by JASON GORDON
Hays High School dominated the All-District squad just like a district champion should, as the Rebels landed 16 players on either the first or second team.
That number included 27-4A co-Most Valuable Player senior Caleb Kimbro, who finished his career as the leader in every Rebel quarterbacking category. Kimbro had 7,154 total combined rushing and passing yards and 81 total touchdowns during his three-year stint on varsity.
Kimbro shared MVP honors with Tivy quarterback Parks McNeil.
“Caleb will be remembered as one of the best football players to ever wear the Rebel uniform,” Hays head coach Blake Feldt said. “He always wanted the football in his hands when the game was on the line. He made a lot of things happen out there that were pretty amazing.”
Hays senior offensive tackle Reed Darragh also was named 27-4A Most Valuable Lineman.
“Reed was a tight end when we got here and we moved him to left tackle,” Feldt said. “He turned into the best lineman in a very competitive district.”
The Rebels finished the season as back-to-back district champions for the first time in school history.
“It’s a great honor to be named MVP, but I give all the credit to Coach Feldt and our other coaches who put me in a position to succeed,” Kimbro said. “This is a team award. Everything we accomplished around here we did as a team.”
The Lobos also landed six players on the All-District squad.
Lehman’s first teamers were senior Cruz Banda and junior defensive back Tyler Hyss.
“Cruz really stepped into an important position in our offense and thrived; in our scheme the center is a very important part of what we do,” Lehman head coach Todd Raymond said. “Tyler led our team in tackles. He’s a big physical kid who can run and will be an important part of what we do next year.”
In addition, Lehman junior running back Paul Brown, who led the Lobos with 801 yards rushing and five touchdowns, was named to the second team.
“Paul is one tough kid who plays through a lot of injuries,” Raymond said. “He played with a broken nose, he missed a game with a badly bruised sternum but was right back out there the next week. He has the work ethic and leadership abilities we are trying to instill in many of our players next season. We call it the leadership council and Paul Brown is a perfect example of what we want those players to be like.”
Junior tight end Tyler Dodero, who caught the game-winning pass for the Lobos in the final minute against Anderson this season, senior offensive lineman Kenny Higgins, a four-year varsity team member, and junior punter Chris Piedra were also named to the second team for Lehman.
Seniors Granger Studdard, who finished his career as Hays’ all-time leading receiver with 116 catches for 1,651 yards and 16 touchdowns, and Taven Mayberry, who rushed for 731 yards and had 447 yards receiving and 12 total touchdowns this season, were both named to the first team.
“Granger set so many records around here,” Feldt said. “We thought it was amazing when he had 41 catches last year. This year he blew that out of the water with 64 catches. Taven played through a lot of injuries but was always a dynamic player who was difficult to stop because he had incredible quickness and speed.”
Senior offensive lineman Will Trevillion, who has committed to play at Texas State University, and junior tight end Banner Steele were also named to the first team for the Rebs.
Senior Marco Solis, who had 844 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns, was named to the second team.
“Will was a great addition to our football team after he moved in from Mississippi shortly after I got here in 2011,” Feldt said. “He was a big piece of our puzzle whenever we’d make our game plan each week. Marco was a JV “B” team kid last year. He was one of the biggest surprises of the 2012 season and he definitely deserves to be on the All-District team.”
Hays had five defensive players named to the first team – defensive end Kyle Cox, linebackers Devin Jennings and Colin Hubert, and cornerbacks Jared and Christian Rodriguez. All five are seniors.
“Out of all the years I’ve been coaching, if you looked up the definition of a football player, the person who’s picture I think should be there is Kyle Cox,” Feldt said of his 5-foot, 11-inch, 195-pound defensive end. “If he was 260 pounds he’d be one of the top recruits in the country. The Tivy head coach told me when you watch him play he reminds him of an old bull rider – he’s that tough.”
Feldt also has a lot of pride in his other defensive players who made first-team All-District.
“Jennings is one of those kids who loves the Hays Rebels,” Feldt said. “He’d die for you out there. The Russian Army couldn’t drag him off the football field if he was hurt. Jared and Christian turned into great cornerbacks this season. We could always count on them. They will be hard to replace.”
Junior linebacker Aaron Johnson, junior defensive end Daniel Minor, senior defensive back Caleb Hubert and junior kicker Payton Kisor were also named to the second team for the Rebels.
Hays’ honorable mention selections were running back Beau Reed and linebackers Emory Cuzze and Brandon Poole.
Lehman’s honorable mention players were receiver Kelton Powell, offensive lineman Bobby Limon, defensive lineman Krystofer Hernandez and linebacker Ben Mitchell.
