Four area players make first team
Smithson Valley’s Colton Thomasson and Gavin Woods, Veterans Memorial’s James Peoples and Alamo Heights’ Rett Anderson earned firstteam nods on the Texas Sports Writers Association Class 5A All-state team.
The four were among 11 players from the San Antonio area to make the first, second or third teams, and another six area players earned honorable mention on the squad, which was announced Thursday. Five Alamo Heights players earned recognition, the most among area teams. Smithson Valley put four players on the team, and New Braunfels Canyon had three.
Thomasson, a senior who made the team at guard, and senior linebacker Woods helped the Rangers to a 12-2 record and the Class 5A Division I state quarterfinals, where they narrowly fell 26-21 to eventual state finalist College Station. Thomasson, who signed with Texas A&M, allowed no sacks and had 29 pancake blocks, earning him District 12-5A-I offensive lineman MVP honors. Woods, an Express-news defensive player of the year finalist and Navy signee, recorded 129 tackles, including 15 tackles for loss, three sacks, six pressures and
two interceptions.
Peoples was named to the team at running back after he powered Veterans Memorial’s prolific ground game with 2,044 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns, averaging 9.8 yards per carry. The junior helped the Patriots reach the third round of the playoffs and is a finalist for offensive player of the year on the Expressnews All-area team.
Anderson made the team as a kick returner, where the senior was always a threat to take it to the house. He averaged an
eye-popping 33.6 yards on 13 punt returns, taking four for touchdowns. He also starred at receiver for Alamo Heights with 50 catches for 979 yards and 21 touchdowns, helping the Mules go 11-2, including an undefeated run through 14-5A-II, and reach the third round.
A pair of Anderson’s teammates made the second team in sophomore Michael Terry, who earned the nod as an allpurpose player, and senior linebacker Tommy Colligan. Smithson Valley senior defensive back
David De Hoyos also was named to the second team, and junior kicker Clayton Amaya earned a third-team nod.
Terry gained 1,242 yards from scrimmage (806 rushing, 436 receiving) and scored 21 touchdowns, and he added 131 passing yards and three touchdowns through the air. He also earned honorable mention recognition at kick returner. Colligan recorded 100 tackles, including 65 solo stops and 23 tackles for loss, and added five sacks, seven pressures and three forced fumbles to earn 14-5A-I defensive player of the year.
De Hoyos had 92 tackles, including five for loss, along with four interceptions, two forced fumbles, two recoveries and a blocked kick, and Amaya hit 8 of 11 field goals and went 66 of 67 on PATS.
Three members of Canyon’s high-powered offense made the third team, led by junior quarterback Deuce Adams, who completed 216 of 323 passes (66.9 percent) for 3,007 yards with 34 touchdowns to just six interceptions in helping the Cougars to a 9-2 record and second-place finish in 12-5A-I. Senior receiver Xayvion Noland made the team after posting 65 receptions for 1,260 yards and 17 touchdowns. Senior Mason Timmermann, who recorded 57 knockdowns and starred on the offensive line that helped Canyon average 426 yards and 35 points per game, earned the nod at guard.
In addition to Terry, six other area players earned honorable mention: Alamo Heights seniors Austin Soupiset (guard) and Adrian Rodriguez (defensive line), Southside senior linebacker Matthew Castaneda, Southside junior center Aaron Abrego, Southwest senior defensive lineman Hipolito Salazar and Veterans Memorial defensive back Haeven Watson.
Dallas South Oak Cliff senior defensive lineman Billy Walton was named 5A defensive player of the year, and South Oak Cliff coach Clifton Todd was named coach of the year after the Bears claimed the Class 4A Division II state title for the second straight season. Walton, a Texas signee, had 105 tackles, 34 tackles for loss and 20 sacks.
Midlothian senior quarterback Kaden Brown and Montgomery Lake Creek sophomore running back Tyvonn Byars shared offensive player of the year honors. Brown threw for 3,291 yards with 40 touchdowns and rushed for another 639 yards, and Byars rushed for 2,346 yards and 37 touchdowns.