Cooper, Lee and Permian place most on All-District team

By LANCE FLEMING / Staff Writer

Midland Lee, Cooper and Odessa Permian - the top three teams in District 4-5A - placed seven players each on the All-District 4-5A team, selected by league coaches and media.

The Rebels, who won the district title, placed five members of their league-leading defense on the team, including free safety John Norman, who was named the league's defensive MVP for the second straight season. Norman and teammate Anwan Alexander, who are both considered Blue Chip recruits, were unanimous choices at free safety and cornerback, respectively.

Permian, which finished third in the district, had four players on the offensive unit, including offensive MVP Ja'Quay Wilburn.

Midland Lee head coach John Parchman was named the district's coach of the year for the second straight season.

Cooper, meanwhile, had five players named to the first team offense, including two unanimous choices: running back Dominic Rhodes and receiver Miles Durham. Rhodes, in fact, lost the offensive MVP race to Wilburn by a vote of 6-5.

Abilene High's only first-teamer was defensive tackle Kandon Culberson.

Other Cougars on the first team are guard Matt Royals, tackle Joey Heath, quarterback Michael Anderson - who tied San Angelo Central's Julio Guerrero for the honor - defensive tackle Kevin Stevenson and defensive back Melvin Barnes.

During the regular season, Anderson threw for 1,493 yards and 16 touchdowns, while completing 94 of 157 passes (60 percent). Rhodes rushed for 1,096 yards and 11 touchdowns, and caught 15 passes for another 217 yards and three touchdowns. He also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.

Durham finished the regular season with 44 catches for 769 yards and seven touchdowns. However, he separated his left shoulder at the end of the first half in Cooper's bi-district win over Amarillo High and didn't play again until Saturday's state championship game.

But he finished as the district's second all-time leading receiver for yardage (2,140), catches (130) and tied for third in touchdowns (22).

Abilene High guard Eric Stegemoeller was a second team pick, as was quarterback/wide receiver/defensive back Ahmad Brooks, who made the second team as both a receiver and defensive back. AHS running back Chuck Newman and linebacker David Bennett also made the second team.

Cooper center Kevin Hofmann, running back Chris Cherry, kicker Courtney Martin and linebacker Mack Garrett were all second-team choices.

FIRST TEAM

Offense

Center - Tony Frescas, Midland Lee, 6-0, 265, sr.

Guards - Matt Royals, Cooper, 6-2, 265, sr.; Willie Merritt, Odessa High, 6-3, 250, sr.

Tackles - Jason May, Odessa Permian, 6-4, 249, sr. (unanimous); Joey Heath, Cooper, 6-5, 290, jr.

Tight end - Jared Whitson, San Angelo Central, 6-0, 200, sr.

Wide receivers - Miles Durham, Cooper, 6-3, 185, sr. (unanimous); Marteis Rogers, Odessa Permian, 5-11, 178, sr.

Running backs - (all unanimous) Ja'Quay Wilburn, Odessa Permian, 5-10, 180, sr.; Josh Norman, Midland Lee, 6-2, 205, jr.; Dominic Rhodes, Cooper, 5-10, 195, sr.; Sam Powell, Midland High, 5-7, 160, sr.

Quarterback - (tie) Michael Anderson, Cooper, 6-3, 185, sr.; Julio Guerrero, San Angelo Central, 5-11, 170, jr.

Kicker - Jimmy White, Odessa Permian, 5-10, 170, jr.

MVP - Ja'Quay Wilburn, RB, Odessa Permian, 5-10, 180, sr.

Defense

Linemen - Fred Pertile, Midland Lee, 6-0, 194, sr.; Kandon Culberson, Abilene High, 6-0, 240, sr.; Kevin Stevenson, Cooper, 6-2, 220, jr.; Nathan Mastin, Odessa Permian, 6-1, 254, sr.

Linebackers - Corry Pertile, Midland Lee, 6-3, 205, sr. (unanimous); Michael Hall, Midland Lee, 6-0, 194, sr.; Jesse Waters, Odessa High, 6-0, 200, sr.; Heath Moody, Odessa Permian, 6-0, 188, sr.

Secondary - John Norman, Midland Lee, 6-2, 185, sr. (unanimous); Antwan Alexander, Midland Lee, 6-0, 175, sr. (unanimous); Russell Dunlavy, Midland High, 6-0, 175, sr.; Melvin Barnes, Cooper, 6-0, 165, sr.

Punter - Jimmy White, Odessa Permian, 5-10, 170, jr. (unanimous)

MVP - John Norman, Midland Lee, 6-2, 185, sr. (unanimous)

SECOND TEAM

Offense

Center - Kevin Hofmann, Cooper, 5-10, 235, sr.

Guards - Russell Crumpton, Odessa Permian, 6-1, 205, sr.; Eric Stegemoller, Abilene High, 5-10, 235, sr.

Tackles - Jeff Ortloff, Midland High, 6-0, 235, sr.; Matt Jewitt, Midland Lee, 6-1, 230, sr.

Tight end - Brian Boyd, Midland Lee, 6-3, 230, jr.

Wide receivers - Ahmad Brooks, Abilene High, 5-9, 155, jr.; Jason Millsap, San Angelo Central, 5-7, 142, jr.

Running backs - Kyle Willey, Odessa High, 5-8,1 50, jr.; Patrick Strambler, Odessa Permian, 5-11, 192, sr.; Chuck Newman, Abilene High, 6-0, 185, jr.; Chris Cherry, Cooper, 5-10, 185, sr.

Quarterback - David Smith, Midland Lee, 5-10, 175, sr.

Kicker - Courtney Martin, Cooper, 6-0, 170, sr.

Defense

Linemen - Chito Subia, Midland Lee, 5-9, 245, sr.; Jason May, Odessa Permian, 6-4, 249, sr.; Willie Merritt, Odessa High, 6-3, 250, sr.; Larry Newton, San Angelo Central, 6-3, 250, sr.

Linebackers - David Bennett, Abilene High, 6-3, 185, sr.; Rich Coffey, San Angelo Central, 6-1, 230, jr.; Mack Garrett, Cooper, 6-2, 225, sr.; Jason Waters, Odess High, 5-11, 190, jr.; Terrance Harris, Odessa Permian, 5-10, 185, sr.

Secondary - Ahmad Austin, Midland Lee, 5-10, 170, sr.; Donnie Pipes, Odessa Permian, 5-10, 160, sr.; Marteis Rogers, Odessa Permian, 5-11, 178, sr.; Ahmad Brooks, 5-9, 155, jr.

Punter - James Greer, Odessa High, 5-10, 205, sr.

HONORABLE MENTION

Offense

Linemen - Hank Stout, San Angelo Central, 6-1, 235, sr.; Webb Murphy, Cooper, 6-2, 235, jr.; Jerrod Hoskinson, Odessa High, 5-8, 195, sr.; Evel Zubiate, Odessa High, 5-10, 225, sr.; Everett Fraser, Cooper, 6-4, 245, jr.; Jesus Hernandez, Midland Lee, 5-10, 220, sr.; Brad Gibson, Midland Lee, 6-0, 220, sr.; Kyle Nix, Midland High, 6-0, 200, jr.

Tight ends - Cory Aldridge, Cooper, 6-0, 200, sr.; Chad Forman, Cooper, 6-0, 190, sr.

Wide receivers - Jesse Sharp, Cooper, 5-10, 170, jr.; Ricky Green, Midland Lee, 5-3, 115, sr.

Running backs - Chad Chandler, Midland Lee, 5-10, 175, sr.; Nick Graves, Odessa High, 5-9, 175, soph.

Quarterback - Ahmad Brooks, Abilene High, 5-9, 155, jr.

Kicker - Zach Inman, Midland High, 5-7, 150, jr.

Defense

Linemen - Doug Dowden, Abilene High, 6-2, 235, jr.; Stephen Westphal, Midland Lee, 5-11, 196, sr.; Erik McCright, Midland High, 6-0, 200, jr.

Linebackers - Trey Lunsford, San Angelo Central, 6-2, 205, sr.; Javier Garcia, Abilene High, 5-10, 190, sr.; Sean Phillips, Odessa Permian, 5-8, 148, jr.

Secondary - Shae Jones, Midland Lee, 5-10, 190, sr.; Jared Villegas, Odessa High, 5-7, 140, sr.; Clint Burton, Odessa High, 6-1, 185, sr.; Josh Button, Cooper, 5-11, 175, jr.; Ryan Johnson, San Angelo Central, 6-2, 170, jr.; Adam Stockstill, Abilene High, 5-11, 175, sr.; John Johnson, Odessa Permian, 5-7, 138, jr.