RGVSports.com
Fifteen Rio Grande Valley players were honored on the Texas Associated Press Sports Editors Class 6A all-state football team, including four second-team defenders.
McAllen Rowe defensive lineman Ivan Avila, McAllen Memorial linebacker Jaryd Lara, Edinburg Vela defensive back Adrian Acosta, and La Joya Palmview defensive back Andrew Puente were second-team selections.
The list was released Thursday, with selections decided by voting based on regular-season performance.
Avila, a senior, made 118 tackles, including 96 solo, with 27 tackles for loss and 4 sacks for the Warriors.
Lara amassed 135 tackles, including 95 solo, with 17 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 12 hurries, 4 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and 2 defensive touchdowns during his senior year with the Mustangs.
Vela’s Acosta, a senior, made 100 tackles with a sack and 5 interceptions, while Puente, a senior, amassed 7 interceptions to complement 78 tackles.
Of the 11 Valley players to receive honorable mention recognition on Thursday, three came from Weslaco East. Junior running back Roy Pedraza got the nod after running for 1,250 yards with 16 touchdowns during the regular season, numbers he increased to 1,922 yards and 20 touchdowns by the end of the playoffs.
Junior defensive lineman Fernando Garza also made the list with 80 tackles and 5 tackles for loss, as did sophomore linebacker Freddy Cardenas, with 100 tackles and 6 tackles for loss.
Two McAllen Memorial seniors received honorable mention: offensive lineman Noah Godinez (56 pancakes, 0 sacks allowed, 97 percent grade) and defensive back Joey Delgado (89 tackles, 62 solo, 5 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, 10 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles).
Weslaco High also had two seniors make the list. Offensive lineman Brandon Perez had 65 pancakes, and defensive back Diego Rodriguez had 132 total tackles, 72 solo tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 13 passes defended.
From San Benito, senior Julio Pecina made the team as an offensive lineman, and senior Emilio Garza got the nod at linebacker. Garza racked up 115 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 6 sacks with a forced fumble and 3 fumbles recovered.
The Valley’s two other honorable mentions were PSJA North senior defensive back Raudel Alvarez and Edinburg Vela junior defensive back Nick Enriquez.
Alvarez had 140 total tackles with 5 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions, while Enriquez had 196 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, an interception, 5 forced fumbles and 3 fumbles recovered.