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RANKINGS
The 2020 Landry Award Finalists: A Deeper Look
Finalists have been named and voting has been underway for roughly two weeks. On January 30 at 11 pm the winner of the 2020 Landry Awards will be named during the Special Landry Awards Presentation Show on CBS 11. So, what is the Landry Award and who are the players nominated?
The Landry Award, named after the Dallas Cowboy's first head coach Tom Landry, was created by CBS 11 and TXA 21 in partnership with the Greater Dallas/Fort Worth Fellowship of Christian Athletes' Character and Leadership Initiative in 2010. The award recognizes the top high school football player of any position in North Texas who demonstrates leadership both on and off the field. The athlete must possess positive character and leadership attributes. The winner is chosen y a voting panel of former coaches and players, members of the media, and local leaders. There is also an online vote that counts for one vote in the panel ballot.
CBS 11 has named the finalists, so let's take a deeper dive into who they are:
Tom Fox (Dallas Morning News)
JoJo Earle, WR, Aledo High School
An Alabama signee, Earle has been quite the force on the Aledo football team. The star wide receiver has helped lead Aledo to three consecutive state titles (2018, 2019, 2020). As a four-star prospect, Earle is ranked as the No. 11 Class of 2021 recruit in the state of Texas.
Ashley Landis (Dallas Morning News)
Kaidon Salter, QB, Cedar Hill High School
A Tennessee signee, Salter has continually led the charge for Cedar Hill football. The four-star quarterback has posted over 5,500 passing yards, over 1,600 rushing yards, and 78 total touchdowns. According to 247Sports, Salter is ranked as the No. 6 Class of 2021 recruit in the state of Texas.
Stewart F. House (Dallas Morning News)
Ralph Rucker, QB, Lucas Lovejoy High School
Rucker posted a 68% passing completion rating during his senior season. With 3,423 packing yards, 47 passing touchdowns, and 1,044 rushing yards with 12 rushing touchdowns, Rucker continues to pull in college offers from programs like North Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and more.
Jeff Woo (Denton Record Chronicle)
Eli Stowers, QB, Denton Guyer High School
This future Texas A&M Aggie shines bright in Denton as a four star recruit. Stowers has recorded over, 6,750 total passing yards and 65 passing touchdowns in his career. He has also recorded 3,228 rushing yards with 37 rushing touchdowns. Stowers is ranked as the No. 14 Class of 2021 recruit in the state of Texas according to 247Sports.
Michael Ainsworth (Dallas Morning News)
Quinn Ewers, QB, Southlake Carroll High School
This Ohio State signee is the No. 1 sought after Class of 2021 recruit in the state of Texas according to 247Sports. Ewers, a five-star recruit, has posted over 6,440 passing yards and 73 passing touchdowns. On the run, Ewers totaled over 700 yards and tallied 12 touchdowns.
Past Recipients:
- 2019: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Rockwall High School
- 2018: T.J. McDaniel, RB, Southlake Carroll High School
- 2017: John Stephen Jones, QB, Highland Park High School
- 2016: Kennedy Brooks, RB, Mansfield High School
- 2015: Jett Duffey, QB, Mansfield Lake Ridge High School
- 2014: Kyler Murray, QB, Allen High School
- 2013: Myles Garrett, DE, Arlington Martin High School
- 2012: Jake Oliver, WR, Jesuit High School
- 2011: Johnathan Gray, RB, Aledo High School
- 2010: Johnathan Gray, RB, Aledo High School
DYNASTY: Aledo set to win seventh title in 10 years
On Friday, the Aledo Bearcats have an opportunity to pull a three-peat in the UIL 5A Division II State Championship game where they will take on Crosby (12-3). This is Aledo's attempt at a second three-peat in the last 12 seasons- their seventh state title in ten years.
Aledo sits as the two-time defending state champion after defeating Fort Bend Marshall two seasons in a row; first in 2018 with a 55-19 victory and again in 2019 with a 45-42 victory. Although going for a three-peat is already something pretty spectacular, Aledo is also gunning to break a state record- one of which they currently hold: the most UIL football state titles.
Aledo's football program currently has nine state titles- more than any other program in the state. This record can be broken Friday should they win their 10th ring.
Aledo started their reign of championship titles in 1998 where they defeated Cuero by a score of 14-7 in the Class 3A Division I title game. A decade later, in 2009, Aledo, then Class 4A Division II, defeated Brenham by 35-21 behind sophomore star running back Johnathan Gray, who would prove to be a key player in the next two seasons as well. In 2010, Gray helped lead Aledo to a 69-34 victory over La Marque, and in 2011 Gray led the charge for a 49-28 victory over Manvel.
In 2013, Aledo faced off against Brenham where the Bearcats posted a 38-10 victory. The 2014 squad returned to the title game and defeated Temple 49-45 behind star quarterback Luke Bishop, who threw for 122 yards and two touchdowns as well as totaling 169 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Missing the 2015 title, Aledo pulled ahead in 2016 to edge out Corpus Christi Calallen by a score of 24-16.
With the wins over Fort Bend Marshall in 2018 (55-19) and again in 2019 (45-42), Aledo has set the stage hopeful for a second three-peat. Head coach Tim Buchanan says he keeps his team focused more on the smaller picture, like mechanics, rather than the prospect of championship wins. "We haven't brought up a three-peat one time with our kids this year," said Buchanan. "We don't even talk about winning. Cleaning out the locker, picking up trash, blocking, and tackling… that's what we talk about instead of winning state championships. If you spend all your time worried about winning, I promise you, that's not how you win football games."
A few big-names that fans will be watching in the Class 5A Division II final on Friday include four-star wide receiver and Alabama signee, JoJo Earle as well as Senior cornerback and Lamar signee DeMarco Roberts. In five playoff games, Roberts has run for over 1,000 yards and 17 touchdowns. Roberts has scored four touchdowns on three separate occasions during the postseason. Last week against Witchita Falls Rider was no different as Roberts helped lead the Bearcats to a 55-28 victory in the state semifinals.
"At Aledo, we got a legacy. We have a chance now at 10 rings. Nobody has ever done that." Roberts said following the semifinals win.