​With the 2026 Texas high school football season kicking off and volleyball season tipping off statewide, many of the Big Country’s top high school athletes shined across the Lone Star State last week.Several athletes had standout performances during last week’s action and have been nominated for this week’s edition of the Abilene Reporter-News’ City National Bank Big Country High School Athlete of the Week.The Reporter-News is taking weekly nominations and will release a list of finalists for the City National Bank Big Country Athlete of the Week at the beginning of each week.Please include statistics from the week’s games and any pertinent information or honors.Students in all varsity sports are eligible and can only be named Athlete of the Week one time per season, per sport, and athletes from one school cannot win more than three consecutive weeks.The poll will close at 5 p.m. Friday and the winner will be announced shortly afterward.Nominations are due by 7 p.m. Saturday and can be submitted through email at sports@reporternews.com or Andrew.McCulloch@reporternews.com.Take a look at this week’s candidates and cast your vote.Who should be the City National Bank Big Country High School Athlete of the Week? (Sept. 3-5)Candidates for the Abilene Reporter-News’ High School Athlete of the Week are listed in alphabetical order below.Keaton Anderson, SeymourAnderson led the Panthers to a 48-15 upset win against Hamlin by throwing for 235 yards and four passing touchdowns.Connor Bible, BangsBible was unstoppable in the Dragons’ running game Friday night, racking up 283 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries in Bangs’ 62-44 shootout loss to Haskell.Blake Britting, AlbanyBritting caught six passes for 179 receiving yards and two touchdowns to lift the Lions to a hard-fought 27-26 victory over Anson.Trent Buffington, BrownwoodBuffington rumbled for 186 yards and three rushing touchdowns on 30 carries in the Lions’ back-and-forth 28-24 loss to rival Stephenville.Bryce Burkeen, De LeonBurkeen made plays all over the field during the Bearcats’ dominant 57-7 win over Stamford, catching six passes for 54 yards and a receiving touchdown as well as a 17-yard interception return touchdown defensively.Clay Chapman, AlbanyChapman threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns on 12-of-18 passing and scrambled for 48 yards and a rushing touchdown on 16 carries to help Albany secure a 27-26 victory against Anson.Lane Couch, De LeonCouch, the Big Country’s leading rusher, continued a red-hot start to the season by running for 209 yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns on 21 carries to help De Leon rout Stamford 57-7.Ashton Ellis, ForsanEllis churned out 168 yards and three touchdowns on the ground off 24 carries to lead Forsan to a 44-19 road win over Roscoe.Tommy Evans, Big SpringEvans had a huge night on the ground for the Steers, racking up 242 rushing yards and four touchdown runs as Big Spring fell in a 42-34 loss to Andrews.More: Week 2 Big