Vote: Who was Texas high school football state championship week defensive MVP? (12/17/2023)
The 2023 Texas high school football state championships are officially in the books.
Each week throughout the season, SBLive is taking a look at the top high school football performers across the Lone Star State. We gathered the best of the best, separated offense from defense, and now it’s your turn to cast your vote on a winner from championship week.
Here are nominees for SBLive's Texas high school football state championship week Defensive MVP. Scroll down to read about this week’s list and cast your vote in the poll below. Voting remains open until Sunday, December 24, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Central time.
Know of a performance worthy of recognition we may have missed? Let us know who we missed. Drop a note to andy@scorebooklive.com or @SBLiveTX on Twitter and Instagram and back it up with stats.
TEXAS DEFENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL NOMINEES
Keylan Abrams, jr., DeSoto
Abrams, a Purdue commit, had six total tackles (three for loss), a sack and an interception in a 74-14 rout of Summer Creek. DeSoto notched six sacks as a team.
Andres Fuentes, jr., Port Neches-Groves
Fuentes tallied five total tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble as Port Neches-Groves stormed back to defeat South Oak Cliff, 20-17.
Connor Gaines, sr., Bellville
Gaines had 13 tackles and a pass breakup in a 28-26 loss to Gilmer.
Zach Gingrich, sr., Smithson Valley
Texas State baseball commit logged two interceptions against Aledo in a 51-8 5A Division I state title loss.
Davhon Keys, sr., Aledo
Keys, a four-star LSU commit, shined in a 51-8 victory over Smithson Valley with 12 total tackles (two for loss) and a sack.
Tyler Lane, sr., Timpson
Lane piled up 17 total tackles (two for loss) and a sack in a 49-7 win over Tolar.
Rush Matthew, sr., Tidehaven
Matthew had 13 total tackles (one for loss) and a forced fumble as Tidehaven fell to Gunter, 30-14.
Jaxson Maynard, sr., Smithson Valley
Maynard was a bright spot for Smithson Valley in the loss to Aledo with 13 total tackles.
CJ Miller, sr., Anna
Miller had 15 total tackles (1.5 for loss) as Anna shut out Tyler Chapel Hill, 26-0.
Parker Poteete, jr., Malakoff
Poteete led the way with 13 total tackles as Malakoff defeated Franklin, 14-7.
Grayson Rigdon, jr., Benjamin
While accounting for nine touchdowns on offense, Rigdon was also a defensive standout in Benjamin’s 82-34 six-man victory over Oglesby. The junior notched 10.5 total tackles, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, an interception, a pass breakup and a blocked kick.
Colin Simmons, sr., Duncanville
Simmons, a five-star Texas commit, had eight total tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble in a 49-33 win over North Shore.
Major Thornhill, jr., Gunter
Thornhill recorded eight total tackles (three for loss), a sack and a quarterback hurry in Gunter’s victory over Tidehaven.
Zane Waggoner, sr., Albany
Waggoner piled up nine total tackles, 1.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries in a 28-10 win over Mart. Albany finished with five sacks and 11 tackles for loss.
Brendan Webb, jr., Gilmer
Webb had a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception in the win over Bellville.
(Keylan Abrams photo by Tommy Hays)
—
-- Bob Lundeberg | @sblivetx
