Tuesday, September 8, 1998

High School Players of the Week

By BILL HART

Senior Staff Writer

The football players of the week as selected by the Abilene Reporter-News:

-- Offensive player of the week: Quarterback Kelan Luker, Stephenville. He completed 14 of 20 passes for 394 yards and four touchdowns, all in the first half of a 45-0 rout of Fort Worth Richland.

-- Honorable mention: Bangs back Toby Conner rushed 11 times for 185 yards and three touchdowns and had three pass receptions for 46 yards in the 33-24 loss to Eldorado. Cooper quarterback Dowell Loggains completed 13 of 26 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns in addition to rushing for a score in the 26-9 win over Killeen High. Dublin back Junior Mata rushed 22 times for 220 yards and a touchdown while teammate Jeremy Jennings had 199 yards on 14 carries and scored three times in the 34-29 loss to Albany. Colorado City quarterback Chase Pharriss completed 10 of 21 passes for 186 yards. Four went to Randy Byington for 86 yards, who also punted for a 44.1 average, including one for 75 yards, in the 21-12 win over Ballinger. Aspermont quarterback Josh Hale ran for two touchdowns and passed for two more in the 47-0 win over Hawley.

Defensive player of the week: Sweetwater defensive end Jarod Shelton. He had seven solo tackles, including three quarterback sacks, caused and recovered a fumble that led to the last touchdown in the 28-14 victory over Brownwood, ranked No.3 in Class 4A at the time.

Honorable mention: Sweetwater linebacker Grant Cherry was in on 12 tackles and had two sacks in the win over Brownwood. Comanche back Jacob Webb had two interceptions in the 13-6 win over Goldthwaite. Munday defensive back Alan Albus returned a fumble 80 yards for a touchdown in the 26-6 win over Haskell.

Six-Man Player of the week: Zephyr back Joshua Willingham. He carried eight times for 187 yards and scored four touchdowns in the 46-14 win over Rochelle.

Honorable mention: Jayton quarterback Michael Chisum completed 10 of 13 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns and also ran 41 yards for another in the 70-22 win over Dawson. John Mark Lopez rushed 19 times for 191 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a 70-yard kickoff return for a score in Rochester's 48-21 victory over Abilene Christian High. Teammate Julian Sanchez had 195 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns, while Manuel Gonzales had 10 solo tackles and was in on five others. Jerek Brown blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown and he ran an intercepted pass back 70 yards for another in Ira's 40-14 win over Loop. Paint Creek quarterback Hegan Lamb threw three touchdown passes, all to Jodie Reel, and ran for two in the 55-46 loss to Vernon Northside.

Bill Hart can be reached at 676-6773 or at sports@abinews.com