BY NATE KOTISSO | STAFF WRITER
Associated Press Sports Editors statewide determined several Valley football players were among the best at their positions in the football-rich state of Texas.
The Texas APSE named Mission Veterans quarterback Landry Gilpin and wide receiver A.J. Gonzaque to its Class 5A all-state football team on Wednesday morning. Gilpin was selected as the state’s Class 5A Offensive Player of the Year as well as the Texas APSE’s first-team quarterback.
Gonzaque, a sophomore, shined in his first full varsity season for the Patriots. He hauled in 49 receptions for 1,079 yards and 13 touchdowns during the 2018 regular season.
Gonzaque was one of three receivers and/or tight ends handpicked on the APSE’s second-team offense.
PSJA Memorial middle linebacker Sal Ramirez and Valley View safety Javier Lopez were also selected to the Texas APSE’s second-team defense. Ramirez had 101 solo tackles, including 27.0 tackles for a loss and five sacks for the Wolverines. Lopez picked off 10 interceptions for the Tigers, returning two of them for touchdowns in Valley View’s first ever 7-3 regular season. Ramirez and Lopez are both seniors.
Roma senior linebacker David Rios (136 tackles, 9.0 sacks), La Joya Palmview defensive end Armando Garza (28.0 tackles for a loss, 11.0 sacks) as well as Brownsville Pace lineman Alan Perez and safety Hector Salazar all made the APSE’s Honorable Mention team.
The Texas APSE made its determinations for its Class 5A all-state team based on statistics from the regular season.