Coach of the Year
Wes Boatmun, Sunray
The foundation was already in place for coach Wesley Boatmun and the Sunray Bobcats by the time they started two-a-days. It was just a matter of finishing the house.
With 20-of-22 starters returning from a team which won nine games in 2022, it was expected that the Bobcats would be a force in District 1-2A Division II play and beyond. Those expectations were met, then improved upon in a season for the ages in Sunray.
The Bobcats finished the regular season 8-2 and rolled over Wheeler in bi-district, equaling what they did last season. However, the validation of what Boatmun and his staff had built came in the area round, as they beat previously undefeated New Home 28-7 to send a message to the rest of the playoff field.
Sunray then beat Wellington 36-22 in a hard-fought game, setting up an improbable 67-6 rout of Clarendon in the state quarterfinal which guaranteed the Bobcats would no worse than equal their previous two best seasons. Although they lost to eventual state champion Albany in the state semifinals, 34-14, it was only the third time the Bobcats had reached that stage of the season, which was the culmination of all Boatmun and his team had been building from day one in finishing 12-3.
“It took awhile because we felt like we couldn’t put a whole game together,” Boatmun said. “We played a great first half or we played a great second half, and that hadn’t come really until the end of the season. If we were peaking at the right time, we just consider ourselves fortunate.”
Led by quarterback Armando Lujan, one of the state’s most prolific passers, and a tremendous group of receivers, Sunray could practically score at will. With all but five starters coming back next season on both sides of the ball, including Lujan, exceeding 2023’s heady experience isn’t out of the question.
“Something like this is always special. You can’t tell the future but I think you have to appreciate the moment you’re in,” Lujan said. “That doesn’t mean it’s the end for these guys. The goal was always improvement for the kids and us. We’re not satisfied because we know there are things we haven’t done yet that we want to do.”
– Lee Passmore
Player of the Year
Camren Cavalier, Canadian, 5-11, 180-pound, Sr.
Canadian’s Camren Cavalier put his stamp on an unbelievable career putting up eye-opening numbers and proving his leadership as the ultimate teammate as a senior in 2023.
Thanks to another outstanding season the durable, dual-threat quarterback that follows a long line of Wildcat greats repeats as the Press Pass Sports Football Player of the Year.
Under the leadership of Cavalier, Canadian put together a fantastic 14-1 season reaching the UIL Class 3A state semifinals for the ninth time in 10 years and the second straight with Cavalier at the helm.
“Camren has been a huge part of our athletic program for four years,” said Canadian head football coach Andy Cavalier, who is also the father of Camren. “We moved him up as a freshman on our 2020 state championship team, and Camren has just gotten better from there. He’s had a great impact on and off the field for this team and it’s been fun to be a part of.”
Cavalier was flat out unstoppable throughout his dominating senior season and will leave his name in Texas High School Football history. Cavalier was masterful through the air going 217-of-313 (69 percent) throwing for 3,951 yards with 59 touchdowns to only three interceptions. On the ground, he was equally impressive as the tough running 5-foot-11 QB made life miserable for defenses toting the rock 1,497 yards on only 142 carries with another 24 TDs.
Cavalier ended his season 49 yards short of becoming only the fourth quarterback in the state to throw for 4,000 yards with 1,000 yards rushing. However, Cavalier did set the new state record for touchdowns in a single season with 83 overall.
“I didn’t ever think I’d have this kind of career,” Cavalier said. “It’s crazy to think about now. But again, I couldn’t have done any of this without my friends and amazing teammates. It takes a team to make things possible.”
Cavalier ends his career leaving tradition-rich Canadian as one of the best to wear the uniform. Over three years, Cavalier was 35-8 as the starting quarterback, won 10 playoff games, and totaled 13,245 career yards with 180 touchdowns.
“It was special getting to play for Canadian,” Cavalier said. “Growing up here and getting to live in that Wildcat tradition is something I’ll never forget. Not a lot of teams or players get a chance at making deep playoff runs or playing for a state championship every year. Canadian really shaped me to who I am.”
Cavalier, whose last name reigns prestigiously throughout Texas Panhandle football lineage, carried that last name proudly. One thing his father, Andy, always noticed and cherished while coaching Camren.
“It has been amazing,” Andy said. “As his dad, getting to watch him grow up and become the person he is and the teammate he is has been awesome. As a coach, I’m sure glad he was the quarterback for the Canadian Wildcats. He had so many clutch performances and It’s just been a fun ride.”
– Kale Steed
Offensive Player of the Year
Armando Lujan, Sunray, 6-0, 185-pound, Jr.
To have the kind of season Lujan had as a sophomore is remarkable in and of itself. Following it up with one that’s equal is almost a miracle.
As the triggerman on an offense which reached the Class 2A Division II state semifinals, Lujan proved up to the challenges and goals he’d established as a sophomore, and then some. For starters, he did something which only one quarterback in Texas high school history had done before Lujan did it in the state semifinals.
In throwing for 4,211 yards and surpassing the 1,000-yard rushing barrier in the state semi against Albany (1,016 yards), Lujan became only the third player in state history to hit the 4,000-yard passing and 1,000-yard rushing barriers in the same season.
All told, Lujan accounted for an astonishing 82 touchdowns, throwing for 61 and running for 21, both of which led the team. This is in addition to starting at defensive back.
“You kind of wonder if a kid is going to be able to do it like he did the previous year” Sunray coach Wesley Boatmun said. “We were using him a little differently so I wondered what his numbers would look like compared to last year’s. It was really nice to see him have a solid season like that and come through. I think this year he was a lot more confident than he was the year before. He was just savvy and had an expectation for how something was going to work out.”
The only question for Lujan in 2024 is what he can do for an encore in his final season. He has 11,395 career passing yards, ranking him 17th all-time in Texas. With a respectable senior season, he can surpass the 14,408 yards of Booker’s Hunter Lile for the Texas Panhandle’s all-time total, and if the Bobcats make another deep run, Lujan has an outside shot to catch the state mark of 16,108 by Grant Gunnell of Houston St. Pius.
Lujan is counting on getting that far again, record or no.
“Entering the SEASON, the goal was to win state, and although we didn’t make it all the way we still had a great season,” Lujan said. “Personally I feel like I could have had a better season with a state title. Next year, I plan on winning state.”
– Lee Passmore
Defensive Player of the Year
Bryce Braden, Stratford, 6-3, 215-pound, Jr.
Stratford junior quarterback Bryce Braden was an offensive juggernaut for the state semifinalist Elks in 2023 having a hand in 48 touchdowns by running for 1,398 yards and then torching defenses with 1,968 passing yards.
But you should have seen him on defense.
While Braden’s play at quarterback was a nightmare for defensive coordinators and a catalyst for the Elks outstanding 14-1 season ending in the Class 2A Division I state semifinals, his play at linebacker was simply dominating.
The physical and fast 6-3, 215-pound Braden was named the District 1-2A Division I Player of the Year rarely leaving the field when a games’ outcome was still in question.
The Elks’ defense held opponents to seven or fewer points in nine of their 15 games with Braden bringing the energy from the middle making 184 tackles, 35 of those solo efforts. He made 16 tackles for losses, wreaked havoc on opposing quarterbacks with 19 QB hurries and 11 QB sacks, then added to his resume with an interception, a fumble recovery and two blocked extra points.
In back-to-back October games against playoff teams Farwell and Panhandle, Braden recorded 20 and 21 tackles, respectively, in those two games.
For his year-long performance of excellence Braden is named the 2023 Press Pass Sports Defensive Player of the Year.
Stratford head coach Jonathan Murphy said Braden’s impressive work ethic, commitment to daily improvement, aggressive style, knowledge of football strategy and sheer love of competing allowed him to handle the physical and mental challenge of not only playing but excelling at quarterback and linebacker.
“Bryce just never quits working year around,” Murphy said. “He’s a three-sport kid. He’s key in our basketball program, a state champion in the discus and I think that indicates what kind of guy he is. He attacks the game of football the same way he does the rest of the year. He’s never going to quit. He was so good for us this year.”
Murphy and the Stratford coaching staff know well how Braden’s play can impact a game since they have been watching him start at linebacker since his freshman season for the then state champion Elks.
And so do opposing coaches who praise Braden’s play and know attacking the Elks defense meant figuring out a way to deal with his speed and football IQ.
Panhandle head coach Dane Ashley, who played college ball for Angelo State, led his Panthers to a 10-2 season and faced off with Stratford in a district showdown on Oct. 13 with both teams undefeated at the time. (Stratford winning 34-22).
“Bryce is one of the top football players I have coached against at any classification,” Ashley said. “I’m not talking athlete. I’m talking tough, hard-nosed, relentless effort to the ball, field general football player! He can sit over your guard and take away everything in between the tackles and has the speed and football instincts to take away his side of the field on the perimeter and passing zones. He really shrinks your playbook and makes you play left-handed. I have a lot of respect for Bryce and the way he plays the game!”
Murphy said what Braden did for the Stratford defense play-in and play-out in 2023 was use his athletic ability and football knowledge to frustrate opponents, pressure quarterbacks and provide help for his teammates.
“No doubt he can cover up a ton of errors and if there’s anything that’s not sound in front of him he can pretty well blow it up,” Murphy said. “He’s a big, tall, rangy kid and he’s able to use that speed to make plays on the sideline. He’s just really smart out there on the field and that’s’ another incredible thing about him. He can recognize formations and what our opponents are trying to do and able to holler out what’s coming. He’s amazing.”
– Lance Lahnert
Newcomer of the Year
Broxton Robinson, Panhandle, 6-1, 185-pound, So.
Needing a trustworthy replacement for do-it-all standout Landyn Hack, Panhandle head coach turned to inexperienced sophomore Broxton Robinson and Robinson ran with the opportunity.
Panhandle’s elusive dual-threat QB exploded onto the high school football scene in a hurry making a name for himself early in the season.
As a result of an incredible year, Robinson was an easy choice for the 2023 Press Pass Sports Newcomer of the Year.
Under Robinson, and his ability to leave defenses in the dust with his running ability with his ever-improving passing, the Panthers finished the year at 10-2 making it to the second round of the UIL Class 2A Division I playoffs.
Robinson finished the year starting all 12 games going 117-of-179 throwing for 2,352 yards with 27 touchdowns. He was more impressive with running the football racking up 1,558 yards on 258 carries with another 31 TDs. Robinson’s incredible first year under center garnered him the District 1-2A Division I Offensive MVP.
“Broxton was a driving force behind are football team,” Panhandle head coach Dane Ashley said. “He grew up a lot from the first of the year and just got better as the season went on. He’s a tough player and a hard worker. No one outworks Broxton. He’s elusive and he is going to do very special things for us going forward.”
– Kale Steed
Fighting Heart Award
Christian McGuire, Canyon, 5-10, 185-pound, Sr.
This honor has become a go-to award that focuses on a Texas Panhandle football player that exudes excellence over a lengthy career or a comeback player that suffered a severe injury the year before.
In 2023, there wasn’t a more obvious choice than to name Canyon’s Christian McGuire with the Press Pass Sports Fighting Heard Award.
After missing most of his junior year with a knee injury, McGuire came back fully healthy this senior season becoming the Eagles ultimate Swiss Army Knife. The Canyon captain was instrumental in leading the Eagles to a 9-3 record and a second-round appearance during the UIL Class 4A Division I playoffs.
McGuire was shifted all over the field making it a mismatch for opponent defenses rushing for 962 yards on only 121 carries with 16 touchdowns. He was also very dangerous out of the backfield hauling in 23 catches for 435 yards with another six scores.
“It was awesome to have Christian back and healthy,” Canyon head coach Todd Winfrey said. “He is a dream to coach and comes from a great family. What I love is he spends time during the day shadowing the coaches and talking football. He’s a student of the game and so competitive. He was so versatile and dangerous with the ball in his hands. He was our leader, a captain and represents everything a Canyon Eagle is.”
– Kale Steed