2022 RECORD OVERALL RECORD : 9-2 DISTRICT RECORD : 6-0
Cayuga WILDCATS
JUWAN LEE Sports Editor sports @ palestineherald . com
For the first time in six years , the Cayuga Wildcats celebrated a district championship . Even more special , they were undefeated district champions after defeating each of their six district opponents by an average of 39 points per game . They dominated on both sides of the ball as only three of their 11 opponents eclipsed double digits . Cayuga ’ s consistency eventually earned Head Coach Jacob Magee Texas Football ’ s Class 2A Coach of the Week award . Cayuga ’ s senior class was the epitome of resiliency . A 1-8 2020 season was followed by an 0-5 start to the 2021 season . Since then , they were 12-3 in their last 15 non-playoff games . Offensively , Cayuga averaged 324 yards per game on the ground and 6.7 yards per carry “ We tell them you get to write your own pages in the history book ,” Magee said . “ What do you want your legacy to be ? We ’ re where we ’ re at because there ’ s a level of trust between coaches and players . We believe in each other .” The Wildcats were projected to finish third in district and that was more than enough motivation for Cayuga to rise above the doubt . “ Nobody has given us anything and that ’ s what I love ,” Magee said . “ It ’ s a life lesson . You can ’ t play the victim . We ’ re not that , we ’ re not this . We ’ re not moving up in the rankings . If you want it , take it . Go earn somebody ’ s respect . I feel like that ’ s what this group has done . If you want something go work for it . They have equity in it , so it means even more .” The Cayuga Wildcats filled the district awards with six district superlatives and 11 All-District first team honorees . Included in that was Chase Hearrell , who was named the District 7-2A Most Valuable Player .
PHOTO BY JUWAN LEE
Head coach Jacob Magee led Cayuga to their first district championship since 2016 . The Wildcats finished undefeated in district play .
Hearrell was all over the field as a passer , rusher , receiver and defensive player . He passed for two touchdowns on the year , but where he made his major contribution was in the rushing game . Hearrell led Cayuga in rushing with 1,374 yards and 12 touchdowns on 151 carries . He averaged 137.4 yards per game . In that was six 100-yard rushing performances and a 300-yard game against Cross Roads . Helping block for Hearrell was Jacob Ingram who was named Offensive Linemen of the Year . Ingram was a part of a line that produced a 1,000- yard rusher and 3,149 yards rushing as team , along with 37 touchdowns . Landan Henry was named
12 WINTER EDITION 2023