With the 2025 Texas high school football season officially kicking off and the high school volleyball season also in full swing, the Big Country’s top fall sports athletes shined across the Lone Star State last week.
Several athletes had standout performances during the last week and have been nominated for this week’s Abilene Reporter-News High School athlete of the week.
The Reporter-News is taking weekly nominations and will release a list of finalists for the Athlete of the Week at the beginning of each week.
Please include statistics from the week’s games and any pertinent information or honors.
Students in all varsity sports are eligible and can only be named Athlete of the Week one time per season, per sport, and athletes from one school cannot win more than three consecutive weeks.
The poll will close at noon Friday and the winner will be announced Friday afternoon.
Nominations are due by 7 p.m. Saturday and can be submitted through email at sports@reporternews.com or Andrew.McCulloch@reporternews.com.
Take a look at this week’s candidates and cast your vote.
Candidates for the Abilene Reporter-News’ High School Athlete of the Week are listed in alphabetical order below.
Aedyn Claxton, Snyder
Claxton racked up 137 receiving yards, 54 rushing yards and a touchdown run in Snyder’s 49-28 loss to San Angelo Lake View.
Cash Gwinn, Tuscola Jim Ned
Gwinn shined for the Indians with 126 yards and two touchdowns through the air on 7-of-13 passing in a 23-22 win against Cedar Hill TLCA.
Brayden Henry, Abilene High
Henry made plays all over the field for Abilene High offensively, rushing for 76 yards and two touchdowns, throwing for 119 yards and a passing touchdown and tallying 36 receiving yards in the Eagles’ 34-13 win over crosstown rival Abilene Cooper.
Brayden Jimenez, Stamford
Jimenez was the key to Stamford’s offensive attack in the Bulldogs’ 33-20 victory against De Leon, recording 115 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 carries and 73 receiving yards on four catches, in addition to five total tackles defensively.
Tyler Mackey, Cross Plains
Mackey ran wild during the Buffaloes’ blowout 75-8 win over Abilene TLCA, totaling 206 rushing yards on nine carries.
Easton Malone, Merkel
Malone helped the Badgers improve to 2-0 by recording 157 yards and four touchdowns on 13-of-19 passing and 37 rushing yards on 12 carries in a 29-26 win over Bangs.
Zyler McClendon, Stephenville
McClendon tallied 210 yards and two rushing touchdowns on 11 carries in Stephenville’s 45-0 victory over Plainview.
Kyson McGee, Hamlin
McGee ran for 107 yards and a rushing touchdown in the Pied Pipers’ 35-21 win against Seymour.
Colby McIlory, Cisco
McIlroy threw for 133 yards and two passing touchdowns in the Loboes’ 39-6 victory against San Angelo TLCA.
Woods Peterson, Albany
Peterson led a dominant Lions’ defense to a 21-7 win against Hawley, tallying 15 total tackles, two TFLs, one pass deflection and a sack in the victory.
Marcus Rios, Big Spring
Rios passed for 261 yards and four touchdowns through the air, and the Longhorns’ quarterback added 127 yards and two rushing touchdowns on the ground in a 41-27 victory over Lubbock High.
Deandre Rodriguez, Abilene Wylie
Rodriguez intercepted a pass and scored on a 27-yard pick-six touchdown in Wylie’s 24-21 road loss to Lubbock Monterey.
Jason Tidwell, Bangs
Tidwell rushed for 183 yards and two touchdowns in the Dragons’ 29-26 loss to Merkel.
Cooper Welch, Comanche
Welch threw for 167 yards and a pair of passing touchdowns in Comanche’s 63-23 loss to Llano.
Davan Wright, Clyde
Wright recorded 122 yards and three touchdowns through the air and 92 rushing yards and a touchdown run in the Bulldogs’ 52-28 victory against Eastland.
VOTE HERE
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Who should be the Abilene Reporter-News’ High School Athlete of the Week? (Sept. 1-7)
Reporting by Andrew McCulloch, Abilene Reporter-News / Abilene Reporter-News
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