The 2020 football season was anything but conventional, with teams trying to work around the COVID-19 pandemic that not only pushed the start back a month, but also caused additional delays and cancellations during the course of play.
It was an unusual finished product on the field for Mesquite ISD teams, as well, as they did not have a representative in the top classification’s playoffs for the first time since 2003.
Though the wins and losses did not go their way, Mesquite, Horn and North Mesquite did have positives during the season and that was reflected on the all-district team, where they combined to claim 74 spots on the first three teams.
The Skeeters, who finished just one game out of the playoffs, led the MISD pack with 25 selections, followed by the Jaguars with 21 spots and the Stallions with 18 players recognized.
North Mesquite claimed the lone superlative honor, as sophomore wide receiver Cordale Russell was voted as the offensive newcomer of the year.
Mesquite junior quarterback Chance Edwards was a unanimous selection to the 10-6A first team offense. Edwards completed 110-of-218 passes for 1,608 yards and 18 touchdowns and also had the ability to make plays on the ground.
He was joined on the first team offense by a trio of Horn players.
Sophomore wide receiver Chris Dawn made the list after recording a team-high 27 receptions for 523 yards and three touchdowns.
Senior offensive lineman James Collins was a unanimous pick after helping the Jaguars average 355.3 yards per game, as was senior kicker Antonio Mercado, who connected on 27-of-29 extra points and 10-of-15 field goals, with a long of 46 yards.
Mesquite claimed two of MISD’s four spots on the first team defense.
Senior outside linebacker Jakennon Moore made the list after tallying 64 tackles, eight for loss, two sacks and eight pass breakups. He was joined by junior cornerback Quinton Evans, who had 31 tackles, nine pass breakups and a pair of interceptions.
Horn senior cornerback Charles Demmings was a first-team pick, as he nabbed four of the team’s six interceptions, to go along with 39 tackles, with two for loss, five pass breakups, a forced fumble and a blocked field goal.
Rounding out the first-team selections was North Mesquite junior defensive tackle Davion Carter, who was a play-making force on the line for the Stallions.
Mesquite had 10 second-team selections, including six on offense with tight ends Hunter Nucci and Braelyn Dillard, wide receivers Jamarion Woods and Gervin McCarthy and offensive linemen Seth Robinson and Cameron Roach.
Senior linebacker Jayden Brown headlined the second-team defensive picks after he recorded 101 tackles, with 11 for loss, four sacks and three forced fumbles.
Junior defensive tackle Marlon Thompson-Leatch was disruptive force on the line and they were joined by defensive end Cornelius Darden and safety Josh Williams.
Horn had eight-second team picks, including five on offense.
That quintet is led by junior quarterback Darrius White, who completed 94-of-196 passes for 1,608 yards and 12 touchdowns and also rushed for 746 yards and eight scores.
White was joined by wide receiver Marquis Edwards, who had 21 catches for 248 yards, wide receiver Xavier Brown, who recorded 23 receptions for 487 yards and six touchdowns, fullback Alex Matchniff and offensive lineman Antonio Asuncion.
The trio of Jaguars second-team defenders includes end D’Edrick Dotson, who had 47 tackles, with six for loss, with one sack and four quarterback pressures, end Casey Griffin, who recorded 30 tackles, with six for loss, 2.5 sacks and two hurries, and Mercado, who claimed his second nod at punter.
North Mesquite landed four players on the second team with senior quarterback Liam Thornton, junior running back Kobie Norman, senior wide receiver Marcus Yow and senior safety Zamoray Richrdson.
10-6A Football All-District Team
Most Valuable Player
Braedyn Locke*  Jr.     QB   Rockwall
Offensive Most Valuable Player
Josh Hoover        Jr.     QB   Rockwall-Heath
Defensive Most Valuable Player
Gage Elder*         Sr.    LB    Rockwall
Special Teams Most Valuable Player
Ethan Spearman* Sr.    K      Rockwall
Utility Player of the Year
Jamarion Miller* Jr.              Tyler Legacy
Offensive Newcomer of the Year
Cordale Russell   So.   WR  North Mesquite
Defensive Newcomer of the Year
Phillip Bazemore So.   DT   Rockwall
Coaching Staff of the Year
Rockwall
First Team Offense
Chance Edwards* Jr.     QB   Mesquite
Zach Evans*        Jr.     RB   Rockwall-Heath
Bryson Donnell* Jr.     RB   Tyler Legacy
Brennan Ray*     Jr.     FB    Rockwall
Lance Mason*     Jr.     TE    Rockwall-Heath
Caden Marshall   Jr.     WR  Rockwall
Jay Fair     Jr.     WR  Rockwall-Heath
Corban Cleveland Sr.    WR  Rockwall-Heath
Quaydarius Davis         Sr.    WR  Skyline
Chris Dawn         So.   WR  Horn
Logan Cluff-Amperse   Sr.    OL    Rockwall
Carson Haynes*  Sr.    OL    Rockwall
Hunter Smith*     Sr.    OL    Rockwall-Heath
Josh Peacock*     Sr.    OL    Rockwall-Heath
James Collins*    Sr.    OL    Horn
Dion Daniels       Sr.    OL    Tyler Legacy
Antonio Mercado*        Sr.    K      Horn
Greg Johnson*    Jr.     RS    Skyline
First Team Defense
Davion Carter     Jr.     DT   North Mesquite
Joseph Elder       Sr.    DT   Skyline
Chris Harris*      Sr.    Tyler Legacy
Jack Deapen        Sr.    DE   Rockwall
Garfield Lawrence*       Sr.    DE   Tyler Legacy
Dawson Hunt*    Sr.    ILB   Rockwall
Grady Brewer     Sr.    ILB   Rockwall-Heath
Ty’Quandre Johnson    Sr.    OLB Skyline
Jakennon Moore Sr.    OLB Mesquite
Drew Molick       Sr.    S      Rockwall
Isaiah Nwokobia Sr.    S      Skyline
Quinton Evans    Jr.     CB   Mesquite
Charles Demmings        Sr.    CB   Horn
Jack Janis* Sr.    P      Tyler Legacy
Second Team Offense
Liam Thornton    Sr.    QB   North Mesquite
Darrius White     Jr.     QB   Horn
Kobie Norman    Jr.     RB   North Mesquite
Preston Landis    Sr.    RB   Rockwall-Heath
Zach Hernandez  So.   RB   Rockwall
Alex Matchniff    Jr.     FB    Horn
Braelyn Dillard   Jr.     TE    Mesquite
Hunter Nucci       Sr.    TE    Mesquite
Jordan Nabors    Jr.     WR  Rockwall-Heath
Brenden Bayes    Sr.    WR  Rockwall
Antinio Blair       Sr.    WR  Skyline
Marquis Edwards Jr.     WR  Horn
Jax Johnson        Sr.    WR  Rockwall
Marcus Yow       Sr.    WR  North Mesquite
Jamarion Woods So.   WR  Mesquite
Gervin McCarthy Jr.     WR  Mesquite
Xavier Brown     Jr.     WR  Horn
Boxiong Cao       Sr.    OL    Rockwall
Reed Brackett      Jr.     OL    Rockwall
Carson Fichtel     Jr.     OL    Rockwall-Heath
Caleb Flores        Jr.     OL    Rockwall-Heath
Chris Vestal        So.   OL    Skyline
George Dennis     Jr.     OL    Skyline
Seth Robinson     Sr.    OL    Mesquite
Cameron Roach  Sr.    OL    Mesquite
Antonio Asuncion        So.   OL    Horn
Donovan Jordan Jr.     OL    Tyler Legacy
Pablo Cabello      Sr.    K      Skyline
Christian Baxter  So.   K      Tyler Legacy
Second Team Defense
Jackson Luff        Sr.    DT   Rockwall-Heath
D’Adrian Burleson       Sr.    DT   Skyline
Chris Caldwell    Sr.    DT   Rockwall
Marlon Thompson-Leatch      Jr.     DT   Mesquite
Edward Gonzales Sr.    DE   Rockwall
John McGee        Sr.    DE   Skyline
Cornelius Darden Jr.     DE   Mesquite
D’Edrick Dotson Sr.    DE   Horn
Trae Martin         Sr.    DE   Rockwall-Heath
Casey Griffin       Sr.    DE   Horn
Charles Minnieweather Sr.    ILB   Skyline
Jayden Brown     Sr.    ILB   Mesquite
Jack Janis  Sr.    ILB   Tyler Legacy
Josh Olivares      Sr.    OLB Tyler Legacy
Garrett Lewis      Sr.    OLB Rockwall
Jaylin Nwigwe     Sr.    OLB Rockwall-Heath
Corey Kelley       Sr.    S      Rockwall
Zamoray Richardson    Sr.    S      North Mesquite
Peyton Williams  Jr.     S      Rockwall-Heath
Josh Williams      Jr.     S      Mesquite
Jakelyn Morgan  Sr.    CB   Tyler Legacy
Dezmon Mims     Sr.    CB   Rockwall-Heath
Anthony Davis    Jr.     CB   Skyline
Antonio Mercado Sr.    P      Horn
Pablo Cabello      Sr.    P      Skyline
Third Team Offense
Darryl Richardson        Jr.     QB   Skyline
Trent Adams       Sr.    QB   Tyler Legacy
Jackson Bennett  Sr.    RB   Rockwall
Qualon Farrar     Jr.     RB   Skyline
Anthony Roberts Jr.     RB   Mesquite
Camden Tyler     Jr.     RB   Horn
Jacob Fields        Sr.    RB   Mesquite
Christen Washington    Sr.    RB   Skyline
Isaiah Smith        Jr.     TE    Mesquite
Hunter Nucci       Sr.    TE    Mesquite
George Bergfield Sr.    TE    Tyler Legacy
K.B. Frazier        Sr.    WR  Mesquite
Justin White        Jr.     WR  Mesquite
Nicolas Bennett   Sr.    WR  Tyler Legacy
LaDarien Butler  Jr.     WR  Tyler Legacy
Julius Rosales     Sr.    WR  North Mesquite
Eddryk Ruff        Jr.     WR  Horn
Goodnews Iwaumadi    Sr.    WR  Rockwall
Ladavian Butler            WR  Tyler Legacy
Kendrick Tutt      Sr.    OL    Tyler Legacy
Kah’lil Montague Sr.    OL    Tyler Legacy
Kade Fry   Jr.     OL    Tyler Legacy
Keyshawn Reggie Sr.    OL    Tyler Legacy
Terrance Hobbs   Sr.    OL    North Mesquite
Caden Bowers     So.   OL    North Mesquite
Dauda Faal Sr.    OL    Horn
Chase Smalley     So.   OL    Horn
Sebastian Martinez       Jr.     OL    Rockwall-Heath
George Dweh      Sr.    OL    Skyline
Liam Zalka Sr.    OL    Rockwall
Cameron Ross     Sr.    OL    Rockwall
Andrick Juarez    Sr.    K      North Mesquite
Third Team Defense
Ashton Donald    Jr.     DT   Mesquite
Philip Kamanda  Sr.    DT   Horn
Tristan Layson    Jr.     DE   North Mesquite
Kendrick Oliver   Sr.    DE   Mesquite
Ryan Tatum        Sr.    DE   Rockwall-Heath
Carson Gallagher Sr.    DE   Tyler Legacy
Isaiah Ikihine       Sr.    ILB   North Mesquite
Michael Murphy Jr.     ILB   Mesquite
Tarance Johnson Jr.     ILB   Horn
Luis Alcala Sr.    ILB   Mesquite
A.J. Shipman      Sr.    ILB   Rockwall
Etelridge McKinney      Fr.    ILB   Skyline
Noah Wilson       Jr.     OLB Rockwall-Heath
Casey Edwards   Sr.    OLB North Mesquite
Tyrione McDonald       Sr.    OLB Skyline
D.J. Coleman      So.   OLB Horn
Deyreck Dean      Jr.     OLB Rockwall
Alan Crawford    Jr.     OLB Rockwall-Heath
Lane Horak Jr.     S      Rockwall-Heath
Kade Welcher      Sr.    S      Rockwall
Ashton Williams Jr.     S      North Mesquite
Quentine Moore  Sr.    S      Skyline
Jordan Lester      So.   S      Horn
Cayden Starks     Jr.     S      Tyler Legacy
Aaron Sears        Jr.     S      Tyler Legacy
Trelon Morrison  Sr.    S      Mesquite
Jaylin Broadus    Jr.     S      Mesquite
DeQuez Henderson       Sr.    S      North Mesquite
Jaylon Mosley     Sr.    CB   North Mesquite
Cadien Robinson Jr.     CB   Rockwall
Dariel Brown      Sr.    CB   Rockwall
K.D. James Jr.     CB   Mesquite
John Burris Sr.    CB   Horn
Dalen Hicks         So.   CB   North Mesquite
Greg Sherfield     Sr.    CB   North Mesquite
Grant Watson     Sr.    CB   Rockwall-Heath
Jay Black   Sr.    CB   Rockwall
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