Lindale running back Jordan Jenkins and Tyler Lee defensive back Elliott Davison played major parts in helping their respective teams reach the playoffs during the 2019 football season.
That’s why they have earned Player of the Year honors on the Tyler Morning Telegraph All-East Texas Football Team — Jenkins on offense and Davison on defense.
Jenkins carried the ball 207 times for 1,321 yards and 25 touchdowns. He finished with 1,902 all-purpose yards and 29 touchdowns.
Jenkins is a four-star recruit with an offer list that includes USC, Tennessee, Kansas, BYU, Baylor and Texas Tech.
“He’s such a fantastic young man,” Lindale head football coach Chris Cochran said. “He does a fantastic job on and off the field. This year, he worked hard on really coming in and out of his breaks and using his vision. His acceleration was also a whole lot better his junior year, and he performed really well in the receiving game and in pass protection for us. He’s such a well-rounded football player and young man. I sure am glad we have him back for another year.”
Davison, an Incarnate Word signee, had 127 tackles, one tackle for loss, six interceptions, seven pass breakups and a blocked kick.
Mineola freshman Dawson Pendergrass and Sabine freshman Cayden Fortson earned Offensive and Defensive Newcomer of the Year honors, respectively.
Pendergrass carried the ball 120 times for 969 yards with six touchdowns. He had 11 catches for 135 yards and four touchdowns. Pendergrass’ first game at running back was the fourth game of the season against Big Sandy when he rushed for 278 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries. On defense, Pendergrass had 62 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown. Pendergrass also punted 20 times for an averaged of 36.6 yards with a long of 50 yards.
Fortson had 70 tackles, one fumble recovery, three tackles for loss, six interceptions, 10 pass breakups and two touchdowns.
Sabine’s Rex Sharp was chosen as the Coach of the Year. Sharp led the Cardinals to their first 10-win season in program history and also their first playoff victory in program history.
Sabine’s Landon McKinney earned first-team honors at quarterback. He was 108 of 207 through the air for 1,873 yards with 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He carried the ball 207 times for 1,300 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Tyler Lee’s Jamarion Miller, Palestine’s Jeremiah Davis and Mount Enterprise Kendre’s Miller landed on the first team at running back.
Jamarion Miller carried the ball 140 times for 1,031 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he had 12 catches for 111 yards.
Davis had 301 carries for 2,045 yards and 22 touchdowns. He caught the ball eight times for 155 yards and three scores. Davis had 47 career touchdowns at Palestine, third in school history. Adrian Peterson is first with 53. Davis is also second all-time in Palestine in career carries and second in rushing-yards behind Peterson.
Kendre Miller, a TCU signee, carried the ball 194 times for 2,805 yards with 34 touchdowns. He also completed 31 passes for 455 yards and seven touchdowns.
First-team receivers are Jacksonville’s Chris Carpenter, Carthage’s Kelvontay Dixon and Chapel Hill’s Keyjun Thomas.
Carpenter, a Colorado signee, had 60 receptions for 980 yards and 10 touchdowns. Dixon, a Texas signee, had 74 receptions for 1,240 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also had 30 carries for 206 yards and two touchdowns, and he was the Class 4A Division I state championship game Offensive MVP. Thomas had 50 grabs for 845 yards and nine touchdowns after missing the first three games with an injury.
All Saints’ Alex Sinclair earned first-team honors at fullback/tight end. He had 70 carries for 494 yards and nine touchdowns.
Athens’ Garrett Hayes, Brook Hill’s Peter Svoboda, Carthage’s Ty’Kieast Crawford, Grace Community’s Joshua Glenney and Troup’s Garrett Towery were selected as the first-team offensive linemen.
Hayes, a four-star TCU signee, had a 93 percent grade with 97 pancakes, 14 cut blocks and no sacks allowed. Svoboda had a 91 percent grade with one sack allowed. The 6-6, 336-pound Crawford graded out at 90 percent with 25 knockdowns. Glenney was Grace’s highest-graded lineman. Towery graded out at 94 percent with 22 pancakes, one sack allowed and 11 touchdown-springing blocks.
All Saints’ Russell Wynne was selected as the first-team kicker. He was 41 of 44 on extra pointers with three field goals, seven successful onside kicks and 13 touchbacks.
Grapeland’s Keizion Ashford was selected as the first-team utility player. He had 32 catches for 817 yards and eight touchdowns, 29 carries for 301 yards and six touchdowns and nine yards passing. On defense, he had 49 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and a blocked field goal.
Tyler Lee’s Jamal Ligon, Mineola’s Trevion Sneed, Van’s Jayden Jacobs and Longview’s Sawyer Goram-Welch captured first-team honors on the defensive line.
Ligon, who signed with UTSA, had 78 tackles, five tackles for loss, 11 sacks, two forced fumbles, one pass breakup and six quarterback pressures. On offense, Ligon had six carries for 31 yards and a touchdown, and he caught four passes for 69 yards and two scores.
Sneed, who has offers from Kansas, Louisiana, SMU, Southern Miss and UTSA, had 96 tackles, five tackles for loss, 12 quarterback pressures, one sack and one fumble recovery despite missing two games with an injury.
Jacobs had 78 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, one defensive touchdown and four pass breakups. Goram-Welch, who signed with Texas, had 64 tackles, seven sacks and 17 tackles for loss.
John Tyler’s Isaiah Johnson, Grapeland’s Cooper Sheridan, Grand Saline’s Bryce Smith and Winona’s Peyton Snow earned first-team honors at linebacker.
Johnson signed with Trinity Valley Community College. Sheridan had 194 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, two passes deflected, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two sacks and eight quarterback hurries. Smith had 126 tackles, four sacks, 22 quarterback pressures and three fumble recoveries. Snow had 163 tackles, three interceptions, three sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one defensive touchdown and four tackles for loss.
John Tyler’s Kitan Crawford, Palestine’s JK Lockett, Grace Community’s Isaiah Milton and Rusk’s Sean Rogers earned first-team honors at defensive back.
Crawford, a four-star Texas signee, had 36 tackles, three interceptions, a blocked field goal, a fumble recovery and five pass breakups. On offense, he had 120 carries for 1,065 yards and 12 touchdowns, and he had 21 catches for 287 yards and a touchdown.
Lockett had eight interceptions, including four in a bi-district playoff game. He also had nine pass breakups, a fumble recovery and four tackles for loss. Milton had 92 tackles. Rogers had 168 tackles, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and four blocked field goals.
Tyler Lee’s Mark Patton was the first-team selection at punter. He had 48 punts for an average of 34.9 yards with three touchbacks, eight punts inside of the 5-yard-line and a long of 56 yards.
Winona’s Arimon Ford was chosen as the first-team return specialist. He had two kick returns for touchdowns and a punt return for a touchdown.
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2019 ALL-EAST TEXAS FOOTBALL TEAM
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR — Jordan Jenkins, Lindale, junior
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR — Elliott Davison, Tyler Lee, senior
OFFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR — Dawson Pendergrass, Mineola, freshman
DEFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR — Cayden Fortson, Sabine, freshman
COACH OF THE YEAR — Rex Sharp, Sabine
FIRST TEAM
Offense
Quarterback — Landon McKinney, Sabine, senior
Running back — Jeremiah Davis, Palestine, senior
Running back —Jamarion Miller, Tyler Lee, sophomore
Running back —Kendre Miller, Mount Enterprise, senior
Receiver — Chris Carpenter, Jacksonville, senior
Receiver — Kelvontay Dixon, Carthage, senior
Receiver — Keyjun Thomas, Chapel Hill, senior
Tight end/fullback — Alex Sinclair, All Saints, senior
Offensive line — Garrett Hayes, Athens, senior
Offensive line — Peter Svoboda, Brook Hill, senior
Offensive line — Ty’Kieast Crawford, Carthage, senior
Offensive line — Joshua Glenney, Grace Community, senior
Offensive line — Garrett Towery, Troup, senior
Kicker — Russell Wynne, All Saints, senior
Utility — Keizion Ashford, Grapeland, junior
Defense
Defensive line — Jamal Ligon, Tyler Lee, senior
Defensive line — Trevion Sneed, Mineola, junior
Defensive line — Jayden Jacobs, Van, senior
Defensive line — Sawyer Goram-Welch, Longview, senior
Linebacker — Isaiah Johnson, John Tyler, senior
Linebacker — Cooper Sheridan, Grapeland, junior
Linebacker — Bryce Smith, Grand Saline, senior
Linebacker — Peyton Snow, Winona, junior
Defensive back — Kitan Crawford, John Tyler, senior
Defensive back — JK Lockett, Palestine, senior
Defensive back — Isaiah Milton, Grace Community, senior
Defensive back — Sean Rogers, Rusk, senior
Punter — Mark Patton, Tyler Lee, senior
Return specialist — Arimon Ford, Winona, junior
SECOND TEAM
Offense
Quarterback — Tristen Shewmake, Bullard, senior
Running back — Cole Williams, Brownsboro, senior
Running back —Jeremiah Milton, Grace Community, senior
Running back — Quin Johnson, Winona, senior
Receiver — Seth Moss, Brook Hill, senior
Receiver — Cooper Smith Canton, senior
Receiver — Conner Boyette, Lindale, senior
Tight end/fullback — Ky Thomas, Elkhart, senior
Offensive line — Parker Cox, Longview, senior
Offensive line — Tank Randell, Hawkins, senior
Offensive line — Calvin Woodside, Kilgore, senior
Offensive line — John Castillo, Alto, senior
Offensive line — John McCurdy, Winnsboro, senior
Kicker — Hector Romero, Malakoff, senior
Utility — Peyton Walters, Grace Community, senior
Defense
Defensive line — Tristan Green, Sabine, senior
Defensive line — Ty Ward, Whitehouse, senior
Defensive line — Louie Garza, Carlisle, senior
Defensive line — Foster Hall, Alto, senior
Linebacker — Max Hale, Troup, senior
Linebacker — Cayle Irvin, Alto, senior
Linebacker — Colton Mills, West Rusk, senior
Linebacker — Zach Villarreal, Gladewater, senior
Defensive back — Talon Winings, West Rusk, senior
Defensive back — Tyler Baker, Wills Point, junior
Defensive back — DJ White, All Saints, senior
Defensive back — Jesse Newman, Frankston, senior
Punter — Cooper Clemons, Whitehouse, senior
Return specialist — Ashton Smith, Winona, senior
THIRD TEAM
Offense
Quarterback — BJ Lamb, Grapeland, junior
Running back — Kyle Keltner, Edgewood, senior
Running back —Dominique Rushing, Winnsboro, junior
Running back —Mason Songer, Rains, junior
Receiver — Javonta Thomas, Van, junior
Receiver — Desmon Deason, Troup, senior
Receiver — Jerquindon Taylor, Athens, senior
Tight end/fullback — Austin Hartley, Alba-Golden, senior
Offensive line — Brody Chatham, Harmony, senior
Offensive line — Riley Birdwell, Nacogoches, senior
Offensive line — Thomas Goughnour, All Saints, junior
Offensive line — Dion Daniels, Tyler Lee, junior
Offensive line — Angel Sarmiento, John Tyler, senior
Kicker — Fernando Jaimes, Sabine, senior
Utility — Robert Hodges, Gladewater, senior
Defense
Defensive line — LaTravion Hawkins, John Tyler, junior
Defensive line — Jason Gossett, Troup, senior
Defensive line — Ja’Tavien Session, Brownsboro, sophomore
Defensive line — Tim Mitchell, Alba-Golden, senior
Linebacker — Jack Janis, Tyler Lee, junior
Linebacker — Jack Clark, Whitehouse, junior
Linebacker — Adrian Lacy, Chapel Hill, senior
Linebacker — Clayton Smith, Texas High, junior
Defensive back — Donovan Adkins, Kilgore, junior
Defensive back — Jakelyn Morgan, Brook Hill, junior
Defensive back — Nick Lincoln, Gladewater, junior
Defensive back — Luke Smith, Grace Community, senior
Punter — Miguel Munoz, John Tyler, senior
Return specialist — Preston Abel, King’s Academy, junior
HONORABLE MENTION
Quarterback — Ryan Harris, Beckville; Ty Freeman, Ore City; Mason Vasquez, Hooks; Harmon West, Alto; Ryan Wilkerson, Elysian Fields; Jordan Elliott, Troup; Haynes King, Longview; Gage Goddard, Harmony; Caden Miter, Big Sandy; Jayton Moffatt, Van; Caleb Medford, Henderson; Tyler Baker, Wills Point; Brink Bizzell, Frankston; Kaden Casey, Whitehouse; Kobe Coker, Chapel Hill; Carlos DeLeon, Carlisle; DJ Freeman, Pine Tree; Jordan Moore, Lufkin; Cor’Drell Radway, All Saints; Zaylon Jeter, Daingerfield; Darion Peace, Malakoff; Ben Harmon, Pleasant Grove; Kai Horton, Carthage; Gage Goddard, Harmony; Gage White, Spring Hill; Blake Weissert, Alba-Golden; Ryan Wilkerson, Elysian Fields; Savion Williams, Marshall; Kylan Thomas, Jefferson; Tristan Holmes, Gladewater; Dennis Allen, Gladewater; Garrett Esposito, Brook Hill
Running back — Hunter Wallace, Harleton; Trayvon Kennedy, Hughes Springs; Davarious Clark, Hooks; Vi’Dareous High, Alto; Aaron Skinner, Alto; Christavian Smith, Elysian Fields; Deiontray Hill, Paul Pewitt; Keiuntray Hawkins, Paul Pewitt; Zion Dunn, Van; Darrell Bush, Gilmer; Jon Michael Chadwick, Alba-Golden; KJ Hicks, Pleasant Grove; Mason Courtney, Carthage; Isaac Edwards, Harmony; Nathan Sims, Athens; Kayden Upchurch, Hawkins; Kadrien Johnson, Paul Pewitt; La-Jathen Allen, Paul Pewitt; Dedric Davis, Malakoff; Bruce Garret, Pleasant Grove; Cadarian Wiley, Grapeland; LaDavion Johnson, Linden-Kildare; Jakobie Craver, Daingerfield; Keevie Rose, Malakoff; Michael Everett, Harmony; Caleb Hamilton, Atlanta; Kaden Meredith, Longview; Gavin Smith, West Rusk; Dee Black, Jefferson; Eligia Carter, Gladewater; Malachi Gordon, Gladewater
Wide receiver — Marquis Thompson, Palestine; Tyson Berry, Chapel Hill; Aaron Nigreville, Ore City; Marquiz Estell, Hooks; Benji Johnson, Hooks; Cooper Ward, Grapeland; Decorian Bryant, Grapeland; Nic Hooley, Bullard; Da’Vion Tyson, Linden-Kildare; Tyrese Grant, Daingerfield; Andreas Garrett, Malakoff; Nic Garrett, Winona; Kobe Webster, Texas High; Gabe Adams, Pine Tree; JJ Sparkman, Pine Tree; Ja’Lynn Polk, Lufkin; Christian Reggie, Lufkin; Sergio Rodriguez, Pleasant Grove; Kel Williams, Carthage; Jay Rockwell, Spring Hill; Hunter Hutchins, Van; Clayton Carnes, Frankston; Dylan Fluellen, Gilmer; John Mark King, Frankston; Jaden Lewis, Troup; DJ White, All Saints
Fullback/tight end — Matthew Bower, Union Grove; Montrell Smith, Carthage; Brandon McNeely, Carthage; Josh Etheridge, Wills Point; Malik Williams, Gilmer; Jaily Robertson, Gladewater
Offensive line — Beau Simmons, Harleton; Jace Ratley, Hughes Springs; Ross Young, Beckville; Dawson Adams, Hooks; Foster Hall, Alto; Cayle Irvin, Alto; Justin Kitchen, Elysian Fields; Conner Ferguson, Union Grove; Nash Young, Nacogdoches; Alex Murphy, Pleasant Grove; Connor Stanfill, Pleasant Grove; Tee Kellum, Carthage; Case Johnston, Carthage; Connor Davis, Carthage; Karston Williams, Carthage; Shane Sewell, Harmony; Duke Fitts, Paul Pewitt; Rhys Kelley, Paul Pewitt; David Williams, Paul Pewitt; Demarcus Hill, Paul Pewitt; Melito Sanchez, Van; Bladen Collum, Gilmer; Conner Ferguson, Union Grove; Trace Tidwell, Henderson; Kendale Thomas, Chapel Hill; Gonzalo Rojo, Troup; Justin Rogers, Jefferson; Caleb Wallace, Jefferson; JJ Barrera, Winona; Damon Jones, Winona; Brandon Noll, Winnsboro; Edson Lopez, Sabine; Trent Bolt, Gladewater
Kicker — Hamilton Williams, Grace Community; Andy Prazak, New Diana; Caleb Encarnacion, Lufkin; Anthony Mejia, Pleasant Grove; Brennan Phillips, Carthage; Aaron Gallegos, Carlisle; Carlos Campos, Beckville; Landon Fuquay, Jefferson
Utility — Smith Reynolds, All Saints
Defensive line — Brady King, Harleton; Jaydn Salazar, Haleton; Taber Childs, Harleton; Elvin Calhoun, Palestine; Deundre Blanton, Kilgore; Grant Lewis, Grand Saline; Vencent Rockwell, Spring Hill; Drew Beltran, Longview; Todd Duplichain, Alto; Josh Etheridge, Wills Point; Casen Grasch, Cayuga; Landon Jackson, Pleasant Grove; Marcus Burris, Pleasant Grove; Cameron Weekly, Pleasant Grove; Torey Phillips, Pleasant Grove; Quinton Owens, Carthage; Romel Garcia, Lufkin; Vincent Peters, Linden-Kildare; Kylon Lister, Carthage; Desmond Hicks, Carthage; Jakevian Tuiel, Carthage; Quanterrious Brown, Carthage; Kientray Hawkins, Paul Pewitt; Kendrell Webster, Paul Pewitt; Rhys Kelley, Paul Pewitt; Markethian Lyons, Wills Point; Nate Picket Pin, Troup; Tyler Cherry, Jefferson; Jacari Mosley, Jefferson; Zach Tyeskie, Gladewater
Linebacker — Quinton Cook, Palestine; Isaiah Bolden, Hughes Springs; Will Leslie, New Diana; Carson Willeford, New Diana; Mason Vasquez, Hooks; JerMichael Akins, Winona; Jackson Illingsworth, Elysian Fields; Ty Kirkland, Elysian Fields; Jaden Hall, Nacogdoches; Landry Deaton, Winnsboro; Zeb Fulmer, Winnsboro; Nate Holloway, Linden-Kildare; Nic Kunze, Linden-Kildare; Cayden Mitcham, All Saints; Dee Lewis, Daingerfield; Evan Peel, Daingerfield; Colby Rush, Malakoff; Harmon West, Alto; Carter Patterson, Sabine; Nick Martin, Pleasant Grove; Dylan Hopkins, Pleasant Grove; Cole Whitlock, Carthage; Rayvon Ingram, Carthage; Mason Bobo, Carthage; Jai Brager, Carthage; Alex Garza, Carlisle; Isaac Edwards, Harmony; Trent Hart, Harmony; Tanor Mines, Paul Pewitt; Colby Frost, Paul Pewitt; Quinton Cook, Palestine; Gage Gosse, Frankston; Carter Grasch, Cayuga; Aaron Hardman, Wills Point; Savion Kellum, Wills Point; Caden Minter, Big Sandy; Sabastion Porter, Garrison; Tyshawn Taylor, Longview; Kaden Mahoney, Troup; Anthony Salgado, Troup; Khalil Brasher, Jefferson; Dimauntrez Haggerty, Jefferson; Kenneth Bell, Jefferson; Jace Ratley, Hughes Springs; Isaiah Bolden, Hughes Springs; Brian Brown, Kilgore; Kale Perot, Gladewater; Austin Moran, Gladewater
Defensive back — Serigo Rodriguez, Pleasant Grove; De’Aundrey Bowman, Carthage; Andrew Gaul, Hughes Springs; Keke Nelson, New Diana; Marquiz Estell, Hooks; Benji Johnson, Hooks; Grayson Barnett, Union Grove; Jerrin Thompson; Lufkin; Tre Odom, Lufkin; Solomon Macfoy, Chapel Hill; Miles Halton, Carthage; Javon King, Carthage; Canyon Holmes, Garrison; Brayden Vess, Troup; Carlos Jackson, Jefferson; Dee Black, Jefferson; Kylan Thomas, Jefferson; Zion Hopes, Jefferson; Augusta Singleton, Jefferson; Jayce McFarland, Kilgore
Punter — Cooper McClure, Atlanta; Ja’Quez Thompson, Wills Point