The Big Country’s Class 5A football teams and players shined during an exciting 2025 Texas high school football season throughout the Abilene area.
The Abilene High Eagles secured back-to-back district championships, the Abilene Cooper Cougars made an impressive run in the UIL playoffs and the Abilene Wylie Bulldogs fought for a postseason berth until the final snap of the regular season.
The Eagles advanced to the area round of the 5A DI Texas high school football playoffs, while the Cougars made an area round appearance in the 5A DII UIL playoffs too.
Here’s a closer look at all the 5A Big Country football players who received all-district honors in District 2-5A DI and District 2-5A DII for their performances during the 2025 Texas high school football season:
DISTRICT 2-5A DI
MVP – Brayden Henry, Abilene High, Sr.
Offensive Player of the Year – Jude Dunavin, Amarillo High, Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year – Jayden Starks, Abilene High, Sr.
Special Teams MVP – Samweli Batendj, Abilene High, Jr.
Offensive Newcomer of the Year – Bo Davis, Lubbock High, So.
Defensive Newcomer of the Year – Jordan Evans, Lubbock Monterey, So.
Utility Player(s) of the Year – Symanni Strahan, Abilene High, Jr.; Reese Cabe, Amarillo Tascosa, Sr.; Campbell Stanek, Lubbock Coronado, Sr.
Coaching Staff of the Year – Mike Fullen, Abilene High
FIRST TEAM ALL-DISTRICT – OFFENSE
Quarterback – Jett Lopez, Amarillo High, Sr.
Running Back – Ethan Joyner, Abilene High, Sr.
Running Back – Deuce Moore, Lubbock Monterey, Sr.
Fullback – Elijah Wood, Abilene High, Sr.
Wide Receiver – Austin Sluder, Amarillo High, Sr.
Wide Receiver – Oliver Parsons, Amarillo High, Sr.
Wide Receiver – Cam Taylor, Lubbock Monterey, Sr.
Wide Receiver – M’Aujehl Aboso, Abilene High, Jr.
Tight End – Bryson Butler, Amarillo Caprock, Sr.
Offensive Tackle – Brian Acosta-Gardea, Amarillo Tascosa, Jr.
Offensive Tackle – Aaron Ochoa, Abilene High, Sr.
Guard – Jim Boima, Abilene High, Sr.
Guard – Jacob Mosley, Lubbock Monterey, Sr.
Guard – Xavier Ingram, Amarillo High, Sr.
Center – Rhyan Esparza, Abilene High, Sr.
FIRST TEAM ALL-DISTRICT – DEFENSE
Defensive End – Daveon Woodruff, Amarillo Tascosa, Sr.
Defensive End – Aamanni Strahan, Abilene High, Sr.
Defensive Tackle – Krush Johnson, Amarillo Tascosa, Sr.
Defensive Tackle – Javion Ramon, Lubbock Monterey, Sr.
Inside Linebacker – Symmani Strahan, Abilene High, Jr.
Inside Linebacker – Javari Henderson, Amarillo High, Sr.
Outside Linebacker – Troy Brown, Amarillo High, Sr.
Outside Linebacker – Trae Shaw, Abilene High, Sr.
Defensive Back – Jeremiah Collins, Abilene High, Sr.
Defensive Back – Damyen Cervantes, Amarillo Tascosa, Sr.
Defensive Back – AJ Randle, Amarillo High, Sr.
Defensive Back – Willie Crain, Lubbock Coronado, Sr.
Defensive Back – Creed Cavalier, Amarillo High, Jr.
Punter – Rhett Ladd, Amarillo High, Jr.
Punter – Parker Bottema, Lubbock Coronado, Jr.
Kicker – Elisha Batendji, Abilene High, Fr.
SECOND TEAM ALL-DISTRICT – OFFENSE
Quarterback – Jonah Reed, Lubbock Monterey, Jr.
Running Back – Ernesto Alvarado, Amarillo Caprock, Sr.
Running Back – Deandre Sanders, Amarillo Tascosa, Sr.
Fullback – Traeson Elliott, Amarillo Tascosa, Sr.
Wide Receiver – Tate Blackwell, Amarillo High, Sr.
Wide Receiver – Quarren Boyd, Lubbock Monterey, Sr.
Wide Receiver – John Rangel, Abilene High, Jr.
Wide Receiver – Noah Alexander, Lubbock Monterey, Jr.
Tight End – Hayden Harger, Lubbock Coronado, Sr.
Tight End – Elijah Wood, Abilene High, Sr.
Offensive Tackle – Wyatt Mcmillon, Abilene High, Sr.
Offensive Tackle – Carter Alvarado, Amarillo Tascosa, Sr.
Guard – Brandon Wright, Amarillo High, Sr.
Guard – Aaron Phares, Amarillo Tascosa, Sr.
Guard – Efrain Hernandez, Abilene High, Jr.
Guard – Pelipe Pesina, Lubbock Monterey, Sr.
Center – Thane McClure, Amarillo High, Sr.
SECOND TEAM ALL-DISTRICT – DEFENSE
Defensive End – Oliver Crinella, Amarillo High, Jr.
Defensive End – Gavin Noble, Amarillo Tascosa, Sr.
Defensive Tackle – KJ Russell, Lubbock Monterey, Sr.
Defensive Tackle – Josiah Darnes, Amarillo Caprock, Jr.
Defensive Tackle – Johnny Price, Amarillo Tascosa, Sr.
Inside Linebacker – Kason Stroud, Amarillo High, Sr.
Inside Linebacker – Skyler Faimoa, Abilene High, Jr.
Outside Linebacker – Coen Phillips, Amarillo Tascosa, Jr.
Outside Linebacker – Levon Koonce Jr., Abilene High, Jr.
Defensive Back – Canon Polivodo, Amarillo Caprock, So.
Defensive Back – Armon White, Lubbock Monterey, Jr.
Defensive Back – Charles Meeks, Abilene High, Jr.
Defensive Back – Xavier De La Cruz, Abilene High, Sr.
Defensive Back – Jordan Brown-Johnson, Abilene High, Jr.
Punter – Jeremiah Galvan, Abilene High, Sr.
Punter – Coltyn Fulton, Amarillo Tascosa, Sr.
Kicker – Sam Webb, Amarillo High, Sr.
Kicker – Owen Crago, Lubbock High, Sr.
Kicker – Noah Gloria, Amarillo Caprock, Sr.
DISTRICT 2-5A DII
**Denotes unanimous all-district selection.
MVP – Julian Reese, Amarillo Palo Duro, Jr.
Offensive Player of the Year – Darien Lewis, Amarillo Palo Duro, Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year – Dycin Davis, Abilene Cooper, Sr.
Special Teams Player of the Year – Kyron Brown, Amarillo Palo Duro, Jr.
Offensive Newcomer of the Year – Noah Clark, Lubbock Cooper, So.
Defensive Newcomer(s) of the Year – Zach Linton, Amarillo Palo Duro, Jr.; Isaac Massouema, Abilene Cooper, Sr.
Coaching Staff of the Year – Eric Mims, Sr., Amarillo Palo Duro**
FIRST TEAM ALL-DISTRICT – OFFENSE
Quarterback – Seth Mayberry, Plainview, Sr.
Running Back – Erick Powell, Wichita Falls Memorial, Sr.
Running Back – Peyton Ewing, Abilene Cooper, Sr.
Fullback – Keanon Posey, Amarillo Palo Duro, Jr.
Wide Receiver – Kyron Brown, Amarillo Palo Duro, Jr.**
Wide Receiver – Blaze Ruffin, Abilene Wylie, Jr.
Wide Receiver – Jamari Dean, Wichita Falls Memorial, Sr.
Wide Receiver – Jordan Porter, Plainview, Sr.
Tight End – Tayden Bender, Abilene Cooper, Sr.
Offensive Tackle – Shalom Gonzalez, Amarillo Palo Duro, Jr.**
Offensive Tackle – Blayze Douglas, Lubbock Cooper, Sr.
Guard – Kayden Bryan, Abilene Cooper, Sr.**
Guard – Bobby Bleisch, Lubbock Cooper, Sr.
Center – Peyton Duncan, Lubbock Cooper, Sr.
Kicker – Noah Rehburg, Abilene Wylie, Sr.
FIRST TEAM ALL-DISTRICT – DEFENSE
Defensive End – Keimaure Rayford, Amarillo Palo Duro, So.
Defensive End – Jaiden Wetzel, Wichita Falls Memorial, Sr.
Defensive Tackle – Sione Vaea, Lubbock Cooper, Sr.**
Defensive Tackle – Dorian Coleman, Wichita Falls Memorial, Sr.
Defensive Tackle – Deandre Rodriguez, Abilene Wylie, Sr.
Inside Linebacker – Kemai’j Barnes, Amarillo Palo Duro, Sr.
Inside Linebacker – Bo Kates, Abilene Wylie, Jr.
Outside Linebacker – Jamarion Dunson, Abilene Cooper, Jr.
Outside Linebacker – Kale Kirk, Lubbock Cooper, Sr.
Safety – Darien Lewis, Amarillo Palo Duro, Sr.
Safety – Jacob Bynum, Abilene Cooper, Sr.
Safety – Da’Kendrick Jones, Wichita Falls Legacy, Jr.
Corner Back – Vern Blair, Amarillo Palo Duro, Sr.
Corner Back – Mccoy Sims, Amarillo Palo Duro, Jr.
Punter – AJ Rico, Abilene Cooper, Jr.
FIRST TEAM ALL-DISTRICT – UTILITY
OT/Long Snapper – Ian Garza, Plainview, Jr.
QB/DB – Joe Castles, Wichita Falls Memorial, Sr.
DB/RB – Da’Kendrick Jones, Wichita Falls Legacy, Jr.
LB/Long Snapper – Canon Adams, Abilene Cooper, Sr.
OLB/TE – Blake Frailing, Abilene Wylie, Jr.
RB/LB – Raymond Johnson, Amarillo Palo Duro, Jr.
QB/P – Ryan Rodriguez, Lubbock Cooper, Sr.
SECOND TEAM ALL-DISTRICT – OFFENSE
Quarterback – Jaden Carrillo, Abilene Cooper, Sr.
Running Back – Chamayne Johnson, Lubbock Cooper, Sr.
Running Back – Julius Lane, Abilene Wylie, Sr.
Fullback – Kason Rosario, Abilene Cooper, Sr.
Wide Receiver – Dylan Regala, Abilene Wylie, Jr.
Wide Receiver – Zaylen Johnson, Abilene Cooper, So.
Wide Receiver – Cade Grant, Lubbock Cooper, Sr.
Wide Receiver – Jourian Wiggins, Wichita Falls Legacy, Jr.
Tight End – Wyatt Haire, Lubbock Cooper, Sr.
Offensive Tackle – Marcus Andrade, Abilene Cooper, Sr.
Offensive Tackle – Jayden Wilson, Wichita Falls Memorial, Sr.
Offensive Tackle – Isaiah Kanyabitabo, Abilene Cooper, Sr.
Guard – Ehthe Lay, Amarillo Palo Duro, Sr.
Guard – Jayden Flores, Abilene Cooper, Sr.
Center – Barrett Huffington, Abilene Wylie, Sr.
Kicker – Luis Fuentes, Amarillo Palo Duro, Sr.
SECOND TEAM ALL-DISTRICT – DEFENSE
Defensive End – Kyron Brown, Amarillo Palo Duro, Jr.
Defensive End – Pat Garcia, Lubbock Cooper, Sr.
Defensive Tackle – Israel Massouema, Abilene Cooper, Sr.
Defensive Tackle – Shalom Gonzalez, Amarillo Palo Duro, Sr.
Defensive Tackle – Troy Robinson, Amarillo Palo Duro, Sr.
Inside Linebacker – Hunter Talley, Wichita Falls Memorial, Sr.
Inside Linebacker – Beau Byrne, Abilene Cooper, Jr.
Outside Linebacker – Danqual Ashley, Amarillo Palo Duro, Sr.
Outside Linebacker – Landry Pate, Abilene Wylie, Jr.
Safety – DJ Harris, Amarillo Palo Duro, Sr.
Safety – Zachary Soliz, Plainview, Sr.
Corner Back – Darius Butler, Lubbock Cooper, Sr.
Corner Back – AJ Rico, Abilene Cooper, Jr.
Punter – Noah Faragoza, Amarillo Palo Duro, So.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Big Country High School Football – Class 5A All-District Honors
Reporting by Andrew McCulloch, Abilene Reporter-News / Abilene Reporter-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
