Superlative Winners
Player of the Year: Bryan Chavez, Brownsville Veterans Memorial
Offensive Player of the Year: Kriz Peña, Brownsville Hanna
Defensive Player of the Year: Manrique Cantu, Brownsville Hanna
All-Purpose Player of the Year: Gunnar Williams, Brownsville Porter
Lineman of the Year: Matthew Pinion, Brownsville Veterans Memorial
Newcomer of the Year: Robert Pineda, Los Fresnos
Sub-5A Player of the Year: Ethan Gallegos, Brownsville St. Joseph
Coach of the Year: Kelley Lee, Brownsville Veterans Memorial
All-Area First Team Offense
Quarterback: Reece Sampayo, Brownsville Veterans Memorial
Running back: Jay Valdez, Brownsville Veterans Memorial; Eddie Slovak, Brownsville Lopez
Fullback: Juan Velez, Brownsville Pace
Wide Receiver: Gerry Gomez, Brownsville Veterans Memorial; Adrian Del Pozo, Brownsville St. Joseph, Claudio Torres, Brownsville St. Joseph
Tight End: Nick Tovar, Brownsville Veterans Memorial
O-Line: Kayvin De La Rosa, Los Fresnos; Nathan Martinez, Port Isabel; Diego De La Cruz, Brownsville St. Joseph; Israel Yanez, Brownsville Veterans Memorial; Andres Lara, Brownsville Pace
Athlete: Ivan Gonzalez, Brownsville Pace
Kicker: Tyler Achleitner, Brownsville Veterans Memorial
All-Area First Team Defense
D-Line: Edward Guerrero, Brownsville Pace; Christian De La Garza, Brownsville Veterans Memorial; Samuel Moreno, Brownsville Porter; Kevin Garcia, Brownsville Pace
Linebackers: Ricky Alvarez, Brownsville Pace; Miguel Contreras, Brownsville St. Joseph; Tristian Garcia, Port Isabel; Gary Bardales, Brownsville Veterans Memorial
Defensive backs: Gilbert Trillo, Brownsville Veterans Memorial; Josh Munoz, Los Fresnos; Jose Godinez, Brownsville Hanna; Evan Galvan, Port Isabel
Punter: Emilio Cahuiche, Brownsville Pace
Second Team Offense
Quarterback: Jacob Cortinas, Brownsville Lopez
Running back: Luis Ramos, Port Isabel; Gael Palestina, Los Fresnos
Fullback: Tristian Garcia, Port Isabel
Wide Receivers: Joshua Limon, Los Fresnos; Pablo Lopez, Brownsville Lopez, Michael McHale, Brownville Veterans Memorial
O-Line: Steven Martinez, Port Isabel; Genaro Galvan, Los Fresnos; Damian Garza, Brownsville Hanna; Eduardo Cano, Brownsville Lopez; Nate Hernandez, Brownsville Jubilee
Tight End: Angel Ramirez, Brownsville Lopez
Athlete: Rudy Barrera, Port Isabel
Kicker: JJ Contreras, Los Fresnos
Second Team Defense
D-Line: Juan Lozano, Los Fresnos; JP Cuello, Brownsville Rivera; Vicente Rocio, Los Fresnos; Luke Valdez, Port Isabel
Linebackers: Jaime Martinez, Brownsville Veterans Memorial; Frank Quintero, Los Fresnos; Jesus Fernandez Brownsville Rivera; Jacob Broussard, Brownsville Hanna
Defensive backs: Kenny Davis, Brownsville Veterans Memorial; Eduardo Poy, Brownsville Porter; Emilio Cahuiche, Brownsville Pace; Alex Guzman, Brownsville Rivera
Punter: Joshua Villafranco, Brownsville Hanna
Offensive Player of the Year: Kriz Peña, Brownsville Hanna
Good luck trying to tackle Brownsville Hanna senior running back Kriz Peña.
Peña, an elusive back and tough runner rushed for the most yards in the Metro area with 1,765 and had 14 touchdowns on the ground. Peña also had 152 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions for the Eagles.
Peña is the All-Metro Offensive Player of the Year.
| Hanna Golde Eagle running back Kriz Pena. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald) Miguel Roberts |
The running back was pivotal in helping the Eagles capture a district title in 2020, but was banged up in 2021, Brownsville Hanna head coach Mark Guess said.
“This year he spent the time in the weight room,” Guess said. “We are able to keep him healthy, and he can turn nothing into a first down, and even a bigger play. He is one of those special guys that have the vision, and the start-stop stuff that a lot of guys do not have.”
Peña was first team all-district running back in District 32-6A.
“Honestly, even though I got all those yards, I could have gotten more,” he said. “Always looking for better I guess.”
The running back has an offer from Eastern New Mexico University, he said. But, is in no rush to commit to anything yet, he added.
Defensive Player of the Year: Manrique Cantu, Brownsville Hanna
A player you have to double team, game plan around and always account for – Brownsville Hanna’s Manrique Cantu was a terror for opposing offensive lines.
| Hanna Golden Eagle Manrique Cantu (99). (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald) Miguel Roberts |
The senior defensive lineman finished with 70 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, nine sacks, two caused fumbles and an interception returned for a touchdown in 2022.
“I am pretty happy with my performances,” Cantu said. “Not completely satisfied, I could have played a lot better. But, for my standards, I think I did alright.”
Cantu approached every play as if he can make something happen, he said.
“He is a big kid, but he really worked his butt off,” Brownsville Hanna head coach Mark Guess said. “He showed up every day after school, every day in the summer and it really paid off for him this year.”
Cantu was awarded first team all-district defensive end in District 32-6A.
Lineman of the Year: Matthew Pinion, Brownsville Veterans Memorial
To be able to run the ball, it helps to have a good offensive line, and in the slot-t you need a good strong guard.
The strong guard, or right guard, is a pivotal position in misdirection offenses. Not only is a lot of power runs going through the strong side of the offensive line, but the strong guard also has to pull – move down fields for blocks as a lead blocker.
No offensive line in the Metro area moved the ball as effective as Brownsville Veterans Memorial’s ground-strike offense, and at the heart of that line was Matthew Pinion the All-Metro offensive lineman of the year.
| Brownsville Veterans Charger Matthew Pinion (77). (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald) Miguel Roberts |
“Everything we did was because of the offensive line,” Brownsville Veterans Memorial fullback Bryan Chavez said.
Pinion was awarded first team all-district for his efforts in 2022. A junior, Pinion was on a line that helped block for 6,479 total yards of offense.
“It was really fun,” Pinion said. “I really enjoyed it. Especially, helping to lead the way for Chavez, scoring all of those touchdowns. I really enjoyed it a lot.”
Pinion is going to be a key returning play in 2023 for the Chargers. The guard is ready for next season, and hopes to do as good, if not better in 2023, he said.
All Purpose Player of the Year: Gunnar Williams, Brownsville Porter
Brownsville Porter offensive coordinator Farrell Williams was able to coach both sons, Brock and Gunnar, on the offensive side of the ball for the Cowboys.
With Brock graduating last year, it was just Gunnar and father this season for the Cowboys. Gunnar Williams had another terrific season with his father as a coach.
The senior put in a shift on the football field all year as he caught 79 passes for 844 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with 611 rushing yards and seven touchdowns for Brownsville Porter.
Gunnar Williams is the All-Metro All-Purpose Player of the Year.
| Porter Cowboy Gunnar Williams (1) (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald) Miguel Roberts |
“It is obviously a great opportunity to be able to coach your kids,” the offensive coordinator said. “It all worked out coming to Porter, and the boys being able to play there, and me being able to coach them. Not many people can say they have done that. I am part of that club now, it was a fun time.”
It looked like fun for the senior play maker. Gunnar Williams was lined out wide, inside, in the back field and even at quarterback in 2022, and made the most out of it. The senior delivered big play capabilities to help Brownsville Porter win its first four games of the season.
“It started in flag football,” Gunnar Williams said. “He has always been calling plays for me, so coming into high school, and him calling players for me again was a dream come true.”
Newcomer of the Year: Robert Pineda, Los Fresnos
Robert Pineda does not have the numbers of a freshman, or the poise of a freshman either, but he is one – for a few more months.
As a freshman Pineda completed 66% of his passes on 178 attempts for a cool 1,338 yards and 15 touchdowns. The most impressive stat was only three interceptions.
“Robert prepared himself well for the opportunity to lead our varsity football team as a freshman by having a blue-collar work ethic, being a student of the game and ultimately proved to be a quick study.” Los Fresnos head coach David Cantu said. “Also, because of his humble nature and dependability, the older members of the team genuinely accepted him since day one.”
| Los Fresnos Falcon quarterback Robert Pineda (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald) Miguel Roberts |
Not only was he a poised passer, but the freshman also made plays on the ground. Pineda rushed for 908 yards and touchdowns for a team that picked up a bi-district playoff victory in 2022.
“His passion for football set him apart,” Cantu said. “Especially since he refuses to be outworked and has more goals yet to accomplish.”
The freshman is already for the future.
“Our team has a lot of potential,” Pineda said. “We just have to set good habits, work really hard every day. We are going to be a really good team. Everyone is dedicated, I just want to take this team to fourth or fifth round.”
Sub-5A MVP: Ethan Gallegos, Brownsville St. Joseph
Brownsville St. Joseph quarterback Ethan Gallegos only had one year to shine at the TAPPS school.
Prior to Gallegos’ lone year, the Bloodhounds had Kai Money and then Luigi Cristiano for four years each as starting quarterbacks. It was only going to be the one for the former Weslaco Panther.
Gallegos did not disappoint.
| St. Joseph’s Academy Bloodhounds’ Ethan Gallegos (1).(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) |
The Bloodhounds senior, dawning the red and white, proved he was not just a footnote in St. Joseph football history, but a chapter.
“A lot of people, when he first came to us, knew Ethan was a great quarterback,” Brownsville St. Joseph head coach Tino Villarreal said. “But, they said ‘he had better wheels, than an arm’, and I think he proved everybody wrong.”
Gallegos passed for 2,964 yards, threw 37 touchdowns, rushed for 960 yards and found the end zone nine times on the ground to lead an explosive offense to an eight-win season in a competitive TAPPS Division II District 3.
“He ended up breaking Luigi’s passing touchdown record, who before that was Kai Money’s record,” Villarreal said. “Not only did he come in for one year, but in one year he was able to do so much, and provide so much for our team.”
Cristiano threw 36 touchdown passes in 2021.
Coach of the Year: Kelley Lee, Brownsville Veterans Memorial
Brownsville Veterans Memorial broke plenty of records, milestones and won a lot of football games this season in head coach Kelley Lee’s second and final season with the Chargers.
Lee is the All-Metro Coach of the Year.
| BVM former head coach Kelley Lee during practice on Aug. 6, 2021. Claire Cruz |
Lee brought his ‘ground-strike offense’ with him from Eastern New Mexico University, and he is going back with an area championship, a tri-district championship and at least one player, Bryan Chavez.
Chavez is preparing to take the offer from Lee to go to New Mexico, he said. Chavez joins a list of players, including two on the All-Metro team – Brownsville Hanna’s Kriz Peña and Brownsville Porter’s Gunnar Williams – to receive offers from Lee. The offers were announced on social media.
Lee joined Brownville Veterans in 2021 finishing the season 7-4, before having one of the best seasons in program history with 10 wins and capturing the area championship.