Watson secures unanimous 4-3AI MVP nod

Paradise senior linebacker Cash Watson’s impact on the field served as a catalyst for the Panthers in their run to their second straight District 4-3A Division I title. Watson caught the eye of the league’s coaches in his final season and was recently voted as the unanimous MVP.

Leading the Panthers’ defense with 146 tackles, Watson also tied for the team lead in tackles for losses (27), and finished with six pass breakups, five sacks, five interceptions, five forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Watson also wreaked havoc against opposing special teams units, racking up six blocked punts and one blocked point-after attempt.

Paradise coach Tommy Koch led the Panthers to a 12-2 finish in the 2025 season. As a first-year coach, Koch and his staff were selected as the league’s Coaching Staff of the Year. The Panthers went 6-0 in league play to capture their second straight district championship.

In the postseason, Paradise collected gold ball trophies against Breckenridge (55-0), Dalhart (24-0), and Jim Ned (27-7) before an abrupt exit following a 17-14 loss to district rival Peaster in the 3A Division I final on December 5 at Springtown High School’s Porcupine Stadium.

Leading Paradise’s selections on the 4-3A First Team Offense, senior quarterback Ayden Olalde closed his career as this season’s top passer in Wise County. He threw for 2,768 yards and 31 touchdowns with 13 interceptions, completing 164 of his 264 passing attempts. Olalde also tallied 129 carries for 272 yards and 10 scores.

Panther senior running back Luke Brown’s final campaign saw the 2024 3A all-state selection rush for 970 yards and 18 touchdowns on 154 carries. Brown was utilized more in Paradise’s passing game this season, reeling in 36 catches for 687 yards and seven scores.

Paradise grabbed a total of three First Team wide receiver selections — seniors Logan Lampley and Layne Smith and junior Elijah Webber. Lampley led the Panthers’ receivers in yardage (645) and receptions (42), finding the end zone six times. Smith tallied 10 touchdowns in his final campaign, grabbing 29 catches for 613 yards. Webber finished with 557 yards and eight touchdowns on 24 receptions. He was also tapped as a First Team returner, racking up 268 yards on 11 kickoffs, along with 208 yards and one score on returns.

Paradise’s First Team Defense selections were anchored by senior linebackers Miles Godwin and Teagan Lambert. In his second season, Godwin was the team leader in tackles for losses (29), tied with Lambert for the team lead in sacks (10), and finished second in tackles (131) behind Watson. He also recorded two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one blocked punt.

Lambert also surpassed the century mark in tackles, finishing with 115. He added 39 tackles for losses, three forced fumbles, two pass breakups, one fumble recovery, one blocked punt, and one blocked PAT.

Paradise’s defensive back duo of sophomore Camden Walker and junior Jacob Jones secured First Team Defense selections. Walker established himself as a force in his rookie season, leading Wise County with six interceptions. He also made 27 tackles, recorded 10 pass breakups, and one fumble recovery.

Jones registered 71 tackles with nine tackles for losses, and had five pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.

The Panthers’ lone First Team defensive lineman pick was Beau Chenevert, who ended his junior season with 33.5 tackles, seven tackles for losses, seven QB hurries, and three sacks. He also returned a stripped fumble 18 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in Paradise’s 21-15 Week 8 district win over Peaster.

Paradise netted four Second Team Offensive Lineman nods: sophomore Victor Gonzalez, juniors Cory Loper and Zander Norman, and senior Landon Kemper. Junior running back Chase Harmon served as the Panthers’ final Second Team Offense selection. Harmon totaled 446 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 111 carries, and grabbed 10 catches for 126 yards and one score.

A pair of Paradise juniors, Cody Bridgeman (75.5 tackles, 13 QB hurries, 9.5 tackles for losses, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles) and Cash Lander (85 tackles, 13.5 tackles for losses, 6 pass breakups, 5 QB hurries, 2 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery) were named Second Team linebackers.

The Panthers’ remaining Second Team Defense players were junior defensive back Wyatt Sanders (29 tackles, 7 pass breakups, 3 interceptions) and junior defensive lineman Liam McBride (12.5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 QB hurry).

Paradise senior kicker Bryce Chipman scored 38 points and was named to the Second Team Special Teams.

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The Boyd Yellowjackets grabbed a pair of First Team Offense selections: senior running back Maddox Parks and sophomore wide receiver Drew Brinkley. Parks was Boyd’s primary ball carrier, rushing for 1,306 yards and nine touchdowns on 208 carries. He quickly became a threat in the passing game out of the backfield, amassing 20 receptions for 123 yards.

Brinkley led the Yellowjackets’ receivers in catches (30) and receiving yards (426), and scored two touchdowns.

Boyd’s defense was well-represented on the First Team list, with defensive linemen Garrett Hunt, Garrett Slimp, and Jess Withers, along with linebackers Parks and Aiden Young claiming spots.

Returning to the field for his senior season after a knee injury, Hunt ended his career with 48.5 tackles, 4.5 stops for losses, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass deflection.

Slimp racked up 39 tackles in his junior season, along with 4.5 tackles for losses, 4.5 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.

Withers led Boyd’s defense in tackles (82.5) and sacks (7.5) to finish his senior season. He recorded 14.5 tackles for losses, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble.

A two-way star, Parks was the team leader in tackles for losses (16.5), and accumulated 80.5 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and four pass breakups.

Young’s first season with the Yellowjackets closed with 52 tackles, six tackles for losses, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in his junior campaign.

Boyd senior quarterback Cash Selby was the team’s top Second Team Offense pick. Selby threw for 1,284 yards and eight touchdowns in his final season, completing 113 of his 218 passing attempts with 11 interceptions. He also reached the end zone 13 times on the ground, rushing for 387 yards on 150 carries.

Junior wide receiver Layton Wheeler grabbed 12 passes for 271 yards and four touchdowns, earning Second Team recognition. Selby and Wheeler were joined on the Second Team Offense by senior offensive lineman Brody Jernigan.

A total of four Boyd players received Second Team Defense honors: freshman linebacker Nathan Vaden (57 tackles, 1.5 tackles for losses, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery), sophomore defensive lineman Noah Stephens (19.5 tackles, 4 tackles for losses, 1 forced fumble, 0.5 sack), sophomore defensive back Tye Withers (26 tackles, 3 tackles for losses, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble), and sophomore defensive back Brinkley (43.5 tackles, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, 1.5 tackles for losses, 1.5 sacks).

Under first-year coach Shawn Sparks, Boyd (5-6) ended its four-year playoff drought by placing fourth behind Paradise, Peaster, and Vernon with a 2-4 league record. The Yellowjackets’ postseason run came to an end following a 42-7 bi-district loss to Jim Ned on November 14 at Stephenville High School’s Art Briles Stadium.
https://www.wcmessenger.com/articles/watson-secures-unanimous-4-3ai-mvp-nod/

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