Fueled by faith, the junior quarterback had the Texans to within inches of the state title game

By Michael Adams
madams@onthesidelinessports.com

WIMBERLEY –  Two inches may not seem like a far distance to travel. For Wimberley’s Cody Stoever, two inches might have well been 100 yards.

Those inches were the difference in Wimberley’s 35-33 loss to Bellville in the Class 4A-II state championship game.  

It’s something Stoever, the 2023 On the Sidelines’ Sports Mr. Austin Football, still thinks about.

“Oh man, it still stings,” Wimberley’s start quarterback said. I’ll be just going about my day and feel it and hit myself on the leg. It probably won’t stop stinging for a long time.”

Consider it motivation for the offseason heading into his senior season.

“It’s frustrating and it hurts,” he said. “It’s going to make us work harder in the summer and fuel us next season. I wish we could just go out and play one more game next week, but it’s a long process in the offseason.”

Mr. Football

Stoever was everything for the Texans football team. He was the field general, motivator, rusher, passer and, in a way, the team’s unofficial chaplain.

In a broader sense, he was Mr. Football.

“What sets Cody apart is his competitiveness and leadership,” said Wimberley coach Doug Warren. “He just has a quality about him that other kids gravitate toward. He has a lot of confidence and works extremely hard… He’s one of those talents that don’t come around very often.”

The District 13-4A-II Most Valuable Player put together an encore performance in 2023 of his sophomore season.

Stoever threw for over 2,000 yards and rushed for over 1,000 for second time in his short career at Wimberley.

As a sophomore in 2022, he was thrust into the starting job as a sophomore and threw for 2,441 yards and ran for another 1,1170. He scored a total 51 touchdowns only had 9 turnovers.

As a junior, he bested that performance with 2,992 yards passing and 1,585 yards rushing, scoring 73 touchdowns with just 5 interceptions.

It leaves one to wonder what the 5-11, 190-pound Stoever has in up his sleeve for his senior year.

“Everyone thinks that being a state champion is the epitome of high school football, but outside of that, and more importantly, the true success is how we grow as young men,” Stoever said. “My focus is what can I do as a senior, to impact the younger players and leave a legacy here at Wimberley.”

Faith and football

If you ask Stoever what fuels his passion for football, he’ll tell you that it’s his faith in God. Stoever started a voluntary Bible study this season on Monday mornings. It’s one of the many accomplishments of this season he’s proudest of achieving.

“My faith is the most important thing in my life,” Stoever said. “I’m really excited to start that back up next season and connect people to the lord who don’t always have that access.”

Stoever’s faith is visible on the football field. He leads the team in prayer at the opposite end of the field after they’ve ran out of the inflatable tunnel before each game, and in the team huddle after each game.

“I think the lord wants me to use my platform to bring people closer to him,” Stoever said. “At the end of the day, football is just a sport and it’s not going to be there forever, but the lord’s love will.”

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