[Photos courtesy of James Abel, David Erickson, Joe Garcia III, Carter Pirtle, and Roy Wheeler] The Texas High School football season came to a close, and it was another excellent year for the Texas Panhandle. Here’s a look at the 2024 Press Pass Sports Football Team. Players selected for superlative honors are separate from the […]
The Texas High School football season came to a close, and it was another excellent year for the Texas Panhandle. Here’s a look at the 2024 Press Pass Sports Football Team. Players selected for superlative honors are separate from the Press Pass Sports Football Team.
Ladd teamed with White-Tinsley to make a formidable safety duo, making six interceptions along with 84 tackles, including five for losses. Like White-Tinsley he also played receiver and had 37 catches for 415 yards and four touchdowns.
The Wheeler workhorse was the heart and soul of a Mustangs team that had an outstanding season going 9-3 overall making a push to the second round of the UIL Class 2A Division II playoffs. Atherton used his bruising style and sneaky speed to carry the ball 244 times galloping for 2,108 yards with 28 touchdowns. For his incredible year, Atherton earned District 5-2A Co-Offensive MVP honors.
The District 1-2A Division II Co-Offensive Player of the Year was a go-to on offense for a stacked Greyhound backfield. Helping lead Gruver to a 14-1 overall record and a run to the state semifinals for the first time since 2018, Maupin used his explosiveness game in and game out to end a stellar season piling up 2,147 rushing yards on 195 carries with 27 touchdowns.
If you were to look up the word ball hawk in the dictionary there’s a good chance, you’d see Lantelme’s face under that definition. Lantelme was the security in the secondary for the Stratford defense snagging nine interceptions, finishing second in all of Class 2A. Lantelme returned three of those interceptions for touchdown. He also finished the season with 78 tackles.
Fulton wears No. 13 and Tascosa is lucky to have him. The starting quarterback for the Rebels (he earned District 2-5A honorable mention at QB) who reached the third round of the Class 5A Division I playoffs also deftly handled the punting duties. He averaged 42 yards per punt and kept punt coverage opponents worried because of his threat to run and
throw from the formation. He was 2-5A DI first team punter. At QB, Fulton ran for 1,106 yards and 14 TDs while throwing for 780 yards and 10 TDs.
Brown was a big reason Lopez had a record-setting season as Amarillo High’s quarterback, leading the Sandies with 58 catches for 958 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also averaged almost 23 yards per return as a punt returner and ran for three touchdowns. Brown had three interceptions in the secondary and was a first team District 2-5A Division I selection.
Massengale was a leader on one of the top “pancaking offensive lines” in all the 806. His size, strength, explosiveness and overall athleticism made life miserable for defensive linemen and linebackers facing him. He was first team All-District 2-4A Division I and a key cog in Randall rolling to an 11-2 record and the third round of the playoffs.
Anybody watching the Raiders roll to an 11-2 record and the third round of the playoffs left the stadium after a game knowing hustling linebacker No. 33 impacted the game and opened eyes with a big hit. Patton led the Raiders in tackles through the regular season with 67, recorded a safety, and earned the respect of opposing coaches voting him first team All-District 2-4A Division I.
The word speedy or fast are used quite often to describe a talented receiver/ returner/ defensive back like Tillman. In this case TJ outruns those two names and deserves his respect – speediest and fastest. The University of Texas El Paso signee (he will enroll at UTEP when semester starts in January) was untouchable in the open field for the third-round playoff Rebs by averaging 48 yards on his kickoff returns and scored a TD. He earned first team All-District 2-5A Division I defensive back making 60 tackles (33 solo) and coming up with 16 pass breakups. He was also second team 2-5A DI at wide receiver with 21 catches for 471 yards and eight TDs.
The 2-4A Division I Defensive Lineman of the Year anchored Hereford up front as a true run stopper making 37 tackles while taking on various double teams for the Herd in helping the win eight games while advancing to the second round of the UIL Class 4A Division I playoffs.
After playing quarterback as a sophomore, Lewis became a Swiss Army knife on offense for the Dons as a junior. He was listed at running back, where he was a short yardage specialist and ran for 10 touchdowns, but he really shined catching the ball, with 47 receptions for 532 yards and five touchdowns.
Owner of the greatest football first name in all the 806, Krush (his real name, not a nickname) was an absolute force upfront for the Rebels during their run to the third round of the Class 5A Division I playoffs. Blocking him one on one didn’t go well for opposing offenses and even double teams he regularly defeated. Krush’s motor runs on high from opening kickoff to final buzzer. The first team All-District 2-5A Division I defensive tackle made 96 tackles (45 solo) 11 tackles for losses, had nine quarterback hurries, six quarterback sacks, three pass breakups and recovered a fumble.
Villado was a senior leader for a physical offensive line that took pride in protecting the all-time state passing leader in Armando Lujan. Game in and game out, Villado showed his versatility blocking at the line or using his speed to make a key block down the field. Villado was named the District 1-2A Division I Offensive Lineman of the Year for his tremendous season.
Perhaps the team’s best all-around athlete, White-Tinsley came on the scene as a dangerous weapon on both sides of the ball for West Plains. On defense, White-Tinsley racked up nine interceptions while making 55 tackles at safety. For good measure, White-Tinsley also led the Wolves in receiving with 64 catches for 1,065 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Rincon proved his grit and toughness for a talented Wellington team that won nine games advancing to the second round of the UIL Class 2A Division II playoffs. Rincon was a team leader earning District 5-2A Division II Defense MVP honors finishing his senior season 102 tackles, an incredible 16 sacks with 24 tackles for a loss and four forced fumbles.
Maupin had the ultimate respect of not only being a team captain and leader of the Greyhounds but getting to lead blocking lanes for his twin brother Walker, who broke the 2,000-yard rushing mark this year. Maupin did his job every Friday night grading out at 98 percent making 78 pancake blocks. He also scored a rushing touchdown against Clarendon earlier in the year.
The senior provided the stability up front on both sides of the ball but truly made his name protecting quarterback Quaid Ferris and paving the way for the run game. The three-year starter and first team District 2-3A Division I selection was a leader for an offense that averaged 40 points a game and close to 400 total yards every time out.
The eccentric two-way standout shined on both sides of the ball, however, Bennett had a true chemistry with record-setting quarterback Armando Lujan. Becoming a top target for Lujan the past three years, Bennett put together another excellent season in 2024 catching 61 passes for 911 yards with seven touchdowns. Bennett, a first team District 1-2A Division I selection, finished his career with 2,675 receiving yards and 31 TDs.
Calsadillas played much bigger than his 5-foot-7 frame becoming a nightmare for quarterbacks as part of a talented defensive line. The first team District 1-2A Division I selection was unstoppable to block racking up an eye-popping 17 sacks on top of his 50 tackles with 21 of those coming as solo tackles.
Tradition at Amarillo High hasn’t necessarily featured the quarterback as the glamour position, but Lopez might be the best example yet of the Sandies opening up their passing game. Lopez had the most prolific passing season in the school’s long gridiron history, completing 199-of-303 passes for 3,004 yards with 34 touchdowns and only four interceptions, becoming the first Amarillo High quarterback to crack the 3,000-yard barrier in a single season. He also ran for 280 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The 2023 Press Pass Sports Defensive Player of the Year wrapped up an amazing high school career and will leave Stratford as arguably one of the best players to ever wear the Elk uniform. Despite battling nagging injuries all season, the Air Force signee did his job and then some racking up 152 tackles this season with six sacks. Braden was a four-year starter and Defensive MVP for the Elks on the 2021 state championship team. Braden ends his illustrious career with 623 total tackles.
Bryant was the top target in Hereford’s productive passing game, leading the Herd with 50 catches for 880 yards and eight touchdowns, rare numbers for a high school tight end. He was a unanimous first team 2-4A Division I selection, but his best sport might be baseball, where he stands out at first base and third base and pitches.
Avalos was Mr. Consistency handling the kicking duties for the Raiders impressive 11-2 season ending in the third round of the playoffs. Avalos, a talented soccer player as well starting for the Raiders on the pitch as a freshman, showed his strong leg on kickoffs and missed one extra point all year for the high-scoring Raiders. Avalos has 50–55-yard range and connected on three of his four field goal attempts earning first team All-District 2-4A Division I honors as a sophomore.
Lopez carried a heavy load as Hereford’s featured back in a prolific offense for a team which reached the area round of the postseason. He ran for 1,503 yards and 16 touchdowns as the rushing star in an offense known for throwing the ball. Naturally, Lopez was a unanimous first team District 2-4A Division I selection to cap his career with the Herd.
Purcell was utilized as a versatile offensive player but had one true role on defense and that was to shut down the opponents best wide out. Purcell had a stellar senior season first team District 2-3A Division I selection finish with 70 tackles, five interceptions and three forced fumbles.
Compiled by Lance Lahnert, Lee Passmore and Kale Steed.
The District 2-4A Division I Co-Defensive MVP and one of the team’s few seniors led the Wolves with 143 tackles, including a staggering 23 for losses, 5.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble for the state semifinalists.
A lack of size didn’t stop Barnes from being around the ball for the Dons, as he led the team with an astonishing 174 tackles, including nine for losses, six sacks, one interception, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. Barnes was named as a first team District 2-5A Division II selection for his incredible year.
A big cog in the West Plains line, Collins was a reason the Wolves were able to run and pass so effectively, especially during the postseason. Collins graded out 97 percent for the season at tackle, totaling 49 pancake blocks and allowing only two sacks. In the playoffs, he graded 99 percent with 29 pancakes and allowed no sacks.
