Valley's Jaxon Edwards shined at TSMCA Division I football all-star game

IOWA PARK ― Valley running back Jaxon Edwards showed exactly why he was selected to the Texas Six-Man Coaches Association Division I football all-star game Friday night.

Edwards caught five passes for 123 yards, rushed six times for 31 yards and completed one pass for 24 yards en route to being awarded Offensive MVP of the game and leading the West All-Stars to a 36-26 victory over the East at Hawk Stadium.

“It’s pretty surreal. You know, you put all this work into this sport, then it’s just over. But that’s not the point; it’s the memories you make along the way and the people you meet,” Edwards said. “These people will always be brothers to me.”

Edwards’ coach at Valley, John Stanaland, said it was hard to see Edwards leave the game of football behind, but stressed that Edwards had done things the right way his whole playing career.

“It’s hard for him, it’s hard for me. He’s a phenomenal player,” Stanaland said. :He’s put blood, sweat and tears into the Valley program for four years of high school, and he’s done everything that every coach has asked him to do. He can leave the field with his head held high, knowing that he did everything he can do and left everything on the field.”

While Edwards downplayed the importance of the MVP award, Stanaland said he wasn’t surprised Edwards won it due to his work ethic.

“I’ve coached Jackson for three years, since he was a sophomore, and he’s gone out and made plays since he was a sophomore,” Stanaland said. “He’s a phenomenal player, he’s even a better person.”

Stanaland added that Edwards’ ability to play anywhere on the field helped him do well in the game and ultimately claim Offensive MVP.

“Normally at Valley he was our running back, but here tonight he played a lot of receiver, ran a lot of routes, and excelled at that,” Stanaland said. “He’s one of those versatile kids who can do a lot of different things at a lot of different spots.”.

Edwards said with both the all-star game and the game of football behind him, the next thing he plans to do is train as a firefighter in the fall.

“I’m attending fire school in the fall. Just hoping to be the best that I can be in everything that I do, so that’s my plan right now. I’m all in,” Edwards said.

Stanaland said he was confident that Edwards will continue to be the best he can be.

“I think he’s going to be extremely successful. Just the drive and determination that he’s had in everything that he does, whether it’s academics or on the field, everything that he does he’s been a success,” Stanaland said. “I know he’s going into the fire academy soon, and there’s not many more people that I would trust my life in their hands than that kid.”

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Turkey Valley's Jaxon Edwards at TSMCA Division I all-star football