SportzBuzz - January 2025 | The Buzz Magazines

By Todd Freed, Staff writer | December 27, 2024

Click the Buzz Me button to receive email notifications when this writer publishes a new article or a new article in this column is published.

MAGNIFICENT MAVERICK St John’s senior running back Cole Allen received the Offensive Player of the Year award at The Touchdown Club of Houston Private High School Awards Dinner. Allen will next play collegiate football for Harvard University. Pictured with Allen is St. John’s football coach Kevin Veltri. (Photo: Touchdown Club of Houston)

In the wake of a spectacular senior season, St. John’s Mavericks running back Cole Allen was named the Greater Houston Private School Offensive Player of the Year. Allen received the award at the Touchdown Club of Houston’s 13th annual Private High School Awards Dinner.

Allen rushed for nearly 2,600 yards this season while accounting for 51 touchdowns to cap off a sensational career for the Mavericks. His regular season rushing and touchdown totals this past season also ranked Allen among the nation’s top running backs. Over his remarkable four years, Allen rushed for just over 5,000 yards while scoring 119 touchdowns.

“This truly means so much to be recognized alongside all these great players who had their own great careers,” said Allen. “It’s not a me thing. My teammates and coaches have supported me the entire way. My offensive line worked hard and put in so much effort to be successful. It’s also about the whole St. John’s community coming together.”

Allen’s contributions to the Mavericks’ football program extended well beyond the playing field according to Mavericks head football coach Kevin Veltri. “From the very first practice, we knew he was going to be special. Cole has been the embodiment of what we strive for as a Maverick football player. He is a natural leader and the player that every coach dreams for the chance to coach.”

A team captain in football, basketball, and even lacrosse, Allen will play football at the next level in the Ivy League while attending Harvard University. “I’m excited for it,” said Allen. “The great thing about Harvard is that they not only want to play football at a high level, but the academics is just as important. My mom was really worried about academics, so I think we really got the job done with that one.”

Ann Staley, Jackson Staley, Lee Staley, Steve Leisz

FANTASTIC FALCON Kinkaid Falcons senior defensive end Jackson Staley was the recipient of the Defensive Player of the Year Award at The Touchdown Club of Houston Private High School Awards Dinner. Pictured with Staley are his parents Lee and Ann Staley as well as Touchdown Club board of directors member Steve Leisz. (Photo: Touchdown Club of Houston)

For the SPC Champion Kinkaid Falcons, it was nearly a clean sweep at the Private High School Awards Dinner with the Falcons winning awards in four of the six categories including Defensive Player of the Year recipient Jackson Staley. “To win the Defensive Player of the Year for private schools means that my hard work throughout my high school career and development as a Kinkaid player was appreciated and acknowledged by all involved in the Houston area private school football,” said Staley.

The Falcons defensive end, who also put in double duty on offense as a tight end for the Falcons, also praised the strong support system he’s had at Kinkaid. “I attribute my success to my defensive line coaches Brandon Layhew and Ameer Mustafa, my tight end coach Owen Daniels, offensive coordinator Lucas Peters, and head coach Nathan Larned. I also couldn’t have done it without my teammate Alexander Donnelly, who pushed me to be my best self.”

In addition to Staley, Kinkaid had a pair of other Player of the Year winners. Falcons senior Kristopher Carlson received the Lineman of the Year Award while senior Cooper Chambers was named the Ironman of the Year. In addition, Falcons head coach Nathan Larned was named the Private School Coach of the Year.

FLY, EAGLES, FLY Senior standout R.J. Lee (#78) was among a trio of Second Baptist players who were finalists for the Lineman of the Year award at the Private High School Awards Dinner. This past season, Second Baptist advanced to the TAPPS Division II State Championship Final. (Photo: Katelyn Ling)

With the Second Baptist Eagles advancing to the TAPPS Division II state finals, seven of its players were finalists at the private school awards dinner. “This senior class is pretty special. These guys represented our school extremely well, so I’m really happy they’ve been honored,” said Second Baptist head football coach Beck Brydon, who himself was a finalist for the Coach of the Year award.

The Eagles Player of the Year finalists included a trio of linemen in R.J. Lee, Lucas Mensing, and T.J. Walker as well as Defensive Player of the Year finalists Bryce Butler and Ethan Dishman, Ironman finalist Cash Harris, and Specialist finalist Felan Li.

The awards dinner took place just three days before the Eagles first berth to the state championship final since the 2001 season. It also marked the fifth state final appearance for the Eagles since the school started its football program in 1989. “It’s special, but it also would have been a disappointment had we not made it this far,” said Brydon.

“During the off-season we knew we had the tools to make it to week 14 this season. We just had to put things together and not stub our toe. We started the season by flying to Chicago for our opener, which was unique and fun. We won a nailbiter and played in quite a few close games throughout the season, but ultimately our team responded quite well.”

Editor’s note: Todd Freed is the host and executive producer of H-Town High School Sports, which airs Saturday at 10:30 p.m. on CW39 and Monday-Thursday on AT&T SportsNet SW. To submit high school sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, please email [email protected].