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 11! 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 11 Winners:
Class 6A: Elijah McCoy
Class 5A: Karece Hoyt
Class 4A: Wyatt Holmstrom
Class 3A: Bryce Wallum
Class 2A: Jessie Castillo
Private School: Cooper Murr
You will find a summary of each student’s accomplishments, on and off the field, below.
Please join us in congratulating these outstanding young athletes, and feel free to share this information with your high school football fans. If you would like more information, please let me know.
Thank you for your continued support!
Danielle Boyd
Ford Motor Company
469-873-6450
Danielle.Boyd@directimpact.com
PLANO, TEXAS, November 13, 2024- Once again, Ford and Texas Ford Dealers are recognizing the very best high school football stars in Texas in week 11 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: Elijah McCoy, Senior, RB, Midland Senior High School
Mascot: Bulldogs
Opponent: Permian High School
McCoy is helping the Bulldogs accomplish special feats with his physical running style and blazing speed. He ran for a touchdown and gained 67 rushing yards to lead Midland to a 21-18 win over rival Odessa Permian, which snapped a seven-game losing streak in the series dating back to 2017. The Dawgs finished the regular season with a 7-3 record.
McCoy’s 1,882 rushing yards this season are threatening the school record of 1,990 yards set by Dave Wafford in 1936 and his 29 touchdowns this year are closing in on the school record of 33 set by Tyler Middleton in 2010.
The UTEP commit is also one of only two runners in school history with 3,000 career rushing yards as his 3,613 yards trail only Jay Francis, who ran for 4,267 yards from 1937-39.
McCoy’s 54 all-purpose touchdowns rank second in school history, trailing only Francis with 65.
He is a major reason why the Dawgs and their triple-option offense have set the regular season team record with 4,156 yards on the ground.
Just last month, McCoy set single-game school records with 360 rushing yards and seven touchdowns during a 56-47 win over San Angelo Central.
“I’m just really proud of him and excited for him. There’s been some really good runningbacks that have come through Midland High and so for him to be on top of that (single game rushing) list just speaks to the work he’s put in the weight room, the work that he has put in the offseason on the track and then the work he puts in every day at practice. When something like that happens, there’s a lot of things in play and you have to start with Elijah. You have to start with the abilities he has been given. That he is humble enough to work hard, that he’s humble enough to lead and in practice, he practices hard every single day. He works in the weight room. You start there and then you have great O-line play, you have great blocking downfield from the receivers and that’s kind of how big nights can happen. Those things are definitely team efforts, but also you couldn’t take some average Joe off the street and do what Elijah did. He’s a special young man and a special player.”
- MIDLAND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH THAD FORTUNE
Class 5A: Karece Hoyt, Sophomore, QB, Lone Star High School
Mascot: Rangers
Opponent: Reedy High School
With a share of the district championship at stake, Karece Hoyt met the moment. The sophomore quarterback accounted for 507 yards and five touchdowns in Frisco Lone Star’s 41-30 win over Frisco Reedy. Hoyt was 21 of 31 passing for 301 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 206 yards and two touchdowns. Lone Star, ranked in the top 10 in the state, opens the Class 5A Division I playoffs against W.T. White on Thursday.
“I was impressed with how Karece led us all game long against Reedy. It was a back-and-forth game. I was impressed with his leadership and will to win. In the offseason in our quarterback school, Karece was really locked in on learning the fundamentals and techniques. He has improved as a quarterback every single week this season.”
- LONE STAR HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH JEFF RAYBURN
Class 4A: Wyatt Holmstrom, Senior, QB, Seminole High School
Mascot: Indians
Opponent: Monahans High School
Holmstrom has developed a reputation for his accuracy, completing 76.1% of his passes this season. He put on another performance of precision passing during the Indians’ 50-20 win over Monahans in the District 1-4A Division II finale. Holmstrom completed 32 of 39 passes for 438 yards and five touchdown passes to help Seminole finish the regular season with a 9-1 record. He had an 82.1% completion percentage in the win. Holmstrom also ran for 22 yards and added a rushing TD against the rival Loboes.
He burst onto the scene as a junior in 2023 by throwing for 3,221 yards, 41 TD passes and eight interceptions. Holmstrom has followed that up by passing for 3,184 yards and 38 TD passes, while cutting his interceptions in half with only four. Holmstrom is described as a fierce competitor.
Indians head coach Greg Poynor says Holmstrom has developed a good rapport with offensive coordinator Brian Poynor to learn the nuances of the Seminole offense.
“He has meant everything to us. Not only has he played at a super high level, but his leadership, what he does off the field, how he is in the locker room (has stood out). He’s just the total package in every single way. He’s meant so much to us even just in the weight room and everywhere he goes. In everything he does, he’s such a good leader for us. He’s done everything you could ask for and more.”
- SEMINOLE HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH GREG POYNOR
Class 3A: Bryce Wallum, Senior, QB/LB, Troup High School
Mascot: Tigers
Opponent: Buffalo High School
Not much Bryce Wallum does on the football field surprises Troup head coach Sam Wells. He’s simply seen it all year long. And, last season.
Wallum, an all-district receiver, defensive back and kicker in 2023, put the finishing touches on the 2024 regular season with an outstanding all-around performance in a 57-21 win over Buffalo.
The Tiger standout carried just six times but rushed for 246 yards and scored on runs of 71 and 97 yards. He completed five of eight passes for 97 yards, with TD strikes of 63 and 29 yards, and returned a kickoff 82 yards for a TD.
To top off his evening, Wallum was also perfect (7 for 7) on extra point attempts.
“Bryce is an amazing young man. He is not only a great athlete, leader and teammate, he is in the top 10 of his class with a 4.0 GPA. He had another amazing game last week. A true dual threat. Not only is he our quarterback, he is our corner, punter, kicker and returner. He is very valuable to our team in all of his roles. He has had an incredible year and career.”
- TROUP HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH SAM WELLS
Class 2A: Jessie Castillo, Senior, DL/WR, Hale Center High School
Mascot: Owls
Opponent: Morton High School
Hale Center High School senior Jessie Castillo had a game to remember in the Owls’ 40-30 win over the Indians, putting together an all-around performance that showcased his incredible versatility as a two-way player. The standout wide receiver and defensive lineman was everywhere on the field, playing a key role in both the offense and defense.
On defense, Castillo was a force to be reckoned with, finishing with 7 tackles, 1 punt block, 1 punt block recovery, and an interception. His highlight play came when he returned that interception 53 yards for a touchdown, giving the Owls a momentum-shifting score. He also recovered a punt block for a touchdown, further cementing his reputation as a game-changer on special teams.
Offensively, Castillo wasn’t to be outdone. He hauled in 3 catches for 131 yards and 2 touchdowns, making big plays in critical moments to help propel Hale Center to victory. His explosive performance on both sides of the ball was a key factor in the Owls’ 40-30 triumph.
Off the field, Castillo remains just as busy, serving as the President of the FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America). In addition to football, he’s a member of the basketball, baseball, and track teams.
“Jessie had one of those games that does not occur very often. He was due for a special game like this. We started slow and he was the spark with his interception return for a touchdown. When we needed a play, he was there to make it happen. He had a punt block for a touchdown and 3 catches for 131 yards and 2 TDs. Very proud of him to help our program secure our first district championship in 30 years. Big time players make big time plays when it matters most.”
- HALE CENTER HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH MARC PUENTE
Private School: Cooper Murr, Sophomore, QB, Brazos Christian School
Mascot: Eagles
Opponent: Rosehill Christian School
Cooper Murr, a standout sophomore at Brazos Christian School, has proven to be a key player in his team’s remarkable success this season. His performance has helped propel the Eagles to a historic 10-0 start—marking the first time in school history the team has achieved such a milestone. As the team celebrated senior night, it was clear that Cooper’s growth and leadership were central to the Eagles’ success.
A key part of the team’s back-to-back district championships, Cooper stepped into the starting quarterback position last season midway through the year and has only continued to improve since then. This season, he put together an impressive stat line during a standout game, completing 15 of 21 passes for 199 yards and 6 touchdowns. He also contributed on the ground, rushing 6 times for 81 yards, showing his dual-threat capability as a quarterback.
Off the field, Cooper is just as driven. He remains active in multiple extracurricular activities, including participation in the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS), as well as being involved in basketball and track. His versatility as an athlete and his commitment to his studies and extracurricular activities highlight his well-rounded character and dedication to personal and team development.
“Cooper had an outstanding performance, both in the passing game and with his ability to make plays on the ground. He completed passes to 5 different receivers and showcased impressive accuracy, despite the rainy conditions. As only a sophomore, he already possesses many of the intangibles needed to excel at the next level. I’m excited to see what the future holds for Cooper and our team.”
- BRAZOS CHRISTIAN HEAD COACH CORREY WASHINGTON
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.
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