Class 2A first team were Winters offensive lineman Hunter Duggan, who was also a second-team defensive line pick, and defensive backs Logan Glover of San Saba and Caleb Hernandez of Cross Plains.
Others to earn second-team recognition were Stephenville defensive lineman Austin Stidham, Wall offensive lineman Tate Williams, Brock running back Cash Jones, Eastland receiver Anthony Bonilla, Wall defensive lineman Joe Walker, Ballinger linebacker Cooper Bean, Wall linebacker Drew Morrison, San Saba quarterback Sean O’Keefe, Hamlin defensive lineman Ethan Byerly, De Leon defensive back Jorge Gonzales and Hamlin defensive back Jevon Williams.
For a complete list of the Big Country’s all-state selections, see below.
ASSOCIATED PRESS SPORTS EDITORS ALL-STATE
CLASS 6A
FIRST TEAM
DEFENSE
Punter
- Eric Abbe, Sr., Abilene High — 23 punts, 45.5 avg., long of 73, 8 inside 20
CLASS 5A
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR — Dylon Davis, Cooper
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Running back
- Noah Garcia, Jr., Cooper — 1,943 yards, 24 TDs rushing
DEFENSE
Defensive back
- Dylon Davis, Sr., Cooper — 67 tackles, 12 INTs, 3 INT returns for TDs, 9 PBUs, 3 FR
CLASS 4A
FIRST TEAM
DEFENSE
Punter
- Trace Morrison, Jr., Stephenville — 41.2 avg, long of 60; 8 inside 20
SECOND TEAM
DEFENSE
Lineman
- Austin Stidham, Sr., Stephenville
HONORABLE MENTION
DEFENSE
Linebacker
- Rowdee Gregory, Sr., Brownwood
- Bryce Ford, So., Snyder
Defensive back
- Zach Strong, Sr., Brownwood
CLASS 3A
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Lineman
- Jackson Finney, Sr., Brock — 95% grade for team that averaged 300 yards rushing per game
- Adam Winn, Jr., Ballinger — 95% grade, 36 pancakes, 60 knockdowns, two sacks allowed
DEFENSE
Lineman
- Brett Drillette, Jr., Brock — 107 tackles, 7 sacks, 5 FF
- Adam Winn, Jr., Ballinger — 97 tackles, 58 solo, 11 TFL, 4 sacks, 2 blocked kicks, 2 FF
Linebacker
- Mason Allsup, Sr., Brady — 120 tackles, 60 solo, 20 TFL, 7 sacks, 2 FF
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Lineman
- Tate Williams, Jr., Wall
Running back
- Cash Jones, Jr., Brock
Receiver
- Anthony Bonilla, Sr., Eastland
DEFENSE
Lineman
- Joe Walker, Sr., Wall
Linebacker
- Cooper Bean, Sr., Ballinger
- Drew Morrison, Jr., Wall
HONORABLE MENTION
OFFENSE
Lineman
- Koby Cordero, Sr., Cisco
- Spencer McCarty, Sr., Jim Ned
Quarterbacks
- Walker Bauer, Sr., Brady
- Behren Morton, Jr., Eastland
Receivers
- Caleb Galindo, Sr., Brady
DEFENSE
Lineman
- Keegan Dobbs, Sr., Coahoma
- Johnny Jurado, Sr., Dublin
Linebacker
- Carson Carter, Jr., Brock
- Kevin Cervantes, Jr., Dublin
Defensive Back
- Walker Bauer, Sr., Brady
- Luke Dillingham, Jr., Brock
- Anthony Bonilla, Sr., Eastland
- Colton Diebitsch, Sr., Wall
CLASS 2A
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR — Colton Marshall, Hawley
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Lineman
- Hunter Duggan, Sr., Winters — 95% grade, 58 knockdowns
Running backs
- Colton Marshall, Sr., Hawley — 2,527 rushing yards, 34 TDs; 33 2-point conversions
DEFENSE
Defensive backs
- Logan Glover, Jr., San Saba — 41 tackles, 7 INTs, two returned for TDs, 3 PBU
- Caleb Hernandez, Sr., Cross Plains — 44 tackles, 8 INTs, 11 PBUs, 3 FR
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback
- Sean O’Keefe, Sr., San Saba
DEFENSE
Lineman
- Ethan Byerly, Jr., Hamlin
- Hunter Duggan, Sr., Winters
Defensive back
- Jorge Gonzales, Sr., De Leon
- Jevon Williams, Sr., Hamlin
HONORABLE MENTION
OFFENSE
Lineman
- Bo Thompson, Jr., Hawley
- Kolter Willeford, Jr., Hawley
- Bladen Calley, Jr., San Saba
Running back
- Eli Salinas, Sr., San Saba
DEFENSE
Lineman
- Parker Henry, Jr., Albany
- Austin Lozano, Sr., Hamlin
- Colton Strickland, Sr., Hawley
- Abel Martinez, Sr., San Saba
Linebacker
- Risien Shahan, Jr., San Saba
- Keyven Mueller, Sr., Stamford