Who are the best high school football players in Central Texas through the first half of the regular season?
It’s a fair question, even though 100 experts might give you 100 different answers. The American-Statesman will name its Central Texas offensive and defensive players of the year after the season, but these are our top seven midseason offensive and defensive players through the first half of the season.
So, you be the judge.
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Midseason offensive player of the year candidates
Ty Blair, East View QB
The Patriots senior has emerged as one of Central Texas’ best pure passers, averaging 287.3 yards per game with 13 touchdown throws. His best game so far was East View’s 46-42 win over Glenn, when he was responsible for 477 of the team’s 595 yards and accounted for five total touchdowns.
Luke Dunham, McCallum QB
Dunham exploded onto the Austin-area scene in the very first game of the year, throwing for 326 yards, rushing for 150 more and producing four total touchdowns in a season-opening loss to Anderson. But he’s also stayed hot throughout the first half of the season: he averages 345.8 passing yards, 65.5 rushing yards and has accounted for 17 total TDs.
Max Gerlich, Anderson QB
The Trojans seniors opened he curtain on the season with a 446-yard, eight-touchdown performance in Anderson’s Taco Shack Bowl win over McCallum. That 57-40 win was a springboard for Gerlich, who’ll play next year at UTSA. He has 21 touchdowns so far and has not thrown an interception.
Jerome Reed, Lampasas QB
The Badgers senior has been a season-long threat as a runner and a passer. He’s thrown for 1,149 yards and 14 touchdowns and also leads the team with 245 rushing yards and eight rushing scores. His best game probably has been the 49-30 win over Salado (311 passing yards, 5 TDs).
Ali Scott, LBJ QB
Now in his fourth varsity season, the Jaguars senior is the biggest reason why LBJ remains unbeaten at the season’s halfway point. The dual threat has passed for 1,009 yards and rushed for 300. All told, Scott has accounted for 19 touchdowns. His greatest attribute, though, has been his accuracy: he has completed 72.4% of his passes.
Cody Stoever, Wimberley QB
The 2023 Central Texas offensive player of the year is finishing his career with another banner season. Stoever has thrown for 790 yards and rushed for 572 more; his total of 1,362 yards represents 67.3% of Wimberley’s total yards from scrimmage.
Jett Walker, Georgetown RB
Arguably the area’s best running back, the Eagles junior has scampered for 772 yards and 10 touchdowns and also has added a pair of touchdown catches. Last week he finished with 250 total yards and four scores in a 65-7 win over Killeen Chaparral.
Midseason defensive player of the year candidates
Matthew Clear, Elgin LB
Wildcats coach Heath Clawson has described the junior as one of the best defensive players in Central Texas. And for good reason: Clear is among the area’s leaders with 51 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception.
Gus Cordova, Lake Travis DE
The USC-bound edge rusher has emerged as one of the Austin area’s top defensive players. With 29 tackles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, two blocked kicks and a defensive touchdown, he’s a big reason why Lake Travis remains unbeaten.
Caleb Dickey, LBJ DE
The former Crockett standout was a 2023 All-Central Texas pick and is a big reason why LBJ is unbeaten through five games. He leads the team with 43 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks.
Levi Guthrie, Lampasas LB
Guthrie has been the most consistent player for the Badgers, who are 4-1. The junior is among Central Texas’ leaders with 50 tackles, including 10 for loss.
Daeshon Morgan, Vandegrift DE
Vipers coach Drew Sanders says Morgan is one of the best players in school history. The hard-hitting, Arizona State-bound senior has 33 tackles, including 24 solo stops, and four sacks.
Elliott Schaper, Westlake LB
In simple terms, Schaper is the best defensive player on the area’s best defensive team. The Duke-bound senior always seems to be around the ball and has 35 tackles (23 solo) and five sacks. He was our 2023 Central Texas defensive player of the year.
Ty Thames, Wimberley LB
Another defender who’s always around the ball, the Rice-bound senior has 63 total tackles through five games, including 35 solo stops. He also has a sack, three quarterback pressures and has recovered a fumble.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Top high school football stars: Vote on area midseason players of year
