Ford Motor Company and your Texas Ford Dealers are proud to announce the six winners of the 2024 Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Week trophy for week six! 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 Six Winners:
Class 6A: Kelvin Washington
Class 5A: Jayden Paluseo
Class 4A: Trevor Brooks
Class 3A: Jaidyn Vineyard
Class 2A: Bryce Braden
Private School: Gavin Cisneros
PLANO, TEXAS, October 9, 2024 – Once again, Ford and Texas Ford Dealers are recognizing the very best high school football stars in Texas in week six of the 2024 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 19 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.
Class 6A: Kelvin Washington, Junior, RB, Longview High School
Mascot: Lobos
Opponent: Rockwall High School
Kelvin “Boosie” Washington has all the traits of a good running back, and he put them all on display Friday in his team’s 63-34 win over Rockwall to open District 10-6A play. Washington set three school records – one that had been around since 1927 – on his way to an eight-touchdown evening against the Yellowjackets.
The Lobo speedster carried 24 times for 381 yards and six touchdowns (SR), caught two passes for 110 yards and two scores and set up a TD with a 41-yard kickoff return. His eight total touchdowns broke a record set during the 1927 season, and he also had touchdown runs of 95 and 91 yards to become the first Lobo to have two 90-plus runs in one game.
“Kelvin displayed speed, physicality, toughness and his unique skill set on Friday against Rockwall. In typical Boosie fashion, when I asked him after the game what was the best thing about Friday night, he said ‘Coach…we won!’ He’s a great teammate to all and a joy to coach.”
- LONGVIEW HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH JOHN KING
Class 5A: Jayden Paluseo, Senior, QB, Flour Bluff High School
Mascot: Hornets
Opponent: Weslaco East High School
Jayden Paluseo is a savvy veteran who has been on the Flour Bluff varsity football team for four seasons, starting at quarterback since he was a sophomore. He has piloted a Hornets’ offense that averages 51 points a game this season. Playing their biggest game to date, Paluseo led the 6-0 Hornets to an impressive 49-14 road win against previously unbeaten Weslaco East with a near-perfect effort in the passing game. Paluseo was 17 of 18 passing for 303 yards and five touchdowns passing, adding 24 yards and one score on the ground, accounting for six of the Hornets seven touchdowns.
“All the experience he’s had being on varsity for the last three years has really culminated this year. He works really well with (offensive coordinator) Brian Baker. With him being able to lead the charge offensively, everybody benefits. The special teams, the defense, everyone rallies behind him. He is a selfless player, who always credits his offensive line and everybody else before he takes any himself. He is an extraordinary leader. We knew Weslaco East was undefeated and well-coached. With him leading out there and performing it helped us pull ahead quickly and everyone rallied around him and we rode it all the way through the fourth quarter.”
– FLOUR BLUFF HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH CLYNT ELWOOD
Class 4A: Trevor Brooks, Senior, LB, Chapel Hill High School
Mascot: Bulldogs
Opponent: Palestine High School
The Chapel Hill Bulldogs have yet to find something Trevor Brooks can’t do – and do well – on the football field. An all-state linebacker and punter a year ago with 143 tackles and a 40-plus punting average, Brooks has added offensive and return duties this year and is excelling at all of them.
In a 28-0 win over Palestine, Brooks recorded 11 tackles, a sack, two forced fumbles and fumble recovery on defense to go along with a punt return of 60 yards, six catches for 78 yards, 1 run for 6 yards and a 34-yard average on three punts.
“Trevor is a football-playing Jack of all trades. He can do anything on the football field, and this year he became a weapon with the ball in his hand as a receiver and punt returner. He would never come off the field if it was up to him. He ran over six miles in the game Friday, and does that like his hair is on fire. Trevor is a great kid off the field and a captain on our team.”
- CHAPEL HILL HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH JEFF RIORDAN
Class 3A: Jaidyn Vineyard, Senior, RB, Coahoma High School
Mascot: Bulldogs
Opponent: Littlefield High School
Senior running back Jaidyn Vineyard delivered a remarkable performance in a nail-biting showdown, amassing an astounding 39 carries for 373 yards and six touchdowns. Additionally, he showcased his versatility by catching two passes for 75 yards and another score, bringing his total to an incredible seven touchdowns and 449 all-purpose yards. His exceptional leadership and relentless effort were pivotal in the Coahoma Bulldogs’ thrilling 71-70 victory over the Littlefield Wildcats, marking one of the most memorable high school games in years. With a strong 4-1 record, the Bulldogs are poised to carry this momentum into district play. Off the field, Jaidyn is equally impressive, being an active member of the National Honor Society, FFA, and Student Council, while also contributing to his church community.
“Jaidyn had a great game from the start Friday. He is an unselfish player willing to do what it takes for us to be successful. We made the decision that week to not play him on defense for offensive purposes, and boy did it pay off. He is a complete back and it showed that night, carrying it 39 times, big plays catching the ball, and was huge in pass protection. This shows his willingness to do anything we need to be successful here at Coahoma.”
- COAHOMA HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH CHRIS JOSLIN
Class 2A: Bryce Braden, Senior, QB/LB, Stratford High School
Mascot: Elks
Opponent: Childress High School
Braden made a play in every phase during the Elks’ hard-fought 21-14 win over Class 3A Division II program Childress. The Air Force commit had 19 carries for 137 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing for 72 yards.
Braden had 14 total tackles, two quarterback hurries and three pass breakups on defense. He also blocked a punt on special teams and scored on a 2-point conversion run.
Stratford head coach Jonathan Murphy says Braden is a fantastic leader and a high-structured kid who is cut out for a future career as an Air Force officer. Murphy says Braden has served the Stratford community well and is looking forward to serving the country in a greater sense.
“We we’re really happy with his performance. He did a great job on both sides of the ball. The thing I think made the most difference was the physical style of play that Bryce uses. He’s involved in every tackle, and he was our leading rusher. He did a great job against them. He had a blocked punt in the game. He contributed in every facet of the game.”
- STRATFORD HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH JON MURPHY
Private School: Gavin Cisneros, Junior, QB, Saint Joseph Academy High School
Mascot: Bloodhounds
Opponent: La Feria Early College High School
Brownsville St. Joseph Academy’s junior quarterback Gavin Cisneros lit up the stat sheet in Friday’s 62-13 thumping of Class 4A La Feria. The righty tossed for 300 yards, while completing 18-of-25 passes three touchdowns. On the ground, Cisneros ran for four scores on 10 carries for 198 yards. The offense finished with a program best 709 total yards of offense. The 62-point outburst is also a season high in points.
“Gavin is a great kid who is humble, has God-given talent, an excellent work ethic, is a student of the game, and a natural-born leader. He is also dual threat; what else can you ask for in a football player? We are so lucky that he is our QB1.”
- SAINT JOSEPH ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH TINO VILLARREAL
During each week of the 2024 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 at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 10:00 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.
Ford F-Series: The best-selling truck for over 47 years
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.
# # #
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, as well as connected services. Additionally, Ford is establishing leadership positions in mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 182,000 people worldwide. More information about the company, its products and Ford Credit is available at corporate.ford.com.