The Snyder News All-Decade series

In today’s installment of The Snyder News All-Decade series, we take a look at some of the best offensive football players to take the field for the Ira Bulldogs and Hermleigh Cardinals over the last 10 years.
Offense
First Team
Lance Morris
(Ira, 2009-12)
Almost a given for our list and the first of the Morris brothers to make an appearance, Lance Morris is regarded as one of the most productive six-man football players of all time.
Morris finished his career in black and orange with 11,866 rushing yards, the most ever in six-man football history.
Morris also set a record with 179 touchdowns.
After bursting onto the scene as a freshman in 2009, Morris set off on an unbelievable career over the next few years. As a sophomore, Morris racked up 3,283 rushing yards with 56 touchdowns, earning District 1-6A Offensive MVP award and all-state accolades.
In his junior season in 2011, he won his second straight Offensive MVP award and in 2012, rushed for another 3,000 yards, broke the rushing record and took home Offensive MVP and all-state honors alongside his younger brother, Logan Morris, who was named Defensive MVP.
Morris graduated as one of the most prolific football players in the state. His rushing yards record still stands and his productivity on the field will long be remembered by Ira fans.
Logan Morris (Ira, 2011-14)
Not to be out-done, Logan Morris may have been a more complete player than his record-breaking brother.
Morris earned Newcomer of the Year honors as a freshman in 2011. In his sophomore season in 2012, Morris led the Bulldogs in tackles and was named the District 7-1A Defensive MVP, alongside his brother Lance, who was named Offensive MVP.
In 2012, following his brothers graduation, Logan was handed the reins to the offense by head coach Toby Goodwin. That year he ran for 2,946 yards and 53 touchdowns.
Paired with quarterback Tyler Goodwin and tight end Jared Cotton, the Bulldogs began to build one of the best six-man football programs in the state, going 10-0 and spending much of the season as the state’s top-ranked team. Morris earned Offensive MVP honors and was named to the all-state team alongside teammates Cotton and Goodwin.
As a senior, Morris ran for 3,123 yards and 60 touchdowns, earning Offensive MVP honors. The Bulldogs went 10-0 and reached the Area playoffs before falling.
Morris finished his career having been named to three all-state teams and earning nine all-district awards.
Zach Digby
(Hermleigh, 2011-14)
A four-year starter for the Hermleigh Cardinals, Digby was a jack of all trades.
A spread-back for the Cardinal offense, Digby was a threat both with his legs and his arm. He was named to the all-district team all four years of his career, and had two seasons in which he ran for more than 1,000 yards and threw for another 1,000 yards.
Karson Valentine
(Ira, 2017-19)
Valentine was a playmaker in every sense of the word. His athleticism allowed him to make an impact in a variety of ways.
Valentine earned Newcomer of the Year honors in 2017 as a sophomore and became one of the best six-man players in the state as a junior.
He accounted for 11 touchdowns and earned all-state honors as junior.
As a senior, Valentine rushed for just under 1,000 yards and accounted for 33 touchdowns. He threw for 183 yards and four touchdowns and caught 25 passes for 400 yards and eight touchdowns, demonstrating his ability to make an impact in different ways.
Tyler Goodwin
(Ira, 2011-13)
A three-year starter, the Bulldogs did nothing but win with Goodwin under center.
The first of the three Goodwin brothers to man the quarterback position for head coach  Toby Goodwin, Tyler led the Bulldogs to a 30-0 regular season record in his three years as a starter.
As a senior in 2013, Goodwin threw for 899 yards and 22 touchdowns, netting him all-state honors. Goodwin was named the District’s First Team quarterback three times before handing the reins to his brother, Zach Goodwin, who took over the offense in 2014.
Jared Cotton (Ira, 2011-13)
Another member of the dominant early decade Ira Bulldog team, Cotton was primarily a force on defense.
Even so, Cotton earned first team honors as a tight end in 2011 and 2012. As a senior in 2013, Cotton earned first honors as a fullback and was named to the all-state Second Team. He ran for 701 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 25 passes for 538 yards and 12 touchdowns his senior season.
Second Team
Anthony Coy (Ira, 2017-19)
The latest prolific rusher for the Ira Bulldogs, Coy was named the District Offensive MVP as a junior in 2018 after rushing for 1,688 yards and 38 touchdowns. His senior season, Coy was named the first team all-district running back and helped the Bulldogs to an 11-1 season.
Payton Rivera
(Hermleigh, 2017-19)
Another jack of all trades, Rivera starred for the Cardinals over the past three season.
After earning All District honors as a freshman in 2017, Rivera broke out in 2018.
Rivera ran for 1,048 yards and 20 touchdowns and threw for another 1,356 yards and 19 touchdowns, bringing him to 2,404 total yards and 39 touchdowns. Rivera earned first team honors in 2019 as well.
Rowdy Mhoon
(Ira, 2012-14)
A staple at center for the Bulldogs, Mhoon earned first team all-district honors in both 2012 and 2013.
Mhoon played a big role in the early decade success of the Ira program and earned a spot on this list due to his consistency at center.
Honorable Mentions
Nathan Goodwin
(Ira, 2017-19)
Coletyn King
(Hermleigh, 2015)
Tanner Schifflett
(Ira, 2013-14)
Zach Goodwin
(Ira, 2014)
Next weekend, The Snyder News All-Decade Series will break down the best of the best on the defensive side of the ball for the Ira Bulldogs and the Hermleigh Cardinals.