Snyder_TigerFan
01-04-2008, 01:25 AM
http://media.reporternews.com/abil/content/img/photos/2008/01/03/20080103-224312-pic-576161342_t220.jpg Photo by Thomas Metthe
Snyder running back Will Clay pushes away from Argyle defensive back Michael Stein (13) during the first quarter of the Tigers' 34-27 win in the Region I-3A Div. II Regional semifinal playoff game Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, at Newton Field in Graham. Clay rushed for 284 yards and four touchdowns in the game.
2007 All-Big Country: Class 3A
Thursday, January 3, 2008
The games are over. Coaches made their nominations. And now the 2007 All-Big Country football teams can be announced.
The Abilene Reporter-News sports staff solicits nominations from Big Country football coaches at the end of the regular season. Those nominees are then evaluated based upon regular-season statistics, intangibles based upon game performance as witnessed by the staff and the importance of each nominee's contribution to his team's success.
Super Team players are picked based on their selection to a particular class' first team and/or their overall performance during the season.
Will Clay: Most Valuable Player / Offensive Player of the Year
School: Snyder
Position: Running back
Class: Senior
Height: 6-1
Weight: 205
Strength: Clay has a combination of size of speed that's rarely seen in Class 3A football. At 205 pounds, he has no problem running defenders over. And with solid speed (4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash), he also can run by them.
2007 highlight: Finding one highlight for a player who rushed for more than 200 yards per game is not easy. But Clay's impact was never more evident than in the Tigers' 50-49 come-from-behind victory over Hereford in Week 1. Snyder trailed by 21 points in the third quarter, but the Tigers came back thanks in large part to Clay. The senior tailback finished the game with 31 carries for 341 yards and six scores, including the game-winner with 13 seconds left in the game.
Coachspeak: "He just has an incredible ability to run after contact. People seem to just bounce off of him," Snyder coach Chad Rogers said. "Something else he did this year -- which is something all good backs do -- is he made his offensive line feel good and important."
Why he's here: A unanimous pick at the running back position, Clay put up huge numbers this season, but those numbers meant something. He was a leader for one of the best teams in the area. And without his contributions, Snyder wouldn't the same team offensively.
Wes Liles Defensive Player of the Year
School: Clyde
Position: Linebacker
Class: Senior
Height: 5-11
Weight: 195
Strength: Liles is as tenacious as they come. No tailback wants to see him coming off the edge at full speed in his direction. Liles is always in position to make a play, and he's as hard a hitter as there is in Class 3A.
2007 highlight: Clyde played its best defensive game of the season in a 15-8 win over district rival Sweetwater, and Liles was a large reason for the defensive unit's success. The senior linebacker had a season-high 17 tackles, intercepted a pass and forced or recovered a combined five fumbles.
Coachspeak: "He's got every intangible you could want in a player, and he shows up in big games with big plays," Clyde coach Craig Slaughter said. "When you see him play, whether it's against a great team or one that's been struggling, you leave thinking 'That guy can play.'"
Why he's here: Competition at the linebacker spot is fierce at the Class 3A level in the Big Country, and Liles stood out among many standouts. Liles accumulated 115 tackles (eight for loss), five sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions.
Kenneth Norman: Newcomer of the Year
School: Sweetwater
Position: Safety
Class: Sophomore
Height: 5-9
Weight: 150
Strength: Succeeding as a sophomore in the upper levels of high school football isn't easy. But Norman makes it look that way. Blessed with natural talent, Norman plays with a fire and maturity uncommon in underclassmen.
2007 highlight: Like all sophomores, Norman had to prove to his teammates and coaches he was capable of performing at the varsity level. It didn't take long. In the Mustangs' fourth game, a 47-28 win over Canyon, Norman's proficiency in pass defense helped ground a potent Canyon spread attack. He later showed his ability to affect the run game when he helped Sweetwater linebackers bottle up Clyde's Curtis Kevil (18 carries for 39 yards) in a losing effort.
Coachspeak: "Kenneth is blessed with tremendous God-given ability, but he's worked extremely hard to maximize that," Sweetwater coach Kent Jackson said. "Humility has served him well. He was never one of those guys who thought it was all about him. Instead, he worked hard to earn his stripes."
Why he's here: Norman's numbers are impressive enough by themselves. But when you take into account the fact he has two more years to play and improve, those stats become downright scary. As a sophomore, he was the Mustangs' leading tackler (82l). That and his two interceptions earned him the respect of opposing coaches, who named him the District 7-3A newcomer of the year.
Chad Rogers: Coach of the Year
School: Snyder
Years: Six
Strength: Rogers is stern when he needs to be, but his sole focus is on making sure his players mature on and off the football field. He trusts his players and they respect and work hard for him. His record at Snyder (62-25) speaks for itself.
2007 highlight: Snyder's 50-49 win over Hereford in the second week was a turning point for Rogers and his team. The Tigers had already lost to Monahans and needed a win to avoid an 0-2 start. He put the ball in his playmakers' hands, and senior running back Will Clay rewarded him with a huge performance. From that point forward, Snyder won 11 of its next 12 games.
"Late in that game, Coach Rogers looked at me and asked if we should use our power running game or pass," Clay said. "I told him not to give up on the run quite yet. He told me 'I trust you, Will. Go get it.' I was glad I could."
Playerspeak: "Coach Rogers helped grow us into men. Without him, we wouldn't have done as well as we did," Clay said. "Without him, we wouldn't have liked contact and we might have been pansies."
Why he's here: Snyder was one of five Big Country teams to reach the Class 3A playoffs and one of just two to reach the state semifinal round. In their 12 wins, Rogers' Tigers defeated opponents by an average score of 43-20, and they improved drastically as the year progressed.
OFFENSE
Lance Day
Quarterback
Snyder
6-0, 190, senior
Passing: 527 yards, 7 TDs
Rushing: 741 yards, 10 TDs
Will Clay*
Running back
Snyder
6-1, 205, senior
Rushing: 2,057 yards, 28 TDs
Curtis Kevil*
Running back
Clyde
5-9, 200, senior
Rushing: 1,410 yards, 20 TDs
John Wright*
Wide receiver
Graham
6-4, 185, senior
Receiving: 673 yards, 8TDs
Adam Riley*
Wide receiver
Breckenridge
6-0, 180, senior
Receiving: 720 yards, 6 TDs
Wes Liles
Wide receiver
Clyde
6-0, 175, senior
Receiving: 464 yards, 5 TDs
Blane Knipe*
Tight end
Snyder
6-2, 210, senior
Stats: Graded out at 80 percent five times; 19 knockdowns; 2 pancakes; 2 TDs; team averaged 427.9 yards per game
Joe Garza
Lineman
Snyder
6-0, 240, senior
Stats: Graded out at 80 percent in 8 games; 42 knockdowns; 6 pancakes; team averaged 427.9 yards per game
Daniel Samia*
Lineman
Snyder
6-2, 305, junior
Stats: Graded out at 80 percent in 7 games; 63 knockdowns; 11 pancakes; team averaged 427.9 yards per game
Chris Ramirez
Lineman
Sweetwater
6-2, 315, senior
Stats: Unanimous selection to first team All-District 7-3A
Todd Selby
Lineman
Wylie
5-9, 200, senior
Stats: First-team All-District 7-3A
James Huff*
Lineman
Clyde
6-3, 230, senior
Stats: Graded out at over 94 percent
Blaine Vick*
Utility
Breckenridge
6-0, 190, junior
Rushing: 848 yards
Passing: 294 yards
Receiving: 212 yards
Scoring: Scored 13 TDs six different ways -- rushing, receiving, kickoff return, punt return, passing, interception
Bryce Channell*
Kicker
Wylie
6-0, 170, senior
Field goals: Made 3 of 3 from 40, 35 and 27 yards
PATs: Made 51 of 60 with four blocked
Kickoffs: 25 kicks into the end zone
DEFENSE
Keifer Adamez*
Lineman
Sweetwater
6-0, 175, junior
Stats: 20 solo tackles, 52 assists, 12 sacks, 1 FF
Jim Guinn*
Lineman
Graham
6-3, 225, senior
Stats: 87 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 1 FR, 1 FF
Alex Crisman*
Lineman
Wylie
6-0, 200, senior
Stats: 38 solo tackles, 12 assists, 8 sacks
Colby Smith
Lineman
Clyde
6-0, 190, junior
Stats: 59 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 2 FF
Wes Liles
Linebacker
Clyde
5-11, 195, senior
Stats: 115 total tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 4 FF, 3 FR, 6 PBU, 2 INTs
Jesse Jennings
Linebacker
Wylie
6-0, 210, junior
Stats: 78 solo tackles, 34 assists, 9 tackles for loss
Tanner Parker
Linebacker
Clyde
5-11, 185, junior
Stats: 113 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 4 FF, 1 INT
Brent Bollinger*
Defensive back
Snyder
6-1, 170, senior
Stats: 51 solo tackles, 17 assists, 3 tackles for loss, 5 PBU, 2 INTs
Snyder running back Will Clay pushes away from Argyle defensive back Michael Stein (13) during the first quarter of the Tigers' 34-27 win in the Region I-3A Div. II Regional semifinal playoff game Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, at Newton Field in Graham. Clay rushed for 284 yards and four touchdowns in the game.
2007 All-Big Country: Class 3A
Thursday, January 3, 2008
The games are over. Coaches made their nominations. And now the 2007 All-Big Country football teams can be announced.
The Abilene Reporter-News sports staff solicits nominations from Big Country football coaches at the end of the regular season. Those nominees are then evaluated based upon regular-season statistics, intangibles based upon game performance as witnessed by the staff and the importance of each nominee's contribution to his team's success.
Super Team players are picked based on their selection to a particular class' first team and/or their overall performance during the season.
Will Clay: Most Valuable Player / Offensive Player of the Year
School: Snyder
Position: Running back
Class: Senior
Height: 6-1
Weight: 205
Strength: Clay has a combination of size of speed that's rarely seen in Class 3A football. At 205 pounds, he has no problem running defenders over. And with solid speed (4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash), he also can run by them.
2007 highlight: Finding one highlight for a player who rushed for more than 200 yards per game is not easy. But Clay's impact was never more evident than in the Tigers' 50-49 come-from-behind victory over Hereford in Week 1. Snyder trailed by 21 points in the third quarter, but the Tigers came back thanks in large part to Clay. The senior tailback finished the game with 31 carries for 341 yards and six scores, including the game-winner with 13 seconds left in the game.
Coachspeak: "He just has an incredible ability to run after contact. People seem to just bounce off of him," Snyder coach Chad Rogers said. "Something else he did this year -- which is something all good backs do -- is he made his offensive line feel good and important."
Why he's here: A unanimous pick at the running back position, Clay put up huge numbers this season, but those numbers meant something. He was a leader for one of the best teams in the area. And without his contributions, Snyder wouldn't the same team offensively.
Wes Liles Defensive Player of the Year
School: Clyde
Position: Linebacker
Class: Senior
Height: 5-11
Weight: 195
Strength: Liles is as tenacious as they come. No tailback wants to see him coming off the edge at full speed in his direction. Liles is always in position to make a play, and he's as hard a hitter as there is in Class 3A.
2007 highlight: Clyde played its best defensive game of the season in a 15-8 win over district rival Sweetwater, and Liles was a large reason for the defensive unit's success. The senior linebacker had a season-high 17 tackles, intercepted a pass and forced or recovered a combined five fumbles.
Coachspeak: "He's got every intangible you could want in a player, and he shows up in big games with big plays," Clyde coach Craig Slaughter said. "When you see him play, whether it's against a great team or one that's been struggling, you leave thinking 'That guy can play.'"
Why he's here: Competition at the linebacker spot is fierce at the Class 3A level in the Big Country, and Liles stood out among many standouts. Liles accumulated 115 tackles (eight for loss), five sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions.
Kenneth Norman: Newcomer of the Year
School: Sweetwater
Position: Safety
Class: Sophomore
Height: 5-9
Weight: 150
Strength: Succeeding as a sophomore in the upper levels of high school football isn't easy. But Norman makes it look that way. Blessed with natural talent, Norman plays with a fire and maturity uncommon in underclassmen.
2007 highlight: Like all sophomores, Norman had to prove to his teammates and coaches he was capable of performing at the varsity level. It didn't take long. In the Mustangs' fourth game, a 47-28 win over Canyon, Norman's proficiency in pass defense helped ground a potent Canyon spread attack. He later showed his ability to affect the run game when he helped Sweetwater linebackers bottle up Clyde's Curtis Kevil (18 carries for 39 yards) in a losing effort.
Coachspeak: "Kenneth is blessed with tremendous God-given ability, but he's worked extremely hard to maximize that," Sweetwater coach Kent Jackson said. "Humility has served him well. He was never one of those guys who thought it was all about him. Instead, he worked hard to earn his stripes."
Why he's here: Norman's numbers are impressive enough by themselves. But when you take into account the fact he has two more years to play and improve, those stats become downright scary. As a sophomore, he was the Mustangs' leading tackler (82l). That and his two interceptions earned him the respect of opposing coaches, who named him the District 7-3A newcomer of the year.
Chad Rogers: Coach of the Year
School: Snyder
Years: Six
Strength: Rogers is stern when he needs to be, but his sole focus is on making sure his players mature on and off the football field. He trusts his players and they respect and work hard for him. His record at Snyder (62-25) speaks for itself.
2007 highlight: Snyder's 50-49 win over Hereford in the second week was a turning point for Rogers and his team. The Tigers had already lost to Monahans and needed a win to avoid an 0-2 start. He put the ball in his playmakers' hands, and senior running back Will Clay rewarded him with a huge performance. From that point forward, Snyder won 11 of its next 12 games.
"Late in that game, Coach Rogers looked at me and asked if we should use our power running game or pass," Clay said. "I told him not to give up on the run quite yet. He told me 'I trust you, Will. Go get it.' I was glad I could."
Playerspeak: "Coach Rogers helped grow us into men. Without him, we wouldn't have done as well as we did," Clay said. "Without him, we wouldn't have liked contact and we might have been pansies."
Why he's here: Snyder was one of five Big Country teams to reach the Class 3A playoffs and one of just two to reach the state semifinal round. In their 12 wins, Rogers' Tigers defeated opponents by an average score of 43-20, and they improved drastically as the year progressed.
OFFENSE
Lance Day
Quarterback
Snyder
6-0, 190, senior
Passing: 527 yards, 7 TDs
Rushing: 741 yards, 10 TDs
Will Clay*
Running back
Snyder
6-1, 205, senior
Rushing: 2,057 yards, 28 TDs
Curtis Kevil*
Running back
Clyde
5-9, 200, senior
Rushing: 1,410 yards, 20 TDs
John Wright*
Wide receiver
Graham
6-4, 185, senior
Receiving: 673 yards, 8TDs
Adam Riley*
Wide receiver
Breckenridge
6-0, 180, senior
Receiving: 720 yards, 6 TDs
Wes Liles
Wide receiver
Clyde
6-0, 175, senior
Receiving: 464 yards, 5 TDs
Blane Knipe*
Tight end
Snyder
6-2, 210, senior
Stats: Graded out at 80 percent five times; 19 knockdowns; 2 pancakes; 2 TDs; team averaged 427.9 yards per game
Joe Garza
Lineman
Snyder
6-0, 240, senior
Stats: Graded out at 80 percent in 8 games; 42 knockdowns; 6 pancakes; team averaged 427.9 yards per game
Daniel Samia*
Lineman
Snyder
6-2, 305, junior
Stats: Graded out at 80 percent in 7 games; 63 knockdowns; 11 pancakes; team averaged 427.9 yards per game
Chris Ramirez
Lineman
Sweetwater
6-2, 315, senior
Stats: Unanimous selection to first team All-District 7-3A
Todd Selby
Lineman
Wylie
5-9, 200, senior
Stats: First-team All-District 7-3A
James Huff*
Lineman
Clyde
6-3, 230, senior
Stats: Graded out at over 94 percent
Blaine Vick*
Utility
Breckenridge
6-0, 190, junior
Rushing: 848 yards
Passing: 294 yards
Receiving: 212 yards
Scoring: Scored 13 TDs six different ways -- rushing, receiving, kickoff return, punt return, passing, interception
Bryce Channell*
Kicker
Wylie
6-0, 170, senior
Field goals: Made 3 of 3 from 40, 35 and 27 yards
PATs: Made 51 of 60 with four blocked
Kickoffs: 25 kicks into the end zone
DEFENSE
Keifer Adamez*
Lineman
Sweetwater
6-0, 175, junior
Stats: 20 solo tackles, 52 assists, 12 sacks, 1 FF
Jim Guinn*
Lineman
Graham
6-3, 225, senior
Stats: 87 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 1 FR, 1 FF
Alex Crisman*
Lineman
Wylie
6-0, 200, senior
Stats: 38 solo tackles, 12 assists, 8 sacks
Colby Smith
Lineman
Clyde
6-0, 190, junior
Stats: 59 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 2 FF
Wes Liles
Linebacker
Clyde
5-11, 195, senior
Stats: 115 total tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 4 FF, 3 FR, 6 PBU, 2 INTs
Jesse Jennings
Linebacker
Wylie
6-0, 210, junior
Stats: 78 solo tackles, 34 assists, 9 tackles for loss
Tanner Parker
Linebacker
Clyde
5-11, 185, junior
Stats: 113 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 4 FF, 1 INT
Brent Bollinger*
Defensive back
Snyder
6-1, 170, senior
Stats: 51 solo tackles, 17 assists, 3 tackles for loss, 5 PBU, 2 INTs