Falcons reap rewards on 32-5A All-District Team

By Roy Hess
Brownsville Herald

The Los Fresnos Falcons’ success this season on the football field was rewarded by a multitude of selections to the 32-5A All-District Team.

The honor squad was chosen recently by the district’s head football coaches.

The Falcons put together a year to remember in finishing 12-1, capturing the District 32-5A title for the first time and advancing to the third round of the Class 5A Division I playoffs.

Los Fresnos senior Esia Rivera, a unanimous first-team all-district selection at slot/wingback/flanker, said there is a reason the Falcons did so well in just their third season on the 5A level. He said the players became a family and played like a team.

“What we preach all the time is family,” Rivera said. “It’s a wonderful thing to know that you’re going to have 45 other people (teammates) who are going to be there for you and who trust you.

“I think that’s what we kept building on — we trusted each other so much because we’ve seen each other invest in the team,” he added. “You just believe that the person next to you is going to make a play and that you’re going to make a play for him, too.

“That (teamwork) is why I think we’ve come so far in a short time in 5A.”

The Falcons had a player chosen to almost every position on the first team, including four players who were unanimous selections.

Besides Rivera at slot/wingback/flanker, other unanimous choices for Los Fresnos were quarterback Jeremy Springer as 32-5A MVP, Mario Benavides at first-team offensive tackle and Trini Garza at first-team safety.

Springer enjoyed one of the best seasons a quarterback has ever had in Rio Grande Valley high school football by passing for 3,501 yards and 42 touchdowns while rushing for 627 yards and 15 more scores.

Middle linebacker Justin Springer, Jeremy’s twin brother, was chosen 32-5A co-defensive player of the year with San Benito’s Joey Nuñez.

Scott Ford of Los Fresnos was named 32-5A coach of the year.

Besides Rivera and Benavides, other players from Los Fresnos chosen to the first-team offense were center Julian Escalon, guard Albert Gomez, split end Jorge Mata and tailback/halfback Luis Campos.

Along with Justin Springer and Garza, other Falcons named to the first-team defense included down lineman Jorge Aranda, defensive end John Rodriguez, cornerback Danny Mendez and punter/placekicker Pablo Degollado.

Weslaco High’s Mishak Rivas, a 2,000-yard rusher with 27 TDs this season as a junior, was the 32-5A coaches’ unanimous choice as offensive player of the year. Nick Garza of Weslaco was named offensive lineman of the year, while teammate Dylan De Leon was selected offensive newcomer of the year. Weslaco’s Ben De La Rosa was tabbed defensive lineman of the year, while San Benito’s Celso Saldivar was picked defensive newcomer of the year.

Other offensive players named to the 32-5A first team included quarterbacks Luis Esparza of Lopez and Raymond De Los Santos of San Benito, tackle Eric Leal of San Benito, tight end Pepe Cabrera of Weslaco, split end Ricky Cruz of Lopez, slot/wingback/flanker Rico Benavides of Lopez, tailback/halfback Juan Muñoz of Lopez and fullback Mike Rodriguez of Weslaco.

Also chosen to the first-team defense were down linemen Nick Garza of Weslaco and Joe Garza of San Benito, inside linebackers Edgar Lopez of Weslaco and Rolando Alvarez of San Benito, outside linebackers Josh Cantu of Weslaco and Kevin Escobedo of San Benito, defensive end Robert Treviño of San Benito, cornerbacks Ricardo Benavidez of Lopez and Victor Barrientos of San Benito, safeties Albert Rojas of Weslaco, Andres Martinez of Pace and Jonathan Medrano of San Benito, and placekicker Ricky Rodriguez of San Benito.

rhess@brownsvilleherald.com