Canton’s Brazos Hesskew Wins ETSN.fm + Dairy Queen Defensive Player Of The Week

It must be something about Emory Rains for Canton linebacker Brazos Hesskew.

For the second consecutive season, the Eagles defensive standout turned in jaw-dropping numbers against Rains. The senior is the ETSN.fm + Dairy Queen Defensive Player of the Week after having won the same award against the same opponent 364 days ago.

Both Canton and Rains eyed the opportunity to ultimately work their way into District 5-4A Division II's second-place slot entering Friday's game. But Hesskew made it difficult for playoff-bound Rains to follow through with 19 tackles, including four for loss, in his team's 27-16 road win.

The Eagles rallied for 27 unanswered points, by the way.

Canton has the opportunity to finish second in the district behind defending Class 4A Division II state champion Gilmer. The Eagles will host Bullard on Friday, and both constetants are currently tied for second place with 3-1 district records.

Hesskew has 130 tackles through nine games. He's easily in the top one percent among East Texans within the category.

The linebacker recorded 25 tackles and five tackles for loss in the Eagles' 2014 meeting with Rains.

Canton is in a much more comfortable place this year.

Last season, Hesskew's squad entered the final week of the campaign needing a blowout win against Bullard and for the stars to align in other district matchups to sneak into the playoffs. Neither of those things happened, starting with a 35-21 loss to Bullard.

The teams that will advance into the postseason from District 5-4A Division II this year are already set, and Canton cannot fall below the third seed thanks to its head-to-head win against Rains. Gilmer, Bullard and Rains are the other teams that will see life beyond this upcoming week of games.

Hesskew will have to be a force again this week if the Eagles want that No. 2 seed. Bullard possesses the second-highest scoring offense among district teams.

ETSN.fm/Dairy Queen Defensive Players of the Week

• Week 10 (Oct. 29-Oct. 31) -- Brazos Hesskew, LB, Canton
• Week 9 (Oct. 22-Oct. 26) -- Breylan Bradford, DL, Spring Hill
• Week 8 (Oct. 15-Oct. 17) -- Kevin Jones, DB, West Rusk
• Week 7 (Oct. 8-Oct. 10) -- Devon Goguen, DL, Mineola
• Week 6 (Oct. 1-Oct. 3) -- Chase Boyd, LB, Winona
• Week 5 (Sept. 24-Sept. 26) -- Pierre Leonard, DL, John Tyler
• Week 4 (Sept. 17-Sept. 19) -- Noah Sneed, DB, Mineola
• Week 3 (Sept. 10-Sept. 12) -- Joe Wright, LB, West Rusk
• Week 2 (Sept. 3-Sept. 5) -- Brewster Griffith, LB, Carthage
• Week 1 (Aug. 27-Aug. 29) -- Ameron Dean, DB, Longview