-
(Photo/Alex Kielar) Jaime Cruz was selected as this year’s recipient of the The Fighting Heart award voted on by the Buckaroos coaching staff and was also voted to the Jerry Tubbs Ring of Honor for permanent team captains by his teammates. -
(Photo/Alex Kielar) Christian Flores was named this year’s recipient of the Jackie Cooper Memorial award as well as a spot on the player-selected Jerry Tubbs Ring of Honor for permanent team captains. -
(Photo/Alex Kielar) Ryan Waller was named offensive MVP by his teammates following a strong sophomore season in which he recorded 730 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 41 catches for an average of 66.4 receiving yards per game. -
(Photo/Alex Kielar) Ryan Waller was named offensive MVP by his teammates following a strong sophomore season in which he recorded 730 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 41 catches for an average of 66.4 receiving yards per game. -
(Photo/Alex Kielar) Douglas White was named a co-defensive MVP by his teammates along with Hayden Mendoza following a year in which White recorded 43 total tackles, two sacks and seven quarterback hurries. -
(Photo/Alex Kielar) Hayden Mendoza is the Buckaroos co-defensive MVP for the past season in which he led the defense with 6.4 tackles per game (total of 70), six sacks and eight quarterback hurries. -
(Photo/Alex Kielar) Quarterback Joseph Juneau and offensive lineman Brandon Niblett were selected to the Jerry Tubbs Ring of Honor for permanent team captains by his teammates.
The 2025 coaching staff and player selected awards have been voted on for the Breckenridge Buckaroos football team, announced by head coach Casey Pearce following the team’s bi-district loss to the Paradise Panthers.
The coaching staff awards are the Jackie Cooper Memorial award–given to a player with high character, who is the ultimate competitor and the best teammate–and the Fighting Heart award, given to a player who is a fighter, plays above his ability level and leads through work ethic and determination.
The player-selected awards, meanwhile, are the Jerry Tubbs Ring of Honor for permanent team captains and an offensive and defensive most valuable player(s). The Ring of Honor is awarded to senior players who exhibited leadership on and off the field.
Christian Flores received the Jackie Cooper Memorial award as well as earning a spot on the Ring of Honor along with five of his teammates–Douglas White, Joseph Juneau, Jaimie Cruz and Brandon Niblett.
Flores missed the first five games of the season–all non-district–due to an injury he sustained in preseason, and returned when the Bucks’ district schedule opened up Friday, Oct 10 at Clyde. Averaging 4.2 yards per carry, Flores recorded 227 yards rushing on 54 carries and one touchdown which he scored on Senior Night, Friday, Nov. 7.
Defensively, Flores had 45 total tackles–four for loss, one sack and one pass deflection.
The Fighting Heart award went to Cruz, who averaged 5.6 yards per carry this season with a total of 827 yards and eight touchdowns on 149 carries. He was a major factor in the running game all season even when Flores was back from injury.
Defensively, Cruz recorded 39 total tackles–four for loss and one fumble recovery.
The offensive MVP was given to sophomore receiver Ryan Waller, who averaged 66.4 yards per game with 730 yards and six touchdowns on 41 receptions. His biggest game was Friday, Sept. 26 at Tolar when he recorded 127 receiving yards and two touchdowns on seven catches.
As it was Waller’s first year playing on varsity, the Bucks have a go-to receiver for the next two seasons.
The Bucks have co-defensive MVPs in junior edge rusher Hayden Mendoza and senior defensive lineman White. Mendoza led the defense with 6.4 tackles per game (total of 70), six sacks and eight quarterback hurries. He also had one pass deflection, two caused fumbles and a fumble recovery.
White recorded seven quarterback hurries–second behind Mendoza–43 total tackles, two sacks, one pass deflection and a fumble recovery.
