Graham jumps to third in latest TRN Top 10 poll
TRN TOP 10
The TRN Top 10 is subjective. Obviously, the chances of a Class 2A team beating one in 5A are extremely unlikely. And Class A teams play a completely different version of the game. This poll represents the expectations of these teams, reflecting how they rank in district, region and state. Record and previous ranking in parenthesis.
1. Knox City (4-0, 1) – The Greyhounds now have three wins against teams that were ranked in the top 10 at the time they played, including two straight by the 45-point mercy rule.
2. Benjamin (4-0, 2) – It’s more of the same for Benjamin, and we’re starting to wonder who will offer the Mustangs a challenge in the regular season.
3. Graham (4-0, 4) – We’re seeing potential realized with Graham quarterback Ty Thompson, who had very strong freshman and sophomore campaigns. But Thompson’s junior season so far has been at another level.
More: Ty Thompson taking his place as the next prolific Graham quarterback
4. Jacksboro (4-0, 5) – No, Cisco isn’t what it had been in past seasons, but that shutout performance still has to be a confidence booster for a Tiger defense that struggled in the first two weeks of the season.
5. Rider (3-1, 3) – There’s no shame in Rider’s loss to Lubbock-Cooper, but the Raiders once again must realize the level of physicality they must reach in order to be a threat in the postseason.
6. Holliday (3-1, 6) – If the changes in scheme hadn’t been so well publicized, and constantly mentioned by the local media, one may think nothing had changed at Holliday when just looking at final scores. The Holliday defense has dominated since surrendering 40 points to Jim Ned.
7. Vernon (4-0, 7) – The Lions have dominated the teams they’ve been expected to dominate, but it’s even more encouraging to see them find a way to win close games against quality opponents like they did against Idalou on Friday.
8. Seymour (3-1, 9) – District 7-2A Division II play starts this weekend, and based on these rankings, we consider Seymour a slight favorite in the district. And the Panthers’ high-powered offense that just scored 75 points against Quanah is the main reason why.
More: Henrietta races away from Archer City in the second half for a 42-7 victory
9. Newcastle (3-1, 8) – The Bobcats tasted defeat for the first time Friday against a state-ranked opponent in Jonesboro. The game was competitive the whole way, which is why the Bobcats don’t dip very far in these rankings.
10. Windthorst (2-1, 10) – The Trojans got more of a challenge from Wheeler than we expected, but the win was enough to hold off Nocona and remain in the TRN Top 10. The Trojans open district play against Haskell on Friday.
On the rise – Crowell, Nocona.
HONOR ROLL
RUSHING/RECEIVING
(100 total yards or multiple TDs)
Jordan DeMoss, Petrolia – 208 rushing
Luke Sams, Jacksboro – 203 total yards, 4 TDs
Kyler Kirkland, Burkburnett – 186 rushing, 3 TDs
Brayden Riggins, Graham – 181 receiving, 3 TDs
Tru Gipson, Vernon – 170 rushing, TD
Blaze Deaton, Henrietta – 167 rushing, 3 TDs
Malachi Williams, City View – 164 rushing, 2 TDs (134 passing, TD)
KD Worthy, Hirschi – 144 rushing, 2 TDs
Johnathan Stone, Nocona – 143 rushing, 2 TDs
Garrett Blevins, Henrietta – 138 rushing, 2 TDs (67 passing)
Rylan Monsey, Graham – 137 total yards, TD
David Charo, Seymour – 131 receiving, 4 TDs
Desmond Whiteside, City View – 126 receiving, TD (6 tackles, 2 INTs)
Brock Belcher, Windthorst – 123 rushing, 2 TDs (109 passing, TD)
Preston Pitts, Hirschi – 121 receiving (2 TDs)
Jeremiah Durham, City View – 121 rushing (2 TDs)
Brason Zeissel, Seymour – 120 receiving, 2 TDs
Austin Lacher, Electra – 120 rushing, TD
Luis Balderama, Jacksboro – 114 rushing, 2 TDs
Chance Warren, Archer City – 105 receiving
Mark Lee, Iowa Park – 102 rushing
Elijah Maldonado, Burkburnett – 92 total yards, 2 TDs
Kale Sherrill, Vernon – 82 rushing, 2 TDs (58 passing)
Colton McGough, Seymour – 47 rushing, 2 TDs
Jace Gill, Graham – 37 rushing, TD (24 passing, TD; 22-yard FG)
Nicholas Gonzales, Quanah – 18 rushing, 2 TDs (57 passing)
PASSING
(250 yards or multiple TDs)
Brayden Loyd, Seymour – 317 yards, 6 TDs
Jimmell McFalls, Hirschi – 314 yards, 3 TDs (115 rushing, 2 TDs)
Ty Thompson, Graham – 266 yards, 5 TDs (71 rushing, TD)
Lando Belcher, Jacksboro – 234 yards, 2 TDs
Grant Cox, Holliday – 221 yards, 3 TDs
Collin McKiddy, Electra – 154 yards, 2 TDs (13 rushing, TD)
Brady McCasland, Nocona – 115 yards, 2 TDs (12 rushing, TD)
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
(15 tackles, multiple turnovers/sacks/FGs, any TD)
Reginald Demps, Hirschi – 3 tackles, 2 sacks
Klein Essler, Henrietta – interception return TD (23 passing)
Caden Gaston, Nocona – 2 interceptions, TD
Jayton Hearne, Graham – 9 tackles, 2 sacks
Braydon Huffstutler, Electra – 7 tackles, sack, fumble recovery, interception (34 receiving, TD)
Ivory Kelley, WFHS – 13 tackles, interceptions, fumble recovery TD
Ivy Kelley, WFHS – 15 tackles, 2 forced fumbles
Ian McKiddy, Electra – kickoff return TD
Annetrel Mims, Hirschi – interception, fumble recovery
Jamail Murray, Hirschi – 2 tackles, 2 interceptions
Oscar Salomon, Nocona – 16 tackles, 2 TFL
Ryder Taylor, Graham – 11 tackles, 2 sacks
SIX–MAN
Cameron Hernandez, Knox City – 223 rushing, 4 TDs
Isaac King, Newcastle – 197 total yards, 3 TDs (49 passing, TD)
Devin Guillory, Knox City – 123 total yards, 4 TDs
Tristin Baxter, Knox City – 119 rushing, TD
Bryson Callaway, Knox City – 118 passing, 4 TDs
COLLEGE CONNECTION
This is a list of former Wichita Falls area athletes who competed at the Division I college level last week. Athletes who competed in a game but didn’t start or register stats are listed below. Athletes competing at the Division II or lower levels who had noteworthy performances are also listed. Are we missing a player? Send an email to jonathan.hull@timesrecordnews.com.
Noah Caldwell, TE, Abilene Christian (Electra)
Caldwell caught one pass for four yards in the Wildcats’ 27-20 loss to Incarnate Word on Saturday. He has caught two passes for seven yards this season. Caldwell and the Wildcats play at Central Arkansas at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Jed Castles, TE, Abilene Christian (Rider)
Castles caught three passes for 18 yards in the Wildcats’ 27-20 loss to Incarnate Word on Saturday. He has six receptions for 81 yards for the season. Castles and the Wildcats play at Central Arkansas at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Cirby Coheley, LB, Abilene Christian (Iowa Park)
Coheley recorded six tackles, including three solo and a sack in the Wildcats’ 27-20 loss to Incarnate Word on Saturday. Coheley has 21 tackles on the season. Coheley and the Wildcats play at Central Arkansas at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Ezekiel Holmes, DL, Illinois (Hirschi)
Holmes recorded two tackles in the Fighting Illini’s 30-13 loss to Penn State on Saturday. It was the first action Holmes has seen in 2023 after having his season ended to a knee injury in 2022. Holmes and the Illini host Florida Atlantic at 2:30 p.m. Friday in a game televised on the Big Ten Network.
Tucker Horn, QB, Trinity (Graham)
Horn completed 25 of 32 passes for 294 yards and a TD in Trinity’s 38-3 victory against Birmingham-Southern College on Saturday. Horn has completed 71 of 94 passes for 828 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions this season. Horn and the Tigers host Rhodes at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Jaydon Southard, LB, Stephen F. Austin (Iowa Park).
Southard recorded one tackle in Stephen F. Austin’s 41-7 victory against Northwestern State on Saturday. Southard has five tackles on the season. Southard and the Lumberjacks host Austin Peay at 6 p.m. Saturday in a game televised on ESPN Plus.
MIDWESTERN STATE
The following players are local athletes playing for the Mustangs, who suffered a 23-0 loss against West Texas A&M on Saturday. The players listed registered statistics in the Mustangs’ loss. Athletes who played but didn’t register stats are noted at the bottom of this list. The Mustangs (1-2, 0-1) host Eastern New Mexico in Lone Star Conference action at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Ritse Vaes, PK, Hirschi
Vaes only got on the field for one kickoff in the Mustangs’ shutout loss, recording a touchback.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Wichita Falls area high school football rankings TRN Top 10
