A Texas A&M commitment, the 6-5, 290-pound Scales was named to the first-team offense after recording 65 pancakes and 55 knockdowns while paving the way for a Kangaroos’ offense that averaged 349.6 yards and 26.2 points per game.
He led Killeen (9-5) to the 4A Division I Region IV final, the school’s furthest playoff run since 1993 when the Roos lost to rival Temple 42-0 in the 5A Division II Region II final.
Killeen was eliminated from the playoffs by 4A No. 1 Austin Lake Travis, which is led by offensive player of the year Garrett Gilbert.
A 6-4, 200-pound Texas commitment, Gilbert was one of five first-team selections for Lake Travis, which is going for back-to-back state titles Saturday against Longview. The others were offensive lineman Paden Kelly, receiver Cade McCrary and linebackers Quinton Crow and Harry Hatch.
“To have five on there, it’s remarkable,” said first-year Lake Travis coach Chad Morris, whose team owns the state’s longest current winning streak at 29 games.
Morris uses similar words to describe Gilbert, who is rated by Rivals.com as the No. 2 pro-style quarterback and 18th best recruit in the country. Gilbert, the son of former NFL quarterback Gale Gilbert, completed 180 of 266 passes for 3,043 yards during the regular season. But those numbers are mild compared to the most striking stats - 38 touchdowns against just two interceptions in the regular season.
Including the playoffs, he has thrown for 51 TDs and rushed for 21 this season. He needs 363 passing yards on Saturday to break the state career record of 12,532 yards held by Texas Tech quarterback and Ennis’ Graham Harrell.
Last week Gilbert became the first Texas player to be named Gatorade’s national player of the year in the award’s 24-year existence joining former winners Peyton Manning (1993) and Emmitt Smith (1986).
He threw for more than 4,000 yards in leading Lake Travis to the 4A Division II title last year, when the Cavaliers beat Dallas Highland Park, a school with one of the best quarterback pedigrees in the state. He didn’t hesitate for a second when Morris came in from Stephenville and said he wanted to throw less and make his quarterback run more.
As a result, Gilbert added 12 touchdowns and 509 yards rushing in the first 10 games, and now he’s closing in on a 1,000-yard rushing season after five playoff victories.
“He bought into it 100 percent,” Morris said. “We told him, ‘There are going to be a lot of games that you’re going to run the football on designed runs.’ He welcomed that with open arms.”
Morris says he sees a future a lot like that of Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, a Heisman Trophy finalist who was the Longhorns’ leading rusher this season.
“I think Garrett is going to be a great dual-threat,” Morris said.
McCrary had 1,182 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns, and Quinton Crow, the only junior among the Lake Travis first-teamers, led the team with 129 solo tackles (164 total). Hatch had 19 tackles for loss and 11 sacks.
Casey Felton of Canyon Randall was the defensive player of the year and led a defensive line with a West Texas flavor. Rojelio Chavira of Dumas and Jesus Herrera of El Paso Parkland were fellow first-teamers, along with Chris Maldonado of Buda Hays in Central Texas.
Denison had two first-team offensive choices in lineman Corbin Boettger and running back D.J. Jones, who had 2,240 yards and 32 touchdowns. Both are juniors.
APSE Class 4A All-State Team
The 2008 Class 4A All-State high school football team, released Tuesday, as voted on by The Associated Press Sports Editors based on regular-season performance. Players are listed in alphabetical order at each position.
Offensive player of the year - Garrett Gilbert, Austin Lake Travis.
Defensive player of the year - Casey Felton, Canyon Randall.
FIRST-TEAM
OFFENSE
Linemen - Corbin Boettger, Denison, Jr.; Dalvin Glass, Dallas Carter, Jr.; Paden Kelly, Lake Travis, Sr.; Rhontae Scales, Killeen, Sr.; Mason Walters, Wolfforth Frenship, Sr.
Ends/receivers - A.J. Dugat, Dayton, Sr.; Cade McCrary, Lake Travis, Sr.
Quarterback - Garrett Gilbert, Lake Travis, Sr.
Running backs - John Hubert, Hewitt Midway, Sr.; D.J. Jones, Denison, Jr.; Kendial Lawrence, Rockwall-Heath, Sr.
Kicker - Justin Stout, West Mesquite, Jr.
DEFENSE
Linemen - Rojelio Chavira, Dumas, Sr.; Casey Felton, Canyon Randall, Sr.; Jesus Herrera, El Paso Parkland, Sr.; Chris Maldonado, Buda Hays, Sr.
Linebackers - Quinton Crow, Lake Travis, Jr.; Harry Hatch, Lake Travis, Sr.; Glenn Sumney, Texas City, Sr.
Backs - Charlie Alva, El Paso Chapin, Jr.; Donovan Bonner, Dallas Lincoln, Sr.; Joseph Garcia, Edcouch-Elsa, Sr.; LaMarcus Howard, Longview, Sr.
Punter - Jorge Martinez, Fort Worth North Side, Sr.
SECOND-TEAM
OFFENSE
Linemen - Presley Godson, Lamar Consolidated, Sr.; Greg Hall, Denton Guyer, Sr.; Ty Horn, Hewitt Midway, Sr.; Blake Pair, Stephenville, Sr.; Bryce Redman, Longview, Jr.; Abraham Trejo, Weslaco East, Jr.
Ends/receivers - Andre Gautreaux, Friendswood, Sr.; Kyle Guinyard, Ennis, Sr.; Logan Vick, Kerrville Tivy, Sr.
Quarterback - Scotty Young, Denton Ryan, Jr.
Running Backs - Andrew Alvarado, Weslaco East, Sr.; John De La Rosa, Canutillo, Sr.; Waymon James, Sherman, Sr.
Kicker - Jorge Martinez, Fort Worth North Side, Sr.
DEFENSE
Linemen - Meyer Criss, Fort Worth Wyatt, Sr.; Josh Emmons, Stephenville, Sr.; Chris Henderson, Dallas Carter, Sr.; Darcell Roberts, Dallas Lincoln, Sr.
Linebackers - Kerry Hyder, Austin Johnson; Tony Sanchez, Edcouch-Elsa, Sr.; Trenton Thomas, Brenham, Sr.
Backs - Victor Cooper, Red Oak, Sr.; Ahmad Dixon, Hewitt Midway, Jr.; Derrick Falke, Elgin, Sr.; Dustin Harris, Livingston, Sr.
Punter - Ryan Lasky, Willis, Sr.
HONORABLE MENTION
OFFENSE
Linemen - Jaqwaylin Arps, Denison; Bo Brasher, McKinney; Dayarion Broadnax, Brenham; Jesse Coffey, Denton Guyer; Kyle Gillam, Lumberton; Jesse Gonzalez, Canutillo; Garrett Gramling, Denton Ryan; Blake Holland, Denton Ryan; Corey Howard, Wichita Falls Rider; Hunter Howden, Lumberton; Troy Lawson, El Campo; Dewayne Phillips, Stephenville; Jazz Reeves, Longview; Jake Russell, Sulphur Springs; Catarino Salazar, Weslaco East; Zack Saldivar, Big Spring; Moises Samayoa, Port Lavaca Calhoun; Jeremy Serrano, Buda Hays; Matt Shepperd, Marshall; Jordon Smith, Aledo; Blake Spears, Abilene Cooper; Chance Vernon, Gregory-Portland; Brock Wempa, Royse City; Austin Wood, Rockwall-Heath.
Ends/receivers - D.J. Beshears, Denton Ryan; Marcus Calhoun, El Paso Austin; Chris Franklin, Everman; Jace Jackson, Sulphur Springs; Joey Knight, Lake Dallas; D’Shawn Singletary, Seguin; Eric Ward, Wichita Falls Rider; Darius White, Fort Worth Dunbar; Eric Whitfield, Dumas.
Quarterbacks - John David Baker, San Angelo Lake View; James Franklin, Lake Dallas; Cody Green, Dayton; Tyrik Rollison, Sulphur Springs; Luke Woodley, Dallas Highland Park.
Running backs - Gary Bivens, Brazosport; Darrell Cantu-Harkless, Austin Crockett; Jay Catlin, Denton Ryan; Bryan Dickenson, Dallas Highland Park; Jacob Hanna, Lumberton; Tyler McCray, Longview; Brad Mills, Stephenville; A’mon Pimpton, Abilene Cooper; Frank Reddic, Kilgore; Cori Sanchez, El Paso Chapin; Charles Sims, Houston Westbury; Peter Smith, Forney; Eric Stephens, Mansfield Timberview; Jaimaine Wilhite, Denton Guyer; Ryan Young, Sulphur Springs.
Kickers - German Chavarria, Stephenville; Norberto Contreras, El Paso Parkland; Esteban Martinez, Port Lavaca Calhoun; Joey Neale, Wichita Falls Rider; Jacob Powell, Denison; Lance Ratliff, Wolfforth Frenship.
DEFENSE
Linemen - Adam Ayala, Huntsville; Tony Battie, Dallas Lincoln; Taylor Bible, Denton Guyer; Ryan Blackshear, Dumas; Juan Cortez, Texas City; Kirby Ennis, Huntsville; Cade Hollandsworth, Big Spring; Daniel Jenkins, Houston Worthing; Bryan King, Port Lavaca Calhoun; Chris Knighton, Longview; Jon Koontz, Aledo; Bracy McCoy, Brazosport; Mark Murrill, Lumberton; Colton Nash, Sulphur Springs; Frank Rodriguez, Edcouch-Elsa; Zach Shaver, Wichita Falls Rider; Michael Terry, Angleton; Spencer Wilson, Denton Guyer.
Linebackers - Anthony Beard, Lumberton; Jeremy Boyd, Port Lavaca Calhoun; James Chambers, Wichita Falls Rider; James Davidson, Huntsville; Mason Deerinwater, Wichita Falls Rider; Tevin Elliott, Mount Pleasant; Brandon Henderson, Abilene Cooper; Murphey Henk, Dallas Highland Park; Tyler Higginbotham, Sulphur Springs; Ricky Inthirath, Dumas; Brandon Jeffery, Denison; Charles Kelly, Hewitt Midway; Lee Langston, Everman; DaiVon McLucas, Fort Worth Eastern Hills; Bryan Skow, El Campo; Blake Terry, Denton Guyer; Chris Weaver, Longview.
Backs - Matt Bonano, Dallas Highland Park; Kevin Brent, Dallas South Oak Cliff; Alonte’ Darden, Longview; Will Ford, Abilene Cooper; Jeremy Hall, Brenham; Aston Hughes, Denison; Demontre Hurst, Lancaster; Chris Malone, Stephenville; Johnny McSheffery, Sulphur Springs; Darren Mickens, El Paso Parkland; Daniel Muro, Del Valle; Josh Stewart, Denton Guyer; Jurell Thompson, Wichita Falls Rider; Shalamar Traylor, Denison; Kendrick Washington, Brenham; Eric Whitefield, Dumas; Jesse Wright, Aledo.
Punter - Collin Bradley, Hallsville; Norberto Contreras, El Paso Parkland; Ryan Erxleben, Lake Travis; Casey Felton, Canyon Randall; Joey Neale, Wichita Falls Rider; Edgar Salcido, El Paso Del Valle.
