DALLAS – After playing a key role to developing a dangerous passing game in Clifton over the last three seasons, Cub senior wide receiver TJ Ferch was named to the Associated Press Class 3A All-State first-team last week.
As Clifton won its third straight District 8-3A, Division II title, Ferch caught 78 passes for 1,341 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging 111.8 yards receiving per game and 17.2 yards per catch.
“This is a well-deserved honor for TJ,” Clifton football head coach Chuck Caniford said. “He had an outstanding year and could have been selected on either side of the ball. It’s a testament to how hard he worked, and I think what is most impressive is that everyone we played built their defensive plan around stopping him, yet he was still able to make plays in every game.”
As a three-year starter for Clifton, Ferch finished his high school career with 159 catches for 2,508 yards and 30 touchdowns. During that period, the Cubs posted a 27-8 win-loss record overall, 12-1 in district and won three consecutive district titles.
“He has grown so much and I am extremely proud of him for the player and the young man that he has become,” Caniford said. “The exciting thing with TJ is that I think his best football is still ahead of him. I can’t wait to see what he does at the next level.”
The only other Class 3A player in the Heart of Texas region to make the Associated Press first-team was Grandview junior quarterback / defensive back Dane Jentsch, who led the Zebras to their second straight Class 3A, Division I state championship last week and made both the offensive and defensive first-teams.
As a quarterback, Jentsch was named the AP Offensive Player of the Year after completing 141 of 213 passes for 2,438 yards and 30 touchdowns while rushing for 567 yards and six scores. Defensively, Jentsch collected 111 tackles and three interceptions.
Class 3A honorable mention selections were Grandview receiver Austin Boyd, Grandview defensive lineman Dametrious Crownover, Grandview linebackers Antonio Arellano and Michael Lehnhardt, as well as Dublin linebacker Kevin Cervantes.
In Class 2A, Bruceville-Eddy senior running back Nathan Quattlebaum made the first-team by rushing for 2,395 yards and 26 touchdowns. DeLeon senior defensive back Jorge Gonzales was selected to the second-team, while Mart running back Roddrell Freeman drew honorable mention.
Photos by DAVID HARDING & SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS
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