By Mark Molina | The Brownsville Herald
The Associated Press released its All-State football teams earlier this week for all classifications and several metro-area players made the cut in the Class 5A and 6A ranks.
Highlighting the selections was Brownsville Hanna junior Brandon Esteves, who was one of four defensive lineman named to the Class 6A first team, along with Arlington Sam Houston’s Omar Darame, Katy Taylor’s Braedon Mowry and Galena Park North Shore’s Jordan Revels.
Esteves had a big season for Hanna as he recorded 70 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and two forced fumbles.
Even with an impressive stat line, the Hanna junior was in awe of the selection.
“I had a pretty good season, but I didn’t know this was going to happen,” Esteves said. “Honestly, it’s such an honor to receive an award like that.”
Hanna head coach Mark Guess had felt Esteves was worthy of receiving state recognition all season, but was more than thrilled to see it come to fruition.
“The first thing I came across as I scrolled down the list was Brandon Esteves on the first team,” the Hanna coach said. “I about jumped out of my chair and through the roof. Honestly, after the very first ballgame when we played McAllen Memorial, I told several of our coaches, I said ‘That kid should be first-team all-state.’ The way he prepares and works is unmatched by anybody I’ve coached in 25 years.”
Esteves wasn’t the only Hanna defender gaining state recognition as he is joined by safety Andres Sustaeta and cornerback Alcee Flores, who both received honorable mentions as defensive backs.
Sustaeta recorded 84 total tackles (four for a loss), three sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and seven pass deflections.
“I was shocked at first that I got this,” Sustaeta said. “My defense helped me out a bunch. It was a great season and we all played like the excellent football players we are. I couldn’t do it without my defensive line or my linebackers.”
Flores posted 35 tackles, a sack, three interceptions and six pass deflections.
“I feel honored to be given this award,” Flores said. “I was a second-team all-district player, so I didn’t expect much, but I ended up with an all-state selection so I was happy with that.”
“When it comes to Sustaeta and Alcee Flores, those two guys have worked their tails off for three years for me,” Guess added. “For them to get that, it just really made me proud to scroll down and see them listed as honorable mentions.”
In Class 5A, the Pace Vikings had a pair of defensive players got honorable mention nods.
Defensive back Hector Salazar was recognized after a big year in the secondary.
The Vikings’ safety racked up 86 total tackles, four interceptions, caused two fumbles and had 3.5 tackles for loss.
Safety Alan Perez also saw his name on the list after recording 77 tackles , a fumble recovery and two tackles for loss.
Defensive lineman Javi Garcia also in consideration after a huge year in which he had 69 tackles, 5.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and 9.5 tackles for loss.