SBLive's 2021 All-Central Texas High School Football Teams: Cade Klubnik is MVP

Our end-of-season review starts deep in the heart of Central Texas, where a handful of Hill Country heavyweights ran the table in convincing fashion to secure a number of state championships and healthy shares of SBLive's All-Central Texas team selections.

After a grueling four-month race to the finish, the 2021 Texas high school football season officially concluded with the crowning of 12 new UIL state champions in mid-December at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Now with the postseason in the rearview mirror and the start of spring practices quickly approaching, it’s time to reflect on the standout players and teams that defined the 2021 campaign.

SBLive will recognize standout players throughout the state from this past season by unveiling All-Region teams and awards for Central, East, North, South and West Texas, respectively, leading up to the release of SBLive’s 2021 All-State Texas High School Football Team.

We will kick off our end-of-season review deep in the heart of Central Texas, where a handful of Hill Country heavyweights ran the table in convincing fashion to secure a number of state championships and healthy shares of our All-Central Texas team selections.

Austin Westlake, China Spring, Lorena and Stephenville each rumbled to state championship game victories to land several of the most outstanding players in Texas on our all-region teams, like Clemson commit Cade Klubnik and Coy Eakin, the state’s leading receiver.

Here’s a complete look at SBLive’s All-Central Texas teams and awards:

(Editor's note: Our Central Texas region is defined by the highlighted section of the featured graphic.)

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All-Central Texas Awards

MVP — Senior QB Cade Klubnik, Austin Westlake (3,251 passing yards, 43 TD passes on 189-of-265 completion rate; 471 rushing yards, 12 TD runs on 70 carries in 13 GP)

(Photo by Tommy Hays)

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Offensive Player of the Year — Senior QB Ryder Lambert, Stephenville (4,275 passing yards, 52 TD passes on 249-of-384 completion rate; 831 rushing yards, 11 TD runs on 117 carries in 16 GP)

(Photo by Brian McLean)

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Defensive Player of the Year — Senior LB Da’Marion Medlock, Mart (256 total tackles [58 solo], eight pass deflections, six TFLs, six forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, two interceptions, one blocked punt and one defensive TD in 15 GP)

(Photo courtesy of Mart football)

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Newcomer of the Year — Freshman LB Tyraun Bell, Marlin (201 total tackles [112 solo], 19 TFLs, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two sacks, two defensive TDs and one interception in 14 GP)

(Photo courtesy of Marlin football)

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Coach of the Year — Todd Dodge, Austin Westlake

(Photo by Tommy Hays)

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First Team All-Central Texas

QB — Major Bowden, China Spring (1,735 passing yards, 27 TD passes on 107-of-160 completion rate; 1,878 rushing yards, 23 TD runs on 222 carries in 16 GP)

(Photo by Tommy Hays)

RB — Quinton Joyner, Manor (2,494 rushing yards, 31 TD runs on 223 carries; 100 receiving yards, two TD catches on nine receptions in 12 GP)

RB — Re’Shaun Sanford, Killeen Harker Heights (2,330 rushing yards, 27 TD runs on 242 carries; 268 receiving yards, four TD catches on 17 receptions in 11 GP)

RB — Sedrick Alexander, Austin LBJ (2,242 rushing yards, 28 TD runs on 274 carries; 129 receiving yards, two TD catches on 10 receptions in 16 GP)

FB — Noah Long, Liberty Hill (2,075 rushing yards, 29 TD runs on 249 carries; 71 receiving yards, TD catch on four receptions in 16 GP)

WR — Coy Eakin, Stephenville (2,140 receiving yards, 31 TD catches on 93 receptions; 213 rushing yards, four TD runs on 26 carries in 16 GP)

WR — Trajon Butler, Marlin (1,489 receiving yards, 19 TD catches on 64 receptions; 785 rushing yards, 10 TD runs on 50 carries in 15 GP)

TE — Jaden Greathouse, Austin Westlake (1,274 receiving yards, 20 TD catches on 66 receptions in 16 GP)

OT — Bray Lynch, Austin Westlake (26-6A First Team All-District selection)

OT — Colton Thomasson, Smithson Valley (Unanimous 27-6A First Team All-District selection)

G — Connor Robertson, Austin Westlake (26-6A All-District Offensive Lineman of the Year)

G — Adrian Gilmore, Round Rock (Unanimous 25-6A First Team All-District selection)

C — Ryan Lira, Boerne Champion (15-5A DII All-District Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year)

DT — Jayden Rauls, Austin LBJ (134 total tackles, 27 TFLs, eight sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumbles recoveries in 16 GP)

DT — Tremayne Richardson, Marlin (94 total tackles [48 solo], 29 TFLs, 15 sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 15 GP)

DE — Gavin Woods, Smithson Valley (84 total tackles [31 solo], 29 TFLs, 17 sacks, five pass deflections, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 12 GP)

DE — Ethan Burke, Austin Westlake (58 total tackles [40 solo], 14 TFLs, 12 sacks, nine pass deflections, three forced fumbles, one interception and one blocked punt in 16 GP)

LB — Andon Thomas, Liberty Hill (230 total tackles [110 solo], 28 TFLs, two sacks, one pass deflection, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one blocked FG in 16 GP)

LB — Brenton Wilhite, Thorndale (152 total tackles [145 solo], 17 TFLs, 14 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception in 11 GP)

LB — Reese Young, Stephenville (242 total tackles [142 solo], 29 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two pass deflections in 16 GP)

LB — Taurean York, Temple (141 total tackles [91 solo], 17 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles, three pass deflections and one defensive TD in 12 GP)

DB — Will Courtney, Austin Westlake (125 total tackles [68 solo], four pass deflections, two interceptions, two TFLs, two sacks and one fumble recovery in 16 GP)

DB — Will Pearson, Boerne (107 total tackles [48 solo], eight interceptions, four pass deflections, three TFLs and two fumble recoveries in 13 GP)

DB — Jacob De Leon, Leander Rouse (119 total tackles [76 solo], four blocked punts, four pass deflections, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one blocked FG in 13 GP)

DB — Jaybreon Riggins, Austin LBJ (115 total tackles, 10 pass deflections, eight interceptions, five forced fumbles and two defensive TDs in 16 GP)

K — Corbin Poston, Stephenville (14-of-14 FG kicks, 85-of-86 PAT kicks; season long 46-yard FG in 16 GP)

P — Derion Gullette, Marlin (1,343 kick yards on 30 punts; 62-yard season long; 13 downed inside 20-yard line in 15 GP)

ATH — Case Brister, Lampasas (1,544 rushing yards, 15 TD runs on 188 carries; 244 receiving yards, four TD catches on 12 receptions; 140 total tackles [102 solo], 10.0 TFL, two blocked FGs, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass deflection in 11 GP)

KR/PR — LJ Martin, Austin Del Valle (632 return yards, three special teams TDs on 25 KR/PRs; season long 97-yard KR; season long 70-yard PR in 10 GP)

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Second Team All-Central Texas

QB — Mason Shorb, Leander Rouse (3,813 passing yards, 49 TD passes on 210-of-296 completion rate; four TD runs on 49 carries in 13 GP)

RB — Colin Page, Austin Anderon (1,702 rushing yards, 22 TD runs on 200 carries; 920 receiving yards, six TD catches in 47 GP)

RB — Konlyn Anderson, Brownwood (1,880 rushing yards, 20 TD runs on 316 carries; 37 receiving yards on seven receptions in 11 GP)

RB — Tre Beam, Early (1,460 rushing yards, 12 TD runs on 206 carries; 346 receiving yards, six TD catches on 23 receptions in 12 GP)

FB — Rhett Hanson, Lorena (1,496 rushing yards, 30 TD runs on 182 carries; 43 receiving yards, TD catch on eight receptions in 15 GP)

WR — Derion Gullette, Marlin (1,458 receiving yards, 14 TD catches on 64 receptions; 74 rushing yards, four TD runs on 13 carries in 15 GP)

WR — Jalen Becerra, Leander Rouse (1,417 receiving yards, 20 TD catches on 69 receptions in 13 GP)

TE — Dylan Domel, Smithson Valley (475 receiving yards, six TD catches on in 12 GP)

OT — Ian Reed, Austin Vandegrift (Unanimous 25-6A All-District Offensive Lineman of the Year)

OT — Jaydon Chatman, Killeen Harker Heights (12-6A First Team All-District selection)

G — Brodan “Biscuit” Elliott, Georgetown (11-5A DI All-District Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year)

G — Valentino Bacelis, Dripping Springs (12-5A DI All-District Offensive Lineman of the Year)

C — Elijah Turley, Lorena (11-3A DI All-District Lineman of the Year)

DT — Alessandro “DJ” Perez, Georgetown East View (87 total tackles [67 solo], 27 TFLs, 12 sacks, two forced fumbles, two pass deflections and one safety in 10 GP)

DT — Joe Gutshall, Lorena (83 total tackles [56 solo], 22 TFLs, nine sacks, three interceptions, two pass deflections, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one defensive TD in 16 GP)

DE — Tucker Harrison, Austin Vandegrift (93 total tackles [80 solo], 21 TFLs, 14 sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass deflection in 14 GP)

DE — Kolten Ramey, Fischer Canyon Lake (88 total tackles, 24 TFLs, 13 sacks, four pass deflections, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 11 GP)

LB — Logan Metzger, Fredericksburg (177 total tackles [89 solo], 17 TFLs, 10 pass deflections, four forced fumbles, three sacks and one fumble recovery in 14 GP)

LB — Cason Foster, Holliday (160 total tackles [97 solo], 10 TFLs, five sacks, two blocked punts, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception in 14 GP)

LB — Kaleb Brown, Austin LBJ (125 total tackles, 14 TFLs, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and one sack in 16 GP)

LB — Malachi Lane, Smithson Valley (148 total tackles [33 solo], eight TFLs, three forced fumbles, two sacks, one pass deflection, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one defensive TD, one blocked punt and one blocked FG in 12 GP)

DB — Luke Elliott, New Braunfels Canyon (87 total tackles [53 solo], six interceptions, six pass deflections, three forced fumbles, two TFLs and one safety in 10 GP)

DB — Daxton Brookerson, Lampasas (124 total tackles [95 solo], five TFLs, two forced fumbles, one interception, one defensive TD and one pass deflection in 11 GP)

DB — Houston Hendrix, Boerne (101 total tackles [43 solo], 10 TFLs, three pass deflections, two interceptions, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one blocked FG in 13 GP)

DB — Derek Bullard, Wortham (84 total tackles [54 solo], 13 pass deflections, six interceptions, five TFLs, two fumble recoveries and one defensive TD in 13 GP)

K — Hunter Rioux, Lake Travis (6-of-6 FG kicks, 77-of-77 PAT kicks; season long 45-yard FG in 15 GP)

P — Jadon Porter, Lorena (1,007 kick yards on 24 punts; 67-yard season long; 15 downed inside 20-yard line in 16 GP)

ATH — Klyderion Campbell, Mart (831 rushing yards, 15 TD runs on 76 carries; 580 receiving yards, 10 TD catches on 39 receptions; 111 total tackles [17 solo], five fumble recoveries, four TFLs, three pass deflections, two interceptions, two blocked punts, one forced fumble and one defensive TD in 15 GP)

KR/PR — Colton Dale, Lorena (575 return yards, four special teams TDs on 22 KR/PRs; season long 56-yard KR; season long 43-yard PR in 9 GP)

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Third Team All-Central Texas

QB — Oscar Gordon III, Austin LBJ (2,202 passing yards, 36 TD passes on 149-of-246 completion rate; 723 rushing yards, three TD runs on 105 carries in 13 GP)

(Photo by Tommy Hays)

RB — Derrick “DJ” Johnson, Lake Travis (1,455 rushing yards, 19 TD runs on 176 carries; 323 receiving yards, four TD catches on 22 receptions in 15 GP)

RB — Jaidyn Brown, San Marcos (1,452 rushing yards, 15 TD runs on 168 carries; 146 receiving yards on 13 receptions in 10 GP)

RB — Reed Michna, Lorena (1,437 rushing yards, 21 TD runs on 169 carries; 145 receiving yards on 11 receptions in 14 GP)

FB — Trayvian McCoy-Gay, Round Rock (1,399 rushing yards, 17 TD runs on 170 carries; 72 receiving yards on eight receptions in 11 GP)

WR — Kyle Koch, Dripping Springs (1,313 receiving yards, 20 TD catches on 71 receptions in 11 GP)

WR — Price Morgan, Pflugerville Weiss (1,222 receiving yards, 15 TD catches on 82 receptions; 562 return yards, two special teams TDs on 34 KR/PR)

TE — Isaac Norris, Lake Travis (1,016 receiving yards, 10 TD catches on 83 receptions; 115 rushing yards, eight TD runs on 29 carries in 15 GP)

OT — Nikolas Hall, Austin Akins (26-6A First Team All-District selection)

OT — James Dawn, New Braunfels (27-6A First Team All-District selection)

G — Endrei Sauls, Temple (Unanimous 12-6A First Team All-District selection)

G — Conner Keele, Lampasas (Unanimous 13-4A DI First Team All-District selection)

C — Jacob McLaughlin, Boerne (14-4A DI All-District Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year)

DT — Devonte Tezino, Killeen Ellison (67 total tackles [55 solo], 32 TFLs, seven sacks, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one pass deflection and one safety in 10 GP)

DT — Cooper Turner, Holliday (99 total tackles [47 solo], nine TFLs, five sacks, one forced fumble and one pass deflection in 14 GP)

DE — Aaron Brewer, Liberty Hill (114 total tackles [59 solo], 11 TFLs, eight pass deflections, four sacks, four fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and two defensive TDs in 16 GP)

DE — Baxter Bankston, Lorena (82 total tackles [54 solo], 14 TFLs, 11 sacks, two fumble recoveries, two pass deflections and one safety in 16 GP)

LB — Hayden Manahan, Llano (130 total tackles [98 solo], 19 TFLs, six sacks and one interception in 12 GP)

LB — Deonte Hector, Blanco (135 total tackles [87 solo], 10 TFLs, two sacks, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one pass deflection in 12 GP)

LB — Camden Hippler, Smithville (139 total tackles [99 solo], 16 TFLs, four sacks, one interception, one pass deflection, one fumble recovery and one defensive TD in 11 GP) 

LB — Thomas Thornburg, Georgetown East View (137 total tackles [91 solo], 19 TFLs, three forced fumbles, two sacks, two pass deflections, one fumble recovery, one defensive TD and one blocked FG in 10 GP)

DB — Wilson Buhendwa, Manor (100 total tackles [55 solo], 17 TFLs, three sacks, two interceptions and one pass deflection in 12 GP) 

DB — Charles Hodge IV, Smithville (74 total tackles [52 solo], 24 pass deflections, nine interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries in 11 GP)

DB — Luke Aaron, Austin Westlake (98 total tackles [49 solo], five interceptions and five pass deflections in 16 GP)

DB — Zha’Mauryon Lofton, Marlin (85 total tackles [44 solo], 16 pass deflections, nine interceptions, three defensive TDs, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 15 GP)

K — Jack Bruner, Wimberley (11-of-12 FG kicks, 66-of-68 PAT kicks; season long 49-yard FG in 13 GP)

P — Walker Wright, Dripping Springs (991 kick yards on 23 punts; 57-yard season long; eight downed inside 20-yard line in 15 GP)

ATH — Bravion Rogers, La Grange (1,006 rushing yards, 15 TD runs on 105 carries; 336 receiving yards, six TD catches on nine receptions; 211 passing yards, TD pass on 8-of-21 completion rate; 27 total tackles [21 solo], six pass deflections, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one defensive TD, one sack and one blocked FG in 12 GP)

KR/PR — Jonah Ross, Mart (507 return yards, three special teams TDs on 25 KR/PRs; season long 44-yard KR; season long 71-yard PR in 11 GP)