Harker Heights, Shoemaker and Killeen football players left their marks in District 12-6A throughout this season, scoring touchdowns, making tackles, delivering blocks and turning heads game in and game out. As a result, coaches from around the league rewarded a bunch of Killeen ISD standouts with a variety of all-district accolades.
Three-time defending district champion Harker Heights led the way with four players earning superlative recognition, while one player each from Shoemaker and Killeen garnered a top award, the teams announced earlier this week after the release of the 2024 all-district lists.
The Knights’ dynamic senior running back pair of Zy’Riyan “C2” Evans and Kaden Butler shared the overall 12-6A most valuable player honor with Bryan wide receiver Terrence Lewis, and Heights’ quarterback Hudson Humble and wide receiver Tyler Johnson –– a tandem that connected for 10 TDs overall this season –– were voted co-offensive MVPs.
Roos signal-caller D’Angelo Ingram pocketed the offensive newcomer of the year award with Temple quarterback Champ Mayo, and the Grey Wolves’ Ja’Mon Sanders was the defensive newcomer of the year.
Butler (1,341 yards, 13 TDs rushing) and Evans (1,225 yards, 11 TDs) combined for more than 2,500 yards rushing in aiding a balanced Knights offense that produced 521 yards and 42 points per game.
In his first season as a varsity starter, Humble, a sophomore, completed 230 of 290 passes (79 percent) for 2,986 yards and 38 TDs. Johnson, a senior, finished with 66 catches for 965 yards.
Harker Heights went 6-0 in 12-6A for the outright title. The Knights, who qualified for the postseason for a sixth consecutive year, then took District 11-6A’s Lancaster down to the wire last Friday in a Class 6A Division II bi-district playoff that the visiting Tigers eked out, 40-35, at Leo Buckley Stadium. Heights wrapped up 2024 with an 8-3 record, with the three defeats by a combined 10 points.
Ingram took the reins of Killeen’s offense as a sophomore and was second behind Humble in TDs passes with 24 and yards passing with 2,430.
Sanders, a sophomore defensive tackle, posted 50 tackles, 13 of those for losses, and three sacks for the Grey Wolves, who finished the year 6-5 and advanced to the playoffs for the third straight year and fifth time in the last six seasons.
In addition to those distinctions, KISD players received 24 first-team selections and 80 had the grades to make the all-academic list.
The full All-District 12-6A list is below.
Note: District honors, as voted on by the coaches, take into account performances in league games. Stats in this story are from the entire season.
All-District 12-6A
Superlatives
Co-district MVPs: Zy’Riyan Evans, Harker Heights; Kaden Butler, Harker Heights; Terrence Lewis, Bryan
Co-defensive MVPs: Landon Whisenton, Waco Midway; Lezlie Jackson, Temple
Co-offensive MVPs: Tyler Johnson, Harker Heights; Hudson Humble, Harker Heights
Defensive newcomer of the year: Ja’Mon Sanders, Shoemaker
Co-offensive newcomers of the year: D’Angelo Ingram, Killeen; Champ Mayo, Temple
Coaching staff of the year: Harker Heights
First-Team Offense
Quarterback: Tyrieke Wade, Shoemaker; Anthony King, Copperas Cove; Hudson Humble, Harker Heights
Running back: Zy’Riyan Evans, Harker Heights; Kaden Butler, Harker Heights; Javalen Wade, Bryan; KJ Zeigler, Copperas Cove; Lathan Whisenton, Midway; O’Ryan Peoples, Temple; Brandon Brown, Shoemaker
Fullback: Geoffrey Anderson, Harker Heights; Landry Bowden, Midway
Wide receiver: Tyler Johnson, Harker Heights; Christian Tutson, Temple; Maurice Starr, Shoemaker; Tyler Seith, Midway; Trishstin Glass, Copperas Cove; Arthur Miller, Copperas Cove; Raymond Howard, Killeen
Tight end: Isaiah Butler-Tanner, Shoemaker; Kade Stewart, Temple
Center: Fernando Rodriguez, Harker Heights
Guard: James Kerney, Harker Heights; Jordan Anderson, Midway; Isaiah Guerra, Temple
Tackle: Landon Rangel, Harker Heights; Michael Collins, Midway; Kirk Gildon, Temple
Utility: Jewitt Hill, Harker Heights; Brenden Logan, Shoemaker
First-Team Defense
Tackle: Alvion Candia-Brownlee, Harker Heights; Demontrae Wheelock, Temple
End: Travonne Woodley, Shoemaker; Jamarion Carlton, Temple
Inside linebacker: Cooper Howard, Harker Heights; Jammie Smart, Shoemaker; Dederick Colbert, Temple
Outside linebacker: Rocky Crooks, Harker Heights; Adrian Scott, Temple
Safety: Brian Hood, Harker Heights; Torion Thomas, Shoemaker; Ethan Sauls, temple
Cornerback: Joe Hollis III, Harker Heights; Jason Bradford, Temple; James Marshall, Copperas Cove
First-Team Special Teams
Kicker: Abraham Bustamante, Midway
Punter: Vincent Crispin, Temple
Deep snapper: Leland Garcia, Killeen; Sullivan Zboril, Midway
Returner: Jesse Satterfield, Midway
Second-Team Offense
Quarterback: Cash Pullin, Midway; Boone Tanner, Bryan
Running back: Titus Runnels, Bryan; Malik Cuthbert, Copperas Cove
Fullback: Cameron Glade, Bryan; Logan Jones, Copperas Cove
Wide receiver: Lamont Reed, Shoemaker; Tyree Love, Bryan; Ramauhn Brown, Temple; Kristian Nobles, Harker Heights; Ryan Taylor, Harker Heights; Kai McMillan, Harker Heights
Tight end: Quentin Moody, Killeen; Michael Slovak, Midway
Center: Jonah Tauililli, Killeen
Guard: Marvin Hatcher, Harker Heights; Lane Gardner, Midway; Nathan Surley, Bryan; Michael Dennis, Copperas Cove
Tackle: Avery Timms, Killeen; Marques Uini, Copperas Cove; Xavier Watkins, Shoemaker; Troy Pless, Shoemaker; Jacob Castoria, Bryan; Micah Rollins, Harker Heights; Terrance Black, Temple
Second-Team Defense
Tackle: Roydell Kennedy, Harker Heights; Kene Eneli, Harker Heights; Roman Guajardo, Midway; Jaden Morris, Bryan; Cameron Tuiasosopo, Copperas Cove
End: Michael Mayes, Harker Heights; Damirte Hemphill, Killeen; Elijah Johnson, Harker Heights; Grant Koen, Midway
Inside linebacker: Marc Stephens Jr., Shoemaker; Jaydon Crowson, Midway; Jamarcus Joshua, Bryan; Chauncey King, Midway
Outside linebacker: William Thomas, Shoemaker; Daevion Phillips, Copperas Cove; Max Mayton, Midway
Safety: Corey McMillan, Harker Heights; Jaden Montgomery, Killeen; Lane Alexander, Midway; Talon Devault, Bryan; Xavier Tacilbon, Copperas Cove
Cornerback: Malachi Jerome, Shoemaker; James Evans, Shoemaker; Jaylen McClinton, Midway; Troy Odle, Bryan
Second-Team Special Teams
Kicker: Oakley Goins, Harker Heights
Punter: Kamir Cunningham, Shoemaker; Kyson Ignacio, Copperas Cove
Deep snapper: Kamren Rodriguez, Copperas Cove
Returner: Sha’Drach Gordon, Killeen; Tr’Darion Taylor, Temple
Honorable Mention
Harker Heights: Anthony Hutton; Gavin Nutt; Taneel Nelson; Jordan Loney; Oakley Goins; Arshawn Spann; Zhavian Faaola
Killeen: Kardae Hicks; Ethan Isbell; Kemell Brown; Vincent Moody; Anthony Beverly; Aaron Arias-Erazo
Shoemaker: Jamal Polite; Avion Lucas
Academic All-District
Harker Heights: Zy’Riyan Evans; Kaden Butler; Ryan Taylor; Tyler Johnson; Elijah Johnson; Hudson Humble; Brian Hood; Joe Hollis III; Jewitt Hill; Jordan Loney; Rocky Crooks; Corey McMillan; Kai McMillan; Mathias Herrera; Josiah Callands; Oakley Goins; Josh Bambe; Cooper Howard; Rodarrian Horn; Taneel Nelson; Jalen Hines; Malik McKnight; Jose Torres Zapata; Alex Herold; Caden Kirby; Tauto Hisatake; Gavin Nutt; James Kerney; Armani Colon; Ivan Arzate; Kaleb Nemec; Patrick Ramirez; Marvin Hatcher; Geoffrey Anderson; Taize Fajardo; Jayse Blas
Killeen: Kemell Brown; Tyson Caldwell; Diego Cruz; Teron Jackson; J’Narri Franklin; Fredrick Clarke; Jonah Tauiliili; Aaron Arias-Erazo; Elario Chavez; Darius Reid; Anthony Beverly; Avery Timms; Josiah Mendes; Kenyen Hardiman; Dawood Al Mashhadani; Isaiah Jones; Kardae Hicks; Demetrius Easterling; Kenneth Gabble; Jayian Manns; Cameron Blocker; Sha’Drach Gordon; Jadan Montgomery; JaMarcus Wilder; Joed Eliam; Vincent Moody; Dayshawn McHenry; Leland Garcia.
Shoemaker: Brandon Brown Jr.; Lamont Reed; Malachai Jerome; Tyrieke Wade; Jamal Polite Jr.; Brenden Logan; Kamir Cunningham; Karson Tutwiler; Aramiz Calumpang; Travonne Woodley; William Thomas; Marc Stephens Jr.; Jasiyah Riley; Avion Lucas; Sebastian Rivera; Kaiden Gallegos
