GC Football: Mildred tops off brilliant season with a long list of postseason awards
Dec. 22—MILDRED — It's difficult to know where to start when looking at Mildred's huge and memorable football season that saw the Eagles reach the playoffs.
Coach Jeff Callahan, who has lifted the program to new heights and great performances by his players and his team, was as proud as anyone when his Eagles reaped multiple All-District honors, including Gabe Irvine and Brennan Moore, who both earned Superlatives on the District 7-3A DII All-District Team that honored a long list of Eagles.
Irvine, who was a star on both sides of the ball at tailback and linebacker, was named the 7-3A DII Defensive MVP and Moore was named the 7-3A DII Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Moore, a remarkable junior who was the anchor and leader for a defensive line that dominated at times and always gave the Eagles a chance to win with big plays — game-changing plays — all season.
Irvine, a junior who starred on both sides of the ball, seemed to be in the middle of everything Mildred did on and off the field. He was a leader and a monster at linebacker and finished the season with 100 tackles, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and scored a touchdown on defense.
Irvine rushed for 635 yards, had 291 receiving yards (926 offensive yards) and nine TDs, and made 27-of-30 PATS and 4-of-7 field goals, including a 38-yarder.
Mildred ran a blitz on the 7-3A DII All-District First-Team as five Eagles earned First-Team honors to go along with the two Superlatives earned by Irvine and Moore as Callahan's team produced seven extraordinary players this season.
Marc Pineda, a senior who was the heart of Mildred's offensive line, earned First-Team honors to lead Mildred's parade of First-Team players just like he led the team in the trenches all season.
Austin Wing, a senior quarterback who threw for 1,808 yards, rushed for 444 yards, had 45 yards receiving, and produced 2,297 yards and 23 touchdowns, was the district's First-Team quarterback and three Mildred receivers earned First-Team honors as senior Payton Durham and juniors Ashton Frye and Ashton Moore both made the First-Team. Marc Pineda, a senior offensive lineman who was the heart and anchor for Mildred's OL, also earned First-Team honors.
Five Eagles made the Second-Team, including four members of Mildred's defense: Junior Tyler Weaver made the team as an offensive lineman and Matthew Tamez, a senior defensive end, and four underclassmen, including three on defense who will all be back next year to join Irvine and Brennan on what should be the best defense in the district, earned Second-Team honors.
Sam Harper, a junior defensive back, Justin Ovalle, a junior linebacker, and Barron Tatum, a sophomore defensive lineman, will all return next year after big seasons in 2023.
Three Eagles were named to the Honorable Mention List: Will Gregory, a junior offensive lineman, Ezra Garcia, a sophomore offensive lineman and Caleb Hallmark, a sophomore linebacker, were named to the H-M list.
Irvine was named to the All-State Elite Academic Team, Aiden Bates was named to the All-State All-Academic First-Team and Austin Wing was named to the All-State All-Academic Second-Team.
Mildred produced a long list of All-District All-Academic players.
Payton Durham, Austin Wing, Gabe Irvine, Matthew Tamez, Aiden Williams, Marc Pineda, Justin Ovalle, Ashton Moore, Sam Harper, Brennan Moore, Ashton Frye, Tyler Weaver, Caleb Hallmark, Will Irvine, Barron Tatum, Ezra Garcia and Joseph Centeno all made the District 7-3A All-Academic Team.
