ROBERT LEE, TX — In 11 games this past fall, Brenner Sherwood compiled one of the most impressive football seasons we’ve ever seen.
No player in West Texas threw for more yards, and no player ran for more yards.
The Robert Lee junior had 2,186 passing yards, and he added 2,013 more on the ground.
He had a hand in 76 touchdowns.
Sherwood led Robert Lee to a 7-4 season and proved the Steers could play with the top teams in the state.
The 6-foot, 170-pound spread back is our choice as this year’s All-Cover 1 Six-man MVP.
If ever there was a game to showcase what Sherwood meant to Robert Lee, it was in the Steers’ 116-110 first-round playoff loss to Westbrook, the sixth-highest scoring game in state history.
Sherwood had 628 yards of offense and was a part of all 14 of his team’s TDs to help the underdog Steers nearly pull off an upset over one of the state’s top programs.
“His determination to help our team get in the end zone each drive was amazing to watch,” Robert Lee head coach Lee McCown said. “We had some quick scores, but he was able to convert some big fourth downs as well to keep it alive.”
Sherwood’s athleticism is obvious, and he saved his share of broken plays because of it.
However, he also shined with his decision making. In 214 pass attempts, he threw only one interception.
“He does such a good job of keeping his poise throughout a game,” McCown said. “He just helps everything work like it should. And when it’s not working like it should, he’s able to make a play.”
Some of Robert Lee’s best plays of the year came from Sherwood scrambling and improvising.
“A lot of stuff just happens,” Sherwood said. “A lot of the touchdowns we had, they weren’t exactly planned to go that way.”
Sherwood said the experience of the epic shootout loss to Westbrook — which had played in three straight state finals — was a big moment for the Steers.
“I don’t think anybody thought we could win. But coming out and scoring off the start and continuing to keep on scoring, it was pretty fun and pretty exciting,” he said. “And I think it built up a lot of confidence going into next year, too.”
Robert Lee was also close in a 62-50 loss to district champion Water Valley, which went on to reach the state semifinals.
“It just shows us that we’re up there now. We’re one of those teams,” Sherwood said.
Sherwood and his top target, first-team all-state wide receiver Nate Samaniego (34 catches for 727 yards and 16 TDs), will lead Robert Lee’s returners next season.
Sherwood is also one of the Steers’ top defenders. He had 88 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two interceptions and a fumble recovery. He had two defensive TDs and a kickoff return for a TD.
Outside of football, Sherwood also excels in basketball, where he helped the Steers reach the regional tournament last season. He was also a state qualifier in track and field, tennis and golf.
“I’m telling you, the kid never stops,” McCown said. “His energy level is unreal. He never looks tired. He just goes out there and gets it done.”
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