Forsan Buffaloes running back Jeremy Freitag runs away from a Menard defender in action from Nov. 9. Freitag was named District 16-1A’s Offensive Player of the Year Monday. (Courtesy photo/Bob Fishback)

Buffs’ Head Coach Tommy Thompson was named Co-Coach of the Year and his coaching staff joined him with a Co-Staff of the Year award.

“We are honored by the award,” Thompson said. “But we are even happier to see our kids being recognized for all their hard work this season. It is a testament to the talent we have with this bunch of guys and the success they found on the field.”

Junior running back Jeremy Frietag was named Offensive Player of the Year. Frietag led all Forsan rushers with 1277 yards and 12 touchdowns on the year.

“Jeremy stepped in this year and immediately became someone defenses had to plan for,” Thompson said. “He has great speed and uncanny cutback ability. He is undersized, but he more than makes up for that with his work ethic and his desire to compete.”

Players named to the first team offense were junior quarterback Alex Huckabee, junior running back Jace Sandridge, senior tight end Adam Bailey and senior offensive lineman Aaron Hughes.

Huckabee, a transplant at quarterback from the wide receiver position, ended the season with 1282 yards passing and 10 touchdown passes. Bailey was on the receiving end of half those touchdowns and had 514 yards receiving this year. He ends his high school career with 1044 total yards receiving and 12 touchdowns.

“Bailey and Huck were tremendous for us this year,” Thompson said. “Alex will only be better next year and Adam will be sorely missed. He was a constant threat to score and did a great job as our deep snapper.”

Sandridge finished the season with 748 yards and eight rushing touchdowns and gave the Buffs a solid one-two combo in the backfield with Freitag.

“Jace has great vision and speed, but he was also an excellent lead blocker,” Thompson said. “He has the ability to get the tough yards up the middle and to break a big gainer.”

Thompson said team captain Hughes will be tough to replace next year.

“Aaron was great on both sides of the ball this year,” Thompson said. “He was a real leader on the field and helped pave the way for our offensive skill positions.”

Seniors Blake Grantham and James Marlow were honored as second team offensive linemen.

“Blake and James have both had stellar varsity careers,” said Thompson. “Blake was named one of our captains this year and both led the way for two 1000-yard rushers. They will leave big shoes to fill.”

Juniors Kody Willis and Jeremy Robbins were named to the second team offense at the wide receiver position.

The Forsan defense had several players named as well.

Taking honors on both sides of the ball were Bailey at his defensive back position and Hughes for his play on the defensive line.

“It’s been a great season, this year,” Bailey said. “I hope the tradition we helped start with winning and making the playoffs will continue. Playing with this team has been one of the best years of my football career."

Bailey finished his career with 47 solo tackles, 91 assists, and seven interceptions. Hughes ended this season totaling nine solos, 29 assists, five tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery.

“We had a good season,” said Hughes. “We had a lot of team unity. I enjoyed my senior season.”

Grantham got the two way nod as well, being named to the second team with his solid year on the defensive line.

Senior Josh Daniels and sophomore Ryan Flores were both awarded a second-team nomination for their play at linebacker and junior Garrett Pool was awarded a second-team place as a defensive end.

“Josh is another one of our seniors that was very valuable on defense,” said Thompson. “This was his first season playing for the Buffs and he was outstanding. He finished the year with 17 solo tackles, 52 assists, two tackles for loss, a sack and four forced fumbles.”

Receiving honorable mention honors are senior Michael Leal and junior Jeremy Gomez for their play on the offensive line and Willis at defensive back. Huckabee was named to the team at punter and Frietag received a nod at the kicking position.

 “Michael is another player we will lose to graduation,” Thompson said. “He was hurt his junior season, but came on strong in his final year playing left tackle. He was a big part of the group that helped us to a 1000-yard rusher and passer this season.”

The Buffs finished their season at 6-6 overall and held a 5-2 mark in district play. They had big wins over Christoval, the 2007 district champion, and at Menard to secure a place in the playoffs for the second straight year.

The Buffs won their first playoff game in over twenty years, knocking off Winters and claiming a little revenge after being ousted by the Blizzards last season and ended its season last Saturday in Brownwood, falling to Valley Mills in the area round in a game plagued with terrible weather and a second quarter they wish they could get back.

They made it one step further than last year and although they did not attain their pre-season goal of a district championship, they have continued to build on a tradition of winning.

Coach Thompson has no problem with that.

“Our main goal was the district title, and we pretty much beat ourselves out of that,” said Thompson. “But, you also want to get better each year, and we did that. We played one more game than we did last year and now that we are getting used to winning we will expect to be right back next year and moving even farther into the playoffs.”

District 16-A All-District Teams and Awards

Awards

Most Valuable Player - Kellen Gierke, Sr., Christoval

Offensive Player of the Year - Jeremy Freitag, Jr., Forsan

Defensive Player of the Year - Manny Gonzalez, Sr., Eldorado

Coach of the Year - Bryan Green, Christoval; Johnny Burleson, Eldorado; Tommy Thompson, Forsan

Top Coaching Staffs - Forsan; Christoval; Eldorado.

All-District first team

Quarterback - Alex Huckabee, Jr., Forsan.

Running backs - Jace Sandridge, Jr., Forsan; John Zamora, So., Menard; Tramain Price, Sr., Irion Co.

Utility back  - Brent Willis, Sr., Bronte

Tight end - Adam Bailey, Sr., Forsan; Dustin Guana, Jr., Eldorado.

Wide receivers - Lahne Burns, Jr., Bronte; J.T. Hurt, Sr., Christoval; Paul Martinez, Jr., Eldorado.

Offensive line - Reace Springer, Jr., Bronte; Austin McWilliams, Jr., Christoval; Richmond Adame, Sr., Eldorado; Tim Maskill, Jr., Eldorado; Aaron Hughes, Sr., Forsan; Johnny Martinez, Sr., Menard; Cody Wallace, Sr., Bronte; Zach Ellis, Jr., Christoval; Colby Hasty, Sr., Sterling City.

Defensive line - Colby Hasty, Sr., Sterling City; Tim Maskill, Jr., Eldorado; Aaron Hughes, Sr., Forsan; Keith Shotwell, Sr., Christoval; Johnny Martinez, Sr., Menard; C.J. McClure, Sr., Bronte; Wade Sorrells, Jr., Christoval; Louie Buitron, Sr., Eldorado; Scotty Blair, Jr., Menard.

Linebackers - Kevin Deanda, Sr., Menard; Reece Springer, So., Menard; Zack Ellis, Jr., Christoval; Luis Chapa, Sr., Eldorado.

Defensive backs - Adam Bailey, Sr., Forsan; Jorge Mata, Sr., Eldorado; Tramain Price, Sr., Irion Co.; Kyle Schwertner, Sr., Miles; Lahne Burns, Jr., Bronte; Caleb Stark, Sr., Christoval.

All-District second team

Quarterback - Brent West, Sr., Irion Co.

Running backs - Wes Brown, So., Eldorado; Caleb Stark, Sr., Christoval; Pedro Garcia, Sr., Eldorado.

Utility backs - Kyle Schwertner, Sr., Miles; Jesus Vasquez, Jr., Eldorado.

Tight end - Judge Lucich, Sr., Christoval.

Wide receivers - Kody Willis, Jr., Forsan; Jeremy Robbins, Jr., Forsan; Tyler Gibson, Sr., Sterling City; Garrett Barnett, Jr., Irion Co.

Offensive line - Blake Grantham, Sr., Forsan; Josh Ortega, Jr., Menard; Wyatt Terral, Jr., Irion Co.; Kevin Dykstra, Jr., Eldorado; James Marlow, Sr., Forsan; C.J. McClure, Sr., Bronte; Josh Thompson, Jr., Christoval; Scotty Blair, Jr., Menard.

Defensive line - Blake Grantham, Sr., Forsan; Uriel Barrientos, Jr., Eldorado; Mauro Cano, Sr., Miles; Dustin Guana, Jr., Eldorado; Oscar Galaviz, Jr., Sterling City; Garrett Pool, Jr., Forsan; Jon Portillo, Sr., Menard; Eric Schwertner, Jr., Miles.

Linebackers - Ryan Flores, So., Forsan; Josh Daniels, Sr., Forsan; Bryan Kenley, So., Irion Co.; Cody Wallace, Sr., Bronte; Clayton Long, Sr., Sterling City; August Huckabee, Jr., Miles.

Defensive backs - James Kothman, Sr., Menard; Brent West, Sr., Irion Co.; Gus Saunders, Sr., Bronte; John Hernandez, Jr., Christoval; Abel Rivas, So., Sterling City; Paul Martinez, Jr., Eldorado.