Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas

Aledo running back Johnathan Gray was named the Gridiron Legends High School Player of the Year by the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas, the bowl committee announced today.  The award was presented by Wrangler Jeans and Cavender’s Boot City.  Formerly known as Mr. Texas Football, the award was given out by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football and was voted on by fans, players and coaches throughout the state. 

Gray capped his record-setting prep career by leading Aledo to its third consecutive state title on December 17 in Arlington. Gray rushed for 241 yards on 30 carries and scored one touchdown in the Bearcats’ 49-28 win over Manvel at Cowboys Stadium. The touchdown, a 37-yard run in the fourth quarter, was Gray’s 65th of the season and the 205th of his career, breaking the national high school record set by Michael Hart of Nedrow Onondaga, N.Y.

Gray, who was also named the 2011 Gatorade National Player of the Year, finished his career with 10,908 rushing yards, which ranked third on the all-time national list. Gray’s 70 overall touchdowns this season were one shy of the national single-season record set by T.A. McLendon of Albemarle, GA in 2001. Gray has verbally committed to play at the University of Texas next season.

This was the fourth consecutive year in which the award has been presented.  Previous winners were Kerrville Tivy QB Johnny Manziel last year, Gilmer QB Darian Godfrey in 2009, Lake Travis QB Garrett Gilbert in 2008 and Lamar Consolidated RB Jaquizz Rodgers in 2007.

Fans, coaches and players voted for the state’s player of the week each week during the high school season by going to Cavenders.com, WranglerWestern.com, TexasFootball.com and MeinekeCarCareBowlofTexas.com. Each weekly winner was announced online on each of the voting sites; and all of the weekly winners were invited to attend the 2011 Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas and were nominated for the Player of the Year award.

The Player of the Year was selected at the conclusion of the season, based on in-store votes at Cavender’s Boot City locations throughout Texas. The votes were tabulated by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.