TOP RAIDERS | West Rusk announces all-district honorees; coaches included, as well

West Rusk won the District 9-3A-Division II championship, and Cole Jackson is deservingly the district’s defensive most valuable player.

Jackson, just a junior, finished the season at outside linebacker with 101 total tackles, averaged about 8 1/2 a game, had three interceptions this season (for a total of 144 return yards on those), caused three fumbles, had two sacks, and three quarterback hurries.

Jackson won the award, of course, as part of the 9-3A, DII All-District team, released Tuesday morning and voted on by the district’s coaches – the district includes, in addition to West Rusk: Arp, Troup, Winona, Grand Saline, Quitman, and Edgewood.

In addition to Jackson (who very well could have won an offensive award, too: more on that later), the Raiders won other superlatives.

Senior offensive lineman Kason Reed was named the offensive lineman of the year and his classmate, senior Zach Tyeskie, was named defensive lineman of the year. So the Raiders won lineman of the year on both sides of the ball. No wonder West Rusk won 10 games and only lost three.

The West Rusk coaching staff, led by first-year head coach Rafe Mata, was named the coaches of the year and deserved it after winning another district title. West Rusk beat previously-unbeaten and state-ranked Troup to pretty much clinch the district championship – the Raiders didn’t lose in district play, running the table with a 6-0 record.

Reed helped the offense roll up 4,452 yards – that’s about 342 yards a game. Of that, 3,392 is rushing yards. Tyeskie finished with 31 tackles, 19 of them solo.

In addition, West Rusk freshman Kemontrea McGregor was named as one of the various utility players of the year, and sophomore Hunter McCandless was named one of the special teams players of the year.

On to the first team, which is Troup’s Grayson Hearon and West Rusk’s Xander Mason. Mason, a senior, missed a couple of games this season, and still had a great year. The Raiders played 13 games. Mason played in 11. In those games, Mason was 67-of-120 (55 percent) for 1,018 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 356 yards and three touchdowns on 65 carries, about 5 1/2 yards a carry.

Also on the first team for West Rusk: senior Ty Harper. Harper finished the season in 12 games played with 15 catches for 329 yards and six touchdowns (21.9 yards a catch). He also had 25 carries for 287 yards (11.5 yards a carry) and four touchdowns.

Senior Chris Martinez and junior Tray Anthony joined Reed on that O-line and helped the Raiders produce all those yards, and they were named first-team all-district for their efforts.

On defense, lineman Cameron Robinson, just a junior, was named first-team all-district. On the season, Robinson had 56 tackles, five for loss, three sacks, 11 quarterback hurries, an interception, two fumble recoveries and a caused fumble.

Outside linebacker Noah Murphy, a senior, was named first-team all-district, as well. Murphy finished with 35 tackles (in 10 games), a sack, four hurries, and a caused fumble.

Luis Sanchez was a choice at inside linebacker. The senior had 86 tackles (second on the team to Jackson), averaged almost eight a game, had five tackles for loss, a sack, a hurry and caused two fumbles.

Harper also made the team as first-team safety. The senior had two interceptions, five passes defended, a fumble recovery, and 26 tackles.

Judson Dotson, just a sophomore, made the team as first-team cornerback. Dotson finished with 31 tackles, four interceptions and six passes defended.

And kicker Baylee Hughes was named first-team. Hughes went 33-of-36 in extra points, and hit the only two field goals he kicked this year, a long of 29. He scored 39 points this year.

Raiders who made second-team offense: Craver Green at fullback, Noah Murphy at running back, Dotson at wide receiver, Max Carillo at tight end, and both Christian Ludes and Adam Jaimes at offensive line.

West Rusk players who were named second-team defense: Syncere Cleaver on the defensive line, and Jace Reasoner at safety.

All-District honorable mentions for the Raiders: Montrell Giddings, and Johnny Hernandez.