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District 32-4A champion Edcouch-Elsa garnered another honor on Wednesday.

Defensive back Joseph Garcia, the son of E-E defensive coordinator Joe Garcia, was named to the Associated Press' Class 4A All-State first team. Garcia, also a 32-4A first-team selection, had 85 tackles, 70 solo and intercepted 12 passes.

"It means a lot," Joseph Garcia said. "It means I reached a goal in football."

Along linebacker Tony Sanchez, a second-team selection, Joseph Garcia and the ‘Jackets' defense was the strongest in the district, allowing only 261 yards per game during the regular season.

Widely expected to be one of the Rio Grande Valley's strongest teams, the ‘Jackets lived up to those expectations, reaching the second round of the postseason. Joseph Garcia said he and his teammates were aware of what observers thought of his team.

"We set some goals, and we set some pretty good goals for us to reach," Joseph Garcia said. "When we reached them we just wanted to keep going."

E-E coach Joe Solis said Garcia had a great impact on the defense's success and said he "didn't remember" Joseph Garcia missing one practice in three seasons.

"He's a hard worker, a hard hitter," Solis said. "He isn't very big but he came at you with all he had. I'm very proud of him. I think if anybody's deserving of that it's him because of the three years that he played for us and all the great things that happened with him being a member of our team."

E-E defensive lineman Frank Rodriguez also was honored, picking up an honorable mention nod.

Weslaco East also had three players honored by the AP. Running back Andrew Alvarado, who rushed for a district-best 2,037 yards and also scored 19 rushing touchdowns, was named to the second team.

"He is our first 2,000-yard rusher. His hard work paid off," Weslaco East coach Armando Cuellar said. "What Andrew did he did for his teammates and they in turn played for each other."

Two Wildcats linemen, Abraham Trejo and Catarino Salazar also were recognized. Trejo was voted to the second team, while Salazar was an honorable mention choice.

Cuellar said those selections were appropriate. Alvarado, whenever asked, would credit his offensive line, a group which helped the Wildcats gain 3,056 yards on the ground.

 "(Andrew's) success, and he'll probably be the first to tell you, was more of a team effort," Cuellar said.

Brian Sandalow covers District 32-4A football for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436 or via e-mail at bsandalow@themonitor.com.

 First-Team
OFFENSE:
Offensive LINE:
CORBIN BOETTGER, Denison, Jr., graded over 95 percent; no sacks allowed
DALVIN GLASS, Dallas Carter, Jr., led offensive line for team that averaged 345 rushing yards
PADEN KELLY, Lake Travis, Sr., 56 knockdowns; graded 83 percent; no sacks allowed
RHONTAE SCALES, Killeen, Sr., 65 pancakes, 55 knockdowns
MASON WALTERS, Wolfforth Frenship, Sr., graded 94 percent; 23 pancakes, 46 knockdowns
A.J. DUGAT, Dayton, Sr., 70-1,139 receiving, 14 TDs; 358 rushing yards, 4 TDs
CADE MCCRARY, Lake Travis, Sr., 54-1,182 receiving, 16 TDs (21.5 per-catch average); 2 rushing TDs

Quarterback:
GARRETT GILBERT, Lake Travis, Sr., 180-266 passing, 3,043 yards, 38 TDs, 2 INTs; 509 rushing yards, 12 TDs

Running BACKS:
JOHN HUBERT, Hewitt Midway, Sr., 207-1,877 rushing, 27 TDs
D.J. JONES, Denison, Jr., 183-2,240 rushing, 32 TDs; 1 TD catch; 1 kickoff return TD
KENDIAL LAWRENCE, Rockwall-Heath, Sr., 229-2,069 rushing, 32 TDs

Kicker:
JUSTIN STOUT, West Mesquite, Jr., 13-of-16 FGs, long of 50; 36-of-36 on PATs

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: GARRETT GILBERT, Lake Travis.

First-Team
DEFENSE:
Linemen:
ROJELIO CHAVIRA, Dumas, Sr., 90 tackles, 21 TFL; 11 QB sacks; 17 QB hurries; 2 fumbles recovered
CASEY FELTON, Canyon Randall, Sr., 101 tackles, 31 TFL, 1 INT return for TD, 9 QB sacks, 4 fumbles recovered
JESUS HERRERA, EP Parkland, Sr., 96 tackles, 16 sacks, 2 fumbles recovered
CHRIS MALDONADO, Buda Hays, Sr., 94 tackles, 17 TFL, 10 sacks, 2 fumbles recovered, 2 fumbles caused

Linebackers:
QUINTON CROW, Lake Travis, Jr., 129 tackles, 35 solo, 14 TFL, 5 sacks, 5 hurries, 1 fumble caused, 1 fumble recovered, 2 pass breakups
HARRY HATCH, Lake Travis, Sr., 99 tackles, 47 solo, 19 TFL, 11 sacks, 1 INT, 4 fumbles caused, 10 hurries, 2 pass breakups, 1 blocked kick
GLENN SUMNEY, Texas City, Sr., 136 tackles, 11 TFL in 9 games; 2 fumbles recovered, 3 fumbles caused, 2 INTs (1 return for TD), 2 sacks

Backs:
CHARLIE ALVA, EP Chapin, Jr., 83 tackles, 7 INTs
DONOVAN BONNER, Dallas Lincoln, Sr., 47 tackles, 12 pass breakups, 8 INT (2 returned for 2 TDs)
JOSEPH GARCIA, Edcouch-Elsa, Sr., 85 tackles, 70 solo, 12 INTs
LAMARCUS HOWARD, Longview, Sr., 83 tackles (53 solo), 3 fumbles recovered, 9 pass breakups, 4 INTs (2 TDs), 1 punt return for TD

Punter:
JORGE MARTINEZ, FW North Side, Sr., 42.3-yard average on 30 punts

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: CASEY FELTON, Canyon Randall.

Second-Team
OFFENSE:
Linemen:
Presley Godson, Lamar Consolidated, Sr.; Greg Hall, Denton Guyer, Sr.; Ty Horn, Hewitt Midway, Sr.; Blake Pair, Stephenville, Sr.; Bryce Redman, Longview, Jr.; Abraham Trejo, Weslaco East, Jr. Andre Gautreaux, Friendswood, Sr.; Kyle Guinyard, Ennis, Sr.; Logan Vick, Kerrville Tivy, Sr.

Quarterback:
Scotty Young, Denton Ryan, Jr.

Running backs:
Andrew Alvarado, Weslaco East, Sr.; John De La Rosa, Canutillo, Sr.; Waymon James, Sherman, Sr.

Kicker:
Jorge Martinez, FW North Side, Sr.

Second-Team
DEFENSE:
Linemen:
Meyer Criss, FW Wyatt, Sr.; Josh Emmons, Stephenville, Sr.; Chris Henderson, Dallas Carter, Sr.; Darcell Roberts, Dallas Lincoln, Sr.

Linebackers:
Kerry Hyder, Austin Johnson; Tony Sanchez, Edcouch-Elsa, Sr.; Trenton Thomas, Brenham, Sr.

Backs:
Victor Cooper, Red Oak, Sr.; Ahmad Dixon, Hewitt Midway, Jr.; Derrick Falke, Elgin, Sr.; Dustin Harris, Livingston, Sr.

Punter:
Ryan Lasky, Willis, Sr.

Honorable Mention
OFFENSE:
LINEMEN:
Jaqwaylin Arps, Denison; Bo Brasher, McKinney; Dayarion Broadnax, Brenham; Jesse Coffey, Denton Guyer; Kyle Gillam, Lumberton; Jesse Gonzalez, Canutillo; Garrett Gramling, Denton Ryan; Blake Holland, Denton Ryan; Corey Howard, WF Rider; Hunter Howden, Lumberton; Troy Lawson, El Campo; Dewayne Phillips, Stephenville; Jazz Reeves, Longview; Jake Russell, Sulphur Springs; Catarino Salazar, Weslaco East; Zack Saldivar, Big Spring; Moises Samayoa, Port Lavaca Calhoun; Jeremy Serrano, Buda Hays; Matt Shepperd, Marshall; Jordon Smith, Aledo; Blake Spears, Abilene Cooper; Chance Vernon, Gregory-Portland; Brock Wempa, Royse City; Austin Wood, Rockwall-Heath.

ENDS/RECEIVERS: D.J. Beshears, Denton Ryan; Marcus Calhoun, EP Austin; Chris Franklin, Everman; Jace Jackson, Sulphur Springs; Joey Knight, Lake Dallas; D'Shawn Singletary, Seguin; Eric Ward, WF Rider; Darius White, FW Dunbar; Eric Whitfield, Dumas.

QUARTERBACKS: John David Baker, San Angelo Lake View; James Franklin, Lake Dallas; Cody Green, Dayton; Tyrik Rollison, Sulphur Springs; Luke Woodley, Dallas Highland Park.

RUNNING BACKS: Gary Bivens, Brazosport; Darrell Cantu-Harkless, Austin Crockett; Jay Catlin, Denton Ryan; Bryan Dickenson, Dallas Highland Park; Jacob Hanna, Lumberton; Tyler McCray, Longview; Brad Mills, Stephenville; A'mon Pimpton, Abilene Cooper; Frank Reddic, Kilgore; Cori Sanchez, EP Chapin; Charles Sims, Houston Westbury; Peter Smith, Forney; Eric Stephens, Mansfield Timberview; Jaimaine Wilhite, Denton Guyer; Ryan Young, Sulphur Springs.

KICKERS: German Chavarria, Stephenville; Norberto Contreras, EP Parkland; Esteban Martinez, Port Lavaca Calhoun; Joey Neale, WF Rider; Jacob Powell, Denison; Lance Ratliff, Wolfforth Frenship.

Honorable Mention
DEFENSE:
LINEMEN: Adam Ayala, Huntsville; Tony Battie, Dallas Lincoln; Taylor Bible, Denton Guyer; Ryan Blackshear, Dumas; Juan Cortez, Texas City; Kirby Ennis, Huntsville; Cade Hollandsworth, Big Spring; Daniel Jenkins, Houston Worthing; Bryan King, Port Lavaca Calhoun; Chris Knighton, Longview; Jon Koontz, Aledo; Bracy McCoy, Brazosport; Mark Murrill, Lumberton; Colton Nash, Sulphur Springs; Frank Rodriguez, Edcouch-Elsa; Zach Shaver, WF Rider; Michael Terry, Angleton; Spencer Wilson, Denton Guyer.

LINEBACKERS: Anthony Beard, Lumberton; Jeremy Boyd, Port Lavaca Calhoun; James Chambers, WF Rider; James Davidson, Huntsville; Mason Deerinwater, WF Rider; Tevin Elliott, Mount Pleasant; Brandon Henderson, Abilene Cooper; Murphey Henk, Dallas Highland Park; Tyler Higginbotham, Sulphur Springs; Ricky Inthirath, Dumas; Brandon Jeffery, Denison; Charles Kelly, Hewitt Midway; Lee Langston, Everman; DaiVon McLucas, FW Eastern Hills; Bryan Skow, El Campo; Blake Terry, Denton Guyer; Chris Weaver, Longview.

BACKS: Matt Bonano, Dallas Highland Park; Kevin Brent, Dallas South Oak Cliff; Alonte' Darden, Longview; Will Ford, Abilene Cooper; Jeremy Hall, Brenham; Aston Hughes, Denison; Demontre Hurst, Lancaster; Chris Malone, Stephenville; Johnny McSheffery, Sulphur Springs; Darren Mickens, EP Parkland; Daniel Muro, Del Valle; Josh Stewart, Denton Guyer; Jurell Thompson, WF Rider; Shalamar Traylor, Denison; Kendrick Washington, Brenham; Eric Whitefield, Dumas; Jesse Wright, Aledo.

PUNTER: Collin Bradley, Hallsville; Norberto Contreras, EP Parkland; Ryan Erxleben, Lake Travis; Casey Felton, Canyon Randall; Joey Neale, WF Rider; Edgar Salcido, EP Del Valle.