DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
The 2014 Associated Press Class 5A All-State team includes 13 players from the Rio Grande Valley, including three first-teamers.
Edcouch-Elsa had a pair of defensive stalwarts named to the first team. Senior defensive lineman Ray Dinnall-Guerra totaled 106 tackles (27 for loss), 16 sacks, and three forced fumbles, anchoring a young Yellowjacket defensive unit.
“It’s always been my goal since freshman year to be all-state,” Dinnall-Guerra said. “It was a dream. Ever since my freshman year, I would look at guys on varsity who made all-state and tried to do what they did.”
Edcouch-Elsa junior linebacker Sammy Alaniz was also named to the first team. The position has traditionally been one of strength for the Yellowjackets, and Alaniz stepped in as a fulltime starter and picked up where former all-stater Bucky Barrera left off.
Alaniz compiled 170 total tackles, three sacks and two interceptions.
“It doesn’t stop here,” Alaniz said. “I’ve got to keep working and get better. I knew coming into this season, there would be pressure on me because we lost a lot of key guys. I did what I could to help out the team, and I got it done.”
Sharyland High defensive back Sean Landez was the Valley’s other first-teamer after amassing 75 tackles and 10 interceptions.
“It means a lot. All the hard work paid off,” Landez said. “It just really meant a lot to be noticed at that level. Leaving high school with this award, it’s phenomenal to say you were one of the greatest athletes in the state of Texas that year.”
Mercedes senior defensive back Roel Garcia (105 total tackles, six interceptions, three fumble recoveries) was named to the second team. Garcia set the program record for career interceptions with 23.
The Valley placed nine players as honorable mention: Roma senior offensive lineman Ruben Hinojosa and senior running back Pedro Rodriguez; Mercedes senior receiver Joshua Garza, junior linebacker Fabricio Quintanilla, and senior linebacker Jorge Solis; Mission Vets Memorial senior defensive lineman Albert Garcia, junior linebacker Hugo Cabrera, and junior defensive back Kevin Liebano; and Edcouch-Elsa junior defensive back Victor Valdez.
In all, Mercedes named four players to the team. Edcouch-Elsa and Mission Vets Memorial each named three, and Roma named two. Sharyland High named one.
The AP 5A All-State team:
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
Linemen:
— ANDYOUS MASTERS, Dallas South Oak Cliff, Sr. — 94 percent grade, no sacks allowed on offense that averaged 50.4 points/game
— JONATHAN NICHOLSON, Abilene Cooper, Sr. — 97 percent grade, 57 pancakes
— DAVID SHIN, The Colony, Sr. — 92 percent grade, 72 pancakes, 43 cut blocks, no sacks allowed in three years
— JEREMIAH SODIA, Victoria West, Sr. — 98 percent grade, 91 pancakes, no sacks allowed
— ETHAN SULLIVANT, Cedar Park, Sr. — 154 knockdowns, 1 sack allowed, 80% grade in every game
Receivers/ends:
— AARON FULLER, Lucas Lovejoy, Jr. — 60-1,309, 20 TDs receiving; 2 TDs rushing
— KEY’ANDRE HEARVEY, Denton, Sr. — 79-1,185, 16 TDs receiving
Quarterback:
— CHASON VIRGIL, West Mesquite, Sr. — 154-226-2,202, 34 TDs passing; 8 TDs rushing
Running backs:
— TRAVIS BRANNAN, Austin Vandegrift, Jr. — 202-1,820, 29 TDs rushing; 21-499, 4 TDs receiving
— KIERRE CROSSLEY, Everman, Jr. — 198-2,123, 26 TDs rushing
— ISAIAH DUARTE, N. Richland Hills Birdville, Sr. — 224-2,052, 29 TDs rushing
Kicker:
— TRE HONSHTEIN, Georgetown East View, Sr. — 10-13 FGs, long-51, 55 PATs, 54 touchbacks
Offensive Player of the Year: Travis Brannan, Austin Vandegrift
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FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
Linemen:
— RAY DINNALL-GUERRA, Edcouch-Elsa, Sr. — 106 tackles, 27 TFL, 16 sacks, 3 FF, 2 FR
— JALEN GOSS, Dallas South Oak Cliff, Sr. — 91 tackles, 24 TFL, 15.5 sacks, 4 FF
— MARVIN TERRY, Dallas South Oak Cliff, Jr. — 105 tackles, 20 TFL, 12 sacks, 3 FF, 2 FR
— DARIUS WATSON, Corsicana, Sr. — 104 tackles, 11 sacks, 5 passes defended, 5 FF, 6 FR
Linebackers:
— SAMMY ALANIZ, Edcouch-Elsa, Jr. — 170 tackles, 8 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 INTs
— TROY BURNETT, Fort Bend Elkins, Jr. — 149 tackles, 2 INTs, 2 TDs, 14 TFL, 5 sacks, 4 FF
— THOMAS HUTCHINGS, Cedar Park, Sr. — 120 tackles, 24 TFL, 3 FF, 2 sacks, 7 PBU, 1 INT for TD
Defensive backs:
— JOHNATHAN DURHAM, Aledo, Jr. — 31 tackles, 5 INTs, 15 pass deflections
— SEAN LANDEZ, Mission Sharyland, Sr. — 75 tackles, 10 INTs, 4 TFL
— KENDALL SHEFFIELD, Fort Bend Marshall, Sr. — 39 tackles, 2 INTs, INT return for TD, 7 PBU, 3 FR, 2 FF, 3 blocked FGs
— JAKORYIAN WALKER, Longview, Sr. — 40 tackles, 8 INTs, 5 PBU, 2 defensive TDs
Punter:
— CAMERON DAWLEY, SA Alamo Heights, Sr. — 45.2 avg., 7 inside the 20
Defensive Player of the Year: Thomas Hutchings, Cedar Park
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SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
Linemen:
— Grant Cervantes, Ennis, Sr.; Dontae Duff, Mesquite Poteet, Sr.; Erik McCoy, Lufkin, Sr.; Trendon Rolen, Ennis, Soph.; Landon Watkins, Sulphur Springs, Sr.
Receivers/ends:
— Deandre McNeal, Mesquite Poteet, Sr.; JF Thomas, Dallas South Oak Cliff, Sr.
Quarterback:
— Jamie Hudson, Austin Vandegrift, Sr.
Running backs:
— Warren Flye, Plainview, Sr.; Earnest Patterson, Brenham, Sr.; Jordan Stevenson, Dallas South Oak Cliff, Sr.
Kicker:
— Alex Del Valle, Saginaw Boswell, Jr.
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SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
Linemen:
— Erick Fowler, Manor, Jr.; James Lockhart, Ennis, Sr.; Garron Nash, Wichita Falls, Sr.; Torain Williams, Fort Bend Ridge Point, Sr.
Linebackers:
— Conoly Koonts, SA Alamo Heights, Sr.; Eric Ogor, Richmond Foster, Sr.; DaQuan Patton, Cedar Park Vista Ridge, Sr.
Defensive backs:
— Roel Garcia, Mercedes, Sr.; Bryston Gipson, Tyler, Jr.; P.J. Locke, Beaumont Central, Sr.; Tyler Snell, CC Flour Bluff, Sr.
Punter:
— Grant Carlson, Fort Bend Ridge Point, Jr.
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HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE
LINEMEN: Benjamin Cohen, SA Alamo Heights; Moises Garcia, Plainview; Nick Gerhard, Mansfield Timberview; Clay Greathouse, WF Rider; Hunter Harris, Aledo; Ruben Hinojosa, Roma; Colton Hostetler, Burleson Centennial; Gerred Johnson, Mansfield Summit; Tim Meyers, Nacogdoches; Chris Minter, Temple; Dalton Montgomery, Lake Dallas; Keenan Murphy, Crosby; Castin Neumeyer, Wylie; Zach Pare, Georgetown East View; Jorge Rios, Port Lavaca Calhoun; Nico Russolillo, Frisco Heritage; Michael Shogbonyo, Mansfield Summit; Lake Smith, Angleton; Parker Sorge, WF Rider; Jared Spivey, Bryan; Kameron Stubblefield, Dallas South Oak Cliff; Judd Terry, Denton; Broderick Washington, Longview.
RECEIVERS/ENDS: Aaron Anderson, Abilene Cooper; Keegan Brewer, Lake Dallas; Bear Christianson, Austin Vandegrift; O.J. Clark, Wichita Falls; Keke Coutee, Lufkin; Jaquay Cross, Brenham; Davion Davis, Hutto; Kevin Dewitt, CC Flour Bluff; Derrick Dick, A&M Consolidated; Aaron Dilworth, CC Flour Bluff; Myron Gailliard, Mansfield Timberview; Joshua Garza, Mercedes; Jo’Vanta Grimble, Georgetown; Apollos Hester, Georgetown East View; Evan McHugh, Lubbock Cooper; Ryan Newsome, Aledo; Paxton Segina, Austin Vandegrift; Jerminic Smith, South Garland; T.J. Vasher, WF Rider; Hutch White, Kerrville Tivy.
QUARTERBACKS: Ben Bottlinger, Georgetown; Cade Dyal, Kerrville Tivy; Gamarquis Girdy, Victoria West; Deion Hair’Griffin, FW Arlington Heights; Tyler Herrick, Hutto; Caleb Hill, Brenham; David Johnson, Dallas South Oak Cliff; Justin Maese, EP Ysleta; Geo McCollister, Tyler; Steven Montez, EP Del Valle; Chad President, Temple; Bowman Sells, Lucas Lovejoy; Brett Taff, Canyon Randall; Malik Walker, Frisco Heritage; Tracin Wallace, FW South Hills; Devin Williams, Mansfield Timberview; Brennen Wooten, Marble Falls.
RUNNING BACKS: Rakeem Boyd, Houston Stratford; Remus Bulmer, Fort Bend Ridge Point; Mulbah Car, Austin Reagan; Kierre Crossley, Everman; Matthew Dickson, CC Tuloso-Midway; Wyatt Garton, Canyon Randall; KeeKee Johnson, Bryan; Clement Jones, Austin McCallum; Ronald Jones, McKinney North; Anthony McLain, Amarillo Palo Duro; Alex Mermea, Floresville; Tylan Miller, Longview; Pedro Rodriguez, Roma; Xavier Scott, Denton; Steven Starcher, Gregory-Portland; Taylor Thompson, Ennis; Coronado Tolbert, Nacogdoches; Trayveon Williams, Houston King.
KICKERS: Grant Carlson, Fort Bend Ridge Point; Luis Duran, Tyler; Cole Martin, Temple; Samuel Rodriguez, Angleton.
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HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE
LINEMEN: Taaj Bakari, Mansfield Legacy; Joseph Broadnax, Dallas Adams; Tyler Corn, Burleson Centennial; Sean Foreman, Kerrville Tivy; Albert Garcia, Mission Veterans; Tony Green, Hutto; Antonio Harris, Terrell; Dacion Harris, Mansfield Timberview; Kingsley Keke, Richmond George Ranch; Drake Kuehn, Ennis; Pierre Leonard, Tyler; Justin Madubuike, McKinney North; Karbohn McAdoo, Longview; Fentrese Milligan, Elgin; Ronan Profetta, Kerrville Tivy; Dee Spencer, Mesquite Poteet; Josiah Tauaefa, Lake Dallas; Nathan White, Crosby.
LINEBACKERS: Deion Amerson, FW Polytechnic; Reece Barrett, CC Calallen; Nainoa Bean, Gregory-Portland; Hugo Cabrera, Mission Veterans; Spencer Choka, Bryan Rudder; Hunter Donnelly, Burleson Centennial; Ke’ldre Flowers, Ennis; Josh Hight, CC Calallen; Jaylon Jackson, Longview; Malik Jefferson, Mesquite Poteet; Coleman Johnson, Bryan; Trenton Jones, Plainview; Kenneth Mann, Burleson; Kendell Mays, Mansfield Timberview; Ty McCorckle, Temple; Blaine McRay, Burleson; Osaze Ogbebor, Frisco Heritage; Isaiah Pouncy, Beaumont Central; Fabricio Quintanilla, Mercedes; Johnny Roa, FW South Hills; Jorge Solis, Mercedes; Augustine Tambe, Cedar Park; Jake Turner, Ennis; Jessie Velasco, Canutillo.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Bryce Balous, McKinney North; Bo Brooks, Canutillo; Jared Carmona, Frisco Liberty; Frederick Carter, FW Polytechnic; O.J. Clark, Wichita Falls; Justin Cegielski, Crosby; Clint Cole, Temple; Adrian Contreras, Georgetown East View; Treyvionne Edwards, Ennis; Deshon Elliott, Rockwall-Heath; Kevin Liebano, Mission Veterans; Prentice McKinney, Dallas South Oak Cliff; Jordan Owens, Tyler; Rajah Preciado, College Station; Prince Robinson, Houston North Forest; Victor Valdez, Edcouch-Elsa; Bryan Ward, Bryan; Khalil Williams, Longview.
PUNTER: Luis Duran, Tyler.