Football: 2008 All-Permian Basin Utility players

TREVOR ADAMS, QB

PERMIAN, 6-0, 184, SR.

>> Key Stats: School-record 2,682 passing yards and 68.2 completion percentage; 22 touchdown passes; 528 rushing yards, 6 touchdowns

>> Joel A. says: Most coaches can only dream of handing the team leadership reins over to a guy like Adams, who set the tone for a calmly efficient Permian team that rarely lost its cool. But as far as football goes, Adams deserves credit for playing his best football when the stakes were highest. In three playoff games Adams completed 51-of-61 passes for 726 yards, six touchdowns and no picks. A strong-armed, accurate passer who kept getting better as the season progressed.

GERRY AUFDENGARTEN, CB-LB

FORT DAVIS, 5-8, 150, JR.

>> Key Stats: 150 tackles and two interceptions.

>> Willie says: Aufdengarten was named to the Texas Six-Man Coaches Association first-team among region I teams. He was a huge part of a defense that had four shutouts and got the Indians one game away from the state title game. 

ALAN CASTILLEJOS, WR/QB/K/P

PERMIAN, 6-0, 192, SR.

>> Key Stats: 519 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns; 221 rushing yards, 17 touchdowns; 35.5 punting average.

>> Joel A. says: Castillejos was Permian's version of a Swiss Army knife this year. He was the Panthers' best possession receiver, short-yardage hammer, kickoff specialist and punter rolled into one. But Castillejos' most lasting impression might have been made with his physicality. On the goal line Castillejos routinely slammed into the end zone from a couple of yards out, and the crushing block he threw on Midland Lee's Hunter Byler was the most vicious hit a West Texas player made this season. 

LLOYD CHISUM, QB

CRANE, 6-2, 200, SR.

>> Key Stats: 165-of-272 passing for 2,879 yards, 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

>> Willie says: Crane probably would not have gone to the spread offense this year if it didn't have Chisum, the co-offensive MVP for District 4-2A. He ran the system arguably as well as any signal-caller in the state. 

DEX DENNARD, OL/DL

ODESSA HIGH, 6-3, 250, SR.

>> Key Stats: 70 knockdown blocks, 16 pancake blocks, graded out at 93 percent; 34 tackles, six sacks, 11 tackles for a loss, one pass deflection.

>> Lee says: Like his counterpart, Talamantes, on the left side of the line, Dennard commanded respect at the right tackle spot on every play. The big knockdown numbers and pancakes that other linemen have are not going to show up with the Bronchos as their offensive scheme is to chip and move, with many of Dennard's knockdowns coming more than five yards from the line of scrimmage. On defense, Dennard held his own against offensive linemen who were playing just one side of the line of scrimmage, routinely making plays in the middle and often times chasing running backs down the line for the stop. 

GABE GARCIA, OL

CRANE, 5-11, 245, SR.

>> Key Stats: Graded out at 89 percent.

>> Willie says: Garcia's 28 pancakes don't stand out, but Crane's offense emphasized the pass. Still, the strong guard was named to the honorable mention list for The Associated Press Sports Editors Class 2A All-State Football Team. 

JOE-DANIEL GRANADO, WR

FORT STOCKTON, 6-2, 170, SR.

>> Key Stats: 43 catches for 1,033 yards and 13 touchdowns.

>> Willie says: Averaging more than 24 yards per catch, Granado could get to balls that were overthrown or underthrown - as long as it was close enough to him. One of the best around this year.

AUSTIN GRUBBS, QB

KERMIT, 5-11, 160, SR.

>> Key Stats: 62-of-122 passing for 1,041 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. 75 carries for 410 yards and five touchdowns.

>> Willie says: How does Grubbs, with his pedestrian numbers, share the District 4-2A offensive MVP honor with Crane's Chisum and his gaudy statistics? Because what made Grubbs unique was his ability to rise to the occasion, to lead his team to an undefeated regular season and district title. 

BLAKE MCCOLLOCH, P-RB-LB-QB-TE

GREENWOOD, 6-5, 235, SR.

>> Key Stats: 88 tackles, 23 punts for a 40.3-yard average, 106 carries for 645 yards, 24-of-44 passing for 457 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.

>> Willie says: If you ever saw a Greenwood game and thought it seemed McColloch was all over the field, it's because he probably was. The MVP of District 3-3A did a lot - and at a high level.

ZAK OWEN, RB-CB-PR-KR

IRAAN, 5-6, 130, SR.

>> Key Stats: 112 carries for 701 yards and 11 touchdowns. 88 tackles and two interceptions. 25-yard average on punt returns and 28-yard average on kick returns.

>> Willie says: Owen was named MVP of District 8-1A, as the speedster was the little guy making big plays over and over for the Braves throughout the season.

CHRIS PANDO, RB

KERMIT, 5-9, 180, SR.

>> Key Stats: 155 carries for 1,105 yards and 18 touchdowns.

>> Willie says: The district's co-MVP, Pando had five scores in the Yellow Jackets' comeback win over Alpine for the district title. The guy was a workhorse. 

DOMINIC SCOTT, QB

ALPINE, 6-1, 180, JR.

>> Key Stats: 166-of-273 passing for 1,897 yards, 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions. 133 carries for 728 yards and 12 touchdowns.

>> Willie says: The story is worth repeating: Scott walked into Alpine head coach Shad Hanna's office last offseason and asked to switch from receiver to quarterback. To then get the starting position and be so accurate has been impressive to watch.

HECTOR VENEGAS, LB

MONAHANS, 5-7, 200, SR.

>> Key Stats: 119 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles.

>> Willie says: Loboes head coach Mickey Owens will tell you that Venegas doesn't have the prototypical size, but he will say that Venegas' work ethic and intangibles made him special. A defensive tackle last year, Venegas was named on the first-team District 3-3A list as a linebacker this season. 

KINSEY WILLIAMS, RB

GREENWOOD, 6-0, 175, SR.

>> Key Stats: 241 carries for 1,727 yards and 17 touchdowns.

>> Willie says: Yes, Williams was awesome on the ground - he was first-team all-district last year and this season - but he was great coming out of the backfield, too. He averaged 23.2 yards per catch and had five touchdown receptions.