FOOTBALL: Panthers, Bronchos earn all-district honors
Clay Adams, Jordan Leake and Van Powell, perhaps more than any other Permian football players, led the Panthers’ return to the playoffs this year after they missed out in 2010.
So after Permian placed third in District 3-5A, they were selected as first-team all-district players by the league’s coaches.
“Those three were big-time players for us,” Permian coach Gary Gaines said. “They were very consistent and certainly meant a lot to our team.”
Odessa High, which finished in a three-way tie for fourth place and did not qualify for the postseason, had three seniors selected to the first team. Quarterback Johnny Campos was unanimously selected as the utility player, Ivan Subia was a first-team pick at running back, and Ben Cline was one of two centers on the first team.
Running back Paxton Grayer of district-champion Abilene High was named Offensive Most Valuable Player, and the Eagles’ Steve Warren was the Coach of the Year. Midland Lee linebacker Luke Stice earned Defensive MVP honors.
Powell, a senior, was a unanimous selection after being 3-5A’s regular-season leader in receptions (53), receiving yards (854) and receiving touchdowns (10). Adams, a junior safety who also played wide receiver and returned punts, led the district with five interceptions during the regular season.
Leake, a senior outside linebacker who transferred to Permian after helping Henderson win a Class 3A Division I state championship a year ago, finished this season with 100 tackles, a team-high five tackles for loss and three forced fumbles, and one sack and one interception.
“They were very instrumental in the success we had,” Gaines said. “They weren’t solely instrumental. We had other players as well that were key, but they were key ingredients to our success.”
Permian had six players on the second team: running back Jorrion Wilson, receiver Andrew Perez, offensive guard Landon Weeden, defensive end Adam Leos, defensive tackle Haeston Wood and middle linebacker Tanner Vestal. Quarterback Jack Wilkins, center Christian Romero, defensive end Trea Spangler, cornerback Michael Franco and kicker Brett Becker received honorable mention.
Inside linebacker Sergio Leyva and safety Ramon Ochoa received honorable mention for Odessa High, which did not have any players on the second team.
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>> ALL-DISTRICT 3-5A FOOTBALL TEAM
Offensive MVP: RB Paxton Grayer, Abilene High, senior.
Defensive MVP: LB Luke Stice, Midland Lee, senior.
Coach of the Year: Steve Warren, Abilene High.
FIRST TEAM
(x-unanimous selection)
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Clayton Nicholas, Abilene Cooper, senior.
Running backs: Ivan Subia, Odessa High, senior; Jacoby Webster, Midland High, senior.
Centers: Ben Cline, Odessa High, senior; Quade Huckaba, Midland High, senior.
Offensive tackles: Greg Davis, Abilene High, senior; Darrell Brown, Abilene Cooper, senior.
Offensive guards: x-Jordan Stevenson, Abilene Cooper, senior; Ethan Miko, Abilene High, junior.
Tight end: Matthew Brem, Midland Lee, senior.
Receivers: x-Van Powell, Permian, senior; x-Skyler Estrella, Midland Lee, senior; Keevan Lucas, Abilene High, junior; Lorenzo Joe, Abilene Cooper, sophomore; Donavon Lee, Midland High, senior.
Kicker: Dustin Beal, Midland Lee, senior.
DEFENSE
Defensive ends: Jake McMillon, Abilene High, sophomore; Dutton Watson, Midland High, senior; Garrison Railsback, Abilene Cooper, senior.
Defensive tackles: x-Waylon Roberson, Midland Lee, junior; x-Stevie Rhodes, Midland High, senior.
Inside linebackers: x-Tyler Lackey, Abilene High, junior; Steven Lugo, Abilene Cooper, senior.
Outside linebackers: Charles McGill, Abilene High, junior; Jordan Leake, Permian, senior.
Cornerbacks: x-Fred Lawrence, Abilene Cooper, junior; Conlan Aguirre,
Safeties: Josh Bowman, Abilene Cooper, senior; Darian Long, Midland Lee, senior; Clay Adams, Permian, junior.
Utility player: x-Johnny Campos, Odessa High, senior.
Punter: Dustin Beal, Midland Lee, senior.
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Evin Abbe, Abilene High, junior.
Running backs: Jorrion Wilson, Permian, junior; Travis Williams, Midland Lee, senior.
Center: Chantz Anderson, Abilene High, junior.
Offensive tackles: Turner Ingle, Midland High, senior; Jesse Garza, Midland Lee, junior.
Offensive guards: Grant Canis, Midland High, senior; Landon Weeden, Permian, senior.
Tight end: John Patrick, Abilene Cooper, senior.
Receivers: TylerMcGary, Abilene High, senior; K’Shawn Brown, Abilene Cooper, junior; Josh Shelton, Midland Lee, senior; Andrew Perez, Permian, junior.
DEFENSE
Defensive ends: Adam Leos, Permian, senior; Kristian Rodriguez, Midland Lee, senior.
Defensive tackles: Taz Sims, Abilene High, junior; Haeston Wood, Permian, senior.
Inside linebackers: Tanner Vestal, Permian, junior; Anthony Rubio, Midland High, senior.
Outside linebackers: Brandon Seely, Abilene High, junior; Aaron Cantu, Abilene Cooper, junior.
Cornerbacks: Reilly Gwin, Midland Lee, junior; Brandon Williams, Midland High, senior.
Safeties: Xavier Johnson, Abilene High, junior; Brent Stewart, Midland High, junior.
HONORABLE MENTION
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks: Jack Wilkins, Permian, junior; Tanner Culp, Midland High, senior.
Running back: Matt Watson, Abilene Cooper, senior.
Centers: Christian Romero, Permian, senior; Jose Escamilla, Abilene Cooper, senior.
Offensive tackles: Cody Kluge, Abilene Cooper, senior; Brady Odom, Abilene High, senior.
Offensive guards: Tyler Cagle, Abilene High, senior; Zach Byars, Midland High, senior.
Tight end: Peter Zeller, Abilene High, senior.
Receivers: Derrick Randle, Abilene Cooper, senior; Levi Weddle, Midland High, senior; Cole Edwards, Midland Lee, senior.
Kicker: Brett Becker, Permian, senior.
DEFENSE
Defensive ends: Nick Garcia, Abilene Cooper, senior; Trea Spangler, Permian, senior; Austin Winegeart, Abilene High, senior.
Defensive tackle: Nathan Horrell, Midland Lee, junior.
Inside linebackers: Shaq Sims, Abilene High, senior; Jacob Power, Midland Lee, senior; Sergio Leyva, Odessa High, senior.
Outside linebacker: Cordell Dorsey, Abilene Cooper, sophomore.
Cornerbacks: Michael Franco, Permian, junior; Nate Kittley, Abilene High, junior.
Safeties: Ramon Ochoa, Odessa High, senior; Mekiyah Brooks, Abilene Cooper, senior.
