Tuesday, October 28, 1997

Players of the Week

By BILL HART

Senior Staff Writer

Here are the area high school football players of the week as selected by the Reporter-News:

-- Offensive player of the week: Colorado City tailback Arian Emerson rushed for 201 yards on 24 carries and four touchdowns (3, 71, 3, 15 yards) in a 38-0 win over Reagan County. All of his touchdowns and most of his yardage came in the first half.

-- Honorable mention: Cooper quarterback Dowell Loggains completed 13 of 20 passes for 191 yards, including 4 of 7 for 55 yards on the final drive that led to the winning field goal in a 23-21 win over Midland High. Stamford back Clarence Whitfield rushed 11 times for 137 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-0 victory over Anson. Munday tailback Jonathan Reagins carried 17 times for 218 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-7 win over Spur. Breckenridge quarterback Cliff Watkins rushed four times for 100 yards and a touchdown and completed 10 of 14 passes for 201 yards and three scores in Breckenridge's win over Clyde. Cross Plains back Jody Fortune scored four touchdowns in a 33-7 win over Lometa. Baird quarterback Jim Scott threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in the 28-14 win over Gorman.

-- Defensive player of the week: Breckenridge linebacker Jared Sanderson had his second 20-plus tackle game (17 unassisted tackles and 10 assisted), caused two fumbles, broke up a pass and had an interception in a 60-15 win over Clyde.

-- Honorable mention: Cornerback Phillip Huff intercepted a pass to set up the winning touchdown drive and was in on five tackles in Haskell's 21-14 win over Seymour. Throckmorton's Brandon Jackson had three unassisted tackles and was in on nine others in a 21-11 victory over Bryson. Roscoe defensive lineman had eight unassisted and eight assisted tackles and a quarterback sack in a 26-14 win over Coahoma.

-- Six-Man Player of the week: May back Brandon Purcell completed 12 of 17 passes for 178 yards and five touchdowns, rushed 13 times for 169 yards and three touchdowns and returned a kickoff 85 yards for another score in a 68-38 win over Blackwell.

-- Honorable mention: Gustine's Aaron Hungerford rushed 20 times for 351 yards and seven touchdowns in a 70-42 win over Morgan. May's C.R. Thompson caught six passes for 97 yards, four for touchdowns. Sidney's Tor Griggs rushed for four touchdowns, returned an intercepted pass for another and also returned a punt for a score in a 87-42 win over Star. Teammate Clay Steele had 10 solo tackles, caused four fubles, recovered one and had five quarterback sacks. Brookesmith's Philipe Pitts rushed for four touchdowns and returned a kickoff for another in a 62-34 win over Blanket. Mullin's Greg Strasser rushed for four touchdowns and returned an intercepted pass for another in a 53-20 win over Zephyr. Strawn's Shane Mallory rushed eight times for 179 yards and three touchdowns and completed 6 of 12 passes for 164 yards and four touchdowns, three to Aaron Orisini who ran for another. Abilene Christian High School's Lee Headstream passed for 375 yards and seven touchdowns in a 75-28 win over Oak Trail Academy. Woodson's Josh Schmitt rushed 22 times for 226 yards and two scores and passed for a touchdown in a 68-44 win over Paint Creek.