Post by TEAM FALCON on Dec 23, 2006 21:23:53 GMT 3
I don't think we've ever had this many in the history of Los Fresnos Football. We had 3 in 2002.
1st Team All State Offensive Lineman:
MARIO BENAVIDES, Los Fresnos, Jr., 6-4, 275. 74 pancakes, graded 91 percent, 1 sack allowed.
2nd Team All State Line Backers:
JUSTIN SPRINGER, Los Fresnos, Sr., 6-4, 220.
All State Honerable Mention:
Jeremy Springer QB
Jorge Mata, Los Fresnos WR
Pablo Degollado PK
Congratulations Falcons!!!
Master Mind
Nuñez shares state’s defensive honor
By ARMANDO GARZA
Valley Morning Star
SAN BENITO—Everyone knew who San Benito defensive end Joey Nuñez was for the past three years.
Teams ran away from him, double-teamed him and tried like heck to avoid the 2005 first-team all state pick.
Despite all of that, he’s once again an all-stater.
Nuñez duplicated his 2005 feat by being named to the Assocoated Press’ Class 5A first-team defense Friday and in addition, was bestowed an even higher honor; The AP’s co-defensive player of the year, sharing the honor with Cedar Park’s Justin Allen in 5A.
“I was thinking about it, but I wasn’t expecting it,” Nuñez told The Monitor about getting the honor. “I had thoughts going through my mind, but actually getting it, I never really thought I’d get it.”
San Benito head coach Mario Peña said the senior defensive force had lofty expectations going into this past season.
“Joey was the catalyst on defense and one of our team leaders,” Peña said. “He set very high goals and we told him he was going to be a marked man. The kid is very deserving of the honor.”
Though only regular season statistics are reviewed for all-state status, Nuñez’s 11-game statline is one to marvel at.
For the year, he notched 148 tackles, 89 of them assisted, with 17 scaks and 58 quarterback pressures. He also had six forced fumbles, three recoveries (one for a touchdown) two batted balls and a blocked punt and blocked extra point.
“We moved him around a lot,” Peña said. “But regardless where Joey was playing, he was going to make some great plays, and he did it all year.”
By achieving such stature, Nuñez, who stands at 6-foot-2 and about 230 pounds, has shown others in the San Benito program they, too, can reach greatness, Peña said.
“I think this sets the trend for the kids coming up,” he said. “They can use Joey’s (accomplishments) as motivation to make sure he’s not the last guy to come from San Benito to attain this plateau.”
Peña, a veteran coach who’s been around defense for nearly three decades, said Nuñez ranks right up at the top in terms of players he’s coached.
“As far as d-line players, without a doubt, Joey’s the best I’ve coached in 28 years,” Peña said. “He can play at the next level and make the Valley proud.”
Los Fresnos coach Scott Ford, whose Falcons competed in District 32-5A along with San Benito, also said Nuñez was always a force to be reckoned with.
“He was a load, essentially he was almost unblockable,” Ford said. “We tried to scheme everything to have two people on him, if at all possible. He’s the only kid that I’ve ever done that for.”
“He’s the real deal. Big, strong, fast, played hard, he was a dominant player and he deserves the recognition,” Ford added.
First team
Peña is not the only coach from the Valley to have a first-teamer on the roster. Ford also coached a first-teamer in 2006, 6-foot-4, 275 pound offensive lineman Mario Benavides. The Falcons led the Valley with five all-state selections.
The junior lineman had 74 pancake blocks and allowed only one sack the entire season.
“He’s just got all the intangibles,” Ford said. “He’s got good size and he’s a very good athlete, so that’s a lethal combination.”
All-everything running back Bradley Stephens of McAllen Memorial also landed on the first team.
Stephens, who finished his career with the Mustangs as the second-ranked Texas Class 5A rusher of all time, dazzled during his time, amassing over 7,800 yards rushing and 10,000 all-purpose yards. He had 1,875 yards and 23 touchdowns during the 2006 regular season.
Fellow Mustang Albert Lozano joins Benavides on the first-team line. Lozano (Sr., 6-3, 250 lbs.) had 95 pancakes for an offense that averaged 469 yards per game.
Weslaco defensive back Albert Rojas rounds out the Valley first-teamers. Rojas (Sr., 6-2, 185) notched 80 tackles, intercepted seven passes, forced two fumbles and blocked two kicks for coach Tony Villarreal’s bi-district champs.
Second team
Leading a pack of second team picks is Weslaco junior running back Mishak Rivas.
Rivas dashed for nearly 2,100 yards and 27 TDs for the Panthers in 2006 and was a threat to go the distance each time he touched the ball.
Sharyland lineman Stephen Saenz (Sr. 6-0, 160 lbs.) anchors the second-team offensive line.
Defensively, Los Fresnos linebacker Justin Springer (Sr. 6-4, 220), a force all year in the middle, joins the second-team corp.
“Every year Justin’s done something great,” Ford said. “He’s been, for three years, a leader on our football team.”
Hector Jasso, a senior defensive back at PSJA North, and Justin Rock (Sr. 6-0, 192) join the second-team secondary.
Honorable Mention
Rounding out the all-state selections on the honorable mention list include Los Frensos QB Jeremy Springer, who tossed for 3,501 yards and 42 touchdowns in 2006.
On the receiving end from a lot of Springer’s passes was Jorge Mata, who caught 38 passes for 990 yards and 15 TDs during the regular season.
Joining the two Falcons are defensive lineman Pete Bazan of PSJA North and Mike Sanchez of Sharyland.
Standout Los Fresnos kicker Pablo Degollado and Christian Brom of McHi are on the list as well.
On defense, Weslaco linebacker Ben De La Rosa represented the Valley, too.
1st Team All State Offensive Lineman:
MARIO BENAVIDES, Los Fresnos, Jr., 6-4, 275. 74 pancakes, graded 91 percent, 1 sack allowed.
2nd Team All State Line Backers:
JUSTIN SPRINGER, Los Fresnos, Sr., 6-4, 220.
All State Honerable Mention:
Jeremy Springer QB
Jorge Mata, Los Fresnos WR
Pablo Degollado PK
Congratulations Falcons!!!
Master Mind
Nuñez shares state’s defensive honor
By ARMANDO GARZA
Valley Morning Star
SAN BENITO—Everyone knew who San Benito defensive end Joey Nuñez was for the past three years.
Teams ran away from him, double-teamed him and tried like heck to avoid the 2005 first-team all state pick.
Despite all of that, he’s once again an all-stater.
Nuñez duplicated his 2005 feat by being named to the Assocoated Press’ Class 5A first-team defense Friday and in addition, was bestowed an even higher honor; The AP’s co-defensive player of the year, sharing the honor with Cedar Park’s Justin Allen in 5A.
“I was thinking about it, but I wasn’t expecting it,” Nuñez told The Monitor about getting the honor. “I had thoughts going through my mind, but actually getting it, I never really thought I’d get it.”
San Benito head coach Mario Peña said the senior defensive force had lofty expectations going into this past season.
“Joey was the catalyst on defense and one of our team leaders,” Peña said. “He set very high goals and we told him he was going to be a marked man. The kid is very deserving of the honor.”
Though only regular season statistics are reviewed for all-state status, Nuñez’s 11-game statline is one to marvel at.
For the year, he notched 148 tackles, 89 of them assisted, with 17 scaks and 58 quarterback pressures. He also had six forced fumbles, three recoveries (one for a touchdown) two batted balls and a blocked punt and blocked extra point.
“We moved him around a lot,” Peña said. “But regardless where Joey was playing, he was going to make some great plays, and he did it all year.”
By achieving such stature, Nuñez, who stands at 6-foot-2 and about 230 pounds, has shown others in the San Benito program they, too, can reach greatness, Peña said.
“I think this sets the trend for the kids coming up,” he said. “They can use Joey’s (accomplishments) as motivation to make sure he’s not the last guy to come from San Benito to attain this plateau.”
Peña, a veteran coach who’s been around defense for nearly three decades, said Nuñez ranks right up at the top in terms of players he’s coached.
“As far as d-line players, without a doubt, Joey’s the best I’ve coached in 28 years,” Peña said. “He can play at the next level and make the Valley proud.”
Los Fresnos coach Scott Ford, whose Falcons competed in District 32-5A along with San Benito, also said Nuñez was always a force to be reckoned with.
“He was a load, essentially he was almost unblockable,” Ford said. “We tried to scheme everything to have two people on him, if at all possible. He’s the only kid that I’ve ever done that for.”
“He’s the real deal. Big, strong, fast, played hard, he was a dominant player and he deserves the recognition,” Ford added.
First team
Peña is not the only coach from the Valley to have a first-teamer on the roster. Ford also coached a first-teamer in 2006, 6-foot-4, 275 pound offensive lineman Mario Benavides. The Falcons led the Valley with five all-state selections.
The junior lineman had 74 pancake blocks and allowed only one sack the entire season.
“He’s just got all the intangibles,” Ford said. “He’s got good size and he’s a very good athlete, so that’s a lethal combination.”
All-everything running back Bradley Stephens of McAllen Memorial also landed on the first team.
Stephens, who finished his career with the Mustangs as the second-ranked Texas Class 5A rusher of all time, dazzled during his time, amassing over 7,800 yards rushing and 10,000 all-purpose yards. He had 1,875 yards and 23 touchdowns during the 2006 regular season.
Fellow Mustang Albert Lozano joins Benavides on the first-team line. Lozano (Sr., 6-3, 250 lbs.) had 95 pancakes for an offense that averaged 469 yards per game.
Weslaco defensive back Albert Rojas rounds out the Valley first-teamers. Rojas (Sr., 6-2, 185) notched 80 tackles, intercepted seven passes, forced two fumbles and blocked two kicks for coach Tony Villarreal’s bi-district champs.
Second team
Leading a pack of second team picks is Weslaco junior running back Mishak Rivas.
Rivas dashed for nearly 2,100 yards and 27 TDs for the Panthers in 2006 and was a threat to go the distance each time he touched the ball.
Sharyland lineman Stephen Saenz (Sr. 6-0, 160 lbs.) anchors the second-team offensive line.
Defensively, Los Fresnos linebacker Justin Springer (Sr. 6-4, 220), a force all year in the middle, joins the second-team corp.
“Every year Justin’s done something great,” Ford said. “He’s been, for three years, a leader on our football team.”
Hector Jasso, a senior defensive back at PSJA North, and Justin Rock (Sr. 6-0, 192) join the second-team secondary.
Honorable Mention
Rounding out the all-state selections on the honorable mention list include Los Frensos QB Jeremy Springer, who tossed for 3,501 yards and 42 touchdowns in 2006.
On the receiving end from a lot of Springer’s passes was Jorge Mata, who caught 38 passes for 990 yards and 15 TDs during the regular season.
Joining the two Falcons are defensive lineman Pete Bazan of PSJA North and Mike Sanchez of Sharyland.
Standout Los Fresnos kicker Pablo Degollado and Christian Brom of McHi are on the list as well.
On defense, Weslaco linebacker Ben De La Rosa represented the Valley, too.