After a monstrous junior campaign in which he threw for 2,440 yards and 24 touchdowns through 11 games, Sachse (Texas) junior and U.S. National Team alum Jalen Mayden is a finalist for the Texas high school Class 6A Offensive Player of the Year award.

Mayden is one of a dozen Texas high school football players who are finalists for the award. He currently sits in fourth place, with voting remaining open until Dec. 13.

The four-star, dual-threat quarterback is a veteran of multiple U.S. National Team competitions and is currently ranked the No. 7 dual-threat quarterback in nation for his class. In February 2016, he led the U-16 National Team to victory at the International Bowl in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. His performance on the big stage turned a lot of heads, including the former NFL quarterback Babe Laufenberg:

Just watched @mayden_5 #InternationalBowl Better tell your alma mater's coach about this young man. Going to be a great one.

— Babe Laufenberg (@BabeLaufenberg) February 5, 2016

Laufenberg was correct, Mayden is going to be great. In fact, he is well on his way, and will continue his progress while playing quarterback for the Under-18 National Team this year.

The young man flashed his game-breaking potential while leading Sachse high school (Texas) to an 11-1 record and a playoff berth, which is quite a turnaround from last season’s disappointing 7-4 finish.

During the playoffs, the smaller, less-heralded Sachse took on The Woodlands, which is one of the perennial powerhouses in the Lone Star state. The Woodlands is ranked No. 4 in Texas and No. 45 in the nation. The team has also won the district championship seven out of the last eight seasons.

Oh, and they won every game this season (14-0) by an average margin of 33.8 points per game.

No one expected Sachse to give The Woodlands such a scare.

Maden did everything he could to will his team to victory by throwing for 416 yards and six touchdowns. Sanchse led by the score of 40-38 with five minutes remaining in the game as a result of a 72-yard touchdown strike to receiver Kelon Wilson. However, Sachse lost a nail-biter as The Woodlands put up 20 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 points in the final five minutes, to win by the score of 51-40.

The close contest proved that Sachse could hang with the country’s best teams, which should strike fear into next season’s opponents, since Mayden returns for his senior season.

Coincidentally, one of Mayden’s competitors for player of the year honors will also be donning the red, white and blue in January. Cedar Hill receiver Charleston Rambo, one of the other finalists, will play on the Under-19 National Team.