Colton Chmelar, A&M Consolidated kicker, voted Central Texas high school football MVP of area playoff round

We gathered the top performances from the second round of the UIL postseason. Then, readers decided No. 1

Editor's note: Congratulations to Colton Chmelar, A&M Consolidated kicker, who went 4-for-4 on PATs and booted through a 43-yard field goal in the Tigers' win over Fulshear. The junior was named SBLive's Central Texas Football Player of the Area Round after receiving more than 27,910 reader votes, 45 percent of the total vote.

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After two weeks of playoff football, the intensity is increasing with every game, every snap.

The Texas high school football playoffs continued across the Lone Star State, SBLive Texas is keeping tabs on the latest scores, top storylines and best performances throughout the area round.

Who was the star of round two?

Texas high school football playoff scores: Everything you missed in 2023 UIL area round

After looking at the most compelling results in the Class 6A, Class 5A and small school (1A through 4A) brackets, we examined the top performers in the state. Now, we're zooming in closer at Central Texas, from Waco, to Austin, to San Antonio.

Here are the top performances across Texas in the first round to the playoffs, spanning all corners of the state and schools all shapes and sizes.

Scroll down to read up on the nominees and cast your vote. Voting ends Sunday, Nov. 26 at 11:59 p.m. Central time. 

Have a case about an individual performance? A bone to pick? Reach the Texas editor at andy@scorebooklive.com.

TOP STARS FROM TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL AREA ROUND PLAYOFFS

Jack Kayser, sr., Austin-Westlake

The future Army commit was determined to lead his Chapparals to an area round victory - carrying the ball 35 times for 170 yards and three touchdowns.

Josiah Estes, sr., Lake Travis

Estes broke the game as he took the opening kickoff back to the house 73 yards to crack open the scoring column. He added one interception along with four tackles.

Nico Hamilton, sr., Lake Travis

Hamilton and his Cavaliers team continued to roll in their area round victory. The Air Force commit rushed for 136 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. 

Brad Jackson, sr., San Antonio Reagan

Despite falling in the area round, the 2024 three-star Texas St commit passed for 227 yards, threw three touchdowns, and added a rushing touchdown to his stat sheet as well. 

Micai Thompson, so., San Antonio Brennan

The sophomore running back was instrumental in leading the Brennan offense to the third round of the playoffs with 71 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Cody Stoever, jr., Wimberly

The junior dual threat quarterback for the Texans keeps producing video game like numbers every week. Stoever passed for 294 yards in the air and four touchdowns, while rushing for 132 yards and one score.

Kyle Koch, sr., Dripping Springs

The senior Tiger wide receiver continued to excel in the playoffs hauling in 12 catches for 134 yards and tacked on 22 more rushing yards, and had 70 kick return yards - 226 all-purpose yards.

Samuel Harris, jr., Cibolo-Steele

The junior running back had a career game in the second round rushing for 267 yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns. He also added 77 kick return yards -340 all-purpose yards.

Andrew Buck, sr., Cibolo-Steele

The senior outside linebacker was all over the field last week racking up 16 total tackles, two pass deflections, and had two tackles for loss. 

Cameron Anderson, sr., Blanco

The senior dual threat running back continues to help extending the Panthers' season with another five touchdown performance - three passing, two rushing. Anderson completed 7-9 passing for 177 yards and rushing for 90 more yards.

Ben Carter, sr., Liberty Hill

The senior wing-T running back toted the rock 18 times for 227 yards and one touchdown en route to the Panthers area round win. 

Colton Chmelar, jr., A&M Consolidated

The junior place kicker was a perfect 4-4 on PATs and kicked a 43 yard field goal in the Tigers' area round win over top ranked Fulshear.

Kaden Glass, sr., San Antonio Pieper

The Warriors continue to make history with every win in these playoffs and they are doing such with a stout defense. Glass had five tackles in the area round and racked up two sacks for the Warriors defense. 

Jake Stratchan, sr., San Antonio Pieper

The Warriors playmaker hauled in five catches for 192 yards and had four touchdowns. His longest catch was a 90 yard reception.

Michael Terry, jr., Alamo Heights

The junior speedster athlete is must-see television every time he touches the ball. In the Mules area round win, Terry hauled in two catches for 111 yards and one score while adding 71 rushing yards and another touchdown - 188 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns.

Collin Ernst, sr., Alamo Heights

Like his running mate, Ernst his a threat to make a house call every time he touches the ball. The senior dual-threat quarterback totaled 421 total yards; 237 passing and 184 rushing and four touchdowns. 

Jayce Toscano, sr., Antonian

In the Apache's' playoff victory in TAPPS quarterfinal,  the senior quarterback threw for 311 yards on 18-26 passing and tossed four touchdown passes. 

Keegan Hajek, jr., La Vernia

The dual-threat quarterback and his La Vernia team pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the playoffs so far knocking off the Boerne Greyhounds. Hajek was no stranger to the endzone as he had four rushing scores on 48 yards rushing and passed for 155 yards as well - 203 total yards. 

Reid Vines, sr., Cedar Park

In an area round victory, the Timberwolves' senior linebacker posted 14 tackles, two sacks, three QB hurries, and one interception. 

-- Ryan Childers | ryanchilders0455@gmail.com | @sblivetx