KILGORE — Just for starters: four state champions from two separate divisions and in two different classes speaks for the weekly importance of each game.
Oddly there will be five returning playoff teams and only three moving on at season’s end.
At a recent sportswriters luncheon, the 2012 District 16-3A All-District Team and poll predictions were voted on.
Henderson’s do-it-all athlete Patrick Brown has been named the Offensive MVP of the squad. Brown is coming off a season in which he accounted for 19 touchdowns total, including five on special teams for the Lions, who reached the state semifinals for the second consecutive season after winning the 3A Division I title in 2010.
On the other side of the ball, the debate was short-lived with monster-like A.J. Davis of Kilgore being named the Defensive Player of the Year. The linebacker wreaked havoc in the Bulldogs’ run to the 4A Division II quarterfinals, and was selected first-team all-district for the third straight season.
Gilmer’s super-quick Benny Colbert won the Return Specialist of the Year award, while Bullard’s Zach Holladay was an easy selection for Utility Player of the Year with his consistent play after leading the Panthers with 119 tackles at linebacker and also playing tight end and on return teams.
Gilmer, Chapel Hill and Henderson have won 3A state titles in recent seasons. Kilgore captured the 4A Division II crown in 2004.
District 16-3A Preseason Football Team
Offensive Most Valuable Player: Patrick Brown , Henderson, WR/RB, sr. — 24 rec-223-yards; 43 carries 638, 3 rush TDs; 5 KO returns for TDs. 41 tackles as defensive back.
Defensive Most Valuable Player: A.J. Davis, Kilgore, LB, Sr. — Man among boys is proven as three-year all-district player.
Kick Return Specialist: Benny Colbertson, Gilmer, Jr. — only seven returns for 220 yards, 32.4 yard pre return average with the longest a 73-yard run.
Utility Player of the Year: Zach Holladay, Bullard, Sr. TE/LB/KR/ST — 117 tackles, five tackles for loss, three caused fumbles, seven INTs. At TE, Holladay made seven clutch catches for 317 yards and four TD’s.
Kicker of the Year: Weston Gray, Bullard, Sr. — 39-42 PAT/11/13 FG/ 42 LONG/16 touchbacks on 68 kickoffs.
Punter of the Year: Jeff Holt, Spring Hill — 29-38.6 average per punt. Longest of 53. Seven punts killed inside 20.
Offense
QB — Colton Mebane, Bullard, Sr., 6’, 190.
RB — Tre Allen, Chapel Hill, Sr. 6’, 225.
RB —Chase Tate, Gilmer, Sr., 5’5, 140.
RB — Houston Alexander, Bullard, Sr., 5’11, 195
WR — Haden Bryant, Bullard, Sr., 6’2, 190
WR — Jamie Anthony, Henderson, Sr., 6’1, 185
WR — Nick Johnson, Gladewater, Sr., 6’2, 185
TE — Arquez Walton, Gilmer, 5’10, 180,
OL — Nick Siler, Henderson, Sr., 6’3, 250
OL — Morgan Knight, Kilgore, Sr., 6’2, 230
OL — Trevor Rumbelow, Bullard, Sr., 6’, 220
OL — Clay Wylie, Kilgore, Jr., 6’1, 280.
OL — Michael Finnegan, Gladewater, Sr., 5’11, 225.
Defense
DL — Bo Brady, Henderson, Sr., 6’1, 195.
DL — Xavier Fluellen, Gilmer, Sr., 6’1, 260.
DL — Dallas Green, Spring Hill, Sr., 6.’2, 245
DL — L.D. Anthony, Gladewater, Sr., 5’10, 302
LB — Jake Brantley, Kilgore, Jr., 5’10, 185.
LB — Jamal Kind, Henderson, Sr., 5;10, 185
LB — J.P. Hendrix, Bullard, Jr., 5’10, 185.
LB — Josh Walker, Gilmer, Jr., 6’1, 220.
DB — Cooper Coldiron, Gilmer, Sr., 5;11, 170.
DB — Joseph Clark, Chapel Hill, Sr. 5’9, 175
DB — Jess Wood, Bullard, Sr., 5’10, 180.
DB — Trey Washington, Gilmer, Sr., 5’11, 185.
Predicted order of District 16-3A team standings:
1)Kilgore (4) 39
2)Gilmer (1) 35
3)Henderson (1) 34
4)Chapel Hill 21
5)Bullard 20
6)Gladewater 12
7)Spring Hill 7
Those who voted (with the newspaper represented Mary Kirby (the Gilmer Mirror), Christina Lane (Gladewater Mirror), Jack Stallard (Longview News-Journal), Mickey Smith (Jacksonville Daily Progress, Tyler Morning Telegraph), Hughes Ellis (Henderson Daily News) and Mitch Lucas (Kilgore News Herald.