Most Valuable Player:

Malcome Kennedy, Sr., Cayuga - Kennedy switched from WR to QB during the off-season and all he did was compile 3,872-yards in total offense and a combined 47-TD’s. Kennedy completed 88-168 passes for 1,515-yards and 22-TD’s, while rushing for 2,357-yards on 209-carries and 25-TD’s. He averaged 11.3-yards each time he touched the ball, including six games of 200+-yards or more. Kennedy also started on defense at safety and finished with 90-Tackles, 8-Interceptions (1-TD), 3-Tackles for Losses, 4-Fumble Recoveries, and 2-Caused Fumbles. He was the District Co-MVP and obviously a major part in Cayuga winning the Class 1-A, Division II State Championship. He will sign with Texas A&M on National Signing Day.

Offensive Player of the Year:

Darian Godfrey, - Sr., Gilmer: A three year starter for the perennial power Buckeyes, “Stump” finished his career with a record of 41-3, including the Class 3-A, Division I State Championship in December. Godfrey completed 254-357 passes for 3,581-yards and 42-TD’s. He also rushed for 848-yards on 147-carries and scored 22-TD’s. He was the District MVP and his career stats are among the best in Texas high school football history. Godfrey finished his career with 9,390-yards passing and 116-TD’s and scored 55-TD’s on the ground.

Defensive Player of the Year:

Steve Edmond, Jr., Daingerfield: Tigers linebacker plays with a fierce passion and destroys opposing offensive players. Edmond, one of the state’s top-rated juniors in the Class of 2011, finished the season with 182-Tackles, 34-Tackles for Losses, 5-Sacks, 7-Caused Fumbles, 7-Fumble Recoveries (1-TD), 5-Interceptions (2-TD’s), 2-Passes Broken Up. He was the District MVP on Daingerfield’s Class 2-A, Division II State Championship Team.

Offensive Lineman of the Year:

Kendrick Henderson, Sr., Carthage: A staple of the Bulldogs back-to-back Class 3-A State Championships and their powerful running game. Henderson started 44-consecutive games at center, and graded out at 94% during his senior season. Henderson also recorded 124-Knockdown Blocks, and a rarity—-as an offensive lineman, he was named the District MVP.

Offensive Newcomer of the Year:

LaDarius Anthony, Soph., RB, Kilgore: Kilgore head coach Mike Vallery told me before a game against Henderson, “I’ve had a bunch of good one’s but this kid (Anthony) has a chance to be the best, he’s awfully special.” Anthony finished his sophomore season with 1,508-yards rushing on 208-carries and 24-TD’s. He averaged 7.3-yards per carry and also caught 4-passes for 59-yards. He was named as the District Newcomer of the Year in 14-4A.

Defensive Newcomer of the Year:

Edward Pope, Soph., S, Carthage: On a team loaded with talent and experience, Pope was the only true two-way starter on the Class 3-A, Division II Championship Team. On offense, Pope caught 20-passes for 363-yards and 4-TD’s, but he starred on defense with a 6-Interceptions, 66-Tackles, 4-Tackles for Losses, 9-Passes Broken Up, and was named the District Defensive MVP.

Coach of the Year:

Jamie Driskell, Malakoff: In a year when four head coaches won a state championship, two of them back-to-back (Scott Surratt, Carthage and Barry Bowman, Daingerfield), one of them his second state title (Jeff Traylor, Gilmer), and another winning their first and two straight state championship games appearances (Tommy Allison, Cayuga), it was Malakoff’s Jamie Driskell who made the biggest impact at any one program in East Texas. Malakoff was 1-19 in the previous two seasons before Driskell arrived and led the Tigers (8-3) to their first district title since 1998, first playoff appearance since 2006, and first win against rival-Kerens (23-16) since 1991. Driskell’s Tigers were the co-champions of District 14-2A.

The Record-Breaker:

Traylon Shead, Sr., RB, Cayuga: No single player in Texas entered the 2009 season with a larger bullseye on his back than Cayuga running back Traylon Shead. Shead, who is committed to play at the University of Texas was in reach of the "unbreakable record," of former Sugarland running back Kenneth Hall for all-time yards rushing in a career. Although Shead didn't break Hall's rushing yards record, he did become the second player in Texas history surpass 10,000-yards rushing in a career with 10,291---and---he set the all-time record for most touchdowns in a career (146), once held by Jacquizz Rodgers. Despite some nagging injuries during his senior year, Shead still rushed for 2,696-yards (5-games of 200+-yards) on 290-carries and scored 39-TD's on the ground. Add to that, 7-catches for 221-yards and another 4-TD's, and being named District Co-MVP along with teammate Malcome Kennedy. Shead was as durable a back as we've ever seen in East Texas, starting 4-years and handling the pressure with tremendous class.

Heart and Soul:

Antonio Graves, Sr., QB, Pleasant Grove: Graves did it all for the Hawks, starting and starring at QB and completing 124-223 passes for 2,532-yards and 27-TD’s, while rushing for 1,147-yards on 174-carries and 18-TD’s. Graves also starred at linebacker with 83-Tackles, 16-Tackles for Losses, 2-Sacks, 3-Caused Fumbles, 2-Interceptions, 3-Fumble Recoveries for TD’s, one pass broken up and was the District MVP.

Mr. Leadership:

Jeremy Johnson, Sr., QB, John Tyler: Jeremy Johnson was the trigger-man for the lethal John Tyler offense. Johnson was the difference-maker on many occasions as the Lions went 12-2 and their best season since 2000. He was the ultimate dual-threat QB with 219-carries for 1,935-yards and 25-TD’s, while also completing 121-186 passes for 1,868-yards and 15-TD’s. John Tyler captured a Tri-District Championship before eventually losing to Klein in the Class 5-A, Division II Quarterfinals.

Mr. Sacrifice:

Michael Ritchey, Sr., Center, Hawkins: Ritchey made the switch to the Hawks offensive line due to injuries and depth problems, and he started at center. Because of the position switch, Ritchey also had to change his number from a skill position and what is on his letter-jacket to offense lineman (#53). Ritchey made 1st-Team All-District as an offensive lineman, and also 1st-Team All-District at defensive end after 52-Tackles and 7-Tackles for Losses.

Mr. Utility:

Michael Wade, Sr., Arp: Wade literally never came off the field, playing multiple positions on offense, including fullback, tailback, slot-receiver, wide receiver, tight end and wingback, and on defense he played outside linebacker, nickel back in pass coverage and some safety—-and on top of that was involved in all phases of special teams. On offense, Wade rushed for 608-yards on 67-carries (9.1 per carry) and 9-TD’s, while catching 28-passes for 588-yards (21.0 per catch) and 6-TD’s. Defensively, Wade recorded 84-Tackles, 5-Tackles for Losses, 4-Caused Fumbles, 3-Fumble Recoveries, 2-Interceptions and was the District Defensive MVP.

Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better:

Jeffry Rico, Sr., RB/P, Joaquin: Jeffry Rico, Sr., Joaquin, 240-carries for 2,086-yards and 18-TD’s (8.7), 11-2XP’s, 0-carries in second half of 5-games. Also, an all-state candidate at punter averaging 40.6 yards per punt with 5 of them being down inside the opponets 5-yard line. Rico also played quite a bit of defensive back on defense.

Play of the Year:

Traylon Shead breaks All-Time TD’s Record: Class 1-A Regional Semifinals, Cayuga vs. Lovelady, November 30th, 2009 @ Wildcat Stadium, Whitehouse. Cayuga running back Traylon Shead broke the state’s all-time career TD’s record by rushing for 319-yards and 3-TD’s against previously-unbeaten Lovelady. The Wildcats advanced into the next round of the playoffs with the win, and Shead broke Jacquizz Rodgers’ record on a 1-yard TD run in the 3rd-Quarter, giving him 138-for his career. Shead would finish his career with 146-TD’s. Shead also scored on a 93-yard run during the same game.

Game of the Year:

Class 3-A, Division I Semifinals, Gilmer 42 Cuero 36: Gilmer 42 Cuero 36, Class 3-A Division I Semifinals. Darian Godfrey’s 68-yard TD run gave the Buckeyes the lead late in the 4th-Quarter and the defense came up with a goal-line stand from the 5-yard line in the final minute to secure the victory and eventual state championship the following week.

Josh Nelson Courage Award:

Matt Camp, Gilmer Broadcaster: Long-time Gilmer radio broadcaster Matt Camp, as head coach Jeff Traylor told me, “The best friend anyone could ever have,” somehow found the strength to broadcast the Buckeyes 100th victory during Traylor’s career, a game at Liberty-Eylau. It was Camp’s last broadcast before he passed away after a battle against melanoma the following week. Camp was 38-years young.

Yes, You Can!

Luke Wagner, Sr., QB, Tyler Lee:Luke Wagner, Sr., Tyler Lee, perhaps the most improved player in greater-East Texas. Stats don’t measure his value to the Red Raiders. Wagner led the Red Raiders into the 3rd-Round of the playoffs. He completed 86-148 passes for 1,106-yards and 9-TD’s, and ran for 5-TD’s.

The Warrior:

Ted Burns, Sr., RB, Pittsburg: This senior running back pounded the rock throughout the season, game-in and game-out, he was the man for the Pittsburg Pirates on offense. There were others who played a major roll in the Pirates trip to the Class 3-A, Division II Semifinals. Burns carried 304-times for 2,512-yards and 39-TD’s, while also catching 31-passes for 339-yards and 1-TD. Burns was named the District Offensive MVP.

Mr. Consistency:

Lavocheya Cooper, Sr., RB/DB, Arp: Arp multi-sport star LaVocheya Cooper has done it all throughout his four years with the Tigers, in many sports, including football, basketball, Track & Field. He started four years in football, rushing for 1,043-yards this season and 18-TD’s, catching 12-passes for 220-yards and 2-TD’s and on defense recording 81-Tackles, 4-Tackles for Losses, 5-Interceptions (2-TD’s), 6-Caused Fumbles, and being named the District MVP. Cooper will attend Oklahoma State on a football scholarship next fall.