Charlie Brewer has a little something to call his own in the decorated family history of playing quarterback in Texas.
The Lake Travis High School senior was named the 2016 Texas Associated Press Sports Editors player of the year Friday, making his school the first to win the award twice. Garrett Gilbert won in 2008.
Brewer's quarterbacking family includes his Cotton Bowl-winning father at Texas (Robert) and his two-time state champion brother at Lake Travis (Michael). He will chase his own championship Saturday night in the Class 6A Division I title game against The Woodlands at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Brewer, the 6A offensive player of the year, is the 10th winner of the award, with 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel among the honorees. It is voted on by eight sports writers and editors on a ballot that includes the 10 offensive and defensive players of the year in the five classifications of the Texas AP's all-state teams.
The bloodline runs a little deeper than dad and brother for the younger Brewer. His grandfather, Charlie Brewer, won a state championship at Lubbock High School in 1951 before starting for the Longhorns.
"The Brewers know a little bit about playing quarterback," Lake Travis coach Hank Carter said. "It's not easy to play quarterback here. It's certainly not easy when you've had an older brother come through that's won two state championships. I can't imagine anybody handling it better than Charlie has."
Michael Brewer won his titles when Lake Travis was on a state-record run of five straight championships from 2007-11. He first played at Texas Tech before finishing his career at Virginia Tech. Charlie Brewer has orally committed to SMU, where former Lake Travis coach Chad Morris is the head coach.
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The younger Brewer reached the title game last year, when Lake Travis lost in a championship game for the first time, 34-7 to eight-time champion Katy. Now he gets another chance to join his brother and grandfather among Texas high school champs.
"It is our last shot, but we've also got to focus on the game plan," said Brewer, who didn't throw an interception in the regular season and now has 3,669 yards passing and 52 touchdowns with one pick. "We just need to play smart and play turnover-free on offense, which we did not do the year before."
Brewer grew up watching a series of Division I quarterbacks that included his brother, Gilbert and 2016 Heisman Trophy finalist Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma. And his dad has a place in Texas lore after rallying the Longhorns to a 14-12 victory over Alabama in the Cotton Bowl following the 1981 season.
"When I was young I didn't really understand all of it," Charlie Brewer said. "As I got older, I got to see some footage of when he played. He's really laid back, my dad, with the football aspect. A lot of people would think that he'd push football. It's the exact opposite."
Carter has been at Lake Travis for nine years, or about half of Charlie Brewer's life.
"It's been very, very neat watching him grow up and compete the way he has," Carter said. "We've always rooted for him. I think it's hard to be the younger brother of a star. But Charlie has made a name for himself and a star all on his own too."
With an award all his own as well.
Previous Winners
2015: Sam Ehlinger, QB, Austin Westlake
2014: Kyler Murray, QB, Allen
2013: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Whitehouse
2012: Kenny Hill, QB, Southlake Carroll
2011: Johnathan Gray, RB, Aledo
2010: Johnny Manziel, QB, Kerrville Tivy
2009: Scotty Young, QB, Denton Ryan
2008: Garrett Gilbert, QB, Lake Travis
2007: Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Rosenberg Lamar
