NATHANIEL MATA AND SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITERS
Edinburg Vela senior offensive tackle Jayden Borjas has had a tremendous week.
Wednesday, the senior signed to play football for the University of Incarnate Word. Thursday, he was named to the Class 6A APSE All-State first team. The honor signifies that Borjas was one of the top six linemen in the state of Texas, according to the voters.
“Being recognized first team all-state is a tremendous honor,” Vela coach John Campbell said. “We are excited for him, and our school and our program as well.
“What I don’t think people realize is the signing is a little snapshot of a 3-5 year process in a young man’s life to get to that point. It’s not just what they do on the practice field or on the game field or in the weight room, but also what they do academically in the classroom. I think Jayden is one of those student-athletes that represents the body of the work. He’s had his eyes set on being able to achieve these goals throughout his varsity career, and now, fortunately, he is getting these opportunities and honors.”
Borjas was not the only Valley athlete recognized Thursday, in fact, the Valley had a substantial presence throughout the three teams selected by the APSE voters.
PSJA North’s defense was prolific in 30-6A. The Raiders’ resurgent season was spearheaded by an improved defense that altered many games. By Week 11 they had taken over the top spot in the district with the fewest yards allowed. On Thursday, the rest of the state took notice.
The ‘Blackshirt’ defense recorded seven interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries. The team’s leading tackler and interception leader, Seven Sanchez, was named to the Class 6A first-team All-State roster.
Sanchez had 184 tackles and three picks, plus an eye-popping eight sacks from the safety position.
North coach Marcus Kaufmann said the junior defensive back gets his namesake from the seemingly undersized former LSU standout and current Houston Texan Tryann Mathieu.
“He’s the heart and soul and the energy of the team, not just the defense,” Kaufmann said. “He wants to do everything, all the kids know he wants to do everything. Everybody kind of feeds off of him. He’s really a swiss army knife, we can line him up anywhere.”
North defensive lineman Aaron Alvarez was named to the All-State second-team.
“A lot of those sacks were in crucial situations when we were trying to close people out late in the year,” Kaufmann said. “Aaron was able to come through and do that.”
McAllen Memorial had an up-and-down season, but one thing that remained the same was the commitment to moving the football on the ground. Standout running back Campbell Speights was named one of the three second-team all-state running backs. Speights had 1,607 yards in the regular season and 26 touchdowns. He added 225 in the bi-district playoff game and three more scores in the Mustangs’ loss to Laredo Alexander.
Daniel Domian helped anchor a line that kept opening holes for Speights. Domian was named honorable mention on the offensive line.
“Those two young men, Daniel Domian and Campbell Speights, both had outstanding years for us. They were captains of our football team,” said McAllen Memorial coach Bill Littleton. “They were leaders for us on the field and off the field. They did a good job leading this team in the good times and in the bad times. That’s when you have a true leader, your leadership steps up through the hard times.”
When the year was all said and done Speights had his most productive high school season to date. He surpassed two consecutive 22 touchdown years in his first two years for Memorial.
“Campbell had an outstanding year and he’ll be the first one to tell you he’s not going anywhere without his offensive line. The line did a good job all year for us. That’s a tribute to coach (Robbie) Jasso, our offensive line coach in what they bring to the table.”
The Mustangs also continued the trend of getting a defensive player awarded in the AP end of season teams. Last season seniors Nathan Sanchez and Kelechi Nwachuku were honored and this season the young defense found a new corp of standouts.
Junior linebacker Michael Morales and junior defensive back Diego Villarreal were named all-state honorable mention.
PSJA High’s offense was given recognition on the AP Honorable mention team. 3,000-yard passer Trey Guajardo and his top target Miguel Flores who had 1,116 yards, 14 TDs in the teams’ 11 games appeared on the honorable mention unit.
La Joya High’s workhorse running back Eddie Villarreal had 1,623 yards on 252 carries for 22 touchdowns and earned running back honorable mention.
Weslaco East was represented on the honorable mention team with offensive lineman Alexis Gil, defensive lineman Jacob Banda and linebacker Freddy Cardenas. The Strong Side’s defense was an unstoppable force all year, leading District 31-6A from wire-to-wire in yards allowed. Banda and Cardenas have both been selected before, which is a harbinger of their consistency throughout their standout East careers.