Albany's Newton leads 2A All-Big Country football team as Player of the Year
Editor's note: The Reporter-News is presenting its 2021 All-Big Country football teams.. The complete teams can be found at reporternews.com.
Here is the print publication schedule:
Wednesday: Class 1A
Thursday: Class 2A
Friday: Class 3A
Saturday: Classes 4A-6A
Sunday: 2021 Super Team
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jaheim Newton
School: Albany
Class: Senior
Positions: Running back/linebacker
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185
Strength: Physicality
“He runs mad,” Albany head coach Denney Faith said. “He’s hard to tackle and gets a lot of yards after contact. We could always count on Jaheim to get the tough yards when we needed it.”
2021 Highlight: Newton had his biggest game Oct. 29 against Santo. The senior ran for 184 yards and two touchdowns, helping Albany win 33-6 and clinch the District 8-2A Division II championship. A week later, Albany beat Windthorst for the Region II championship — the program’s first since 2018.
Coachspeak: “Jaheim is a player that would do anything to help his team be successful and is one of the most humble athletes that I have had the pleasure to coach,” Faith said.
Why he’s here: The Santo game was just the tip of the iceberg of Newton’s exceptional season. Newton finished the year with 1,628 yards and 21 touchdowns on 156 rushes, fumbling once. He averaged 10.4 yards per carry as a senior and graduates from the program as one of its best players of all time.
OFFENSIVE MVP
Hunter Long
School: Cisco
Class: Junior
Position: Quarterback
Height: 5-11
Weight: 180
Strength: Toughness
“Hunter is built to run our offense,” Cisco head coach Kevin Stennett said. “He makes great decisions, leads by example, and plays with a very high level of intensity. His toughness stands out more than anything, which makes him a perfect fit for our brand of football.”
2021 Highlight: In Cisco’s 69-21 bidistrict playoff win over Panhandle, Long exploded. The dual-threat quarterback rushed for 334 yards and three touchdowns. That statline is even more impressive when considering he only played one series in the second half.
Coachspeak: “It's hard to believe that we get him back for another year,” Stennett said. “We are looking forward to watching him bring that experience into his Senior season.”
Why he’s here: Long combined for more than 3,000 all-purpose yards in the Loboes’ 11-3 season. He ran for 2,182 yards and threw for 949, combining for 44 touchdowns. Long has started 28 games for the Loboes and will be a centerpiece for his team next year.
DEFENSIVE MVP
Braxton Smith
School: Coleman
Class: Junior
Position: Cornerback
Height: 5-8
Weight: 140
Strength: Shiftiness
“His ability to change direction on a dime is great,” Coleman head coach John Elder said. “He anticipates routes really well and is able to jump them.”
2021 Highlight: In Coleman’s game against San Saba, the Armadillos ran a fake punt pass for a first down that Smith nearly knocked down. The junior didn’t dwell on it. A few plays later, Smith intercepted San Saba and returned it for 70 yards and a touchdown. Coleman won that game 49-7.
Coachspeak: “He is a fun kid to be around,” Elder said. “He is a good teammate and student on campus.”
Why he’s here: Smith wreaked havoc on opposing quarterbacks, logging nine interceptions. He ran four of those back for pick sixes. The junior also recorded nine pass breakups and 24 total tackles. Also a key receiver for the Bluecats, Smith’s return should help them remain contenders in 2022.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Zane Waggoner
School: Albany
Class: Sophomore
Position: Offensive tackle
Height: 6-3
Weight: 250
Strength: Athleticism
“He has great quickness, good feet and plays with an attitude,” Faith said. “He has exceptional athletic ability for a big man, and has the desire to get even better.”
2021 Highlight: In Albany’s 34-21 regional semifinal win against Muenster, Waggoner’s blocking was crucial in the Lions’ 13-point win, constantly opening holes for their backs. Behind Waggoner and the Lions’ other lineman, Newton ran for 162 yards. Waggoner also notched six total tackles at the defensive tackle position.
Coachspeak: “Zane had an outstanding year as a sophomore,” Faith said. “He played like a player with more experience. He is a player to watch over the next two years.”
Why he’s here: Waggoner earned a 96% grade at offensive tackle, notching 38 pancake blocks. He was named Division 8-2A Division II’s Newcomer of the Year. As Albany looks to find its next star running back, Waggoner will be crucial in opening holes for him to run through.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Mitch Ables
School: Hawley
Strength: Longevity at Hawley
“I’ve been here for eight years now,” Ables said. “I’ve seen these kids from grade school all the way up, and we’ve had a lot of coaches’ kids in that bunch. The more you’re around them, the better you’re going to play together.”
2021 highlight: Under Ables’ direction, the Bearcats went further than they had ever previously gone. They started the season 15-0 en route to the state championship game. Hawley did this in spite of numerous injuries on both sides of the ball, most notably starting running back Austin Cumpton.
Coachspeak: “We have a competitive bunch,” Ables said. “Sometimes they’re not the smartest, but they’re competitive and don’t like to lose. It’s a testament to how hard our kids work and how our coaches get them prepared and have a good game plan.”
Why he’s here: Despite injuries and a treacherous playoff bracket, Ables led the Bearcats to Arlington. They didn’t lose a game until falling to Shiner at AT&T Stadium. To get there, Ables helped Hawley navigate past Coleman, Cisco and Marlin — three of 2A’s best teams — in low-scoring slugfests. With Ables and several of the team’s top players returning, the Bearcats will be poised to return to state in 2022.
FIRST TEAM
* — UNANIMOUS SELECTION
OFFENSE
Hunter Long
Quarterback
Cisco
5-11, 180, Junior
Stats: Rushed for 2,182 yards and 32 touchdowns on 239 carries. Long also threw for 949 yards and 12 touchdowns on 59-of-124 passing.
Jaheim Newton*
Running back
Albany
5-11, 185, Senior
Stats: Rushed for 1,628 yards and 21 touchdowns on 156 rushes. Newton fumbled just once all season.
Trent Huston*
Running back
Cisco
6-0, 180, Junior
Stats: Rushed for 1,518 yards and 18 touchdowns on 164 carries.
Ryland Gentry
Running back
Coleman
6-1, 190, Junior
Stats: Rushed for 870 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Kason O'Shields*
Wide receiver
Hawley
6-1, 165, Junior
Stats: Caught 55 passes for 722 yards and eight touchdowns.
Aeneas Segura*
Wide receiver
Hawley
5-9, 170, Senior
Stats: Caught 42 passes for 647 yards and nine touchdowns. Segura also rushed for 29 yards and three touchdowns.
Seth Wilcox*
Wide receiver
Roscoe
5-10, 150, Sophomore
Stats: Caught 33 passes for 633 yards and eight touchdowns. He also rushed for 398 yards and seven touchdowns on 38 carries.
Dawson Hearne
Tight end
Cisco
6-4, 215, Senior
Stats: Caught 12 passes for 161 yards and seven touchdowns. He also had 65 knockdowns at tight end.
Zane Waggoner*
Offensive line
Albany
6-3, 250, Sophomore
Stats: Graded out at 96% on the line with 38 pancakes and won District 8-2A Division II Newcomer of the Year.
Monte Cauble*
Offensive line
Albany
5-9, 207, Senior
Stats: Graded out at 94% on the line with 29 pancakes and was a First Team All-District selection.
Corley Williams
Offensive line
Hawley
5-7, 200, Senior
Stats: Graded above 90% at guard.
Trent Bailey
Offensive line
Cisco
6-1, 280, Senior
Stats: Graded above 90% with 70 knockdowns from the tackle position.
Gus Allen
Offensive line
Coleman
6-2, 240, Senior
Stats: Graded out at 92% with 22 pancakes and 27 knockdowns.
Dylyn Pyle
Utility
Anson
5-9, 160, Senior
Stats: Pyle caught 33 passes for 503 yards. He also rushed for 253 yards and four touchdowns on 42 carries and passed for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
DEFENSE
Kyle Nichols*
Defensive line
Hawley
5-10, 155, Junior
Stats: Nichols had 80 solo tackles and 30 assists for 110 total tackles. He also had 32 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and four fumble recoveries.
Corley Williams*
Defensive line
Hawley
5-7, 200, Senior
Stats: Had 89 total tackles (65 solo/24 assists), 28 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and five quarterback hurries.
Reese Kiser
Defensive line
Roscoe
5-9, 170, Senior
Stats: Had 91 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Will Scott*
Linebacker
Hawley
5-11, 160, Junior
Stats: Scott had 88 solo tackles and 22 assists for 110 total tackles. He also had 12 tackles for loss, eight interceptions, three defensive touchdowns and three forced fumbles.
Dawson Hearne*
Linebacker
Cisco
6-4, 215, Senior
Stats: Had 151 total tackles, four tackles for loss, two interceptions, four forced fumbles, a sack and a defensive touchdown.
Trace Guelker
Linebacker
Roscoe
5-9, 195, Junior
Stats: Had 101 total tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions.
Brooks Neece
Linebacker
Albany
5-10, 205, Senior
Stats: Neece recorded 56 solo tackles and 96 assists for 152 total tackles. He also had 21 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two fumbles recoveries, a sack and an interception, helping Neece win District 8-2A Division II Defensive MVP.
Kason O'Shields*
Defensive back
Hawley
6-1, 165, Junior
Stats: Had 57 solo tackles and 11 assists for 68 total tackles. O’Shields also had seven interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.
Seth Wilcox*
Defensive back
Roscoe
5-10, 150, Sophomore
Stats: Had 48 total tackles, three tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, six interceptions and 11 pass break ups.
Tre Brackeen*
Defensive back
Cisco
6-2, 185, Junior
Stats: Had 95 total tackles, eight interceptions, three tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown.
Braxton Smith*
Defensive back
Coleman
5-8, 140, Junior
Stats: Smith had 14 solo tackles and 10 assists for 24 total tackles. He also had nine interceptions, four pick sixes and nine pass breakups.
Kason O'Shields
Kicker
Hawley
6-1, 165, Junior
Stats: Made three of five field goal attempts, making a long of 49 yards against Forsan on Nov. 5. O’Shields also made 59 of 69 extra point attempts.
SECOND TEAM
Cole Chapman
Quarterback
Albany
6-3, 186, Senior
Stats: Threw for 2,314 yards and 32 touchdowns, completing 134 of 224 pass attempts. Chapman also rushed for 745 yards and nine touchdowns on 83 carries.
Riley Pippin
Running back
Anson
5-10, 175, Senior
Stats: Rushed for 875 yards and six touchdowns on 173 Carries.
Diontay Ramon
Running back/wide receiver
Hawley
6-3, 182, Sophomore
Stats: Rushed for 524 yards and eight touchdowns on 72 carries. Ramon also caught 15 passes for 208 yards and three touchdowns.
Dylyn Pyle
Wide receiver
Anson
5-9, 160, Senior
Stats: Pyle caught 33 passes for 503 yards.
Braxton Smith
Wide receiver
Coleman
5-8, 140, Junior
Stats: Caught 19 passes for 400 yards and six touchdowns.
David Navarro
Offensive line
Coleman
5-11, 210, Junior
Stats: Graded out at 94% with 13 pancakes and 30 knockdowns.
Jorge Salas
Offensive line
Coleman
5-11, 225, Sophomore
Stats: Graded out at 90% with 14 pancakes and 39 knockdowns.
Jeryd Fain
Offensive line
Coleman
6-2, 295, Senior
Stats: Graded out at 91% with 21 pancakes and 38 knockdowns.
Garrett Smith
Offensive line
Coleman
6-0, 230, Junior
Stats: Graded out at 92% with 10 pancakes and 15 knockdowns
Sone Cortez
Offensive line
Hawley
5-11, 175, Senior
Stats: Graded above 90% at center.
DEFENSE
Taren Farmer
Defensive line
Albany
6-1, 180, Senior
Stats: Had 73 solo tackles and 65 assists for 138 total tackles. Farmer also had 28 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, eight quarterback pressures, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception.
Diontay Ramon
Defensive line
Hawley
6-3, 180, Sophomore
Stats: Had 56 total tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, five quarterback pressures and an interception.
David Navarro
Defensive line
Coleman
6-0, 210, Junior
Stats: Had 26 solo tackles and 37 assists for 63 total tackles. Navarro also had 11 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Jake Gonzales
Linebacker
Roscoe
5-9, 180, Senior
Stats: Had 99 total tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception.
Ryland Gentry
Linebacker
Coleman
6-1, 190, Junior
Stats: Had 51 solo tackles and 62 assists for 113 total tackles. Gentry also had 15 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, two sacks and an interception.
Brent Bouldin
Linebacker
Coleman
5-11, 170, Sophomore
Stats: Had 36 solo tackles and 44 assists for 80 total tackles. Bouldin also recorded seven tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries and a sack.
Riley Pippin
Linebacker
Anson
5-10, 175, Senior
Stats: Had 26 solo tackles and 51 assists for 77 total tackles and made First Team All-District.
Denver Hunter
Defensive back
Coleman
5-9, 155, Senior
Stats: Had 28 solo tackles and 31 assists for 59 total tackles. Hunter also had six pass breakups, four tackles for loss, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Christian Villeda
Kicker
Coleman
5-9, 150, Senior
Stats: Villeda made four of his six field goal attempts with a long of 33 yards. He also converted on 46 of his 52 extra point attempts.
HONORABLE MENTION
Quarterback — Jax Watts, So., Roscoe; Jadin Jackson, So., Coleman.
Defensive line — Jeryd Fain, Sr., Coleman.
Linebacker — RJ Wright, Sr., Coleman; Christian Espitia, Sr., Coleman.
Carson Field is the area sports reporter for the Abilene Reporter-News. He covers primarily Big Country high school sports. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to reporternews.com.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Albany's Jaheim Newton wins 2A All-Big Country Player of the Year
