4B
Sunday, January 6, 2019
Denton Record-Chronicle
Denton Record-Chronicle
Sunday, January 6, 2019
5B
Denton Record-Chronicle
2018 All-Area Football Team 0FFENSE
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
FIRST TEAM
Andre Washington
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
DEFENSE FIRST TEAM
Eli Stowers
Daniel Greek
Tito Byce
Braylen Butler
Ahmad Terry
Tra Smith
Guyer, QB, So. Stowers was the Offensive Newcomer of the Year in District 5-6A as a sophomore, throwing for 1,571 yards and 13 TDs while also rushing for 1,119 yards and nine TDs. He’s one of the top QBs in the Class of 2021 and his stock will only continue to rise.
Liberty Christian, QB, So. Greek was named the TAPPS Division I District I Offensive Newcomer of the Year after throwing for 2,337 yards and 23 TDs as a sophomore. He captained the Warriors’ offense efficiently and was a solid complement to Andre Washington in the backfield.
Argyle, RB, So. Byce was a big part of the Eagles’ offense as a sophomore, perfectly balancing a vertical passing game by rushing for 1,520 yards and 26 TDs on 215 carries. He was the District 7-4A DI Offensive Newcomer of the Year and will be a focal point again next year.
Braswell, DL, So. As only a sophomore, Butler repeatedly disrupted opposing quarterbacks and running backs in the backfield. He finished the season with 53 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, nine QB pressures and one interception return for a touchdown.
Ryan, LB, Jr. Terry, a second-year starter, was a force alongside Drew Sanders in Ryan’s 4-2-5 defense. The junior linebacker had 103 tackles, seven for loss, with one interception, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. He was a first team all-district selection.
Ryan, DB, Jr. Smith was again a productive leader in Ryan’s secondary while posting 86 tackles, three INTs (one returned for a TD), a blocked punt for a score, two kickoff returns for TDs and a punt return for a TD. Smith was the Defensive MVP in District 4-5A Division I.
Liberty Christian, RB, Sr. Washington was the area’s most productive offensive player, finishing as the TAPPS Division I District I MVP after rushing for 2,064 yards and 21 TDs on 299 carries while also catching 63 passes for 807 yards and 11 TDs to lead Liberty Christian to the state semifinals.
Chase Petter Argyle, LB, Sr. Chase Petter will easily go down as one of the best linebackers Argyle has ever had, and that’s saying something considering the Eagles have never had a problem having a leader at that position. Petter finished his final season with 144 tackles, 24 for loss, with a whopping 12 sacks.
QUARTERBACK OF THE YEAR
UTILITY PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Emani Bailey
Xylohn Posey
Kaedric Cobbs
Lawrence Norton
Tanner Jarrett
TJ Walker
Ryan, RB, Jr. In his second season as the featured running back in Ryan’s attack, Bailey rushed for 1,284 yards and 14 touchdowns while also adding 12 catches for 126 yards and one score. He was the District 4-5A Division I Offensive MVP.
Denton, RB, Jr. With 1,434 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground and 212 yards with three touchdowns as a receiver, Posey was the driving force behind the Broncos offense with an impressive combination of speed and strength. He was a first team all-district selection.
Guyer, RB, Jr. Cobbs missed the first three games of the year with an injury but wasted no time returning to form. He rushed for 1,487 yards and 19 TDs while averaging more than 6.6 yards per carry as a junior, and now has 2,849 yards and 44 TDs the last two seasons.
Guyer, DL, Sr. Norton was a monster for the Guyer defensive front, recording 62 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, four sacks and a team-high eight hurries as a dangerous edge rusher against top-level offensive line talent. He was a first team all-district selection in 5-6A.
Guyer, LB, Sr. Jarrett was always flying to the ball while solidifying the middle of Guyer’s defense, and the senior finished with 92 tackles, 14 TFL and three fumble recoveries. He was a second team all-district selection in District 5-6A in his final season with the Wildcats.
Ryan, DB, Sr. Walker was all over the field in his final season with the Raiders while racking up 86 tackles, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. He returned both fumble recoveries for touchdowns. Walker was a first team all-district selection in District 4-5A Division I.
Drew Sanders Bo Hogeboom Argyle, QB, Jr. Hogeboom, the District 7-4A DI Offensive Player of the Year, ensured the transition from Jon Copeland (Incarnate Word) was a smooth one. He led the area with 3,372 yards passing and set a new Argyle record with 44 TDs, helping the Eagles advance to the 4A DI Region II final.
OFFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Seth Henigan Ryan, QB, So. Seth Henigan was a backup before taking over for his brother, Ian Henigan, due to injury early in the year. The sophomore completed nearly 70 percent of his passes for 1,979 yards and 26 TDs. He was perhaps the area’s best at protecting the ball, finishing with just two interceptions.
Brandon Engel
Seth Meador
Dillon Carter
Lake Dallas, WR, Jr. One of just two receivers in the area to eclipse 1,000 yards receiving, Engel was a prolific weapon for the Falcons’ offense. He finished the year with 1,134 yards and 11 touchdowns on 63 receptions, earning first team all-district honors.
Guyer, WR, Jr. Meador was the only Guyer receiver to have more than 15 catches and 150 yards this season, and the junior finished with 56 catches for 834 yards and nine touchdowns to pace the Wildcats’ passing game. He was a first team all-district selection.
Argyle, WR, Sr. Carter, a Texas Tech baseball signee, returned to the football field after a one-year hiatus and recorded an area-best 1,308 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns on 50 catches. He also served as Argyle’s punter and was the 7-4A DI Utility Player of the Year.
Connor Homeyer
Gabe Blair
Argyle, OL, Sr. Homeyer was a force for the Eagles in his first year as a full-time starter. He caught the attention of college coaches with his size and production in the trenches, and decided to join former Argyle QB Jon Copeland by signing with Incarnate Word in December.
Guyer, OL, So. Blair was a second team all-district selection in District 5-6A but was one of Guyer’s top offensive lineman this season while helping the Wildcats rush for more than 277 yards per game. With most of the offense back, Guyer should be in for a big 2019 season.
Ryan, ATH, Jr. When Drew Sanders moved to Ryan last summer, many wondered where he would fit into the Raiders’ system. The obvious opening was at linebacker, but it would have been silly not to take advantage of the Oklahoma commit’s freakish athleticism everywhere else on the field. So that’s what the coaching staff did, and Sanders, a junior, immediately became a central figure in Ryan’s run to a third straight 14-1 season. Defensively, Sanders had 103 tackles, eight for loss, six sacks, two blocked kicks and three interceptions – two of which he returned for touchdowns. Offensively, he accounted for 20 total TDs. He was co-MVP of District 4-5A (Division I) with teammate Billy Bowman Jr. and was an obvious pick for the 2018 DRC MVP.
Billy Bowman Jr.
Jacquez Flemings
Connor Lynch
Hayden Clearman
Ryan, DL, Sr. Flemings was an APSE all-state honorable mention in Class 5A while piling up 59 tackles, 25 for loss and nine sacks for a defense that was as stingy as they come and accounted for 16 defensive scores. Flemings was also a first team all-district selection.
Pilot Point, LB, Jr. Lynch was the key to the puzzle in the middle of Pilot Point’s stingy defense as the senior recorded a team-high 102 tackles to go along with eight TFL. Lynch was a first team all-district selection as Pilot Point returned to the playoffs for the second straight year.
Argyle, DB, Sr. Clearman had 97 tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery and returned two punts for a touchdown in his final year in the Argyle secondary. He was the Defensive Player of the Year in District 7-4A DI as the Eagles went 13-1 and advanced to the regional final.
Preston Wilson
Austin McCallion
Brenden Dixon
Collin Gamble
Argyle, OL, Sr. Wilson, who signed with Oklahoma State in December, was the leader of a stout offensive line group that helped Argyle reach the region final. He was the District 7-4A Division I Offensive Lineman of the Year as the Eagles averaged 50 points per game.
Aubrey, DL, Sr. McCallion has been a mainstay on the all-area team throughout his career at Aubrey, and his senior year is no exception. He was the Co-Defensive Line MVP in District 3-4A Division Ii with 45 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 11 hurries and four sacks.
Argyle, DB, Sr. Dixon’s play early in the season should have discouraged opposing QBs from throwing his way, but teams continued to test him, and he continued to answer the call. The Texas baseball commit had an area best nine interceptions and nine pass break-ups.
Liberty Christian, DB, Jr. Gamble was a reliable playmaker for the Warriors and he is one of the area’s most sought-after recruits. He had 42 tackles, four interceptions (two for TDs), averaged 27.2 yards per kick return, 14.8 yards per punt return and had two return TDs.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Steven Greek Liberty Christian Greek spent nearly a decade as the offensive coordinator at Plano Prestonwood Christian, calling the shots for one of the top offensive units in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He took over as the head coach at Liberty Christian in the spring and quickly led the Warriors to newfound success, going 8-5 and advancing to the TAPPS Division I state semifinals. It’s safe to say the future is bright at Liberty with Greek leading the way.
Ryan, WR/DB, So. Bowman was a driving force behind everything Ryan did and was in the conversation for MVP. The speedster accounted for 14 touchdowns, including eight receiving, one passing, three interception returns, one fumble return and a kickoff return. He had five INTs with eight pass breakups.
DEFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Deuce Harmon Guyer, DB, So. Guyer coaches raved all year about their sophomore corners, Deuce Harmon and Jaden Fugett, and their importance to the Wildcats’ defense. Harmon was the District 5-6A Defensive Newcomer of the Year, posting 45 tackles, three INTs, one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles.
SECOND TEAM
SECOND TEAM Pos. Player
School
Class
Notable
Pos. Player
School
Class
Notable
QB Ryan Depperschmidt
Lake Dallas
Sr.
170-of-268, 2,377 yards, 21 TDs; 152 carries, 667 yards, 12 TDs
DL
Del’shun Neal
Ryan
Jr.
54 tackles, 19 TFL, 10 sacks, nine hurries
QB Jacob Pitts
Pilot Point
Jr.
99-of-169, 1,481 yards, 11 TDs; 149 carries, 973 yards, 12 TDs
DL
Anthony Flemings
Ryan
Sr.
59 tackles, 25 TFL, nine sacks
RB
Ke’ori Hicks
Ryan
So.
86 carries, 711 yards, 6 TDs; 6 catches, 121 yards, 4 TDs
DL
Brandon Lancaster
Argyle
Sr.
55 tackles, 12 TFL
RB
Jeremiah Richardson
Braswell
Sr.
146 carries, 671 yards, 8 TDs
DL
Hayden Brockenbush
Lake Dallas
Sr.
49 tackles, four TFL
RB
Noah Lang
Argyle
Sr.
108 carries, 615 yards, 9 TDs
LB
Mason Ramsey
Argyle
Sr.
60 tackles, 12 TFL
WR Jamarion Robertson
Ryan
Sr.
31 catches, 581 yards, 7 TDs
LB
Darryl Minor Jr.
Lake Dallas
Sr.
97 tackles, 13 tackles, four FFs, two INTs, one FR
WR Alex Gonzales
Argyle
Jr.
52 catches, 772 yards, 6 TDs
LB
Brock Howard
Sanger
Sr.
113 tackles, 15 TFL
WR Cam Smith
Braswell
So.
37 catches, 449 yards, 2 TDs; 11 carries, 68 yards, 2 TDs
LB
Luke Sciba
Aubrey
Sr.
127 tackles, 14 TFL, four PBUs
OL
Chett Beach
Guyer
Jr.
First Team All-District in District 5-6A
DB Cristian Driver
Liberty Christian
Fr.
67 tackles, two INTs (one for TD)
OL
Quincy Gulley
Ryan
Sr.
First Team All-District in District 4-5A Division I
DB Marcellus Lockley
Denton
Jr.
23 tackles, 2 TFL, 11 PBUs
OL
Kye Ranton
Aubrey
Sr.
First Team All-District in District 3-4A Division II
DB Kobee Minor
Lake Dallas
Jr.
97 tackles, 3 INTs, 1 FR
OL
Dontayvion Stephenson
Braswell
Sr.
First Team All-District in District 7-5A Division II
DB Jaden Fugett
Guyer
So.
36 tackles, 2 INTs
OL
Tomas Hernandez
Ryan
Jr.
First Team All-District in District 4-5A Division I
DB Brent Jackson
Guyer
Sr.
93 tackles, one INT, two FR, one FF, one blocked punt
Andy Buttrell
Elijah Thibodeaux
Riley Nuzzo
Grant Shaw
DL Roberson
Liberty Christian, OL, Jr. The Liberty Christian offensive line was overlooked throughout most of the year but it’s impossible to downplay the group’s productivity as the Warriors had a 2,000-yard rusher in Andre Washington. Buttrell was the leader up front, and was honorable mention all-state.
Denton, KR/PR, Sr. After missing the first four games of the year with an injury, Thibodeaux and his game-changing speed made a big difference for the Broncos’ special teams unit. He returned two kickoffs for TDs, averaged 37 yards per return, and had one punt return for a TD.
Ryan, P/K, Jr. Nuzzo finished with 32 punts in 2018 for an average of 36.9 yards with an eye-popping long of 75 yards. He was also 70 of 71 on PATs and 6-for-9 on field goals with a long of 47. Nuzzo was a second team all-district selection in District 4-5A Division I.
Argyle, K, Sr. Shaw was perfect on extra points as a senior, going 84-of-84, and he also connected on 10 of 13 field goals. Shaw’s long for the season was 40 yards, and he scored a total of 114 points for the Eagles to earn first team all-district honors.
Lake Dallas, LB, Sr. Roberson led Lake Dallas in multiple statistical categories, including tackles (100), sacks (seven), and tackles for loss (18). The senior linebacker also had one interception and one forced fumble on the season. He was a first team all-district pick.
The Denton Record-Chronicle’s All-Area Football team was selected by its staff in consultation with area coaches. Staff Photographer Jeff Woo shot the MVP photo. Woo and Staff Photographer Jake King shot all other action photos.