4B
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Denton Record-Chronicle
Denton Record-Chronicle
Sunday, January 19, 2014
5B
Denton Record-Chronicle
All-Area Football Team 2013 OFFENSE
DEFENSE
C0-MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS
FIRST TEAM
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mitchell Bridges
DJ Breedlove
Bridges’ toughness and ability to make timely plays helped Ryan make a deep playoff run. Bridges completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 1,994 yards, 20 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He also compiled 526 rushing yards and ran for seven touchdowns.
Breedlove had the best season of his three-year varsity career as a versatile threat in Guyer’s prolific offense. The shifty, deceptively strong runner finished with 1,257 yards and 21 scores on the ground and added four receiving touchdowns with two punt-return scores.
Guyer ■ RB 5-9, 180, Sr.
Ryan ■ QB 5-9, 185, Sr.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nick Ralston
Micah Capra
Lucas Greenwood
Argyle ■ RB 6-1, 220, Jr.
Argyle ■ DL 6-1, 255, Sr.
It wasn’t hard to see why colleges are starting to take notice in Ralston. He carried the ball 223 times for 1,800 yards and 31 touchdowns. Ralston set school records for rushing yards (365) and touchdowns (five) in a game in Argyle’s playoff win against Melissa.
Argyle’s defense was full of star players that helped lift the Eagles to their first state title, but in the trenches, they were led by Capra. The senior defensive lineman racked up a team-high 154 tackles with 26 behind the line of scrimmage. He also had four sacks.
The Pilot Point junior defensive end notched a team-high 11 sacks. Greenwood also had 56 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for the Bearcats. Greenwood was a honorable mention selection on the Associated Press Class 2A all-state team.
Reese Strait
Pilot Point ■ DL 6-1, 200, Jr.
Ryan ■ DL 6-2, 250, Sr.
Strait was a handful for opposing offensive lines. The tackle came up with 69 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, five sacks, a blocked punt and a big defensive touchdown on arguably one of the best defensive lines in the state, helping the Raiders make a deep postseason run.
Thomas Ferguson
Tre’von Jackson Sanger ■ RB 5-10, 185, Jr.
Guyer ■ DL 6-1, 230, Sr.
Jackson made an immediate impact for the Indians after he transferred from Denton to Sanger. When Jackson made the switch to the 3A school, he instantly became the team’s biggest offensive threat. The Indians gave Jackson the ball often in 2013, and the junior running back delivered. Jackson carried the ball 270 times for 1,812 yards and 29 touchdowns and helped Sanger reach the playoffs and erase memories of a winless 2012 season. Jackson helped carry Sanger’s offense after starting quarterback Brandon Mann went down to injury. Jackson will return for Sanger next season, which gives opposing coaches another season to try to stop him.
Ferguson’s transition from starting tight end as a sophomore to two-year captain on the Guyer defense proved to be his best route. The first-team all-state selection was an unquestioned leader on Guyer’s much-improved defense that could be counted on to win games in 2013. Ferguson tallied 100 tackles on the season with a team-high 45 behind the line of scrimmage while also leading the team with nine sacks and racking 38 quarterback hurries. Ferguson was a key figure on a dominant defensive line that helped Guyer’s rushing defense check in as the best in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, allowing just 88.8 rushing yards per game.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
DaCoven Bailey
Keegan Brewer
The sophomore standout racked up 64 catches for 955 yards and nine touchdowns for a Pilot Point squad that reached the Class 2A playoffs. Bailey averaged 14.9 yards per catch, numbers that helped him earn co-all-purpose MVP honors in District 5-2A (I).
Brewer filled in for the injured Josh Jackson as the Falcons’ go-to receiver and did so in spades. He led the team in receptions (41), yards (739) and touchdowns (11). His speed and quickness allow him to turn any play into a gamechanging moment.
Lake Dallas ■ WR 5-11, 165, So.
Pilot Point ■ WR 5-9, 165, So.
Key’andre Hearvey
Josiah Tauaefa
Denton ■ WR 6-2, 185, Jr.
Lake Dallas ■ DL 6-1, 235, Jr.
Carl Thompson
Hearvey emerged out of the bevy of talented receivers at Denton as the Broncos’ top downfield threat. His eight TDs led the team, and he had 586 yards on 39 catches. His hands and speed helped back off defenses, and he still has room for growth before his senior season.
Tauaefa was the District 5-4A Defensive MVP and rightfully so, as he led the Falcons in tackles (71), with 31 of those for losses. He had 8 of the team’s 18 sacks on the year along with 19 QB hurries and one interception returned for a TD.
The athletic defensive tackle was a key force in Guyer’s run defense and also played a key role in the pass defense. Thompson should be on plenty of FBS schools’ radars next season after compiling 86 tackles with 44 behind the line, eight sacks and 11 pass breakups.
Carpenter grew into one of Ryan’s biggest defensive leaders in 2013. The senior linebacker compiled 126 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, two interceptions and a blocked punt for the Raiders. Carpenter led Ryan in tackles in each of the team’s four playoff games.
Michael Carrillo
Colton Hinnrichs
Demontrie Taylor
After starting the season in a platoon situation, Carrillo immediately made an impact and became an every-down player. Carrillo finished the year with 123 tackles, including 36 behind the line of scrimmage. He also averaged 25.8 yards per kickoff return.
After a season-ending injury to Sam Sizelove, Hinnrichs slid over to Sizelove’s spot and never missed a beat. He finished the year with 147 tackles with 14 behind the line of scrimmage. He added two sacks, two interceptions and recovered four fumbles.
Jerrod Heard
Ian Sadler
Guyer ■ QB
Argyle ■ WR
Coming into the season, Guyer was an oddson favorite to repeat as 4A Division I state champions for several reasons, but none bigger than the fact the Wildcats were bringing Heard back after he put on a clinic in the 2012 title game to earn Guyer’s first state championship. Heard delivered on the lofty expectations. He put up another stellar season that saw him complete 62 percent of his pass attempts for 2,136 yards with 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He was a terror on the ground, as the Texas-bound quarterback and U.S. Army All-American rushed for 2,161 yards and 27 touchdowns while averaging 8.4 yards per carry.
The do-it-all star took Argyle to the next level with a state championship victory after he and his teammates lost in the title game as a sophomore. Sadler, a Texas Tech pledge, had 38 catches for 665 yards and 12 touchdowns, but was nearly unstoppable on the ground. He started carrying the ball as a Wildcat quarterback, but in the playoffs was moved to the backfield and finished the year with 1,001 rushing yards with 23 touchdowns. He was also someone to avoid in the kicking game, but when he did get chances he returned three for touchdowns. He was also the team’s punter, averaging 36 yards per punt and often pinning opponents deep in their territory.
6-3, 200, Sr.
Trent Willis
Hayden Hood
Ryan’s most explosive wide receiver hauled in 66 catches for 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. In four playoff games, the speedy Willis racked up 394 receiving yards and six touchdowns, excluding a kickoff return for a touchdown against Waco Midway.
Hood was one of the main reasons Argyle’s rushing attack often found success. The senior center had 43 knockdowns and graded out at 93 percent. Hood, an Associated Press Class 3A secondteam all-state pick, did not allow a sack all season.
Argyle ■ OL 6-1, 235, Sr.
Ryan ■ WR 5-10, 165, Sr.
Tucker Cross Ryan ■ OL 6-3, 310, Sr.
Cross opened up big holes for the Raiders’ rushing attack all season. The Ryan senior right tackle graded out at 92 percent and racked up 34 pancake blocks during the season. Cross, a two-year starter, was a District 5-5A firstteam selection.
Cole Carpenter
Guyer ■ DL 6-3, 240, Jr.
Ryan ■ LB 6-0, 190, Sr.
TWO-WAY PLAYER OF THE YEAR
5-11, 190, Sr.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Guyer ■ LB 5-9, 170, So.
Argyle ■ LB 6-2, 210, Sr.
Guyer ■ LB 5-10, 190, Sr.
Despite missing a few games with injury, Taylor tallied 90 tackles with 31 behind the line of scrimmage. The speedy linebacker, who’s committed to Colorado State, finished with six sacks, seven pass breakups and two interceptions.
Dagan Haehn
JonAaron Howell
Lake Dallas ■ QB 6-0, 175, So.
Liberty Christian ■ RB/DB 5-11, 190, Sr.
Stepping into a starting quarterback role as a sophomore is certainly not an easy task, and it’s even tougher at a school like Lake Dallas. At the alma mater of Missouri’s James Franklin and Dartmouth’s Dalyn Williams, Haehn was one of many Falcon sophomores that played key roles in 2013. Haehn completed 59.6 percent of his passes for 1,976 yards, 29 touchdowns and nine interceptions. On the ground, he also carried the ball 111 times for 402 yards and five touchdowns. While the Falcons struggled last season and missed the postseason, Haehn and the rest of the current sophomores showed that the next couple of years could be fun for the Falcons.
In a district loaded with perhaps the four best teams in the largest TAPPS classification in the state, the Liberty Christian two-way star shined above everyone and was named the district’s most valuable player. It’s easy to see why. Howell was a home-run threat any time he touched the ball, rushing for 1,262 yards and 14 touchdowns on 188 carries in the Warriors’ run to the TAPPS 5A state semifinal. He was also a threat in the passing game, as he racked up 341 receiving yards and four more touchdowns. Defensively, Howell was a ball hawk at safety with a team-high seven interceptions, including three which he returned for touchdowns, to go with 11 pass breakups.
Jerod Fritsch
Hunter Krastin
Brad Lundblade
The tackle started the season as a defensive end and tight end before injury forced him into duty at tackle, where he held his own against eventual 5A Division II champion Cedar Hill. He finished the season with 33 knockdowns and allowed just two sacks as a key protector.
In 44 games for Guyer, the firstteam all-state guard allowed one sack as a stalwart in Guyer’s dominant offensive line. He brought nastiness to the offense and finished the season with 44 knockdowns while helping the Wildcats pile up 5,216 rushing yards.
Lundblade was one of the best offensive linemen in the area. He plans on walking on at Oklahoma State after grading out at 92 percent in 2013. He also racked up 42 pancake blocks and 38 knockdowns for a team that reached the TAPPS 5A semifinals.
Guyer ■ OL 5-10, 255, Sr.
Guyer ■ OL 6-4, 230, Sr.
SECOND TEAM Pos. QB RB RB RB RB WR WR OL OL OL OL OL UTIL K
Player Colby Moore Brennan Ellis Xavier Scott Anthony Taylor Tyrone Williams Ke’Von Buris Alex Honey Bryan Barrett Matt Hiter Michael Castle Austen Lange Dakota Laws Wyatt Broxson Evan Moore
School Liberty Chr. Krum Denton Guyer Ryan Denton Guyer Guyer Argyle Argyle Sanger Ryan Sanger Aubrey
Ht. 6-1 6-0 5-11 5-10 6-1 5-8 6-3 6-2 6-3 6-1 6-1 6-4 6-3 5-10
Wt. 200 180 195 185 210 170 180 300 260 295 245 280 190 170
Cl. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr.
Notable Dual-threat accounted for 3,543 yards and 40 TDs Filled in at RB to rush for 1,112 yards, 14 total TDs Newcomer had 707 yards, totaled 15 TDs Change-of-pace back had 1,096 yards, 19 TDs Former linebacker rushed for 1,216 yards, 12 TDs Had 502 receiving yards, 5 TDs, was return threat Deep threat led receivers with 507 yards, 6 TDs Versatile lineman finished with 42 knockdowns Graded at 90 percent with 48 knockdowns Graded at 91 percent with 56 knockdowns Led line that produced 1,800-yard rusher Left tackle graded at 91 percent with 29 pancakes Do-it-all scored 10 TDs, threw for 7 more scores Finished 5-of-6 on field goals, long of 53 yards
Liberty Christian ■ OL 6-3, 295, Sr.
Cole Hedlund Argyle ■ PK 5-10, 160, Sr.
The Arkansas pledge set the national record for most career field goals made (56) to go down as the most decorated high school kicker ever. He went 24-for-32 this season, which was one field goal shy of the record he set in 2011 for most field goals made in a season.
Ronnie Coleman
DeMarcus Owens
After playing at Lake Dallas, Coleman transferred to Ryan and was a key addition for the Raiders’ secondary. The senior defensive back racked up 101 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, an interception and two pass deflections for the Raiders.
The Wildcats had three capable shutdown cornerbacks on their defense, and Owens was the best of the bunch. Owens often took away the opposing team’s best option and tallied eight pass breakups to go with two interceptions. He had 39 tackles and a forced fumble.
Ryan ■ DB 5-8, 160, Sr.
Todd Rodgers Argyle
Rodgers finally picked up the achievement that eluded him twice. Rodgers and the Eagles took home the school’s first football state championship with a 38-33 win over Fairfield in the Class 3A Division II state championship game. The win not only capped Argyle’s perfect season, but it also was the summit of a turnaround for the program Rodgers took over after a onewin season in 2002. Rodgers maximized the most of a talented squad that includes four current Football Bowl Subdivision-bound seniors and junior running back Nick Ralston, who has an offer from Arizona State. The Eagles recovered from the loss of senior linebacker Sam Sizelove. Without its best defensive player, Argyle avenged last year’s playoff loss to Gilmer.
FILE PHOTOS FROM THE DENTON RECORD-CHRONICLE
Connor Wilson Argyle ■ DB 6-2, 195, Sr.
One of the most dynamic playmakers in the area, Wilson finished a brilliant year with a teamhigh five interceptions and 10 pass breakups. Wilson, a Texas Tech pledge, racked up 103 tackles and had four stops behind the line. He also forced three fumbles and recovered another.
Reese Thompson
Guyer ■ DB 5-10, 180, Jr.
Argyle ■ DB 5-11, 180, Sr.
In press coverage with just one safety, there was immense pressure on the Eagles’ cornerbacks to lock down opposing receivers, and none were better at that task than Thompson. He finished the year with 35 tackles, three interceptions and 15 pass breakups.
SECOND TEAM Pos. DL DL DL DL DL DL LB LB LB LB DB DB DB DB
Player School John Groff Pilot Point Aaron Maxwell Denton Reagen Page Argyle Nolan Robinson Ryan Derek Watson Guyer J.T. Williams Ryan Sam Sizelove Argyle Morgan Sprayberry Krum Taylor Sweatt Argyle Marcel Thomas Guyer Paul Hunter Ryan Jordan Wallace Guyer Trey Woods Guyer Christian Worthington Ponder
Ht. 5-9 6-1 5-11 6-1 6-3 6-3 6-3 5-11 5-10 5-10 5-11 6-0 5-9 5-10
Wt. 187 260 205 195 220 270 225 190 190 205 180 180 170 162
Cl. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr.
Notable Had 55 tackles, 13 behind line, 11 sacks Senior leader had 27 tackles, 4 sacks Finished with 103 tackles, 9 behind line, 3 sacks Finished with 40 tackles, 11 behind line, 4 sacks Pass-rushing force had 7 sacks, 53 QB hurries Finished with 67 tackles, 9 behind line, 5 sacks K-State pledge had 83 tackles, 4 sacks Totaled 89 tackles, 10 behind line, 4 forced fumbles Varsity newcomer had 104 tackles, 6 behind line First-year starter led team with 146 tackles Had 77 tackles, led team with 4 INTs and 6 breakups First-year starter had 86 tackles, 10 pass breakups Lockdown corner had 45 tackles, 11 pass breakups Had 75 tackles, 4 INTs and scored two defensive TDs