Denton Record-Chronicle
2016 All-Area Football Team OFFENSE Co-quarterback of the year
Most valuable player
DEFENSE
First team
First team
wide receiver of the year
Dane Ledford
Gatlin Grisso
Haeden Knight
Baily Blackney
Eric Borst
Dayton LeBlanc
Argyle, QB 6-0, 185, Sr.
Aubrey, RB 6-1, 185, Jr.
Krum, RB 5-11, 200, Sr.
Guyer, DL 6-0, 205, Sr.
Denton, DL 6-2, 210, Sr.
Ryan, DL 6-0, 260, Jr.
Despite missing six games on the season, Ledford was the District 4-4A (Division I) MVP. Ledford was exceptionally accurate, throwing for 1,672 yards on 114 of 175 passes with 14 touchdowns and just one interception.
As the District 5-4A (Division II) MVP, Grisso had 141 carries for 1,392 yards and 22 touchdowns to go with 411 receiving yards (25.7 yards per catch) and six scores. As a safety, he racked up 106 tackles and two interceptions.
The punishing runner ran for 1,384 yards, averaged eight yards per carry and finished second on the team in rushing touchdowns (16). The senior tailback was one of the main cogs of Krum’s machine on the ground.
No one in the area had more sacks than Blackney, who enjoyed a breakout senior season for Guyer as the team’s best pass rusher. Blackney racked up 11 sacks to go with 46 tackles, including 12 behind the line.
Borst co-captained the Broncos’ defense with a devastating pass rush that helped him rack up 11 sacks. He also added 106 tackles, including 21 for a loss, three forced fumbles and one fumblereturn touchdown.
LeBlanc was a solid addition to an already loaded Ryan defensive line. LeBlanc finished the year with 77 tackles (17 for-loss) with three fumble recoveries and three caused fumbles. He returned two fumbles for scores.
Spencer Sanders Ryan, QB, 6-2, 195, Jr. Before tearing his ACL in the Class 5A Division I state semifinal loss to Highland Park, he was one of the state’s elite dual-threat quarterbacks. Sanders finished his year with 3,258 passing yards and 38 touchdowns while rushing for 1,099 yards and 18 more scores. Sanders will be back under center in 2017 for the Raiders. See Page 1B for a feature on Sanders
offensive player of the year
Colt Atkinson
Myron Mason
Caleb Osuofa
Tauskie Dove
Kaelin Murray
Kenny Bowen
Pierce Davies
Gabriel Douglas
Denton 6-1, 170, Sr.
Guyer, RB 5-9, 185, Sr.
Denton, RB 5-7, 160, Sr.
Ryan, WR 6-4, 200, Jr.
Ryan, DL 6-0, 210, Sr.
Denton, LB 5-9, 210, Sr.
Argyle, LB 6-0, 200, Sr.
As the fastest player on his team, Mason was the most complete back on Guyer’s roster. He rushed for 1,035 yards on 125 carries and added 11 touchdowns. He was also a lethal kick returner and receiver out of the backfield.
The senior filled a big hole and proved doubters wrong by rushing for 1,133 yards and 10 touchdowns on 168 carries, oftentimes extending drives for the Denton offense, especially to start the second half.
Dove has helped take the Ryan offense to another level as a tall and reliable target on the outside that can stretch the field. He racked up 1,161 receiving yards with 16 touchdowns for an average of 15.7 yards per catch.
Murray used his speed, athleticism and strength to become one of the Raiders’ better edge rushers. He finished his senior year with 84 tackles (20 forloss) and two sacks with one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
As the heart of the Broncos defense, Bowen was a tackling machine, leading the team with 144 tackles, including 16 for a loss. He also had 10.5 sacks while forcing three fumbles and recovering two fumbles.
As the defensive MVP of District 4-4A (Division I), Davies helped Argyle shut down opposing offenses. Davies led his team with 103 tackles, including nine for a loss while also delivering two forced fumbles and a sack.
Ryan 6-2, 195, Jr.
Tyreke Davis
Coleton Spradley
Toby Burch
Ryan, LB 5-10, 190, Sr.
Krum, LB 6-0, 200, Sr.
Ryan, DB 5-9, 175, Sr.
Davis continued to be a twoway star, but the North Texas commit was needed more on defense. He finished with 108 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He also rushed for 1,055 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The run-plugging senior was the heart of the Krum defense. In his final season garbed in the Bobcat blue, he recorded 123 tackles, 19 tackles for-loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and four pass breakups.
Burch played a hybrid role in Ryan’s 4-2-5 defensive system as a rover. He had a phenomenal year, rolling up 115 tackles (16 for-loss) three sacks, five pass breakups, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
The District 5-5A offensive MVP had all the tools of a successful quarterback for the Broncos. He led Denton to back-to-back nine-win seasons and playoff appearances in both his junior and senior seasons. He knew the playbook inside and out and helped Denton methodically defeat teams or use instant offense to control the game. He threw for 2,081 yards and 24 touchdowns. He was also athletic enough to evade an oncoming rush.
Co-quarterback of the year
There weren’t many wide receivers in the state that were as dominant as Douglas. The Texas Tech pledge finished second among Dallas-Fort Worth area Class 5A wide receivers with 1,302 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns. He caught 82 passes, and his circus-like catches either down the sideline or in the back corner of the end zone became his trademark. In two seasons on varsity, Douglas has amassed nearly 2,200 receiving yards to go with 28 touchdowns. He was also Ryan’s leading receiver in 2015 with 883 yards.
Newcomer of the year
Noah Cain Braven Smith
Everett Gunnoe
Lake Dallas, WR 6-2, 190, Sr.
Sanger, WR 6-3, 195, Sr.
Krum, OL 6-4, 280, Sr.
Lake Dallas missed the postseason in 2016, but it wasn’t for a lack of experience at receiver. Slater stepped in following the loss Keegan Brewer and finished with 761 receiving yards with 11 touchdowns.
Smith helped steer an offense that moved from a runoriented attack in 2015 to a balanced approach to take advantage of its strength at wide receiver. He blossomed, catching 56 passes for 991 yards and 15 touchdowns.
John Lanz
Grant Polley
Jordan Redfearn
Bryce Jackson
Chris Miller
Thabo Mwaniki
Guyer, OL 6-4, 270, Jr.
Denton, OL 6-5, 280, Sr.
Aubrey, OL 6-3, 305, Sr.
Guyer, DB 6-1, 185, Sr.
Denton, DB 6-0, 175, Sr.
Guyer, DB 5-11, 180, Sr.
Don Williams
Lanz is emerging as one of the best offensive linemen in the area. He served as a blindside protector and allowed just one sack while also paving the way for a multi-faceted rushing attack that averaged 317 yards per game.
The all-state lineman was a key cog for the Broncos’ stout offense. He was rarely out of position while providing steady run blocking mixed with elite pass protection. He graded out at 86 percent with 73 knockdowns on the season.
Redfearn was a roadblock on Aubrey’s line with 37 pancake blocks as he led the way for two 1,000-yard rushers. He finished with a 94 percent grade, and he has not allowed a sack in the past two seasons.
When it came to run-stuffing safeties, he was as good as they come. The Northwestern commit had four breakups and two interceptions, but he excelled against the run with 112 tackles for a stingy Guyer defense.
Miller was indispensable on both sides of the ball. He was relied upon to shut down top wideouts with 38 tackles, 11 pass breakups and two interceptions. As a wideout, he caught 38 balls for 541 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Oklahoma State commit was Guyer’s second-leading receiver all while being a standout safety. He tallied 62 tackles and nine breakups with a pick while missing two games — one because he was the team’s quarterback.
Williams was the dynamic running back the Eagles leaned on throughout the season, especially when starting quarterback Dane Ledford missed much of the season due to injury. Williams allowed the Eagles to efficiently control the football and the clock, and he shouldered much of the offensive load on a loaded team with 204 carries for 1,499 yards and a team-leading 23 touchdowns along with one receiving touchdown.
Brandon Reeves Krum 5-10, 185, Sr.
Reeves was a four-year varsity player, mainly at wide receiver, but was asked to expand his role to quarterback when starter Trent McMillin was injured in the third game against Sanger. In his quarterback debut, Reeves rushed for 134 yards, scored four touchdowns and completed nine of his 10 passes for 158 yards in a 65-7 win over Lake Worth. The senior rushed for 1,519 yards for 24 touchdowns and threw for 1,241 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Guyer, RB 5-11, 205, So.
Chris Slater
The left tackle kept his quarterback standing in the pocket, but displayed much of his dominant frame on opposing defenders. He graded out at 90 percent with 80 pancake blocks and allowed only one sack.
The second-team all-stater recently left Guyer to attend IMG Academy, but his final season with the Wildcats was one to remember. The nation’s No. 1 ranked sophomore running back was a workhorse for a Guyer offense that averaged well over 300 yards per game on the ground. Cain used his power, speed and excellent vision to rack up 1,683 yards and 22 rushing touchdowns with an average of just more than 8 yards per carry.
defensive player of the year
second team Pos. Player QB Jon Copeland QB C.J. Jackson RB Jonathan Aguilar RB Dameon Moser RB Pablo Vera WR Chase Estrada WR Peyton Howard WR Justus Martinez WR Cale Nanny WR Isaiah Wofford OL Dylan Alexander OL Jaxon Frazier OL Marcus Miyatake OL Nate Wilson
School Ht. Liberty Chr. 6-1 Sanger 5-10 Ponder 5-8 Sanger 5-11 Aubrey 5-8 Argyle 5-10 Sanger 5-11 Krum 6-4 Argyle 5-9 Denton 6-2 Guyer 5-11 Argyle 6-3 Denton 6-1 Ryan 6-0
Wt. 185 165 160 170 170 180 175 175 160 180 245 265 265 260
Class Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr.
Notable Passed for 2,092 yards and 19 touchdowns while also rushing for 6 scores Passed for 2,274 yards, 25 touchdowns while adding 312 rushing yards Rushed for 1,124 yards and 7 touchdowns; 79 tackles, 3 INTs as safety Rushed for 1,016 yards and 12 touchdowns; 483 receiving yards, 3 scores Overcame injury to rush for 1,003 yards and 10 touchdowns Finished with 37 catches for 598 yards and 4 touchdowns Had 515 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns; 65 tackles, 3 INTs as DB Rangy mismatch had 35 catches for 660 yards and 8 touchdowns Team’s leading receiver with 40 catches for 622 yards, 4 touchdowns Sophomore made most of his 23 catches for 357 yards with 10 scores Center of offense that averaged almost 320 rushing yards per game Finished with 91 percent grade with 44 pancakes, allowed two sacks Finished with 89 percent grade and eye-popping 137 knockdowns Finished with 93 percent grade, 28 knockdowns and allowed one sack
Photos by Jefferee Woo of the Denton Record-Chronicle and DR-C/DMN file photos
Argyle, RB 5-10, 185, Jr.
second team Earnest Brown IV Ryan 6-5, 245, Sr.
The hallmark of the Ryan football program has always been its ability to play suffocating defense. The 2016 version was led by a bullish front line that cemented itself as one of the best in the state. Brown was the clear anchor and an undeniable pick for Defensive Player of the Year. The Northwestern commit and U.S. Army All-American Bowl invitee was versatile enough to play both defensive tackle and end. He was in on 88 tackles, with an eye-popping 36 of those coming behind the line of scrimmage. He also led the Raiders with 10.5 sacks to go with 24 quarterback hurries, three caused fumbles, a fumble recovery and a blocked punt.
Jack Williams Argyle, OL 6-3, 260, Sr.
Williams was a stalwart for the Eagles’ offensive line. He blocked for running back Don Williams and protected multiple quarterbacks. As a center, he allowed just one sack on the season to go along with 48 pancake blocks.
Coach of the year
Keith Ivy Aubrey Since taking over at Aubrey in 2014, Ivy has made the Chaparrals a consistent contender for district championships. In his first season at the helm, Aubrey went 1-9 before improving to 7-5 with a playoff win in 2015. The Chaparrals overcome several injuries in 2016 to improve their win total once again with an 8-4 record and another bi-district playoff victory. They also went into a regularseason finale against traditional powerhouse Celina with the District 5-4A (Division II) title on the line. Aubrey fell in that game, but the Chaparrals are continuing to take strides toward being a perennial contender.
Delano Robinson Ryan, DB 6-1, 200, Sr.
Robinson, an SMU commit, was a versatile safety who could also play linebacker if needed. He finished the year with 90 tackles and a teamhigh five interceptions. He also had five pass breakups and a forced fumble.
Pos. Player School Ht. DL Raymond Barrington Krum 6-4 DL John Phillips Argyle 5-11 DL Jalen Sutton Guyer 6-2 DL Thomas Wilson III Ryan 5-10 LB Chase Audrisch Denton 6-1 LB Jason Gulley Ryan 5-9 LB Tucker Nitardy Guyer 5-10 LB Jacob Schuster Lake Dallas 5-11 LB Porter Sciba Aubrey 5-10 DB Justin Adams Krum 5-11 DB Kobe Boyce Lake Dallas 6-1 DB Randy Gray Ryan 5-8 DB Chase Petter Argyle 5-9 DB Dio Williams Guyer 6-1
Wt. 225 230 215 190 185 195 210 205 180 165 170 170 180 190
Class Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. Sr.
Notable Defensive end had 90 tackles, 17 for-loss, 4 sacks and a forced fumble Finished with 66 tackles and 20 for-loss, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles Lenghty pass-rushing end had 42 tackles, 6.5 sacks and a fumble recovery Had 34 tackles, 7 for-loss, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries Totaled 129 tackles with 13.5 for-loss, 3 sacks and an interception Tallied 137 tackles with 23 for-loss, 5 sacks, forced fumble, fumble recovery Versatile linebacker had 84 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 recoveries Had 143 tackles with 2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries Had 134 tackles with 9 for-loss and a sack Versatile safety/outside linebacker had 136 tackles, 5 forced fumbles Texas commit had 36 tackles, interception and punt-return touchdown Finished with 31 tackles, 5 breakups, 2 interceptions and blocked field goal Led secondary with 76 tackles, 3 forced fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries Guyer’s lockdown cornerback had 37 tackles, 10 breakups and a pick-6
Team selected by the Denton Record-Chronicle’s sports staff in consultation with area coaches