PLANO, TEXAS, September 10th, 2025 - Ford is celebrating the 20th 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 2025 regular season, fans, coaches, and media are asked to nominate players at FordPlayeroftheWeek.com.

To mark the milestone, 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 Thursday at 10:30 p.m. on Texan Live and across Dave Campbell’s social platforms, 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. At the banquet, one of the honorees will also be recognized with the Dave Campbell’s 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: Camden Hughes, Junior, QB, The Woodlands College Park High School

Mascot: Cavaliers

Opponent: Klein Cain High School

Camden was the Houston Chronicle's Player of the Week during Week 1 and took another step forward in College Park's second game against Klein Cain, completing 24 of 34 of 471 yards and six touchdowns and scrambled seven times for 63 yards and a score. He was selected as a captain for his junior year and wins praise from coach Kyle Coats for his leadership skills. He has recruiting offers from North Texas and UTSA.

“Camden is a confident player who enjoys having fun with his teammates and picks everyone else up around him with the way that he plays. Camden has helped mold this team into a true competitor in our district, and I’m excited to see where he takes us from here.” - COLLEGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH KYLE COATS

Class 5A: D.K. Garza, Senior, RB, Alamo Heights High School

Mascot: Mules

Opponent: Churchill High School

One of the best running backs in San Antonio last year, DK Garza of Alamo Heights has gotten his senior season off to a rousing start. He has set a torrid pace for the Mules’ prolific offense, rushing for 447 yards and eight touchdowns in only 25 carries – an average of 17.9 yards per attempt. Garza was at his best in Alamo Heights’ 54-24 victory against San Antonio Churchill last Saturday, when he rambled for 368 yards and six TDs on just 14 carries, a 26.3 average. His scoring runs covered 67, 75, 14, 77, 15 and 62 yards. Garza also caught three passes for nine yards. Garza ran for 1,365 yards and 25 TDs, added 10 receptions for two TDs, and scored on two kickoff returns last year, when the Mules finished 12-1 and reached the regional semifinals. A four-sport athlete and Cornell commit, Garza is also an exemplary student with a 95 grade-point average. Garza is a team captain and a member of the unity council.

“Obviously, D.K. is special and he’s not a surprise because he did it last year. Every time he touches the ball, you kind of hold your breath because he just has that ability. He’s very patient. He lets the blocks develop. He finds that little crease and then when he explodes, he just has a different gear. What’s fun about him is like when you watch him, he just glides. It never looks like he’s running fast, but he’s not getting caught. He just looks different when he runs with the football than other running backs. He’s a great kid. He’s the same off the field as he is on the field. He’s a team-first guy and a great teammate. He just has a ton of God-given talent as well.” - ALAMO HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH RON RITTIMANN

Class 4A: Damian Figueroa, Senior, RB, Tuloso-Midway High School

Mascot: Warriors

Opponent: W B Ray High School

Locked in a high-scoring contest on Friday, with his team playing with a backup quarterback, Tuloso-Midway running back Damian Figueroa, one of the best running backs in the region, needed to help the Warriors keep putting points up on the board. The senior answered the call, with 33 carries for 280 yards rushing to go with seven touchdowns, leading to his selection as the Class 4A Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Week. He even added 23 yards receiving in the contest as Tuloso-Midway outlasted Corpus Christi Ray 56-46 to move to 2-0 on the season, as the school, with only six playoff berths in program history, tries to make the postseason for the fourth consecutive year.

"You can’t say enough about Damian, he is so tough.You try to take him out of the game and he doesn’t want to come out. He’s our bell cow and we are going to hand him the ball to win football games for us. He does a great job in the offseason, which is why he is able to have as many carries as he does. He’s just a phenomenal football player.” - TULOSO-MIDWAY HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH JAMES VILLARREAL

Class 3A: A.J. Morton, Junior, Safety, Hughes Springs High School

Mascot: Mustangs

Opponent: Ore City High School

A.J. Morton believes if the football is in the air, it belongs to him, and that works the same way whether he’s playing offense or defense for the Hughes Springs Mustangs. He demonstrated that in a big way for the Mustangs in a Week 2 45-23 win over Ore City by catching five passes for 130 yards and a touchdown and intercepting three passes – returning one for a score. In two games, Morton has 11 catches for 217 yards and a TD on offense to go along with four interceptions on the defensive side.

“A.J. is an extremely gifted athlete with a very high ceiling. He has a nose for the football, which is evident in his four interceptions through the first two games. He’s an instinctual player that understands how to use his height and athleticism against an opponent in open space. He’s a ball hawk on both sides of the ball. Big time players make big time plays in big time moments. A.J. has shown that he’s a playmaker. Any time the ball is in the air in his direction, there’s a good chance that he is coming down with it.” - HUGHES SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH BLAKE WORLEY

Class 2A: Drake Phillips, Junior, RB/DB, Harleton High School

Mascot: Wildcats

Opponent: Queen City High School

Drake Phillips, a junior two-way standout from Harleton High School, delivered a dominant performance in the Wildcats’ first win of the season - a 34-20 victory over Queen City. Phillips carried the ball 17 times for 162 yards and three touchdowns, powering the offense with his speed and toughness. On the defensive side, he was just as impactful, grabbing two interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown. His all-around effort was key in helping Harleton secure the much-needed win and set the tone for the rest of the season.

“Drake's performance was a great individual achievement that was a result of tremendous team effort. The recognition he has earned not only sheds a light on his personal talent but helps to highlight our team and program as a whole.” - HARLETON HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH ERIC DRODDY

Private School: Keaton Lee, Senior, WR, Lubbock Christian High School

Mascot: Eagles

Opponent: Sundown High School

Keaton Lee, a senior wide receiver and safety from Lubbock Christian, put together a phenomenal performance under the Friday night lights, hauling in 9 receptions for 237 yards and 5 touchdowns, along with two crucial 2-point conversions. Defensively, he anchored the secondary with 6 tackles, once again proving why he’s the heart and soul of the team. As a two-way starter and team captain, Keaton exemplifies servant leadership—he’s humble, hard-working, and deeply committed to those around him. Whether it’s mentoring underclassmen, leading by quiet example, or taking time postgame to connect with fans, Keaton’s impact stretches far beyond the field. He’s the kind of player every coach dreams of and the kind of young man every community is proud to call their own.

“Keaton is our captain and embodies the true essence of a servant-leader. He’s everyone’s best friend, cares deeply for the underclassmen, and is a “do-right” who leads first and foremost by example.” - LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH CHRIS SOFTLEY

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:

• Individual performance on the field, including significant statistics from that week’s game

• Contribution to the team’s success through individual leadership abilities

• Performance off the field, including academic success and good community citizenship

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.To learn more about the Built Ford Tough Player of the Week Program, visit www.fordplayeroftheweek.com

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Ford is the undisputed truck leader in Texas. Ford F-Series sets the standard for full-size pickups with leading payload, towing, interior roominess, strength, and reliability. Ford is proud to recognize the Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Players of the Week.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is 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 and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, as well as connected services. Additionally, Ford is establishing leadership positions in mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 182,000 people worldwide. More information about the company, its products and Ford Credit is available at corporate.ford.com.

About Dave Campbell’s Texas Football

For over 65 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 1,900 live sporting events each year, bringing fans closer to the action.

Contacts:

Pauline Fitzgerald

Ford Motor Company

203-947-5158

pauline.fitzgerald@bursonglobal.com