Top 10 Texas Panhandle football performers from Week 5

Jordi Hernandez, West Plains, RB, Sr. 

Hernandez showed his speed as well as his physicality helping lead West Plains to a 54-31 win at Lubbock Estacado on Thursday night. The senior scored all three of his touchdowns in a big second half for the Wolves that scored 22 unanswered points to close out the Matadors. Hernandez finished with a very impressive 209 yards on 33 carries.

Brylyn Lopez, Hereford, RB, Jr. 

Lopez continues to put his name in for MVP of 2023 with another outstanding performance. The junior running back couldn’t be stopped in the Whitefaces huge Homecoming, 24-21, win in front of 5,000 fans that pushed Hereford to 5-0 for the first time since the 2009 season. Lopez went over the century mark for a fifth straight game toting the ball 33 times for 201 with three scores. On the season, Lopez has already put up 809 yards rushing.

Darien Lewis, Palo Duro, QB-DB, Soph. 

Lewis celebrated his birthday in a big way leading the Dons to a huge second half to upend Randall 45-27 on Friday night at Dick Bivins Stadium. The versatile sophomore had a breakout game going totaling 302 yards of offense with five combined touchdowns. Lewis went 10-of-14 for 163 yards with three TD tosses, he ran for 139 yards on 11 carries with two more scores, and defensively had four tackles with an interception.

Frank Jimenez, Perryton, RB, Sr.

Perryton finally broke into the win column with a hard fought 29-21 win at Pampa on Friday night. Jimenez was the main catalyst in that victory leading the Ranger ground attack by knifing threw the Harvesters for 139 yards on only 10 carries scoring three touchdowns.

KJ Jennings, Borger, QB, Sr.

Jennings took matters into his own hands by scoring on a 14-yard touchdown run with 30 seconds left as the Borger Bulldogs upset previously unbeaten Dalhart, 41-38. That game-winner was just the icing on the cake of the seniors’ night as Jennings went 17-of-21 for 191 yards passing with a touchdown and rushed for three TDs on 179 yards rushing.

Will Flaming, Amarillo High, QB, Sr. 

Flaming is healthy and it shows as the senior had a career effort in the Sandies drubbing of arch-rival Tascosa, 42-6, in the District 2-5A Division I opener. Flaming went 12-of-18 passing for 266 yards over an outmatched Tascosa secondary for a touchdown and caught a receiving score on a trick play.

Cade Seaman, Friona, RB, Sr. 

Friona earned its first win of the season while knocking Farwell from the ranks of the unbeaten in a 35-27 victory on Friday night at Chieftains Stadium. Seaman stamped his name on the victory by chewing up the Steer defense by rushing for 194 yards on 25 carries with a pair of touchdowns.

Alex Warren, River Road, QB, Jr. 

After a tough start to the year, Warren and the River Road Wildcats were able to celebrate for the first time this season after getting a dominating 44-13 win at Sanford-Fritch. The dual-threat QB showed off his versatility by rushing for 142 yards on 10 carries with a touchdown on top of throwing for 156 yards with three TDs.

Terry Menefield, Shamrock, WR-DB, Sr.

Menefield was instrumental in leading the Shamrock Irish on a furious comeback by scoring 30 unanswered second half points to leave Bovina stunned, 30-28. Menefield snagged a game-high 12 catches for 169 yards for two touchdowns. Defensively, Menefield racked up five tackles with a sack.

Tony Salazar, Dimmitt, RB, Sr. 

Despite a wild loss to Highland Park 47-45, it’s hard to ignore what the talented Salazar did. The Bobcat running back put together one of the better efforts of the season which some players these stats an entire season. Salazar was a complete mismatch for the Hornet defense piling up 396 yards rushing scoring all seven of Dimmitt’s touchdowns.