Paul WitwerSan Angelo Standard-Times
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2023 All-West Texas Football Team: Defense
FIRST TEAM
Defensive Line - Brylan White, jr., Wall
White, the District 2-3A co-defensive lineman of the year, helped anchor a dominant Wall defense that shut out multiple opponents this year. He finished the season with 89 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, 25 hurries and five sacks.
Defensive Line - Dalton Adams, sr., Early
Adams was the other District 3-2A co-lineman of the year playing defensive end and offensive tackle for the Longhorns. Anchoring Early's defensive line in 2023 he had 74 tackles, 20 tackles for a loss, nine sacks and two forced fumbles.
Defensive Line - Grant Roman, sr., Forsan
As one of the defensive leaders for the Buffaloes, Roman was the stalwart pass rusher on a defense that held district opponents to less than 17 points per game. Roman finished his senior campaign with 60 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks.
Defensive Line - Jorge Salas, sr., Coleman
The District 5-2A Division I co-defensive lineman of the year, Salas, dominated the line of scrimmage from his nose tackle position for the Bluecats. He finished his senior season with 58 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, 10 hurries, seven sacks and one forced fumble.
Linebacker - Will Scherr, sr., Wall
Scherr, a third-year varsity player for Wall, anchored the linebacking core on a defense that improved every season he played. To cap his high school football career he finished with 118 tackles and 10 tackles for a loss for another All-District 2-3A Division II first-team defense selection.
Linebacker - Ethan Michalwicz, jr., Wall
The District 2-3A Division II Defensive MVP burst onto the scene for an Eagles defense that was already riddled with talent. Michalwicz led the team in tackles with 120 and added 15 tackles for a loss, five hurries and four sacks.
Linebacker - Brent Bouldin, sr., Coleman
Bouldin was a hard-nosed thumper from the linebacker spot leading Coleman in tackles with 122 total. He also recorded 19 tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles on his way to an All-District 5-2A Division I first-team defense award.
Linebacker - Clancy Osbourn, soph., Mason
In his first season on varsity, Osbourn earned Defensive MVP for District 14-2A Division I on a Punchers squad that won their 13th straight district championship. He recorded 125 total tackles, 21 tackles for a loss, 10 pressures, 10 sacks, four passes defensed, one interception and one forced fumble for a defense that averaged 14 points surrendered a game.
Defensive back - Dylan Ford, jr., Sonora
A do-it-all player for Sonora, Ford was at his best playing as a ball-hawking defensive back. He recorded 37 tackles, five interceptions and four forced fumbles as a crucial member for Sonora who made another trip to the regional semifinal game this season.
Defensive back - Josh Rios, sr., Forsan
Rios was the definition of a lock-down corner for Forsan in 2023. The Buffaloes finished the season with 10 total interceptions on defense and Rios had had six of them. He also added eight passes defensed for an All-District 3-2A Division I second-team defense selection.
Defensive back - Ryne Todd, sr., Mason
Todd was a three-year starter for Mason at running back and free safety and never missed a game. While most of his recognition comes from his play on offense, this year he was special on defense recording 65 tackles, four tackles for a loss, four interceptions, 10 passes defensed and two forced fumbles on his way to his third District 14-2A Division I MVP.
Defensive back - Ethan Busch, jr., Christoval
Busch was a playmaker for the Cougar defense again in his second season on varsity. He earned All-District 3-2A Division I first-team defense honors after recording 49 tackles, five interceptions, eight passes defensed, five fumble recoveries and five defensive touchdowns.
Defensive back - Michael Duran, sr., Lake View
Duran was the go-to player on both sides of the ball for the Chiefs during his senior year. He recorded 42 tackles, four interceptions and one defensive touchdown playing all over the defensive backfield.
Utility - Marcos Morin, sr., Eldorado
The All-District 5-2A Division II first-team defensive selection was crucial in Eldorado's run to a playoff appearance in a highly competitive district. He finished the season with 64 tackles, four interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Utility - Dustin Spalla, sr., Forsan
Spalla was Dave Campbell's Texas Football's preseason defensive MVP for District 3-2A Division I after a monster junior season in 2022. This year, Spalla did not disappoint by racking up 99 tackles and five passes defensed for a spot on the all-district first-team.
Utility - Luke Sanderson, jr., Goldthwaite
An All-District 5-2A Division I first-team offensive and defensive selection in 2023, Sanderson racked up a ton of numbers on the Eagles defense. He had 97 tackles, six forced fumbles, five passes defensed, four tackles for a loss, two interceptions, two defensive touchdowns and a sack.
SECOND TEAM
DL - Demarcus Reed, soph., Brady
DL - Jaysen Santellano, jr., Eldorado
DL - Damarion Ausbie, jr., Forsan
DL - Hunter Lackey, sr., Coleman
DL - Seth Turner, sr., Sterling City
LB - Tony Kmiec, sr., Eldorado
LB - Jaylen Torres, jr., Miles
LB - Kaleb Ozuna, sr., Early
LB - Sutton Silerio, jr., Mason
LB - Cutter Cody, jr., Coleman
DB - Andrew Reedy, fr., Early
DB - Ty Turner, sr., Sterling City
DB - Cooper Ellison, jr., Miles
DB - Briggs Jones, jr., Wall
DB - Matthew Daniels, sr., Ozona
Utility - Seth Mariano, sr., San Angelo Central
Utility - Jadin Jackson, sr., Coleman
Utility - Mason Vansickle, soph., San Angelo Central
Utility - Michael Daniels, jr., Ozona
HONORABLE MENTION
DL - Robert Barrera, sr., Ozona; Bernie Blanco, sr., Ozona; Sergio Ochoa, jr., Junction; Marco Ponce, jr., Junction; Daryl Adair, sr., Brady; Cameron Alexander, sr., Sterling City; Jake Edminston, sr., Christoval; Jaxson Petillo, jr., Miles; Lane Godfrey, jr., Miles; Colton Kelly, jr., Miles; Jacob Martinez, sr., Sonora; Elijiah Samaniego, sr., Sonora; Owen Jones, jr., Sonora; Brooks Clippinger, jr., Early.
LB - Sire Garcia, soph., Grape Creek; Crue Levien, soph., Junction; Rohyn Price, soph., Early; Riley Barnes, sr., Sterling City; River Kinsey, sr., Sterling City; Manuel Riojas, jr., Christoval; Devin Medina, jr., Miles; Josh Lozano, sr., Sonora; Brycen Cervantes, sr., Forsan; Braden Winans, sr., Grape Creek.
DB - Johnny Monreal, sr., Sterling City; Zeke Jones, sr., Brady, Griffin Cheslock, sr., Early; Dusty Smith, sr., Ozona; Weston Baron, jr., Early; Tevin Meade, jr., Miles.
