The Best Performances the DCTX Staff Saw on Day 1 of the State 7-on-7 Tournament

Overall Day 1 MVP: Blake Broussard, Hamshire-Fannett QB (2028)

Hamshire-Fannett was swimming in the ‘Pool of Death’ on Thursday. The Longhorns were paired with defending state champion Stephenville, a Decatur team that made back-to-back state semifinal runs just two years ago, and the always dangerous Corpus Christi Miller. But you never would’ve known based on how Broussard carved up defenses all day long. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound signal-caller threw 14 touchdowns and no interceptions. 

Broussard earned District Offensive Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore with 2,234 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and one interception. He also showed his dual-threat ability with seven rushing touchdowns, then backed it up this spring by running a 52-second 400m dash as part of the Longhorns’ regional-qualifying 4x400M relay team (remember, he’s 205 pounds). Hamshire-Fannett offensive coordinator Blake Waggoner describes Broussard as a Fernando Mendoza type for his leadership and perfectionist attitude. If he misses a route at practice (which is rare), he will have the receivers stay after with him until they get it right. Broussard holds early offers from UTSA, UTEP, Tulsa, and Lamar.

Logan Bures, Ganado RB/LB (2027)
Nominated by Carter Yates

Ganado versus Albany was one of the most anticipated Division III pool play games of the day. You had Ganado on one side: the new guard, boasting a 47-10 record and the program’s first state championship in the last five years. On the other side, the generational dominance of Albany, which has made at least the third round of the playoffs all but three times since 2003. 

I came expecting a classic – Logan Bures turned it into a rout. Albany drove it inside the five-yard line on their first possession, only for Bures to swoop in from his safety spot with a pick. On the next series, he took an intermediate route to the house, prompting one of the State 7-on-7 organizers to say, ‘That boy can scoot!’ Then, on the next defensive series, he had a pick-six to put the game out of reach before it even started. Ganado breezed to a 25-13 victory. Overall, the Indians finished pool play with a 3-0 record, headlined by Bures’s five offensive touchdowns and one defensive touchdown.

Bures’s showing wasn’t a breakout performance; he’s been dominating on the TXHSFB stage for two years now. As a sophomore, he was a First Team All-State utility player on Ganado’s state championship team. Last year, he posted 1,413 rushing yards, 212 receiving yards, and 20 total touchdowns. Ganado head coach Josh Ervin says Bures is the type of kid you wish you had 11 of. Right now, his size (5-foot-8, 160) has prevented him from receiving the offers his play demands. He doesn’t have any scholarships yet, but the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor is showing interest. But Bures is lightning quick, going from 0 to 100 – or 100 to 0 – in a second. He’s also versatile, having rotated from outside linebacker, safety, and inside linebacker in his career. Bures has shown the most production at running back in his career, but he was a dynamic slot receiver on Thursday. 

Buddha Guerra, Seminole ATH (2029)
Nominated by Matt Stepp

Seminole’s Greg Poynor has been a head coach for 18 years, and he’s turned Seminole into one of TXHSFB’s most underrated programs since taking the reins in 2021. The Indians have reached the second round of the playoffs in each of the past four seasons. Poynor says Guerra, a 5-foot-9, 155-pound athlete in the Class of 2029, is the best player he’s ever coached. Guerra showed why on Thursday. DCTX High School Insider Matt Stepp said Guerra had roughly four interceptions and six touchdowns on the day, leading Seminole to a 3-0 record in pool play.

As a freshman, Guerra exploded onto the TXHSFB scene as a versatile offensive weapon with 607 rushing yards on 9.2 yards per carry, 518 receiving yards, and 15 total touchdowns. Poynor describes him as a kid who puts in the work and then some, building himself into an explosive playmaker. Look for Seminole to get Guerra the ball in as many ways as possible this fall.

Kam Brown, West Rusk WR/DB (2028)
Nominated by Greg Powers

Brown was a breakout star in 2025. The sophomore earned First Team All-District as both a wide receiver and cornerback, pairing 650 yards and eight touchdowns on offense with eight interceptions and two defensive touchdowns. That stat line was put into perspective for DCTX Director of Recruiting Greg Powers on Thursday – he didn’t remember Brown ever leaving the field despite the 100-degree heat. He helped the Raiders to an unblemished 3-0 record in pool play.

Brown has a Division I frame at 6-foot-4, 175 pounds, but his athleticism and standout play explain why he already holds offers from SMU, Oklahoma State, Kansas, UTSA, and Tulsa. With Brown – and an excellent group of seniors – West Rusk is a team to watch in 2026.

Shamar Nichols, Somerset WR/CB (2029)
Nominated by Mallory Hartley

Somerset showed why they could have one of the most exciting offenses in TXHSFB in 2026. We already knew they were coached by Koy Detmer, a record-setting TXHSFB quarterback who finished second in career passing yards at the University of Colorado before a 10-year NFL career. And, we were familiar with 2028 wide receiver Malakai Iverson, an All-State selection as a sophomore with 1,081 yards and 19 touchdowns. But DCTX recruiting coordinator Mallory Hartley saw 2029 wide receiver Shamar Nichols in person for the first time. He didn’t disappoint.

Nichols, a move-in from Tupelo, Mississippi, was one of the most physically impressive players on Thursday with a 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame. But he showed why he already holds SEC and Big Ten offers from Michigan and Missouri, among plenty of others. Nichols high-pointed several touchdown passes, showing off his outstanding ball skills and huge catch radius. But the way he aggressively competed as a rising sophomore against much older players was perhaps the most impressive sign from his day.

Marquis Shelton, Paris WR/CB (2027)
Nominated by Gavin Moritz

Shelton has a good frame at 6-foot, 175 pounds. But DCTX social media coordinator Gavin Moritz could’ve sworn he was much bigger by the way he played on Thursday. On a loaded Paris squad, Shelton was the No. 1 playmaker all day. He had three touchdowns against Somerset, two scores against Houston Yates, and one touchdown catch against Waco La Vega. 

Shelton’s performance against Somerset was particularly impressive because he displayed his two-way prowess. Guarding Somerset’s two DI wide receivers, Malakai Iverson and Shamar Nichols, Shelton made multiple standout plays, which led to a 27-26 win. Somerset attempted a fade route in the end zone on Shelton, but Shelton deflected the pass for teammate Jakabrian Record to intercept it.

Shelton had a solid junior campaign with 301 yards and three touchdowns receiving, along with 37 tackles and two interceptions in the secondary. But he’s obviously improved this offseason, evidenced by his 4.4 40-yard dash, 10.52 100-meter dash, and 40-foot-7-inch triple jump. Look for him to be an offensive focal point this fall, along with Record and explosive junior Fabian Brown.