LSG » Focus » 2009 Player of the Year Predictions – 1A

2009 Player of the Year Predictions – 1A

2008 was a great year for Texas High School football and the 1A schools were right in the thick of it.  We saw a district, 1-1A, take home two State Titles for only the fourth time ever.  Congratulations to both Canadian and Stratford for their great seasons, but now it’s time to look forward to next year.

The small East Texas town of Cayuga featured one of the best running backs that I saw all season long, a player that helped his team advance to the Division 2 Title game.  Traylon Shead took home 1A Player of the Year honors as well as a District 20-1A MVP in 2008.  3500 yards rushing and a mind boggling 52 Touchdowns makes this junior an overwhelming favorite to repeat as 1A Player of the Year.  The Wildcats will have to fill the void at Quarterback with the departure of Broc January, and their Offensive Line will have to replace two of their big bulls; First Team All-State Cory Perry and All-State Honorable Mention Kyle Wiseman.

The Wildcats have a solid playmaker in Malcome Kennedy coming back for a senior season, and two or three other kids that bear the last name Shead are also suiting up next season.  So this next sentence won’t come as a big shock to very many people.

If Shead stays healthy, he’ll repeat as 1A POY and the Wildcats will take a State Championship back to East Texas.  How’s that for a prediction?

Traylon Shead is not alone at the top of the 1A ranks.  The Wellington Skyrockets from the North Texas region have a pretty good quarterback coming back.  Westin Williams played some brilliant mistake free football in 2008.  The Junior only threw one interception in a 2200 yard regular season that ended at the hands of the eventual State Champions, Canadian.

The State Champion Canadian Wildcats also return a quarterback for his senior season in Brandon Robinson.  When you lead your team to a second straight State title, in two different classifications, confidence won’t be a problem for Robinson.  The Wildcats will have several holes to fill on the senior dominated 2008 team, but Head Coach Kyle Lynch will have this team poised for a three-peat in 2009.

Other playmakers that will make a big impact in 2009 include; First Team All State Running Back Desmond Guy from Itasca, 19-1A MVP Kevin Pope from Mount Enterprise, and Will Kirchhoff from Falls City who also took home a District MVP award.

The 2009 season looks to be a great one for you 1A watchers.  Stay tuned to Lone Star Gridiron for the best coverage of high school football across the State of Texas.

Eric Wiede
Lone Star Gridiron

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