Ford Motor Company and your Texas Ford Dealers are proud to announce the six winners of the 2023 Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Week trophy for week 10! These outstanding Built Ford Tough gridiron heroes are honored for their performance on the field and their leadership off the field. All weekly winners will ultimately be eligible to become Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Players of the Year.
Week 10 Winners:
Class 6A: Brooks Brigance, Junior, QB, James Martin High School
Class 5A: Zach Gingrich, Senior, DB, Smithson Valley High School
Class 4A: Julian Cervantes, Senior, RB/WR, Perryton High School
Class 3A: Colt Sparks, Junior, QB, Sabine High School
Class 2A: Jayden Edwards, Junior, WR, Overton High School
Private School: Max Bagwell, Junior, DB, Second Baptist High School
PLANO, TEXAS, November 1, 2023 – Once again, Ford and Texas Ford Dealers are recognizing the very best high school football stars in Texas in week ten of the 2023 Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Week program. Since 2006, the program has recognized outstanding student-athletes throughout the regular season. For 18 years now, the program has celebrated many future college and professional standouts during their Texas high school football careers.
This week’s winning athletes join a long list of remarkable players recognized for their exceptional efforts.
2023 Built Ford Tough Player of the Week 10 Winners:
Class 6A: Brooks Brigance, Junior, QB, James Martin High School
Mascot: Warriors
Opponent: Arlington High School
The Arlington Martin Warriors defeated cross town rival Arlington Colts 58- 21 to remain undefeated and 5-0 in district.
They were led to victory with one of the best all-around performances last week as recently converted QB Brooks Brigance amassed over 511 total all-purpose yards and six touchdowns.
He passed for 219 yards and three touchdowns, carried the ball 14 times for 257 yards for another three touchdowns and even contributed with a 35-yard kickoff return.
The first year QB is the leading passer, rusher and returner for the Warriors.
“Brooks Brigance possesses every characteristic needed to not only be a great football player, but an even better person. His attitude, effort, and performance are unmatched, and on display daily. Same person, every day. Unselfish. He has positioned himself as the leader of our offense and our team.”
- JAMES MARTIN HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH CHAD RIVES
Class 5A: Zach Gingrich, Senior, DB, Smithson Valley High School
Mascot: Rangers
Opponent: Buda Hays High School
Called an “elite” two-sport athlete by Smithson Valley head coach Larry Hill, Gingrich plays cornerback with the same discipline and consistency that have been his hallmarks as an All-State outfielder/pitcher for the Rangers’ baseball team. Gingrich had another sterling performance in Smithson Valley’s 47-10 victory against Buda Hays in a District 12-5A-I game, blocking a punt and picking up the loose ball to run for a 13-yard touchdown and scoring again on a 50-yard interception return. He had a second interception that led to a Rangers score.
Gingrich has five interceptions for the season, and his Pick-6 against Hays was the second of his senior year. He also has blocked two punts. In nine games this season, Gingrich has 37 tackles, 20 solo and 17 assists, 8 tackles for loss and 1 forced fumble. He also plays a key role on special teams. His contributions have helped state-ranked Smithson Valley, 8-1 overall and 6-0 in District 12-5A-I, clinch its second consecutive league title. A three-year letterman, Gingrich earned first-team All-District 12-5A-I honors last season.
Gingrich is an exemplary student-athlete. He has a 105 grade point average in the classroom and does volunteer work through his Family and Community Services (FACS) class at school. A three-year baseball starter, Gingrich has committed to continue playing the sport at Texas State and plans to sign his national letter of intent Nov. 8.
“It’s pretty rare in this day and age to be an elite player in two sports. So many of them don’t want to do that anymore. They get the outside influences pulling them one way or the other. Zach has stuck to his guns and played both sports, and obviously excelled in both sports. He brings a lot to the table. Here’s a kid who’s almost 6-1, almost 200 pounds, but yet has 4.5-type speed and can run with wide receivers. Because of his size and his physicality, he brings a tackling element, and a physical element to corner you don’t often get. Those are physical skills, but I think the biggest thing about Zach is that he just has a keen awareness of the game. He gets it. He recognizes route combinations, he recognizes backfield sets, he recognizes formation patterns, and is able to process what is likely getting ready to happen. He has great instincts when the ball is snapped. He reads the quarterback’s eyes and the receiver routes. Zach puts himself in a position to let his skills take over. That’s taken coaching, but then that’s also a lot of natural instincts. Zach is also a big part of our special teams as well. We’re a little different out here. We don’t hesitate to play our better players on special teams. Zach is on our kickoff coverage team, punt-block team, obviously, the PAT-block team, kickoff-return team. He’s such a physical presence blocking for our returners. He’s out there a bunch. We take full advantage of his skill set. He’s one of those guys that the other players look to, not only to make plays, but practice like he practices, prepare like he prepares, pay attention like he does. I think him being an elite two-sport player encourages others to be multisport athletes.”
SMITHSON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH LARRY HILL
Class 4A: Julian Cervantes, Senior, RB/WR, Perryton High School
Mascot: Rangers
Opponent: Borger High School
Cervantes was willing to move off the quarterback position in order to serve the Rangers offense better in a running back and receiver role. The Perryton coaching staff thought it would make the Rangers a better football team, the plan worked.
Cervantes had 336 total yards from scrimmage and scored five touchdowns to lead the Rangers to a 41-14 win over Borger in a District 2-4A Division II game. He ran 10 times for 167 yards and four touchdowns, while catching seven passes for 169 yards and a touchdown.
Perryton head coach Cole Underwood said Cervantes’ willingness to play a diverse role made the Rangers offense more dynamic.
The coach says Cervantes is the no doubt leader of his football program as a team captain.
Underwood added that Cervantes is a standup kid in the classroom, as he carries a grade point average well above 90.
“He’s the best athlete that we’ve got on our team. He’s a guy that is selfless. He was willing to move and make the move to kind of bounce around the formation in different positions. Anytime the ball is in his hands, he’s electric. He does a really, really good job of finding holes and making space for himself, especially out on the perimeter. Feeding him the ball Friday night, it just ended up working. I think we were balanced with him.”
- PERRYTON HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH COLE UNDERWOOD
Class 3A: Colt Sparks, Junior, QB, Sabine High School
Mascot: Cardinals
Opponent: White Oak High School
Colt Sparks accounted for 415 yards and seven touchdowns in a 70-12 win over White Oak, but it was the touchdown he didn’t score that caught head coach Cody Gilbert’s attention and affirmed what he already knew about his standout quarterback.
Sparks completed 12 of 18 passes for 225 yards and four touchdowns and carried 11 times for 190 yards and three more TDS in a blowout win, but his numbers could have been even better.
“He could have had a fourth rushing touchdown, but he stepped out of bounds on purpose so another kid could have a chance to score. That’s just the kind of kid and leader he is,” Gilbert said of Sparks, who is a standout in football, basketball, baseball and track at Sabine. “He’s just a special athlete and a special young man.”
- SABINE HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH CODY GILBERT
Class 2A: Jayden Edwards, Junior, WR, Overton High School
Mascot: Mustangs
Opponent: Carlisle High School
Almost half (14) of Jayden Edwards’ 29 receptions in 2022 went the distance, so Scotty Laymance knew the Overton junior would be a key part of helping turn the program around in 2023.
Edwards has done just that, catching 52 passes with 17 touchdowns through nine games this season, and his performance against rival Carlisle in Week 10 helped move the Mustangs to 9-0 this season.
Edwards hauled in 11 passes for 243 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-14 win for an Overton program that had won eight combined games in the previous five seasons.
“He’s super explosive.” He’s just one of those kids that when you need a big play, you go to him. We knew coming into this year he was the guy that can take it the distance each time he touches the ball.”
- OVERTON HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH SCOTTY LAYMANCE
Private School: Max Bagwell, Junior, DB, Second Baptist High School
Mascot: Eagles
Opponent: Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School
The Second Baptist Eagles defense continues to shut down opponents including their 5th shoutout of the season as they defeated the Kelly Bulldogs 51-0. They now are 4-0 in district while only giving up 7 points.
The defense was led by an undersized Junior Max Bagwell who has proven to be an inspirational leader on the team. His energy and enthusiasm for the game is relentless. He put this all on display last week as he had three interceptions, four solo tackles including one for a loss. He also contributed on special teams with a 20-yard punt return.
“Max had a great night last week, but more importantly, has had a great season. He plays in all three phases of the game and is an impact player on defense and special teams. While small in stature, he plays with a huge heart and is a tough kid. Max has a high football IQ and great vision which allows him to be a real ball hawk in the middle of the field. Equally important, his teammates love him. Football is not all business for Max… he has a lot of fun playing the game and his attitude is contagious to kids and coaches.”
- SECOND BAPTIST HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH BECK BRYDON
During each week of the 2023 regular season, fans, coaches, and media are asked to nominate players at FordPlayeroftheWeek.com, as well as catch up with winners, view video clips of players in action and get the latest program details. Fans will be able to follow the conversation on social media by using #FordPOTW and share the recognition of these outstanding individuals each week.
Additionally, fans are encouraged to catch all the action on Bally Sports Southwest. The network is teaming with Ford and Texas Ford dealers to keep honor award winners through its weekly television show. Each week, television crews will travel to communities across Texas, spotlighting players who excel on the field, in the classroom and in their communities. The half-hour Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Week program will air on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 a.m.
How the program works
The Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Week program recognizes one high school student-athlete in six of the state’s athletic classifications each week of the regular season.
Nominees must excel in three categories:
- Individual performance on the field, including significant statistics from that week’s game
- Contribution to the team’s success through individual leadership abilities
- Performance off the field, including academic success and good community citizenship
At the end of the regular season, Ford and its advisory board will select one student-athlete from the 11 weekly winners to be the Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Year in each classification. Following the championship games, honorees will be recognized at a banquet next year.
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Ford is the undisputed truck leader in Texas. Ford F-Series sets the standard for full-size pickups with leading payload, towing, interior roominess, strength, and reliability. Ford is proud to recognize the Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Players of the Week.