Coach John Fellows just received an award he cannot quit bragging and smiling about. That’s because it’s for his football team and all his players. They were awarded The Texas High School Coaches Association Texas state finalist for academic excellence. The Fightin’ Buck football team, along with 13 other high school teams, was named a finalist in 3A.

The award requires a certain number of student athletes over a 3.0 and 3.5 GPA. Fellows and his staff had 30 All-District academic kids and six All-State in Jayden Canaba, Jaime Rodriguez, Derek Schwierjohn, Aiden Morrissey, Shaun Foster, and Jeremy Dominguez.

Said Fellows on what really matters, “We preach to our young men to be men of high character in the classroom as well as on the field. So, we are very proud of this team, and it’s well deserved. It’s an honor to be their coach.”

Foster and Canaba also placed first on the All-Permian Basin team, Foster as a defensive end and Canaba as a punter. Foster was also Second Team Defensive Linemen on the Padilla Poll All-State team for 3A.

Last week star quarterback-defensive back-punter Canaba committed to the Hardin-Simmons Cowboys in Abilene. He signed with them Feb. 1, now dubbed late signing day. A ceremony was held at the high school gym.

Canaba was excited for his school selection, saying, “From the moment I got there, it felt like home. I feel very honored and humbled to be able to play for a university with a winning tradition and a great coaching staff. They talked to me about playing quarterback and developing my strengths so that in the next couple of years, I can be playing my best ball on Saturdays.”

Canaba finished with, “It doesn’t hurt that I am sticking to the purple and gold. Saddle up!”