Rector leads Dream Team

By David Claybourn

Herald-BannerS portsE ditor

Turning an 0-10 team into a 10-2 bi-district champion is the stuff of which dreams are made.

The remarkable turnaround also earned top honors for the Celeste father and son team of Demetrius and Jalen Rector on the Herald-Banner Dream Team for the 2017 high school football season.

Demetrius Rector was selected as the Dream Team’s coach of the year after completing the biggest turnaround in Texas high school football for the past season. The Blue Devils were the only team in the state to win 10 games after losing 10 games the previous season.

Jalen Rector earned the Dream Team’s most valuable player award after playing a variety of positions for the Blue Devils due to injuries to key players. Rector passed for 838 yards and 10 touchdowns, rushed for 518 yards and 11 scores and caught a team-high 36 passes for 689 yards and seven TDs. He also returned three kickoffs for 108 yards and 10 punts for 108 yards.

On defense Rector recorded 65 tackles, intercepted two passes and recovered two fumbles.

Commerce’s running back Isaiah Askew, who helped the Tigers win six straight games after losing their first six, was the offensive MVP.

The defensive MVP honor went to Wolfe City’s all-state defensive lineman Eric Fisk, who recorded 32 tackles for losses, including 19 quarterback sacks. The utility player of the year went to Quinlan Ford senior Linus Beierschmitt, who rushed for 1,631 yards and 22 TDs, passed for 759 yards and seven TDs, averaged 40.7 yards on punt returns and 39.8 yards as a punter.

The newcomer of the year is Royse City’s sophomore tight end Peyton Petroff.

Greenville quarterback Caleb Jarvis, who passed for 1,753 yards and 12 TDs and rushed for 13 TDs, headed up the first offense.

Lone Oak’s all-state defensive lineman Nick Hackett led the first defense.

2017 Dream Team Most valuable player — Jalen Rector, Celeste, Jr.

Offensive MVP — Isaiah Askew, Commerce, Sr.

Defensive MVP — Eric Fisk, Wolfe City, Jr.

Utility player of the year — Linus Beierschmitt, Quinlan Ford, Sr.

Newcomer of the year — Peyton Petroff, Royse City, So.

Coach of the year — Demetrius Rector, Celeste.

FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE QB Caleb Jarvis Greenville Jr. RB Payton Hammons Caddo Mills Sr. RB Tylan Brown Cumby Sr. WR Dayton Gallagher Lone Oak Sr. WR Elijah Yelverton Royse City So. TE Dustin Fullbright Quinlan Ford Sr. OL Kellan Anderson Wolfe City Sr. OL Dylan Hicks Celeste Jr. OL Josh Gregory Royse City Sr. OL Simon Rico Greenville Jr. OL Jamion Shaw Commerce Sr. PK Jordy Ramirez Commerce Jr. FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE DL Nick Hackett Lone Oak Sr. DL James Hoff Quinlan Ford Sr. DL Jaquon Lyons Greenville Sr. DL James Whitehead Lone Oak Jr. LB Dayven Coleman Royse City Sr. LB Jimmy Enriquez Greenville Sr. LB Tucson Clayton Commerce Sr. DB Koltin McNair Greenville Sr. DB Jakwan Allen Greenville Sr. DB K.D. Williams Commerce Sr. DB Jed Cagle Wolfe City Sr. P Hunter Aycock Caddo Mills Sr. SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE QB Quaid Williams Lone Oak Jr. RB Dre Prox Royse City Sr. RB Devonta Brown Wolfe City Sr. WR Alley Holley Lone Oak Sr. WR Nick Mapps Greenville Jr. WR Jace Givens Celeste Jr. OL Michael Hall Lone Oak Sr. OL Clinton McCoy Celeste Sr. OL Keaton Kanaman Boles Sr. OL Jacob Pack Wolfe City Sr. OL Logan DeGarso Greenville Sr. .PK Cullen Brown Caddo Mills Sr. SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE DL Matthew Bryant Quinlan Ford Sr. DL Kris Jones Royse City Sr. DL Colten Stringer Caddo Mills Sr. DL Tucker Momon Greenville So. LB Garrett Davis Quinlan Ford Jr. LB Jeremiah Abrego Greenville So. LB Zhe Brown Royse City Sr. DB Walter Porter Royse City Sr. DB Roderick Roberson Royse City Jr. DB Zach Morrison Caddo Mills Sr. DB Jace Givens Celeste Jr. HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE Quarterback: Jed Cagle, Wolfe City; Casey Shields, Commerce; Cameron Scott, Cumby; Layne Miller, Fannindel; Wilson Feezel, Greenville Christian; Matthew Morris, Campbell.

Running backs: Christian Dunson, Greenville; Josiah Wilson, Boles; Hunter Aycock, Caddo Mills; Damon Crook, Celeste; Travis Williams, Wolfe City; Dayton Dunbar, Fannindel; Ethan Daniel, Greenville Christian; Danny Harrison, Campbell.

Utility: Tyreke Cuba, Fannindel.

Wide receivers: Tavin Ramm, Lone Oak; Chad Amico, Celeste; Truitt Murphy, Celeste; Isaiah Buckley, Celeste; Tim Wright Wolfe City, Johnny Whitehead, Cumby; Samuel Pitts, Greenville Christian.

Offensive line: Cody Banks, Caddo Mills; Garrett Carpenter, Lone Oak; Daniel Martinez, Lone Oak; John Johnston, Commerce; Britton Evans, Celeste; Elijah Pahchcka, Cumby; Austin Thomas, Cumby, Jake Petty, Cumby.

Placekicker: Logan Franklin, Celeste; Koltin McNair, Greenville; Ramiro Limon, Lone Oak. DEFENSE Defensive line: Elijah Matthews, Cumby; Wil Chapin, Cumby; Garrett Carpenter, Lone Oak; Juan Lopez, Fannindel.

Linebackers: Zayne Mendoza, Royse City; Sam Martinez, Greenville; Isaiah Buckley, Celeste; Tuffer Jordan, Celeste; Cody Greenway, Wolfe City; Travis Williams, Wolfe City; Hunter Aycock, Caddo Mills, Thadeus Clark, Celeste; Dakota Young, Cumby; Colby Lindsey, Cumby; Cole Daniel, Lone Oak; Matthew Gray Commerce; Jonathon Garcia, Fannindel.

Defensive backs: Dayton Gallagher, Lone Oak; Devonta Brown, Wolfe City; Chad Amico, Celeste; Michael McBrayer, Boles; Jacorian Savage, Commerce; Nolan Myers, Commerce; Tyreke Cuba, Fannindel.

Coaches: Cody Farrell, Commerce; Darren Duke, Greenville.

Celeste’s Jalen Rector (5), who played quarterback, running back, wide receiver, punt returner, kick returner and defensive back for the 10-2 Blue Devils, is the most valuable player for the 2017 Herald-Banner Dream Team.

JohnM arkon | HERALD -BANNER