Class 4A: Michael Brewer, QB, Lake Travis High School, Austin
Class 3A: Josh Harrison, QB, Sinton High School
Class 2A: Jarred Moylan, QB, Eastland High School
Class 1A: J.J. Baca, RB/DB, Van Horn High School
Private Schools: Ross Apo, WR, The Oak Ridge School
PLANO, Texas (October 22, 2009) – Six great young Texas high school football stars have been recognized today as the Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Players of the Week for Week 7.
The Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Week program honors one student-athlete in six of the state’s athletic classifications every week during the high school football regular season for his accomplishments on and off the field. Go to www.playeroftheweek.com to nominate your favorite player and find out more about the program!
Following are capsule summaries on the Week 7 winners:
Class 5A: Matt Joeckel, Quarterback, Arlington High School
Coaches will tell you that left tackle is a quarterback’s best friend—and protector. It’s even better for Arlington’s QB Matt Joeckel. His LT/protector just happens to be his twin brother, Luke, one of the top tackles in Texas. With that kind of security, no wonder Matt completed 21 of 28 passes for 396 yards and 5 TDs and ran 11 times for 122 yards and 2 TDs in last week’s 62-26 District 4-5A win over Mansfield Summit. The 6-4, 215-pound QB (his brother’s bigger!) fired scoring strikes of 14, 38, 45, 7, and 9 yards and rushed for five and nine yard scores. On the season, the Colts’ QB has thrown for 1,830 yards and 21 TD passes and rushed for 330 yards and six scores.
When he’s not lighting up the scoreboard, Matt volunteers at the Mission Arlington homeless shelter, works with Special Olympics, and tutors young area QBs. A 3.3 GPA student, he and Luke will take their brother act to Texas A&M next year.
“Matt’s a great leader on and off the field,” says Coach Scott Peach. “Coming from a good family, he has great values and character. His dedication—on and off the field—is unparalleled. He has put in all the effort you could ever ask for. He’s a great runner in our spread offense, but he’s definitely a pro-style QB. I’ve never seen a more accurate young passer.”
Class 4A: Michael Brewer, Quarterback, Lake Travis High School, Austin
How about this for pressure? Your team has won 31 in a row and you’re replacing the national high school player of the year. For Austin Lake Travis’ Michael Brewer, it was nothing. In leading the Cavaliers to a perfect 7-0 start (and 38th straight win), a 58-15 thrashing of Hendrickson last week, Brewer completed 16 of 19 for 331 yards and 4 TDs and ran six times for 44 yards and another score. The son of former UT star QB Robert Brewer, Michael has completed 147 of 199 this season (74%) for 2640 yards, 24 TDs, and only one interception. So much for pressure!
Brewer, who also runs track at Lake Travis, is active in the youth program at Lake Hills Church, participates in the mentoring program at the high school, reads to elementary youngsters every Friday, and assists his dad with his Pop Warner team. He also maintains a 3.5 GPA.
“Michael has a burning desire to be successful,” says Coach Chad Morris. “As you might imagine, he’s a great student of the game. He’s a terrific on-field manager who loves to compete and he’s an incredible leader. A lot of folks were wondering how he’d do coming in to replace Garrett Gilbert. But he’s passed every test and won the admiration of all of his teammates.”
Class 3A: Josh Harrison, Quarterback, Sinton High School
Sinton QB Josh Harrison, a voracious reader, is a Harry Potter fanatic. Does that explain his wizardry in clutch situations? Last week, for the second consecutive game, Harrison led Sinton from behind, throwing for 421 yards (35 of 62) and three touchdowns and rushing 12 times for 78 yards and two more scores in a heart-stopping 45-44 victory over Robstown. The 6-6, 200-pounder has demonstrated extreme poise under pressure behind the Pirates’ young offensive line, piling up 1,914 yards passing and 24 TD passes, raising his record as a starter to 18-1.
A two-year starter in baseball and basketball, he’s also an active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Methodist Youth Church group. Boasting a sparkling 3.8 GPA, Josh hopes to attend Princeton next fall.
“Josh is a tremendous competitor,” says Coach Tom Allen. “He simply refuses to lose, always encouraging his teammates to keep their heads up. In our last two come-from-behind wins, he has displayed great poise and maturity. He works hard—and it shows, every week. He’s a remarkable young man and will be successful in whatever he does.”
Class 2A: Jarred Moylan, Quarterback, Eastland High School
Efficiency experts should have no quarrel with Jarred Moylan. In last week’s 49-20 District 6-2A victory over Anson, Jarred played only 24 plays, threw passes on 22 of them, and completed 19 for 461 yards and six TDs. Moylan gave Eastland a 42-7 lead in the second quarter with 5 TDs, including 75- and 62-yarders. Then moments into the third quarter, following a 67-yard TD strike, he was done for the night.
The folks at Eastland will be sorry to see Jarred leave next spring. In addition to his cannon arm on the football field, he led the basketball team to the regional finals and qualified for the regionals in two track events. He’s the president of the Beta Club (honor society), secretary-treasurer of the Student Council, and an active member of both the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the First Baptist Church of Eastland. And, by the way, his GPA is only 99.5%!
“He’s everything you’d want him to be,” crows proud Coach Brian Hulett. “He’s accurate, he can run, and he’s so smart. He makes better decisions—on and off the field—that any kid I’ve had. And I’ve never seen such leadership and respect. When he’s around, everything gets straightened out.
Class 1A: J.J. Baca, Running Back/Defensive Back, Van Horn High School
If good things do come in small packages, Van Horn's J.J. Baca is the poster child! Despite his 5-6, 145-pound stature, the two-time first-team all-district RB and two-time MVP is a two-way player who warrants attention on every play. The latest example came in a 53-13 thumping of Marfa as Baca carried 13 times for 263 yards and two TDs (43 and 58), caught two scores (34 and 24), and had a 45 yard kickoff return for a total of 365 all-purpose yards.
Baca, a preseason District 8-1A MVP selection, was a member of the Eagles’ sprint relay team that placed 3rd at the state championship in Austin. A 3.15 GPA student, he is a member of the Student Council and is a blood drive organizer.
“He’s one of the best kids I have ever coached,” proclaims Coach Joe Salinas. He’s extremely talented and a class act. He’s comes to practice and just works his tail off. A four-year starter, his personality is a big part of what and who he is. Our opponents know if they want to beat us, they have to stop him. J. J. is an impact player who can take over a game. He’s one in a million!”
Class Private Schools: Ross Apo, Wide Receiver, The Oak Ridge School
Talk about your go-to guys. In Oak Ridge’s 55-38 victory over Fort Worth All Saints last week, Owls QB Thomas Johnson threw for 266 yards, all but 35 of them to 6-3, 197-pound wide receiver Ross Apo. Oak Ridge (7-1) trailed 24-14 late in the third quarter before Apo began working his magic. He wound up with 10 catches for his 231 yards and two TDs (41, immediately following a 41-yard kickoff return, and 40).
A solid B student, Apo led the Owls basketball team in scoring last year. He serves in the Young Adults group at his church and is active with the Spanish Club at Oak Ridge. Apo, who is of Tongan descent, is scheduled to play in the Army All-American game in San Antonio in January and will spend the next four years at Brigham Young.
“On our K-12 campus, Ross serves as a role model for the younger kids who absolutely adore him,” says Coach Phillip Farhat. “He’s our emotional leader, the guy who gets us going and gives us confidence. He missed two games earlier this season and you could see the difference in our whole team.”
Nominate Your Elite Student-Athletes at PlayeroftheWeek.com
Students recognized by Ford, the Texas Ford dealers and the Built Ford Tough Media Advisory Board as the Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Week have excelled in three categories:
Individual performance on the field, including significant game statistics
Contribution to the team’s success through individual leadership abilities
Performance off the field, including academic success and good community citizenship
Texas high school football coaches, athletic directors and fans are invited to nominate players each week. To nominate student-athletes for this award or for additional information on the nomination process, visit PlayeroftheWeek.com.
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