photo by Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph Whitehouse High School's (5) Patrick Mahomes races down the field during their Class 4A Division II bi-district playoff game against Arlington Seguin at Memorial Stadium last year in Mesquite. Mahomes was chosen Player of the Year for the 2013 All-East Texas Football Team.

Whitehouse’s Patrick Mahomes has received plenty of fanfare since debuting at quarterback.

The senior has orally pledged to play at Texas Tech, been named the Associated Press’ state player of the year and landed on Parade’s All-American team.

Which makes it a no-brainer to select Mahomes the Player of the Year on the Tyler Morning Telegraph and ETFinalScore.com All-East Texas Football Team. He follows former John Tyler receiver Fred Ross as the award’s recipient.

Mahomes, in his first season behind center, made the move to quarterback during his junior season and entered his senior year with staggering expectations. So much so, he garnered a spot on Dave Campbell’s preseason Super Team and graced the cover of East Texas Football 2013.

The three-sport star delivered.

In helping Whitehouse claim the District 16-4A title and finish the regular season undefeated, the 6-3, 2010-pound gunslinger finished the season 287 of 495 for 4,619 yards and 50 touchdowns with only five interceptions. On top of that, he carried the ball 157 times for 940 yards and 15 scores.

“It was a great season,” Mahomes said. “Made a lot of memories I will never forget with friends who are more than that, but are more like brothers to me. And I was blessed to be on a team with such great players and coaches.”

Mahomes completed his career with 8,458 yards and 106 touchdowns passing, plus led the Wildcats to a 22-3 record and a 19-1 regular-season mark. He’s spearheaded team achievements in other sports as well, including a run to the state baseball tournament last spring.

“Patrick is a fine example of competitive greatness and deserves every award thrown his way,” Whitehouse coach Adam Cook said. “It has been a blessing to have coached him and all of Whitehouse looks with great anticipation to his future.”

Mahomes’ final football game was one of his most memorable.

Despite 65-60 loss to Mesquite Poteet in the 4A Division II regional round, Mahomes recorded the state’s sixth-best passing game ever in throwing for 605 yards and five touchdowns. He attempted 61 passes in the game and completed 36.

“The thing that Patrick’s done is he helps in the fact that he raises the play of everybody else and they can believe,” Cook said after the game.

This Wednesday, Mahomes is scheduled to sign a national letter of intent with Texas Tech as part of National Signing Day.

 

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Bogenschutz, Henderson top offense, defense

By Shane Stark, sstark@tylerpaper.com

Carthage had one of East Texas’ top offenses.

Longview had one of the region’s best defenses.

That made selecting the All-East Texas Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards fairly simple. The reason: the Bulldogs and Lobos had top-tier talent each side of the ball.

Carthage quarterback Blake Bogenschutz is the Offensive Player of the Year and Longview defensive lineman Zaycoven Henderson is the Defensive Player of the Year. The staff of the Tyler Morning Telegraph and ETFinalScore.com selects the teams.

John Tyler quarterback Greg Ward and defensive end Tyus Bowser — both now play at the University of Houston — garnered the awards last season.

Bogenschutz

The three-year starter, a UT San Antonio pledge, piloted the Bulldogs to the Class 3A Division I title and a 15-1 record. He completed 231 of 393 passes for 4,003 yards and 57 touchdowns and earned state championship game offensive MVP honors in the Bulldogs’ 34-23 win against Kilgore.

It was Carthage’s fourth state title in seven seasons.

For his career, Bogenschutz threw for 9,574 yards and 119 touchdowns. One of his best rushing performances came in the championship game, a 100-yard effort against Kilgore’s stout defense.

“Blake has always been a great runner but we’ve saved him,” Carthage coach Scott Surratt said after the game. “We have what we call a gold-ball rule and this was a gold-ball game. We knew we were going to run him a lot and when you have him and (Tevin) Pipkin in the backfield, that’s a great tandem.”

Henderson

One team that opponents found difficult to run and pass against was Longview, which allowed only 260.5 yards a game during the regular season (109.9 rushing and 150.6 passing) and finished the season 11-2.

Henderson (6-2, 305) anchored the stop unit and finished the season with 36 tackles, two sacks, 13 tackles for losses, one caused fumble, one fumble return and one defensive touchdown.

Henderson is the state’s 33rd-ranked senior recruit by Lone Star Recruiting. He recently switched his oral commitment from Texas to Texas A&M and is set to sign a national letter of intent with the Aggies this week.

 

 

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Geovari shines for John Tyler as All-ET Newcomer

By Travis Yoesting, tyoesting@tylerpaper.com

John Tyler junior quarterback Geovari McCollister had big shoes to fill in his first year under center following the likes of Jeremy Johnson, David Bush and Greg Ward.

Even in his own district McCollister was always going to be compared to AP Offensive Player of the Year Patrick Mahomes.

Yet McCollister thrived for the Lions, outdoing his contemporaries and predecessors in certain areas.

After accumulating 3,446 total yards of offense and accounting for 32 touchdowns, McCollister has been named the Tyler Morning Telegraph and ETFinalScore.com’s Newcomer of the Year.

“Geo came in and we knew he was going to be a big athletic quarterback, we just wanted to make sure he was going to be comfortable to run the offense,” JT coach Ricklan Holmes said. “As the year progressed he developed into that quarterback. I’m banking on him to continue that progress with hard work in the offseason.”

McCollister completed 65 percent of his passes (176 for 270) for 2,605 yards with 22 touchdowns to six interceptions. He added a team-high 841 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns.

The 6-2, 200-pound quarterback said game planning was key for him, with Holmes, offensive coordinator Antoine Bush and even veteran players like Reggie Gipson helping him prepare for games.

“Coach Holmes and coach Bush and Reggie Gipson, the older kids, they really helped me every week find the weak point of defenses,” McCollister said.

McCollister began the season with a stellar 353-yard passing performance against Lufkin but also proved a capable runner, including 186 against Jacksonville.

Vital to McCollister’s development as a quarterback was his awareness in the pocket and knowing when to throw and when to take off and run.

Holmes said McCollister’s mobility and toughness in the pocket impressed him most this season, but he expects even greater things from him in 2014 as he continues to develop.

“(I’m looking forward to) him having a lot more confidence in himself and knowing he can be that quarterback that we need and we know he can be,” Holmes said.

McCollister said he’s planning to improve his “whole game,” with a new mindset for his season year.

“Nobody should be able to stop me or my offense,” McCollister said of his mindset. “Next year I’m looking just to improve and make a run for a state championship.”

 

 

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All-ET Coach of the Year Wood leads Kilgore to 3A state title appearance

By Shane Stark, sstark@tylerpaper.com

During the last three years, Kilgore head coach Mike Wood’s teams have reached the state quarterfinals, the semifinals and then the championship game.

The run to the Class 3A Division I final occurred last fall, when the Bulldogs reached the title round for the second time in nine years and finished runner-up to East Texas dynasty Carthage.

Wood, who spent 15 years on Kilgore’ staff before moving to the top of the staff in 2010, is Coach of the Year on the Tyler Morning Telegraph and ETFinalScore.com All-East Texas Football Team. He follows Gilmer’s Jeff Traylor and John Tyler’s Ricklan Holmes as the award’s recipient.

Wood led Kilgore to the District 16-3A title and a 14-1 record.

Prior to the title game, Wood talked about the years leading up to this year.

“Once you build something, you want to see it through,” he said. “We were fortunate to have a good school district and a good town to live in and coach football. This is the only home my kids have ever had.”

Wood, a 1985 Humble Kingwood graduate, played defensive end at Louisiana Tech and started his coaching career in the Louisiana high school ranks. He coached at Louisiana’s Ruston High School (which won a state title with him on staff), Huntington High School and Bossier City Airline before moving to Texas.

For 15 years, he coached under former Kilgore coach Mike Vallery and was the defensive coordinator on the Bulldogs’ 2004 Class 4A Division II championship team. A member of nine district championship teams as an assistant, he became the head coach in April 2010 following Vallery’s retirement.

Kilgore struggled to a 3-7 record in Wood’s first season, but rebounded with a run to the 4A Division II quarterfinals in the second year. And after dropping to 3A, Kilgore reached the 2012 3A Division I semifinals (falling to eventual champion Stephenville) and advanced a round deeper in 2013.

Over the course of the year, Kilgore had the area’s top defense among 3A-2A-1A schools and allowed only 234 yards per game (the Bulldogs only allowed 563 yards rushing during the regular season).

 

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2013 All-East Texas Football Team

Player of the Year: PATRICK MAHOMES, a senior quarterback from Whitehouse, is this year’s Player of the Year. Mahomes led the Wildcats to a 12-1 record and district title, completing 287 of 495 passes for 4,619 yards and 50 touchdowns with six interceptions, Mahomes, a Texas Tech commit, also rushed for 940 yards and 15 scores.

 

ZAYCOVEN HENDERSON, a senior defensive lineman, from Longview, is this year’s Defensive Player of the Year. Henderson missed the Lobos first five games due to injury, and it was only that preventing him from racking up even more stats. An A&M committ, who has already enrolled in College Station, Henderson had 36 tackles, 13 of them for loss, 2 sacks, 1 caused fumble, 1 fumble recovery and 1 defensive touchdown.

 

BLAKE BOGENSCHUTZ, a senior quarterback from Carthage, is this year’s Offensive Player of the Year. Bogenschutz was offensive MVP of the Class 3A Division I state championship game, capping off a season that saw the UT San Antonio commit pass for 4,003 yards and 50 touchdowns while also rushing for 447 yards and nine scores.

 

First Team Offense

DYLAN GALE

Position: Quarterback

School: White Oak

Class: Senior

Notable: Passed for 3,701 yards and 36 TDs; rushed for 153 yards and 9 scores

 

KEVRIN JUSTICE

Position: Running back

School: Kilgore

Class: Junior

Notable: Carried 218 times for 1,966 yards and scored 36 touchdowns

 

TEVIN PIPKIN

Position: Running back

School: Carthage

Class: Senior

Notable: Carried 241 times for 2,113 yards and 21 TDs; caught 19 passes for 311 yards, 2 TDs

 

JEFFERY WILSON

Position: Running back

School: Elkhart

Class: Senior

Notable: Carried 307 times for 2,749 yards and 36 touchdowns

 

JAKE PARKER

Position: Wide receiver

School: Whitehouse

Class: Senior

Notable: Caught 71 passes for 1,629 yards and 14 touchdowns

 

TERIAN GOREE

Position: Wide receiver

School: Carthage

Class: Senior

Notable: Finished with 89 catches for 1,744 yards and 28 touchdowns; 2 rushing TDs

 

KD CANNON

Position: Wide receiver

School: Mount Pleasant

Class: Senior

Notable: Racked up 80 catches for 1,252 yards and 16 touchdowns

 

CLAY WILEY

Position: Offensive line

School: Kilgore

Class: Senior

Notable: Graded at 89 percent, 61 knockdowns; Class 3A All-State nominee

 

ADRIAN GOODACRE

Position: Offensive line

School: Carthage

Class: Senior

Notable: Top blocker for team that averaged 508.6 yards per game. 3A All-State nominee

 

JACOB BRAGG

Position: Offensive line

School: Nacogdoches

Class: Senior

Notable: Kansas commit who registered 57 pancakes; Class 4A All-State nominee

 

BRIAN THLANG

Position: Offensive line

School: Palestine

Class: Senior

Notable: A Class 3A All-State nominee who is committed to Louisiana-Monroe

 

T. WILLIE EVANS

Position: Offensive line

School: Daingerfield

Class: Senior

Notable: 6-4, 355 pound tackle registered 62 pancakes and 23 knockdowns

 

PABLIN OLIVARES

Position: Kicker

School: Gilmer

Class: Senior

Notable: Finished 90 for 91 on PATS and 7-9 on field goals with a long of 42 yards

 

First Team Defense

DAYLON MACK

Position: Defensive line

School: Gladewater

Class: Junior

Notable: 98 tackles, 35 TFL, 5 sacks, 8 caused fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a safety

 

L.D. ANTHONY

Position: Defensive line

School: Kilgore

Class: Senior

Notable: 96 tackles, 22 TFL, 12.5 sacks, 39 QB pressures and one blocked kick

 

MARIO MCCAIN

Position: Defensive line

School: Carthage

Class: Senior

Notable: 141 tackles, 32 TFL, 4 sacks, 6 caused fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 16 QB presssures

 

KELSHIN NEAL

Position: Defensive line

School: Daingerfield

Class: Senior

Notable: 181 tackles, 23 sacks, 61 tackles for loss, 10 QB pressures, 2 caused fumbles, 4 FR

 

JOSH WALKER

Position: Linebacker

School: Gilmer

Class: Senior

Notable: 80 tackles, 13 QB pressures and 3 sacks; Committed to Texas A&M

 

KJ CUMBY

Position: Linebacker

School: Athens

Class: Senior

Notable: 102 tackles and 18 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 FR, 1 defensive TD

 

REGGIE LONG

Position: Linebacker

School: Whitehouse

Class: Senior

Notable: 92 tackles, 13 TFL, 8 QB pressures, 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 CF, 2 interceptions

 

KLIFTON WILLIS

Position: Defensive back

School: Tatum

Class: Senior

Notable: 38 tackles, 12 interceptions, 4 pass breakups, 2 defensive touchdowns

 

TERRY AUSBORNE

Position: Defensive back

School: John Tyler

Class: Senior

Notable: 5 interceptions, 82 tackles, 8 pass breakups

 

TRAVIN HOWARD

Position: Defensive back

School: Longview

Class: Senior

Notable: 89 tackles, 10 TFL, 1 sack, 3 CF, 8 INTs with 2 returned for TDs; 4 total def. TDs.

 

TRAVON FULLER

Position: Defensive back

School: Athens

Class: Sophomore

Notable: 53 tackles, 7 interceptions, 9 blocked PATs, 8 made miss; 4 blocked FGs

 

LUIS DURAN

Position: Punter

School: John Tyler

Class: Junior

Notable: Averaged 38.5 yards per kick with 14 inside the 20; long of 76 yards

 

ANTHONY SANDERS

Position: Utility

School: Athens

Class: Senior

Notable: Quarterback and defensive back who was chosen District 15-3A Player of the Year

 

Second Team

Offense

Quarterback

Tanner Barr, Sr., Gilmer

Running Backs

JaMycal Hasty, Jr., Longview

Marcalas Johnson, Sr., Arp

Wide Receivers

Jansen McCurdy, Sr., White Oak

Seth Brasher, Soph., Brook Hill

O’Keeron Rutherford, Sr., Carthage

Offensive Line

Dylan Adkinson, Sr., Gilmer

Wyatt Santos, Jr., Van

Vernon Hutchinson, Sr., Longview

Jason Heim, Sr., White Oak

Ryan Rendon, Sr., Robert E. Lee

Kickers

Travis Blackburn, Sr., Whitehouse/Colby Crim, Jr., Whitehouse

 

Defense

Defensive Line

Braylon Jones, Soph., John Tyler

Triston Taylor, Sr., Robert E. Lee

DQ Scott, Sr., Kilgore

Keith Minor, Sr., Chapel Hill

Linebackers

Kyshaun Smith, Jr., Tatum

Wesley Thompson, Sr., Chapel Hill

John Hawkins, Jr., Arp

Defensive Backs

Isaiah Burton, Sr., Whitehouse

Stephon Maxey, Sr., Longview

Jake Brantley, Sr., Kilgore

Punter

Chris Coby, Sr., Longview

 

Honorable Mention

Alba-Golden — Gus Peacock, RB; Taylor Campbell, OL. All Saints — Luke Lee, RB; Matt Brunson, QB. Arp — Mykel Frost, DB; Matthew Hugo, DL; Tristan Bowins, OL; Tyron Hunt, OL; Landon Atchley, RB. Athens — Devin Hall, RB; Nicholas Fincher, WR; Logan Fuller, RB; Barrett Senyckj, OL; Juan Guzman, OL. Bishop Gorman — Tim Schmitt, OL; Tristan Saint, QB; Collin Parks, WR; Dominic Jasso, DL; Michael Goodwin, DB. Brook Hill — Gabe Lucio, RB; Ty Brown, DL; Malik Alley, LB; Alex Hale, DB. Brownsboro — Will Bailey, WR: Caleb Seale, WR. Bullard — Austin Skelton, LB; William Baker, UTI Mikah Hughes. Canton — Ryan Slider, WR; Chandler Eiland, QB. Carlisle — Gustavo Martinez; Bryce McGowan; Ben Goss, LB; Tiburcio Garcia, RB; R. Hernandez, DB; Caleb Colley, QB: Ryan Curbo, OL; Kolton Heim, OL; Joel Garza, DL; Bradley Taylor, DL; Michael Savala, LB. Carthage — Javontay Brown; Chris Howard, OL; D’Vodney Brooks, LB; James Marshall, LB; Christian Allison, LB; Trey Leary, LB; Sammy Chhor, DB; Gilbert Perez, RB; Keldrean Strong, WR; Micah Templeton, UTI; Jarod McLin; Griffin Bankhead, OL; Cade Clinton, OL. Cayuga — Keshawn Jackson; Breck Alexander, OL; Jayson Johnson, OL; John Ventable, RB: Brett Whitten, WR. Chapel Hill — Gabriel Robinson, DB; Shaq Warren, DL; Keith Minor, DL; Jesse Mumphrey, UTI; Jeffery Minor, WR; Wesley Thompson, RB; Andrew Black, QB. Cross Roads — Raleigh Scilheimer, WR; Waylon Culpepper, DL; Justin Vaughan, LB. Edgewood — Tyler Germany, WR; Jakeb Clark, WR; Christian Davis, DL; Jace Morgan, LB; Jackson Tyner, QB: Jose Mares, RB: Carlos Bolton, RB. Eustace — Ryan Brown, DB; Abed Abuhatub, LB; Jesus Barcenas, RB; Zack Hughes, OL; Thomas Hyde; Zach Hughes. Frankston — Corey Winks, DB; Caden Bruton, DL; Kaivon Jackson, DL; Chuck Minchew, LB; Evan Morris, LB; Joe Rivera, OL; Ozzie Buckner, QB; Oran Jenkins, RB; Kendrick Rogers, WR. Gladewater — Hagen Cooper, LB; Thorn Berry, UTI; Kenneth Ainsworth, UTI; Justice Centers, RB: Justin Stadtfeld, OL. Gilmer — Ardarius Johnson, DB; DeVondrick Dixon, DB; John McPherson, LB; Dorion Lewis, LB; Garrett Parish, DL; Brian Restine, UTI; Nick Smith, WR; Chase Tate, WR; Jaidon Parrish, RB; Dylan Adkinson, OL: DeMarco Boyd. Grace Community — Johnny Spitzer, DB; Andrew McCarty, DL; Chris McCleod, OL; Chandler Nutt. Grand Saline — Jonathan LaPrade, P; Cody Neal, OL. Harmony — Tim McCoy, DB; Jacob Fielden, LB: Levi Thompson; Micah Ross, QB; Kode Chamberlain, OL; Juan Montoya, RB; Dalton Gage, OL. Hawkins — Cole Harwell, RB; Henderson — Seth Hensley, LB; Jordan Dickeson, DL: Randy Davis, UTI; Tre Hollins, WR; Zane Boles, QB. Jacksonville — Claude Franklin, WR; Carter McCown, QB. John Tyler — Luis Duran, P: Brandon Jones; Isaac Warren, DB; Braylon Jones; Nick McCain, WR. Lindale — Michael Stiles, DL; Aaron Jackson, RB. Longview — Dezmond Chumley, QB; Dorian Leonard, WR; Derodrick Alexander, DL; Laurent Johnson, LB; Jhavaurian Moore; Chris Coby, P. Kilgore — Chase Wood, DL; Joseph Shepherd, DB; Aaron Foy, DB; Kris Haynes, LB; Andrew Pinter, UTI; Jarod Wood, WR; Aaron Foy, WR; JuJu Brown, RB; Benny Colbert, QB; Clay Wiley, OL; Nolan Grush, OL; Blake Guthrie, OL. Malakoff — Terrance Scott, DB; Garrian McCallister, DB; Jordan Harris, LB; Quinton King, WR; Kendrick Hornbuckle, WR; Dariuhn Jackson, WR; Omar Gonzalez, K; Marcus Dowell, RB; Diego Medina, OL; Thomas Acol, OL; Braylon Cable; Israel Chavez; Damontes Dowell. Mineola — Rhett Self, RB; Hunter Creech, OL; Willie Tinajero, K: Jeremiah Crawford, QB. Mount Enterprise—Josh Leason; Justin Johnson, RB; Patrick Sanders, DB. Nacogdoches — Brian Scott, LB; Jesse Graham, LB; Jacorey Whitaker, DL; Jadarrius Ervin, DL; Rudy Fuentes, K; Sam Morgan, WR; Eduardo Camacho, OL; Malik Gilder, OL; Coronado Tolbert, RB. Overton — Jamal Kelly, RB; Nick Baker, OL; Michael Charlton, DB; Seth Garrett, DL; Julian Herndon, DL. Palestine — Eric Gonzalez, OL; Zack Morgan, OL; Dakedrick McMorris, OL; Ben Luckett, RB; Jarrell Owens, RB; Sheldon Watson, UTI; Bennett Gierkey, K. Pittsburg — Daniel Silva, K. Quitman — Collin Blinkert, DL; Jesus Ramirez, RB; Elijah Click; Bobby Wells, OL; Austin Dobbs, DB. Rains — Chase Hill, LB; Jesse Hudson, DB; Grant Russell, DL; Christian Darter, OL; Ryan Ratliff, QB; Nick Grell, LB. Robert E. Lee — Triston Taylor, DL. Spring Hill — Tony Duran, P; Morgan Knight, OL; Waylon McFadi, UTI. Sabine — Sam Smith, LB; Tell Defreece, OL; Michael Berry,DL. Tatum — Chastin Brooks, LB; Devin Boyd, LB: Ryan Hyde, DL; Jaylen Ward, OL; Collin Gage, DL: Jordan Nelson, DB; Dylan Moore, OL; JD Taylor, QB; Jaylen Shans, RB; Demetrius Hill. Troup — An’fernee Ross, DB; Dakota Deese, LB; Tristen Wallsworth, DL; Marcus Davis, DL. Union Grove — Kyle Cotton, DB; Garrett Gibson, RB; Garrett Bowery, OL; Triston Adkins, OL. Van — Luke McGowan, WR; Layton Myers, WR; Colton Rice, OL; Brice Borgeson, DB; Kaleb Dike, OL. West Rusk — Eric Hardee, DB; Corey Brister, OL; George Anthony, RB. White Oak — Josh Benson, LB; Kris Layman, DL; De Sutton, DL; Riley Lakin, RB; Jason Heim, OL; Levi Loftin, OL; Mickey McFall, OL. Whitehouse — Nate Brooks, DB: Shemar Smith, RB; Coleman Patterson, WR; Kaleb Shackelford, DL; Kostin Wallace, DL; Savian Lacy, LB; Joseph Klein, LB; Chris Reese, LB; Isaiah Burton, DB; Nate Brooks, DB. Wills Point — James Wright, LB; Chase Pemberton, QB; Zach Gray, OL; Jacob Rowland, OL; Austin Walker, OL; Dominique Granville, RB; Jah Golden, WR; Tre Smith, WR: Roberto Lira, K. Winnsboro — Sheyan Thompson; Tyson Gearner; Tedrick Shephard, RB; David Santoy, RB; Quinton King, WR; Nick Bullock, DL; Lucas Pinnell, DB. Winona — Joseph Hart, OL; Christian Mendez, WR.