After an 11-1 season which included a perfect 10-0 run in the regular season and a trip to the Area Round of the UIL Class 1A1 High School Football Playoffs, one might expect the Whiteface Antelopes to garner a lot of recognition during district awards.
One would be right. The awards start with Newcomer of the Year Isaak Soliz. Soliz went 11-for-20 for 162 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman coming off the junior varsity to step in for the injured Jeremiah Rendon.
Ethan Kauffman was selected as offensive most valuable player for the second year in a row as well as first team linebacker.
Kauffman took care of the lion’s share of the running duties, racking up 2399 yards on 143 carries for just short of a 17 yardper- carry average along with 53 touchdowns and only four fumbles.
He went 5-for-8 passing for 119 yards and two touchdowns. Kauffman also 54 tackles, 14 assists, a sack and three interceptions.
Noah Rendon was defensive most valuable player and first team center. Rendon had 31 tackles, two assists and led the team with seven sacks.
Before he dislocated a thumb, Jeremiah Rendon was having the kind of year that got him first team quarterback and first team cornerback.
The younger Rendon went 32-for-53 for 624 yards and 11 touchdowns with only three interceptions.
Defensively, he had 47 tackles, five assists and three interceptions. He was also a special teams star, averaging just over 42 yards per return on five kick returns with a touchdown.
Auscar Gandara was selected as first team tight end and first team defensive lineman. Gandara had four touchdown catches for 113 yards along with 21 tackles, four assists and four sacks.
Jeremias Chavez was picked to the first team as both wide receiver and safety. He had 13 catches for 251 yards and four touchdowns.
Defensively, Chavez made 38 tackles, six assists and two interceptions. He also ran eight kickoffs back for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Jaxon Heflin was first team running back and defensive utility player. Heflin carried 15 times\\ for 147 yards with two touchdowns and one fumble. He also went 1for-3 passing with a 17 yard touchdown.
Defensively, he had four tackles, eight assists and an interception. He also returned six kicks for 109 yards and a touchdown.
Julio Borunda was first team fullback and noseguard. He rushed for 356 yards on 35 carries with six touchdowns. He also had 11 catches for 182 yards and two touchdowns.
On defense, Borunda had five tackles and two assists Damien Castaneda was selected as first team kicker and second team noseguard. Castaneda made 59 of 84 point after touchdown kicks – worth two points in 6-man football – had five tackles, carried the ball five times for 17 yards and three touchdowns and had four catches for another 84 yards.
Dane Damron was selected as first team special teams. Besides special teams, Damron had four catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns.
Tyler Campbell was second team fullback. Kaden Dobson was second team spread center.
Chris Olguin was second team special teams.