Sachse sophomore Willehado Palomo has been named the District 9-6A Defensive Newcomer of the Year. Photo by Tina Lopez / C&S Media

By David Wolman

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Football coaches recently cast their votes for the All-District 9-6A team, and players from Sachse, Wylie and Wylie East were on the receiving end of accolades. 

Wylie East, which posted its first 10-0 regular season in school history, had 24 players earn their way onto that prestigious list, including three superlative winners.

Senior defensive end/tight end Nash Chapman (47 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks, one interception) and senior wide receiver Amarean Porter (672 receiving yards, five touchdowns) were selected as the co-Most Valuable Players of District 9-6A. Sophomore running back Jonathan Utubor was tabbed the district’s Offensive Newcomer of the Year after tallying 881 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns.

Wylie East also had the Coaching Staff of the Year.

Sachse sophomore inside linebacker Willehado Palomo won Defensive Newcomer of the Year after logging 98 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery.

Mustangs senior offensive guard Sam Ratcliff, sophomore offensive tackle CJ Arimah, senior wide receiver Dirk Williams Jr. and junior nose tackle Trason Haley landed on the All-District 9-6A first team. Senior center Brett Hough, junior quarterback Christian McCaffrey, senior running back Roderick Rainwater, senior wide receiver Marcus Rhoden, senior defensive tackle Julian Cole and sophomore defensive end Trindon Bennett were named to the second team.

Tackle Eli Sheffield; guard Sidney Carriere; guard/tackle Alex Davis; center Maddox Hill; wide receiver Hekma Harrison II; running back Ladainian Jones; long snapper McCabe Smith; kicker Hunter Brison; defensive tackles Mikel Oduago and Omar Abushanab; and safeties Austin Taylor and Brayden Williams earned honorable-mention recognition.

Rowlett junior quarterback Sam Loera was tabbed the district’s Offensive Player of the Year, senior defensive lineman Grady Holmes won Defensive Player of the Year, Naaman Forest junior Braylon Deal garnered Two-Way Skill Player of the Year, senior kick/punt returner Kaleb Covington was named Special Teams Player of the Year, while Lakeview Centennial junior Khing Thibodeaux captured Two-Way Lineman of the Year.