REVEALED: Built Ford Tough Player of the Week Winners - Week 10

PLANO, TEXAS, November 4, 2026 - Ford is celebrating the 21st anniversary of the prestigious Built Ford Tough Player of the Week and Year Awards, one of the most celebrated honors in Texas high school sports that recognizes student-athletes for their performance, leadership, and commitment to excellence. During each week of the 2026 regular season, fans, coaches, and media are asked to nominate players at FordPlayeroftheWeek.com.

Ford is partnering with Texas’ most iconic media brand, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, to honor past recipients and showcase their achievements both on and off the field. Throughout the season, Dave Campbell’s will produce the Built Ford Tough Player of the Week Show each Wednesday at 7 p.m. on DaveCampbells.com and across Dave Campbell’s social platforms (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X), inviting fans to tune in weekly and follow along for highlights, stories, and exclusive content.

The campaign will also be celebrated through Dave Campbell’s statewide media channels and UIL postseason broadcasts, with special recognition leading into the Built Ford Tough Player of the Year Banquet in January. A couple weeks after the banquet, one of the honorees will also be recognized with the Built Ford Tough Mr. Texas Football Award, a complementary honor that celebrates the state’s most outstanding high school football player as part of this season-long celebration.

This week’s winning athletes join a long list of remarkable players recognized for their exceptional efforts.  

Class 6A: Laykon Brassfield, Junior, QB, Lewisville High School

Mascot: Fighting Farmers

Opponent: Braswell High School

Eight touchdown passes. A school record. A district championship. Laykon Brassfield delivered a performance for the ages in Lewisville's 58-14 victory over Denton Braswell. The junior quarterback was nearly unstoppable, completing 21 of 34 passes for 356 yards and a school-record eight touchdowns without a turnover, leading the Fighting Farmers to their first district championship since 2021. Brassfield wasted little time taking control, throwing four touchdown passes in the first quarter as Lewisville exploded to a 31-0 lead. He connected with multiple receivers throughout the night, including five touchdown passes to Landon Brazzell, showcasing the accuracy, arm strength and playmaking ability that have made him one of the state's emerging quarterback prospects. The record-setting performance was particularly impressive considering Brassfield had recently returned to action after missing four games, demonstrating his ability to immediately regain command of the offense. A team captain and Class of 2028 quarterback prospect, Brassfield opened the season with more than 700 passing yards and 13 touchdowns in his first three games. Now leading a Lewisville team that is undefeated in district play, Brassfield has firmly established himself as one of North Texas' most exciting young quarterbacks.

"From the very first snap, Laykon was in complete control of this game. His poise, command of the offense, and elite playmaking ability were on full display all night. But what truly sets Laykon apart is his competitive drive and relentless leadership—he doesn't just execute at a high level; he elevates every teammate around him. Tonight was a testament to his talent, his team's unwavering trust, and a truly special night for our entire program.”

Class 5A: Covert Darbyshire, Senior, QB, Anderson High School

Mascot: Trojans

Opponent: Lehman High School

Covert Darbyshire or “Cove” as he is often referred to, has made a habit of lighting up scoreboards, and the Anderson senior quarterback delivered another spectacular performance as the Trojans secured their third consecutive playoff appearance. Darbyshire threw for 374 yards and four touchdowns in a commanding 63-0 victory over Cedar Creek, continuing a remarkable senior campaign that has made him one of Central Texas' most productive quarterbacks. Through seven games with published statistics, Darbyshire has completed 113 of 170 passes (66.5%) for 2,220 yards and 24 touchdowns, while adding five rushing scores, giving him 29 total touchdowns. He has already surpassed his junior-season totals of 2,285 passing yards and 19 touchdowns in touchdown production, with his yardage total closing in as well. Earlier this season, Darbyshire threw for 450 yards and six touchdowns against Pflugerville, then delivered another six-touchdown performance with 445 passing yards against Manor, earning Austin American-Statesman Central Texas Player of the Week recognition. A Brown University quarterback commit, Darbyshire has combined impressive accuracy, athleticism and leadership to help establish Anderson as one of the Austin area's most explosive offensive teams. With another playoff berth secured and his senior season reaching new heights, Darbyshire continues to build an impressive legacy for the Trojans.

“Cove has become a great leader, and he is engineering the offense very well right now averaging 63 points the last 2 games.  It means a lot to the team right now as we prepare for the playoffs that we are peaking at the right time.”

Class 4A: Kipton Neighbors, Junior, RB, Gilmer High School

Mascot: Buckeyes

Opponent: Carthage High School

When Gilmer's starting running back went down, Kipton Neighbors stepped up and delivered the performance of a lifetime, helping the Buckeyes pull off one of the biggest upsets of the Texas high school football season. Entering the game with just 42 rushing attempts all season, the junior exploded for 242 yards and four touchdowns on 22 carries, averaging 11 yards per attempt, as Gilmer stunned No. 1-ranked Carthage, 49-42, snapping the Bulldogs' remarkable 38-game winning streak. Neighbors repeatedly answered Carthage's scoring drives with explosive plays of his own, including a 71-yard touchdown run that helped swing momentum back to the Buckeyes. The breakout performance was no accident for the versatile Class of 2028 three-star prospect, who accounted for 29 touchdowns as a sophomore at Mineola, including 1,333 rushing yards and 19 rushing scores. This season, Neighbors has contributed as a receiver, runner and defender for Gilmer, showcasing the versatility that has attracted scholarship offers from Baylor, Kentucky, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and SMU, among others. Ranked among the nation's top 2028 athlete prospects, Neighbors delivered his biggest performance on the biggest stage, proving that when his team needed someone to carry the load, he was more than ready for the challenge.

“Kipton is an amazingly talented athlete who fills a number of important roles on our team. His competitiveness is second to none! His skill set was on full display in our recent victory totaling over 240 yards rushing and 4 TD’s. We are confident of great things ahead in his career.”

Class 3A: Kendray Porter Jr., Senior, RB, Newton High School

Mascot: Eagles

Opponent: Kountze High School

Not even a rain-soaked field could slow down Kendray Porter Jr. or “KJ” to those who know him best. KJ delivered another explosive performance and added a surprising new weapon to his arsenal. Battling wet, sloppy conditions, the Newton senior running back rushed for 118 yards and three touchdowns on just 10 carries, averaging 11.8 yards per attempt, while adding a reception. But perhaps his most impressive moment came just before halftime, when Porter stepped up and drilled a 40-yard field goal on his first attempt of the season, rewarding the extra work he had put into developing his kicking ability. The performance continued with a remarkable senior campaign in which Porter rushed for 1,195 yards and 22 touchdowns on just 106 carries, averaging 11.3 yards per carry. Through eight games, he has surpassed 100 rushing yards in every contest and scored three touchdowns in six of them. The 2025 District 12-3A Division II Offensive Player of the Year and Texas Sports Writers Association First Team All-State running back helped lead Newton to the 2025 Class 3A Division II state championship game after rushing for more than 2,000 yards as a junior. A three-star University of Houston commit, Porter is ranked among the state's top running back prospects and attracted scholarship offers from Texas Tech, UTSA and Stephen F. Austin.

“KJ has been one of the cornerstones of our program the last four years. He comes to work every day, is a great practice player and teammate. He is very humble despite all his recognition and success. He has been a pleasure to coach the last four years.”

Class 2A: Lexston Reese, Junior, RB/DB, Quanah High School

Mascot: Indians

Opponent: Clarendon High School

Lexston Reese may be a young man of few words, but the Quanah junior is making plenty of noise on the football field, delivering an extraordinary two-way performance in the heart of North Texas' Rolling Plains. In a wild 60-58 showdown against Clarendon, Reese carried the ball 28 times for 374 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 13.4 yards per carry, while adding two successful two-point conversions. But his dominance wasn't limited to offense. The standout running back and defensive back also recorded an incredible 20 tackles, including 17 solo stops, three forced fumbles and a pass breakup, putting together one of the most complete individual performances of the season. Reese has now rushed for 1,906 yards this season and is approaching 5,000 career rushing yards, building on a sophomore campaign in which he totaled 2,064 yards and 21 touchdowns. A two-time First Team All-District running back and two-time Padilla Poll Second Team All-State selection, Reese already owns Quanah's single-game rushing record after a 404-yard performance in the 2025 playoffs. He has also earned multiple regional Athlete of the Week honors. An A Honor Roll student and two-year Superintendent's Honors List recipient, Reese competes in varsity track and is known for his relentless work ethic, humility and team-first mentality. For a player who rarely seeks the spotlight, Reese continues to let his remarkable performances do the talking.

“Lex is one of the hardest-working athletes I’ve ever had the privilege of coaching. His work ethic, dedication, and leadership set the standard for our entire athletic program. He leads by example both on the football field and in the classroom, and he represents everything we want our student athletes to be. I couldn’t be more proud of him or more deserving of this recognition.”

Private School: Ben Sicking, Senior, QB, Sacred Heart Catholic High School

Mascot: Tigers

Opponent: Trinity Christian Academy

When Sacred Heart Catholic lost its starting quarterback to injury, senior Ben Sicking stepped in and delivered a record-breaking performance that will go down in school history. The versatile team captain was virtually unstoppable, exploding for 462 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 24 carries, averaging an incredible 19.3 yards per carry while setting a new Sacred Heart single-game rushing record. Sicking wasn't finished on offense, contributing six tackles and a pass breakup at safety, showcasing the toughness and versatility that make him such a valuable two-way player. His ability to step into the quarterback role and deliver one of the most remarkable rushing performances in school history speaks volumes about his athleticism, determination and leadership. A state champion hurdler who also competes in track and field, Sicking excels in the classroom as an A Honor Roll student. He is also an active member of the student council and an officer of the Letterman's Club, demonstrating his commitment to leadership beyond athletics.

"Ben is a model student at Sacred Heart. He leads by example, works hard in the classroom, weight room, and on the field. Ben is what Sacred Heart athletics is all about, he is a selfless teammate and continues to impress us on Friday nights. We are incredibly proud of Ben and excited he is being acknowledged for all of his hard work."

How the program works 
The Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Week program recognizes one high school student-athlete in six of the state’s athletic classifications each week of the regular season. 

Nominees must excel in three categories: 

At the end of the regular season, Ford and its advisory board will select one student-athlete from the 11 weekly winners to be the Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Year in each classification. Following the championship games, honorees will be recognized at a banquet next year and one winner will be elevated to be awarded Dave Campbell’s Mr. Texas Football.

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Ford F-Series: The best-selling truck for over 49 years 
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About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities, and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services, including BlueCruise (ADAS) and security. The company offers freedom of choice through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough electric vehicles (“EVs”) along with embedded software that defines always-on digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, the company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 169,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at fromtheroad.ford.com.

About Dave Campbell’s Texas Football

For over 66 years, the iconic Dave Campbell’s Texas Football media brand has been “The Bible” for millions of football fans across Texas. Its annual summer edition is essential reading for rabid football fans, previewing every high school and college team in the state. Known for its comprehensive coverage, TexasFootball.com offers extensive digital content, including team and recruit rankings, scores, exclusive interviews, podcasts, and daily shows. Additionally, Dave Campbell’s Texan Live streams over 2,000 live sporting events each year, bringing fans closer to the action.

Contact:

Lindsey Beane

Ford Motor Company 

304-546-3811

lindsey.beane@bursonglobal.com