The Texas High School football season has come to a close, and it was another great year for the Texas Panhandle and South Plains. Here’s a look at the 2025 Press Pass Sports Six-Man Football Team. Compiled by Craig Sperry.
SUPERLATIVES
COACH OF THE YEAR
Paul Hale, Miami
For most coaches, the situation Paul Hale walked into at Miami in 2024 would have been more than daunting.
He was a first-year head coach taking over a program that had just made a run to the state quarterfinals and had lost a large contingent of starters from the previous year. However, Hale came in and established what he thought was important to run a program and it’s those ideas that propelled the Warriors to an undefeated regular season and a run to the state quarterfinals. It also earned the second-year coach the accolade as the Press Pass Six-Man Coach of the Year.
The rest of this story is only for subscribers.
Reflecting back on taking the reins of this program in 2024, Hale knew it wasn’t about easing into the job. He needed to replace four starters and was going to need to lean into a large contingent of sophomores that had been covered up by senior starters. To do that he knew what he wanted to establish as a program.
“Taking over a new program as a first-year coach you want to establish your identity,” Hale said. “Leave your mark and figure out what you believe in. You get into coaching to make a positive impact because you spend so much time with these kids. You’re not just trying to teach them how to win games and be better athletes but I believe you are also trying to build good, wholesome individuals that make their mark as they become adults.”
That establishment began last year as the Los Angeles, Calif., native began implementing his scheme and conveying his vision for the program. His squad finished 6-4 and lost to Motley County in a tightly contested UIL Class 1A Division II bi-district matchup, 44-33. With that said, fans didn’t have to look very hard to see the makings of what a very solid Warrior team could be headed into 2025.
Starting the season with 11 players, Hale knew it was going to take everyone pulling in the same direction for them to accomplish what they wanted. After losing a player as the pads came on, the roster depth may not have been there but he knew that each player would have a role.
“All 10 of those players all knew they would have an equal share in what we wanted to accomplish,” Hale Said. “We knew what we were capable of doing, and we saw glimpses of it last year but they really wanted to put it all together. We all had to be responsible and we knew that. It’s all about the we or us and there’s no single-minded individuals that are only focused on their production. Everyone knows their role and they have the power to affect the outcome.”
This attitude was evident midway through the season as the Warriors started off 4-0 and headed to McLean looking to make it five straight. With 3:04 left in the first half, Miami found itself in a hole, down 39-28, and the Tigers with all the momentum. The Warriors rallied, though, and scored 60 unanswered points to win via the mercy rule, 88-39.
“It was a shootout in the first half,” Hale said. “We turned over the ball a couple of times and we just weren’t in the right mind space. However, we were able to grind out a victory with only eight bodies. It wasn’t a Disney movie where I gave this incredible half time speech. We knew we just needed to do what we do, clean up the mistakes and give better effort.”
This no excuses attitude pushed the Warriors to their first victory in Follett since 1998 and helped them nab a district title and an undefeated regular season. Miami then faced off with Paducah in the bi-district round and prevailed 68-34 before squaring off against Sands in the regional semifinals.
Despite being 11-0, Miami was underdogs to the Mustangs and that just provided fuel to the fire for the Warriors. Sands started out hot but it was the defense that won that game for Miami in Hale’s opinion.
“Getting stops in Six-Man isn’t easy but we ended up with more stops than they did in the second half,” Hale said. “That was the difference for us.”
In the state quarterfinals, the Warriors held a 12-0 lead and were driving for more against No. 2-ranked Klondike but a turnover deep in Cougars territory allowed Klondike to get their footing, mount a second quarter rally and eventually pull away with a 60-34 hard fought victory over Hale’s squad.
Despite the loss, the former big school coach highlighted a common theme with this hard working, respectful group of players.
“These guys on this team are a testament to the community,” Hale said. “They all work hard and are humble. They made my life tremendously easy because they are so coachable. Without sounding cliché I wouldn’t trade this group for anyone”.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kristopher Gorecki, Miami, 5-10, 230-pound, Offensive-defensive line, Sr.
If this were the Heisman Trophy or NFL MVP honors, then Miami’s standout lineman wouldn’t stand a chance at winning this award.
However, his impact on both sides of the line can’t be underestimated, and is why Gorecki has earned the Press Pass Sports 2025 Six-Man Player of the Year.
The burly lineman played a pivotal role in the Warriors going 11-1 while making it back to the Class 1A Division II state quarterfinals for the second time in three years. Gorecki was selected as a first team All-State center this year after earning second team honors last year. Those awards speak to his prowess on the front line, but its comments heard throughout the season that reinforce his dominance.
Gorecki has been told by opposing coaches, he was one of the best Six-Man linemen they had ever seen while impressing opponents broadcast teams.
Running behind an All-State center makes sense as a coach, especially when you look at the results.
Miami rushed for over 4,000 yards on the season and scored 86 touchdowns on the ground. The Warriors had two backs, Chance White and Noah Homfeld, eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark.
On the defensive side, Gorecki also did his job, piling up 82 tackles from his nose guard position with 18 of those for losses and two sacks on top of a fumble recovery.
That type of production, along with All-State honors, may have some players reflecting on their prowess or how fun it is to dominate up front but anyone who talks to the happy go lucky Warrior knows that’s far from the truth. Gorecki is the type of individual quick to shoutout his teammates.
“At the end of the day, it’s not one guy that does anything it’s all of us working together,” Gorecki said. “If I didn’t have Tyler (Anderson) and Sebastian (Bryant) then we wouldn’t have been able to do anything. I have to give most of the credit to my teammates because we function as a unit and that’s all I could have asked for.”
Success for Miami’s strong man wasn’t something many may have seen when he was in sixth grade.
“I was a fat, pudgy kid and out of shape,” Gorecki said. “I realized I could potentially be good at this and I grew from there. Coach (Clint) Linman really sparked my interest in seventh grade. He had a very good weight program, and I just kept getting stronger.”
With all his success on the field, it’s Gorecki’s demeanor as a leader that carries him off the field.
“My biggest thing is I don’t like to put anybody down because that doesn’t accomplish anything,” Gorecki said. “I’ve noticed that the way you treat everybody else is what can make the biggest difference. If I can walk up to someone who is having a bad day with a smile on my face and can make their day a little bit better, that’s what I love. I have no regrets on our season because I did it with the people I love and we had a great season, and we went out on a good little run”.
In the Six-Man game where so many see it as a track meet, Gorecki showed that dominance on both sides of the line is still at the heart of what football is. Whether it’s executing a pancake block or chasing down a running back with his surprising speed, this Warrior did it all. He also did it his way by executing a great block or tackle, staying silent and reaching down to help the opponent up with a smile on his face.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Cameron Pohlmeier, Nazareth, Running back, 5-9, 150-pound, Jr.
The Swifts offense was one of the best in the Texas Panhandle and it was the hard-nosed Pohlmeier leading the charge. Deceptive by his size, Pohlmeier carried the ball 171 times on the year for 1,754 yards and 37 touchdowns. He also racked up 395 receiving yards and eight scores and did his best work in the big games as he carried the pigskin 31 times for 292 yards against Claude in bi-district action. It’s that type of production that earned him honorable mention All-State running back and first team all-region accolades at running back.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jack Kotara, Miami, Linebacker, 5-7, 142-pound, Sr.
Don’t let the size mislead you, as the leader of the Warriors defense, Kotara packed a strong punch that earned him the Defensive MVP for Region I-1A Division II. The diminutive linebacker tallied 109 tackles on the year, 21 of those for a loss, with five sacks and three picks, as Miami made it to the Class 1A Division II state quarterfinals for the second time in three years.
CO-NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Chance White, Miami, Running back, 5-9, 135-pound, Fr.
Making the most of an opportunity is exactly what this freshman did for a Warrior team that went 11-1. Stepping in early because of injuries, the speedster amassed 1,564 yards on the ground with 22 touchdowns. White also was the kicker for a squad that made the UIL Class 1A Division II state quarterfinals.
CO-NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Cole Walden, Valley, Running back, 5-foot-10, 150-pound, Fr.
Opponents in District 5-1A Division I recognized the impact the freshman running back had on the Patriots offense. Walden was the Offensive MVP of the district and honorable mention All-State. Walden had an unbelievable first year, tallying 1,156 yards rushing while finding the end zone 24 times. He also tossed two touchdowns and will be a force to reckon with over the next three years.
THE TEAM
QUARTERBACK
Isaac Acosta, Boys Ranch, 5-10, 175-pound, Jr.
Electrifying stats were par for the course for Acosta as he helped Boys Ranch improve from 0-10 last year to an 8-2 record in 2025. The All-Region quarterback stayed cool in the pocket, throwing for 2,835 yards with an astounding 53 touchdowns to only five interceptions. In eight of those games, Acosta threw for at least five scores and registered a season high 466 yards against Claude.
SPREAD BACKS
Froylan Agundiz, Springlake-Earth, 5-9, 160-pound, Sr.
Smooth would best describe Agundiz in the pocket as the lefty gunslinger bided his time before beating teams through the air and with his legs. On the season, Agundiz threw for 2,013 yards and 39 touchdowns while racking up 1,047 yards on the ground and 13 scores. A second team All-Region spread back, he also led the Wolverines in tackles on defense.
Wyatt Terrell, Follett, 5-11, 177-pound, Sr.
To beat the Panthers, it was all about having to stop Terrell and that was far from an easy task. The former quarterback turned spread back put together an impressive resume with 1,870 yards rushing to go with 1,109 yards passing and 300 receiving to account for more than 3,000 all-purpose yards with 32 touchdowns. Behind Terrell, the Panthers made it back to the playoffs for a sixth straight year.
RUNNING BACKS
Tradian Worsham, Hart, 5-10, 140-pound, Sr.
The Longhorns amassed eight wins on the season which is the most since they dropped down to Six-man action in 2006. A ton of that success rested on the fast feet of the player known to his teammates as Bubba. Worsham, who nabbed honorable mention All-Region honors, broke the 2,000-yard rushing mark with 2,032 yards to go along with 504 yards receiving and 33 total touchdowns.
Trapper Godfrey, Claude, 5-10, 155-pound, Jr.
A true dual-threat out of the backfield, the shifty junior took his game to another level this year chewing up 1,542 yards on the ground and 29 touchdowns while catching 24 passes for 435 yards and nine scores. That hefty production earned Godfrey Offensive MVP honors for District 1-1A Division I and an honorable mention All-State nod as he was lighting up opponents all season long.
UTILITY BACK
Axel Valdivia, Booker, 5-7, 145-pound, Fr.
A case could be made for the talented Kiowa freshman to be a Newcomer of the Year candidate as he made his mark in the multi-faceted offense Booker employed. Through the air, Valdivia tallied 728 passing yards and 16 scores while carrying the pigskin for 509 yards and finding the end zone nine times. As the youngster gained confidence through the season the Kiowas offense took off as Booker made a second straight appearance in the regional semifinals.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Marciano Garcia, Lorenzo, 6-foot, 230-pound, Sr.
Garcia may have caught many off-guard, but opposing defenses knew exactly who he was. The durable senior set the all-time Six-Man career receptions record by registering 185 receptions. That mark topped the previous record of 161 by Gary Farquhar of Throckmorton from 2009-2012 and Jaren Brooks of Grandfalls-Royalty. Garcia started all four years and never missed a game during that time earning honorable mention All-Region honors this year.
Cord’e Jackson, Boys Ranch, 5-9, 175-pound, Jr.
A key reason for the success quarterback Isaac Acosta had was because of the dynamic Jackson. Possessing speed that could turn a short pass into a score, the shifty All-Region receiver grabbed 43 balls for 1,032 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also registered four interceptions and four fumble recoveries as the second leading tackler for the Roughriders this season.
TIGHT END
Daniel Schacher, Nazareth, 5-10, 175-pound, Sr.
For the fourth straight year it’s a Swift earning a spot on the team at tight end. Schacher took over for Kayle Rogers at that spot and the offense didn’t miss a beat. Nazareth’s offense racked up over 4,300 total yards including 2,200 on the ground and Schacher was a big reason for that type of production. His blocking earned him honorable mention All-State and first-team All-Regioni recognition and chipped in 13 catches for 214 yards and two scores.
CENTER
Korbyn Vance, Booker, 6-2, 195-pound, Jr.
Vance anchored a line that helped Booker throw for more than 1,700 yards and rush for over 1,500. Vance, a player that only got better as the season went on, also became a popular red zone target, totaling eight scores on 17 receptions totaling 292 yards as he garnered All-Region recognition.
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
Reydn Rosales, Booker 6-foot, 165-pound, Sr.
For defenses to have success against Booker they had to account for Rosales. Using his blazing speed allowed the first team All-Region end to stack up seven sacks while leading his team in tackles with 122. He also recovered four fumbles, picked off two passes and had two defensive scores. Offensively, he was just as dangerous, tallying over 1,300 all-purpose yards and 28 touchdowns.
Blaise Snead, Nazareth, 5-10, 175-pound Sr.
The leading tackler for a squad that made the Class 1A Division I regional semifinals, the lanky senior filled multiple roles on the Swifts defense racking up 67.5 tackles and two interceptions on his way to District 2-1A Defensive MVP and first team All-Region safety accolades. He also picked up second team all-state receiver honors by gathering in 43 balls for 851 yards and 17 tackles.
Noah Homfeld, Miami, 5-10, 180-pound, Sr.
If there was a position to be played on defense, Homfeld filled it. Using his speed and knack for the ball, the senior totaled 84 tackles, three sacks and an interception as he created havoc from all over the field for opposing offenses. Homfeld was a huge reason the Warriors went 11-1 and made a run to the state quarterfinals.
Brady Shelton, Claude, 5-10, 185-pound, Jr.
A player who is often overlooked for the Mustangs, Shelton won’t be overlooked next year. The junior led the team in tackles with 91 while registering three fumble recoveries and three sacks as Claude made the playoffs for the first time in six-man school history. That production earned him honorable mention All-Region status and first team All-District.
LINEBACKERS
Thomas Slack, Claude, 5-10, 190-pound, Jr.
Sitting in the middle of the Mustangs defense is the physical Slack. Despite teams focusing on neutralizing the impact linebacker, the talented junior, who was an honorable mention All-Region player, still racked up 88 tackles on the season. He also made his mark on offense piling up 577 yards in rushing and 15 touchdowns as the thunder portion of their dangerous rushing attack.
Damian Valdes, Valley, 5-10, 185-pound, Jr.
The tackle numbers may not jump off the charts, but offensive coordinators knew where the talented second team All-Region gridder was on the field. Valdes picked up 68 tackles on the year and forced three fumbles while recovering three. He also had five pass break ups to show his versatility as a player Valley relied on to make a playoff run to the regional semifinals.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Carson Tucker, Valley, 6-foot, 170-pound, Sr.
Some players just have a nose for the football and Tucker is a prime example of that. The hard-hitting senior forced nine fumbles while registering eight fumble recoveries. He also picked off five passes and scored two defensive touchdowns and tallied 80 tackles on the season. Those numbers helped the Patriot defender nab the Defensive MVP in District 5-1A Division I and second team All-State honors.