"Player of the Year": Tarlandus Mitchell, Sr., QB/DB, Alto. This All-State at both quarterback and defensive back, and perhaps the best pure athlete in East Texas. Mitchell is also a major league baseball prospect with a fastball timed in the mid-90's.

"Offensive Player of the Year": Justin Johnson, Sr, RB, Gilmer. Johnson, who rushed for 2,171-yards and 25-TD's, did most of his damage during the playoffs. There were many times during the regular season when he wouldn't play in the second half, much less the second-quarter.

"Defensive Player of the Year": Ryan Epperson, Sr., LB, Brownsboro. Epperson, a three-time all-state selection, finished his high school career with a staggering 523-tackles, including 168 his senior year.

"Coach of the Year": Keith Gardner, Alto. He led the Yellowjackts to back-to-back Class 1-A State Championships. This award could've gone to some of the coaches who turned their programs around in one season, but I also think we tend to overlook the coaches of programs who are expected to win. Sometimes that's a more difficult task, winning when everyone expects you to win.

Others...
Class 5-A: John King, Longview (Hasn't lost a district game in four-years, and Lobos reached the Quarterfinals)

Class 4-A: Tim Russell, Pine Tree (A program that won four-games in four-years, went 5-5 in 2007)

Class 3-A: Robert Manley, Pittsburg (Led Pirates back to the post-season i his first-year, with a program going from 2-8 to 8-5)

Class 2-A: John Frazier, West Rusk (In first year, led the Raiders from 3-7 to 6-4, first winning season since 2000, in a district that featured state finalists Elysian Fields and Tatum, and 10-4 Arp)

Class 1-A: Josh Finney, Maud (Led Cardinals from 7-4 to 12-2, and the deepest playoff run in program history)

"Heart and Soul": LaMichael James, Sr., RB/QB, Liberty-Eylau. This record-setting running back was the East Texas version of Heisman Trophy runner-up, Darren McFadden. Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor told me, "LaMichael James is an absolute warrior." James played whatever position was necessary, and basically willed his team week-in and week-out.

"Mr. Leadership": Cashas Pollard, Sr., QB, Tatum. Pollard completed his high school career with a sparkling 41-4 record as a starter, and quarterbacked the Eagles to three consecutive state championship game appearances, winning the state title in 2005 and 2006.

"Mr. Sacrifice": Jermie Calhoun, Sr., QB/RB, Van. One of the nation's top-ranked running backs spent most of the season playing quarterback, and still rushed for 1,908-yards and 32-TD's.

"Mr. Versatility": Kendall Wright, Sr., QB/DB, Pittsburg. In a year of great athletes, Kendall was among the best and sometimes most spectacular on both sides of the football. The dual-sport star combined for 2,742-yards rushing and passing, accounted for 29-TD's, and was a ball-hawk playing defensive back with 5-Interceptions, and returned 2-punts for touchdowns.

"Most Likely to Succeed": D.J. Whiting, Sr., WR/DB, Tatum. I'll be plain and simple with Mr. Whiting. In my 18-years of hosting Sports Talk, he is my single-favorite interview among high school student-athletes. Whiting led Tatum's Wednesday evening "Huddle Groups" in conjunction with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, plays the piano, and wants to become a pastor one day.

"Anything you can do, I can do better": Stacey Womack, Sr., Trinidad. In Six-Man football, you must play every position, and Womack did, accounting for over 3-thousand yards rushing and receiving. Womack scored 54-TD's, and played running back, receiver, cornerback, safety, and returned punts.

"Newcomer of the Year":
Offense-Darian Godfrey, Soph., QB, Gilmer. Godfrey stepped in for highly-recruited and record-breaking quarterback G.J. Kinne, and the Buckeyes offense didn't miss a beat, as Godfrey passed for 2,747-yards and 38-TD's, and rushed for another 617-yards and 13-TD's.

Defense-Quincy Aldridge, Freshman, CB, Whitehouse. Not many freshman play varsity football, and even fewer actually play---much less start, but Aldridge intercepted seven passes his freshman year, with perhaps none bigger than his pick that completely turned the momentum in the Wildcats bi-district victory against Sulphur Springs.

"Game of the Year":
Elysian Fields 19, Arp 13, Class 2-A, Division II, Quarterfinals, December 7th, @ Jack V. Murphy Stadium, Gladewater.

"Play of the Year": (Elysian Fields vs. Arp, December 7th)
Elysian Fields quarterback Tim Curry threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Micah Smith as time expired, in the Yellowjackets heart-stopping 19-13 victory over the Arp Tigers.

"The Josh Nelson Courage Award": (This award is in honor of former Gilmer student and football player Josh Nelson, who passed away in the summer of 2007 after a long and courageous battle against Leukemia.)

Arp quarterback Will Allen took the field against Harleton in November, the same week his father, Billy Jess Allen, passed away from a sudden heart attack. Hill led the Tigers to a victory with a last-minute drive, and he also scored on a long touchdown run during the game.

The Chapel Hill Football Team lost a teammate, classmate, friend, and leader when senior Derek Timms died in August after a car wreck. Another teammate, Marquis Warren, missed the entire season due to injuries in the same wreck. Head Coach Phil Castles, his staff, and the team somehow regrouped, won their first three games of the season, and went two rounds deep into the Class 3-A playoffs before losing to Pleasant Grove.