Nine Football Players, One Volleyball Player Sign at Carthage’s National Signing Day Ceremony
CARTHAGE -- One of the most established senior football groups and arguably the best volleyball player in school history signed national letters of intent Wednesday at Carthage's National Signing Day ceremony.
Carthage had four Division I FBS signees in quarterback Blake Bogenschutz (UTSA), offensive lineman Adrian Goodacre (ULL), receiver Terian "Tee" Goree (North Texas), and receiver O'Keeron Rutherford (North Texas). Volleyball standout Iesha Bryant signed with Tennessee.
Offensive lineman Griffin Bankhead signed with Trinity Valley Community College, while running back Tevin Pipkin inked with Tyler Junior College. Defensive lineman Mario McCain signed with Kilgore College. Center Cade Clinton signed with Mary Hardin-Baylor and defensive back Keldrean Strong inked with Texas Lutheran.
The nine senior football players helped Carthage win the 2013 Class 3A Division I state championship with a 15-1 record. The title was Carthage's fourth in six years. Bryant earned ETSN.fm East Texas Player of the Year honors after leading the Lady Dawgs to the District 20-3A crown and a second-round playoff appearance.
Listed below is each athlete and his or her accolades while at Carthage.
Carthage's 2014 National Signing Day Class
Iesha Bryant
Volleyball -- Signed with Tennessee
- TGCA first-team all-state
- Texas Sports Writers Association second-team all-state
- ETSN.fm East Texas Player of the Year
- District 20-3A MVP
Griffin Bankhead
Football -- signed with Trinity Valley Community College
- Offensive lineman, 6-3, 301
- ETSN.fm East Texas Super Team second team
- Padilla Poll first-team all-state
- District 20-3A first team
Blake Bogenschutz
Football -- signed with UTSA
- Quarterback, 6-1, 180
- ETSN.fm East Texas Super Team Co-Offensive Player of the Year
- ETSN.fm East Texas Super Team first team
- AP first-team all-state
- Padilla Poll first-team all-state
- District 20-3A MVP
- 9,577 passing yards -- school record, 11th in state history
- 4,003 passing yards in 2013 -- school record
- 119 touchdown passes -- school record, 5th in state history
- 57 touchdown passes in 2013 -- school record, 5th in state history
- 6 touchdown passes in one game (twice) -- ties single-game school record
Cade Clinton
Football -- signed with Mary Hardin-Baylor
- Center, 6-3, 230
- ETSN.fm East Texas Super Team first team
- Padilla Poll second-team all-state
- District 20-3A first team
Adrian Goodacre
Football -- signed with ULL
- Offensive lineman, 6-4, 318
- ETSN.fm East Texas Super Team third team
- AP first-team all-state
- District 20-3A first team
- Chose ULL over Houston
Terian "Tee" Goree
Football -- signed with North Texas
- Receiver, 6-2, 170
- ETSN.fm East Texas Super Team first team
- AP first-team all-state
- Padilla Poll first-team all-state
- District 20-3A first team as WR, DB, and PR
- 3,074 career receiving yards -- school record
- 1,740 receiving yards in 2013 -- school record
- 45 career touchdown catches -- school record
- 28 touchdown in 2013 -- school record
- Chose North Texas over Colorado, Colorado State, Louisiana Tech, Memphis, San Diego State, ULL, ULM, and UTSA
Mario McCain
Football -- signed with Kilgore College
- Defensive lineman, 6-0, 225
- ETSN.fm East Texas Super Team first team
- Padilla Poll first-team all-state
- AP honorable mention all-state
- District 20-3A Defensive MVP
- 59 consecutive starts -- school record
Tevin Pipkin
Football -- signed with Tyler Junior College
- ETSN.fm East Texas Super Team second team
- Padilla Poll first-team all-state
- AP honorable mention all-state
- District 20-3A first team
- 5,471 career rushing yards -- school record
- Chose TJC over Kilgore College
O'Keeron Rutherford
Football -- signed with North Texas
- ETSN.fm East Texas Super Team second team
- Padilla Poll second-team all-state
- District 20-3A first team
- Chose North Texas over ULM
Keldrean Strong
Football -- signed with Texas Lutheran
- ETSN.fm East Texas Super Team honorable mention
- District 20-3A first team as WR and DB