SAN ANGELO, TX — For the past couple weeks, we have been making our way through each position group and honoring the best high school athletes in those positions.
We started with offensive linemen and continued with defensive linemen, running backs, linebackers, defensive backs, wide receivers, and quarterbacks. All of those lists led to the top award: Most Valuable Player.
The MVP is not necessarily awarded to the best player in our area or the highest rated recruit. It goes to the player that helped his team more than any other player did. Without them, their team would not have had the success that they did.
Christoval quarterback Brayden Wilcox is the perfect example of that.
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With Wilcox leading the offense last season, Christoval won a playoff game for the first time since the six man era in the mid 90's. The Cougars did it again this year after finishing the regular season 9-1.
Their only loss was in the de facto district championship game against Eldorado by just seven points. The Eagles had a historic season of their own and finished the year 10-2 after losing to Wheeler in the second round of the state playoffs.
In the postseason, Christoval bucked the narrative that it is hard to beat a good team twice. They defeated Cross Plains in the first round thanks to a hat trick from Wilcox and great team defense. Wilcox had an 8 yard passing TD, a 30 yard rushing score, and a 60 yard pick six. Cross Plains had no answer for him on either side of the ball.
In their first matchup in week four, Wilcox had 225 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground in addition to 71 yards and a TD through the air. Christoval won that game 26-14 and the playoff game 28-14.
Wilcox was the Cougars' best talent on both sides of the ball, and his play making in the defensive secondary was only out-shined by his dynamic athleticism on offense.
As a passer, Wilcox was accurate and smart. He made his fair share of mistakes, 13 interceptions for the year, and his aggressiveness was bound to come back to bite him at some points. It was a lot more successful than anything, though.
Wilcox finished the year with 1,397 yards and 23 touchdowns passing. He completed 90 of 154 attempts which makes his yards per attempt an impressive 9.07. That stat shows his big play ability through the air.
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Christoval was a threat to score on any play because of him. He opened up the offense and took eyes away from talented running back Josh Fava and the uber athletic wide receiver Beau Jolly.
Throughout the season, defenses' number one priority was taking away Wilcox's legs. Only one actually succeeded.
Wilcox rushed for over 100 yards in every single game besides their second round loss to Wellington. He also had seven 150+ yard games and three with over 200. He was usually the fastest player on the field, and his elusiveness and vision made him nearly impossible to tackle in open space.
Through their twelve games, he had 1,937 yards and 25 touchdowns on just 131 carries. That means he averaged just under 15 yards every time he crossed the line of scrimmage!
In total, Wilcox accounted for 3,334 yards and 48 touchdowns. Christoval had a great team around him, but Wilcox is the biggest reason why they had the season that they did. No other player in the area had as great an impact on the field than he did.
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Christoval's Brayden Wilcox runs against Cross Plains (LIVE! Photo/Joe Z Hyde)
He is only a junior, and it will be exciting to see what he is capable of doing in his last year playing high school football.
Here are the links to our other area team honorees:
2019 All Area Team: Offensive Linemen
2019 All Area Team: Defensive Linemen
2019 All Area Team: Running Backs
2019 All Area Team: Linebackers
2019 All Area Team: Defensive Backs
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