​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? (Aug. 24-30)Candidates for the Abilene Reporter-News’ High School Athlete of the Week are listed in alphabetical order below.Ryan Alqorum, BangsBangs shined for the Dragons defensively in their season-opening 42-7 win over Dublin, recording 18 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, two QB hurries and a fumble recovery.Ellis Ashton, ForsanAshton had the biggest standout performance from Thursday night’s Howard County Bowl, powering the Buffs to their first win over Coahoma since 2022 with 85 rushing yards and a pair of touchdown runs on 21 carries and three receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown grab. He also scored on a pair of two-point conversions — one which sent the game to overtime, and one that served as Forsan’s go-ahead score in OT.Tristan Beal, Abilene HighBeal tallied 220 yards and a pair of passing touchdowns through the air and added 110 yards and a rushing touchdown on the ground in the Eagles’ 28-23 road loss to San Angelo Central.Connor Bible, BangsBible racked up 107 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground off 12 carries and added a 44-yard touchdown catch for the Dragons too in their runaway 42-7 victory against Dublin. He also had six tackles and an interception for Bangs defensively.Trent Buffington, BrownwoodBuffington rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown on just six carries to lift the Lions to a 13-7 road win over Abilene Wylie.Clay Chapman, AlbanyChapman shined in the Lions’ 35-26 season-opening victory over Hawley with 144 yards and three touchdowns through the air on 11-of-18 passing as well as 146 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground off 19 carries.Lane Couch, De LeonCouch ran wild in the Bearcats’ 40-7 blowout victory over San Saba, racking up 348 yards and four rushing touch