Coach, players picked for all-state honors
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions football team continues to receive accolades for the efforts on the way to winning the Class 2A Division II state championship, claiming eight spots on the Blue Bell./Texas Sports Writers Association 2A All-State Team.
The TSWA team is selected by vote of sports writers from around the state based on total statistics including postseason games.
Lions head coach Denney Faith was named Coach of the Year, and junior defensive back Wyatt Windham shared Defensive Player of the Year honors in addition to earning a spot on the first team.
Also receiving first team recognition were juniors Zane Waggoner at offensive tackle and Adam Hill as a defensive lineman.
Senior Coy Lefevre was named to the second team at running back with senior London Fuentes taking a spot in the third team secondary. Senior Cole Chapman received honorable mention at quarterback.
“That’s all a reflection of the success they had as a team,” Faith said. “Those individual awards are very significant. I think it’s a great representation of our team.”
Faith, the state’s longest-tenured head coach, completed his 36th season – all at Albany – with a 14-2 record and his first title in five trips to the championship game. Faith moved into fifth place on the all-time coaching wins list with 344 and is second among active coaches behind Highland Park’s Randy Allen.
“Coach of the Year is a team award and a coaching staff award for sure,” Faith said.
Windham (6-0, 165) finished the year with 140 tackles (79 solos, 61 assists) with 8½ tackles for loss, five interceptions (one returned for a TD), 11 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He was named Defensive MVP in the state final after recording 17 total tackles, including six solos with one tackle for loss.
Waggoner (6-2, 245)followed up an all-state sophomore campaign with another as a junior, grading out at 96 percent. He had 92 pancake blocks for a team that averaged 382.4 total yards and 45.3 points per game.
Hill (6-2, 210) recorded 105 total tackles with 22½ tackles for loss, 8½ sacks, 14 quarterback pressures, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, nine pass breakups and a blocked kick.
Lefevre (6-1, 205) rushed for 1,139 yards and 23 TDs on 131 carries and caught 23 passes for 378 yards and five scores despite missing four games because of injury and illness. He was named Offensive MVP in the state final after scoring four touchdowns.
Fuentes (6-0, 150) was a lockdown defensive back for Albany, intercepting seven passes and breaking up 13 more. He recorded 54 tackles (23 solo) with three tackles for loss.
Chapman (6-2, 180) completed 102 of 171 passes for 1,555 yards with 19 TDs and just two interceptions after missing four games with an injury. He also rushed for 568 yards and seven TDs on 72 carries.
