GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
McAllen Memorial’s Trevor Speights and Edinburg North’s John Mendoza were named to the Associated Press Class 6A All-State first team, which was announced Thursday morning.
The Valley had nine players listed in all, as McAllen Memorial defensive tackle Ricardo Miner was named to the second team. Six players earned honorable mention: Mission High offensive lineman Christian Navejar and linebacker Steven De Leon, Weslaco East running back Emilio Tamez, McAllen Memorial linebacker Sam Hinojosa, La Joya Palmview linebacker Luis Sanchez and Los Fresnos defensive back Fabian Rodriguez.
Voting was done by Texas sports editors and based on regular-season performance.
The All-State first-team selection was Speights’ third in a row. The senior running back finished with the second-best single-season rushing total in Valley history, racking up 3,195 yards to go with a Valley record 50 touchdowns. He finished his career fourth on Texas’ all-time rushing list with 9,867 yards and 10th on the all-time touchdown list with 116.
“It’s a great accomplishment,” Speights said. “Any time you’re state recognized and you’re on the first team, it’s a great thing. I just want to thank my teammates and everyone else that helped me get there.”
Mendoza, a senior defensive back, racked up 11 interceptions this season for Edinburg North. He also notched four passes defended and 43 total tackles.
“I heard about it from my coaches, and it was amazing,” Mendoza said. “All of my coaches helped me out, and it’s an honor to be first team all-state.”
Miner, a junior, was a dominant force inside for the Mustangs. He finished the year with 127 total tackles, including 19 for a loss, and amassed seven sacks plus 26 hurries.
Hinojosa, a senior, was also named from Memorial’s defense, as an honorable mention. He ended the year with 168 total tackles (26 for loss) with four sacks, 15 hurries, three forced fumbles and an interception.
Although Mission High missed the playoffs at 4-6, the Eagles landed the sophomore De Leon and the senior Navejar as honorable mentions. De Leon accrued 129 total tackles, including 19 for loss, with 10 sacks, 22 hurries, a safety and an interception. Navejar, a three-year starter, had 37 pancakes and graded out at 97 percent.
The third linebacker honored from District 30-6A, Sanchez was the leader of the Palmview defense as a senior, making 93 solo tackles (19 for loss) with nine sacks and four interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.
Tamez, a senior, was the focal point of Weslaco East’s offense this year, rushing for 1,525 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Rodriguez, a senior, had 97 total tackles, two forced fumbles and two interceptions for Los Fresnos.
What follows is the 2015 Texas Associated Press Sports Editors Class 6A all-state high school football team, released Thursday. Voting based on regular-season performance. Players are listed in alphabetical order at each position.
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
Linemen:
— BRYCEN FOREMAN, Austin Westlake, Sr. — 92 grade, 70 pancakes, 20 knockdowns, 0 sacks allowed in 261 throws
— DARTA LEE, Fort Bend Hightower, Sr. — 118 pancakes, 1 sack allowed, 93 grade
— GREG LITTLE, Allen, Sr. — blocked on team that averaged 529.3 yards/game
— ZACH SHACKELFORD, Belton, Sr. — 98 grade, 92 knockdown
— LUCAS TRIBBLE, Southlake Carroll, Sr. — 52 pancakes, 85 knockdowns, 96 grade, no sacks allowed
Receivers/ends:
— KE’VON AHMAD, Colleyville Heritage, Jr. — 61-1,278, 17 TDs
— DEVIN DUVERNAY, Garland Sachse, Sr. — 56-1,102, 16 TDs receiving; 6 TDs rushing
Quarterback:
— SAM EHLINGER, Austin Westlake, Jr. — 153-236-2,436, 35 TDs, 0 INTs, 110-748-, 13 TDs rushing
Running backs:
— BRANDON BAILEY, Odessa Permian, Sr. — 207-1,625, 23 TDs
— KENNEDY BROOKS, Mansfield, Jr. — 263-2,302, 28 TDs
— TREVOR SPEIGHTS, McAllen Memorial, Sr. — 2,791 rushing yards, 46 TDs
Kicker:
— CAMERON DICKER, Lake Travis, So. — 46-46 PATs, 7-8 FGs, long of 44, 22 touchbacks
Offensive Player of the Year: Sam Ehlinger, Austin Westlake
___
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
Linemen
— K’LAVON CHAISSON, Galena Park North Shore, Jr. — 50 tackles, 15.5 sacks, 13 TFL, 3 FF
— ELIJAH EARLS, SA Northside Stevens, Sr. — 108 tackles, 15 sacks, 21 TFL, 2 INTs
— ANTHONY EKPE, Pflugerville Hendrickson, Sr. — 78 tackles, 18 TFL 12 sacks
— HOUSTON MILLER, Keller, Sr. — 119 tackles, 16 TFL, 9 sacks, 4 FF
Linebackers:
— MATTHEW ANUNDA, Arlington, Sr. – 169 tackles, 11 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 FF, 3 PBU, 3 blocked kicks
— KESHON CERVANTES, Amarillo Tascosa, Sr. — 117 tackles, 9 TFL, 5 sacks, 3 FF, 3 FR, 3 defensive TDs, 2 INTs
— DAQUAYLYN THOMAS, Arlington Martin, Sr. – 75 tackles, 19 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 4 FF, 3 FR
Defensive backs:
— D’ANTHONY CARTER, SA Northside Stevens, Sr. — 45 tackles, 8 INTs, 11 pass deflections
— ISAIAH FIELDS, Cibolo Steele, Sr. — 40 tackles, 6 TFL, 5 INTs, 3 pass deflections
— DAR’WON HAWKINS, North Crowley, Sr. — 53 tackles, 4 TFL, 5 INTs, 9 PBU, 2 FR
— JOHN MENDOZA, Edinburg North, Sr. — 11 INTs
— ANTHONY THOMAS, Montgomery, Sr. — 89 tackles, 19 TFL, 5 sacks, 1 INT, 2 FF, 4 kicks returned for TDs
Punter:
— TYLER DUNLOP, Hurst Bell, Sr. — 47.8 yard avg., 13 inside 20, 3 inside 10
Defensive Player of the Year: Matthew Anunda, Arlington
___
SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
Linemen:
— Patrick Blasingame, Colleyville Heritage, Sr.; Billy Honaker, Schertz Clemens, Sr.; Chris Owens, Arlington Lamar, Sr.; Austin Sargent, Rockwall, Sr.; Jack Sides, Dallas Highland Park, Sr.
Receivers/ends:
— Richie Rodriguez, EP Eastwood, Sr.; Joseph Ward, Waco Midway, Sr.
Quarterbacks:
— Shane Buechele, Arlington Lamar, Sr.; Jalen Hurts, Channelview, Sr.
Running backs:
— Jaelin Ford, Amarillo, Soph.; Lil’ Jordan Humphrey, Southlake Carroll, Sr.; Sammy Lintson, Deer Park, Sr.
Kicker:
— Jackson Smith, Waco Midway, Sr.
___
SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
Linemen:
— Ricardo Miner, McAllen Memorial, Jr.; Jimmy Nelson III, Arlington Martin, Sr.; Michael Prescott, Colleyville Heritage, Sr.; Ty Shelby, Friendswood, Sr.
Linebackers:
— Hayden Harrison, Wolfforth Frenship, Sr.; Andrew Hyacinth, Galena Park North Shore, Sr.; Brandon Smyth, SA Northside Brandeis, Sr.
Defensive backs:
— Deontay Anderson, Manvel, Sr.; Obi Eboh, Southlake Carroll, Sr.; Dominique Ramsey, Converse Judson, Sr.; Alex Shillow, Pflugerville, Sr.; Jordan Williams, Pflugerville Hendrickson, Sr.
Punter:
— Dillon Scherer, Klein Oak, Sr.
___
HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE
LINEMEN: Jean Delance, North Mesquite; Dominic Deriggi, Galena Park North Shore; Cortez Ducksworth, CC King; Clarence Henderson, Dallas Skyline; Leyton Hernandez, CC King; Tope Imade, Arlington Bowie; Jesus Lopez, Laredo United; Tito Martinez, Laredo United; Austin Meyers, Manvel; Christian Navejar, Mission; Denzel Okafor, Lewisville; J’Don Robinson, Dallas Skyline; Tyrese Robinson, McKinney Boyd; Nick Sheldon, Waco Midway; Nick Walters, Colleyville Heritage.
RECEIVERS/ENDS: Sam Crawford, Rockwall; Aaron Denson, Richland; LaDarius Dickens, Rowlett; Zach Farrar, Southlake Carroll; Josh Fink, Coppell; Derek Housler, Smithson Valley; Reed Klubnik, Austin Westlake; Logan Mann, SA Northside Stevens; Eric Ovalle, Laredo Alexander; David Sanchez II, Laredo United; Dillon Smith, Keller; Kaden Smith, Lewisville Marcus; Josh Wainwright, Austin Bowie.
QUARTERBACKS: Logan Bonner, Rowlett; Charlie Brewer, Lake Travis; Greg Eisworth, South Grand Prairie; Frank Harris, Schertz Clemens; Chris Robison, Mesquite Horn; Bryce Rivers, SA Northside Stevens; Ignazio Tellez, Laredo United; Tyler Vitt, SA MacArthur; Tristen Wallace, DeSoto; Jacoby Williams, Garland.
RUNNING BACKS: Edwin Allen, FW Paschal; Ronald Awatt, Wolfforth Frenship; Caleb Broach, Rockwall; Juan Cisneros, Laredo LBJ; DeAndre Cook, Arlington Bowie; Jaylon Dukes, SA Northside Brandeis; Saevion Johnson, Pearland Dawson; Christian Mallard, SA Taft; Hasain Newsome, CC King; D’Vaughn Pennamon, Manvel; Peytton Pickett, Arlington Sam Houston; Kyle Porter, Katy; Abram Smith, Abilene; Trelon Smith, Cypress Ridge; Brandon Stephens, Plano; Emilio Tamez, Weslaco East; Tyler Tutt, Keller; Ja’Ron Wilson, Euless Trinity.
KICKERS: Max Allan, Colleyville Heritage; Patrick Grady, Arlington Martin; Luke Hogan, Keller; Tanner Lange, Richardson Berkner; Chris Naggar, Arlington.
___
HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE
LINEMEN: Stevin Fields, SA Johnson; Andrew Fitzgerald, Lewisville Marcus; Elias Garcia, Austin Westlake; Eric Gonzalez, CC King; Mauricio Gutierrez, Laredo Alexander; Jayden Hutchings, Lake Travis; Mark Jackson, Cibolo Steele; Joseph Lamott, Cedar Hill; Ken McLaurin, Denton Ryan; Kaleb Nunez, Midland Lee; Sammy Ochoa, Lake Travis; Levi Onwuzurike, Allen; Bryce Peoples, North Crowley; Jacob Piel, Wolfforth Frenship; Alton Robinson, Converse Judson; Brooks Roy, SA Reagan; John Samples, Tyler Lee; Luke Termin, Rockwall; Traver Vliem, Midland; Joe Wallace, Dallas Skyline; Cailon Washington, North Crowley.
LINEBACKERS: Kyle Andersen, SA Reagan; Quintelro Baker, Houston Reagan; Stephon Barclift, SA Roosevelt; Keith Bazzle, Round Rock; Jalil Bethel, Killeen; Michael Carrillo, Denton Guyer; Tyreke Davis, Denton Ryan; Steven De Leon, Mission High; Sam Hinojosa, McAllen Memorial; Dontavious Jackson, Alief Elsik; Kailon Jones, North Crowley; Clifton Lewis, Fort Bend Hightower; Tony Luna, Laredo LBJ; Houston Miller, Keller; Pelini Nau, Colleyville Heritage; Joshua Nguyen, Odessa Permian; Robert Revels, Houston Reagan; Alexander Rodriguez, SA Northside Brennan; Delchaun Rushing, League City Clear Springs; Luis Sanchez, La Joya Palmview; Mohamed Sanogo, Plano West; Dharius Timmons, Denton Guyer; Mauricio Vazquez, Laredo Alexander; Nick Watts, Denton Ryan; Braydon Webb, McKInney Boyd; Ronnell Wilson, Abilene; Jack Youngblood, Midland.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Austin Allen, Laredo Alexander; Carlos Cantu, Laredo Alexander; Isaac de la Fuente, Laredo United South; Alvin Green, DeSoto; Reid Harrison-Ducros, Colleyville Heritage; Austin Hiller, Lake Travis; Uryan Hudson, Manvel; Landry Hutchins, Keller; Bryce Jackson, Denton Guyer; Brandon Johnson, Dallas Skyline; Jaylon Jones, Allen; Mack Kelley, Austin Westlake; Jared Mayden, Garland Sachse; Devontre McGarity, SA Northside Brennan; Kolbi McGary, Cedar Hill; Trevon Moehring-Woodard, Smithson Valley; Eric Monroe, Galena Park North Shore; Alex Plunk, Amarillo Tascosa; Jordan Porter, Colleyville Heritage; Fabian Rodriguez, Los Fresnos; Makyle Sanders, Tyler Lee; Daireon Smith, SA East Central; Des Smith, Odessa Permian; Anthony Taylor, Allen; Derrick Tucker, Manvel; Jax Welch, Odessa Permian; Skyler Wetzel, SA Reagan; Collin Wilder, Katy.
PUNTERS: Holden Lyons, Colleyville Heritage; Chris Naggar, Arlington; Jake Oldroyd, Southlake Carroll.