Senior Jaylon Hardaway, who led the Lehman football team in grade point average all four years on varsity, was one of three Lobos to make the Class 4A Academic All-State Football Team. Fellow Lobos Charles Williams, Ethan Martin and Luke Holleran, as well as Hays players Michael Pieprzica, Trevor Ragsdale, Taylor Hough and Benton Pruett were also selected to the prestigious team. (Photo by David Simoneaux)
by JASON GORDON
Both the Hays High and Lehman High football teams had four players apiece land on the Academic All-State team.
Academic All-State athletes must be seniors, must have a grade point average of 94 or above, and must be a team member in good standing.
Lehman’s selections were linebacker Charles Williams, two-way starter at linebacker and offensive lineman Ethan Martin, wide receiver Jaylon Hardaway and defensive lineman Luke Holleran.
Hays’ selections were linebacker Michael Pieprzica, wide receiver Trevor Ragsdale, defensive back Taylor Hough and offensive lineman Benton Pruett.
Williams was a three-year letterman and captain for Lehman who led the team with 120 tackles, including 18 for loss. He was also first-team All-District.
“There’s no doubt Charles Williams was the leader of our defense,” Lehman head coach Steve Davis said. “He was a great role model for his teammates and for the kids that watch us play. His parents raised four great kids. You wish you could have 100 Charles Williams on your team.”
Martin was a second-team All-District selection who was Lehman’s only two-way starter. He was also a team captain and three-year letterman.
“If you saw Ethan as a freshman and saw the work he put in to get to the point he was as a senior, you’d be amazed,” Davis said. “It’s such a remarkable story and I’m so proud of all he’s accomplished.”
Hardaway was a four-year varsity player who battled injuries throughout his career. He was also selected a second-team All-District player this season.
“Jaylon won our Academic Team Scholar award all four years he was on varsity, meaning he had the team’s highest grade point average for four straight years,” Davis said. “If you think about it, that’s a pretty remarkable feat. I can’t say enough about Jaylon’s effort on and off the football field.”
Holleran was a backup lineman for the Lobos.
“Luke was a kid that wasn’t a starter, but he never missed a practice and always had a great attitude,” Davis said. “He’s one of those kids you just love to coach.”
Pieprzica, a team captain, battled knee injuries during both his junior and senior seasons but was the heart and soul of the Rebel defense.
“Michael’s a kid that everyone on the team, coaches and players, had a tremendous amount of respect for,” Hays head coach Blake Feldt said. “He’s really a special guy the way he battled through those knee problems.”
Hays receiver Trevor Ragsdale had 12 catches for 172 yards and one touchdown for the Rebels.
“Trevor did a fantastic job for us,” Feldt said. “He worked hard every day and had a great understanding of what we were trying to do offensively. He’s one of those kids you know will be successful in whatever he does in life.”
Hough was also a first-team All-District selection this season.
“Taylor played with a lot of tenacity,” Feldt said. “He flew to the football and played a big part in our success. He played every snap like it was his last. He was extremely dedicated to this football team and to taking care of business off the field as well.”
Pruett decided to play football once Feldt was hired in the spring.
“He came in and did a great job for us,” Feldt said. “He always worked hard and set an example in the weight room and was a valuable member of our football team.”
