Roos, Badgers earn Class 4A all-state honors
Posted On: Thursday, Dec. 17 2009 05:20 AM
By Kevin Posival
Killeen Daily HeraldTalking Class 4A football, District 25-4A deserves mention: 16 of them.
And not only for top-ranked Austin Lake Travis.
Killeen's Michael Cummings, I'Raunce Ellis and Royce Asi and Lampasas' Rush Seaver and Aaron Reyna were all honorable mentions on the Class 4A Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) all-state list released Wednesday.
"It's a great honor for Asi, Cummings and Ellis but especially for those two (Cummings and Asi) because they're coming back next year," said Killeen coach Sam Jones. "You're talking about the leader on offense, leader on defense; one on each side of the ball, maybe we can get them to motivate everybody else and see if we can't be in (the playoffs) a little bit longer."
Cummings, in his second year as Killeen's starting quarterback, threw for more than 2,500 yards with 24 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He also ran for 840 yards and 16 touchdowns.
"It's just nice to recognized for the hard work that you put in in the offseason and it payed off," said Cummings. "It makes me set my aims higher and hope to get first team next year."
Senior offensive tackle Ellis, Killeen's only returning starting offensive lineman from 2008's line, recorded 80 knock downs and 60 pancakes during the regular season. Junior linebacker Asi led the team in tackles with 175, including 90 solo during the regular season.
Seaver and Reyna led the Badgers to the playoffs for the first time since 2000 after back-to-back winless seasons in 2007 and 2008.
"Our expectations are high, our kids are working hard," said Lampasas first-year coach Joey McQueen. "It's going to help our program tremendously. We're going to lose some good seniors but they laid the good foundation for us and our younger kids are excited about what's happening."
Senior linebacker Seaver led the Badgers with 136 tackles, including 70 solo and 10 for a loss, and senior defensive back Reyna had 13 pass break ups to go along with three interceptions. Reyna was also District 25-4A's second-leading kick-off returner with an average of 33 yards per return with one for a 95-yard touchdown.
Lake Travis, which plays Longview for its third straight Class 4A state title Saturday, had eight honorable mentions to go along with first-team kicker Kramer Fyfe and second-team offensive lineman Ian Kelso. Pflugerville Hendrickson running back Kenny Williams was also an honorable mention.
"To me, it feels good. It puts me out there for the scouts to see," Asi said. "Coach is going to expect me to be more of a leader next year. He'll probably want me to get the D up. Yeah, it's going to be a lot of pressure."