1A Offensive and Defensive MVPs

You can probably guess where we are going with this one, as the State 1A Division I MVP is our pick as the best offensive player in the Big Country.

Grayson Ridgon had another dominating season, rushing for 1,706 yards and 35 touchdowns, passing for 831 yards and 12 touchdowns, and catching 23 passes for 694 yards and 19 more scores. That’s 66 touchdowns on offense, not to mention six more touchdowns on defense and another six on special teams.

He has won a state title in each of his three years of high school football so far, including back-to-back titles at Benjamin.

Westbrook’s Parker Matlock was picked by the Texas Sixman Coaches Association as the 1A Division I Defensive MVP, and we don’t mind going along with that one.

Matlock recorded 119 tackles, 25 for loss, to go along with three sacks, an interception, five fumble recoveries, and three forced fumbles this season.

Since just about every star six-man player goes both ways, the best of the rest for 1A was chosen by division and not by position. 1A Division I has its own list, as does a combination of 1A Division II and TAPPS, which is just Abilene Christian for the Big Country.