Football and Texas. More often than not they are mentioned like a 1-2 punch. Each is synonymous with the other and Rio Grande Valley football players continue to make huge strides in bringing recognition, and some major wins, to South Texas. Below are the nominees for the All Valley Football Player of the Year. Winners will be announced June 13 at the All Valley Sports Awards Banquet, co-presented by DHR Health and Lone Star National Bank. Nominees are listed in alphabetical order.
Landry Gilpin, Mission Veterans, senior: Gilpin, a quarterback, was named Mr. Texas Football Player of the Year.
Gilpin threw for 4,544 passing yards and 50 touchdown passes while also rushing for 2,112 yards and 32 touchdowns. He was also named the Associated Press Sports Editors Class 5A Offensive Player of the Year and was named to the Class 5A all-state football team.
Gilpin’s best moment of the year took place in the Patriots’ 62-55 win in their Class 5A Division I regional semifinal against the previously undefeated Corpus Christi Veterans Eagles on Dec. 1 at The Alamodome in San Antonio.
In the game, Gilpin threw for 445 yards and five touchdowns while he rushed for 267 yards and two more touchdowns. His efforts helped propel Mission Veterans into the fourth round of the playoffs for the first time in school history.
Cesar Mancias, Brownsville Hanna, senior: Mancias, a running back. was the top offensive option for the Hanna Golden Eagles team that captured an undefeated District 32-6A title and broke through to the third round of the playoffs for the first time in school history.
Mancias was named the District and All-Metro MVP. Mancias rushed for 1,547 yards on 226 carries with 17 touchdowns. He also caught 19 passes for 203 yards and two more touchdowns.
Jacob Posas, Raymondville, senior: Raymondville’s senior QB Jacob Posas did not disappoint. The senior ran and threw for over 1,000 yards and helped lead the Bearkats to a 32-4A district title along with a bi-district win in the playoffs.
The banquet, hosted by RGVSports.com and AIM Media Texas in conjunction with the RGV Sports Hall of Fame, will see 33 awards presented to athletes, coaches and teams across all 12 UIL sports. The prestigious Tom Landry Award of Excellence will honor a student athlete for outstanding achievements.
Dallas Cowboys great Randy White, a Super Bowl MVP and NFL Hall of Famer, will be the guest speaker.
The banquet, which will run approximately 6 to 8 p.m., returns to Mario’s for a second consecutive year. The venue has a seating capacity of more than 500 people.
Tickets will be on sale soon at a cost of $40 per person. For sponsorship opportunities, call Marcia Kitten at (956) 683-4463 or send an email to [email protected].