By BRIAN ARGABRIGHT
The 830 Times
Thirteen members of the Del Rio Rams varsity football team have earned all-district honors with three being unanimous first team selections.
Senior Alan Dobbins leads the way for the Rams with three recognitions. He was unanimous first team safety, first team special team specialist and second team wide receiver. Dobbins saw triple duty this year as a wide receiver, kick returner and defensive back. A multi-sport athlete who has also earned honors in basketball and track, Dobbins had four interceptions and 65 total tackles in his first year on defense. Dobbins has earned all-district honors each year since his sophomore season.
Junior Zane Hughes was named a unanimous first team selection at running back. While Hughes’ role in the offense was reduced this season, the speedster still scored three times in district play and racked up more than 200 yards of rushing in a win over Laredo LBJ. He was a two-time all-district selection as a sophomore, as a special teams specialist and running back, and was a second-team wide receiver selection as a freshman. Like Dobbins, Hughes is a multi-event regional qualifier in track and field.
The third unanimous first team selection went to senior Manuel Padilla, a defensive lineman. The leader of the defense, Padilla made it his mission to clog up the interior and wreak havoc on whomever had the ball in the opposing team’s backfield. He was a first team all-district selection as a junior.
Two other Rams were named to the all-district first team, one on offense and one on defense.
Sophomore Fermin Rodriguez was selected to the all-district first team as a fullback in his first year on varsity. Rodriguez began the season with the junior varsity but was brought up to the varsity team as injuries to his starters forced head coach Fiacro Ramirez to find new faces to fill those roles. Rodriguez brought a new kind of athletic ability to the fullback position, running hard and spinning out of trouble when needed. He scored his first district touchdown against Laredo United and remained a heavy part of the Rams offense throughout the season.
Senior Ethan Matherne was a first team selection at outside linebacker. Matherne began the season as a fullback but, like Rodriguez saw himself pressed into duty on defense as a linebacker. Matherne made the most of his chance, helping to shore up the Rams defense while still serving as a primary ball carrier at times at fullback.
Second team honors went to offensive lineman Chris Chaney, quarterback Eliseo Ortiz, safety Ethan Vasquez and defensive back Jacob Ortiz. All four were first time honorees. Jacob Ortiz, a sophomore, was the only non-senior of the group.
Chaney spent two years on varsity and helped anchor the offensive line that was tasked with learning a new offensive scheme under Ramirez and new offensive coordinator Martin Sandate. He helped to open holes for Hughes, Matherne and Rodriguez as well as Eliseo Ortiz when the time arose.
Ortiz, a three-year member of the Rams, helped stabilize the quarterback position for the Rams and proved he was a dual threat with his ability to pass for big gains or keep the pile moving with his feet.
Vasquez and Jacob Ortiz helped man a relatively young secondary. Vasquez was the more experienced player, having spent all four years of his high school career on varsity. Ortiz made his varsity debut this year.
Rounding out Del Rio’s list of all-district honorees were honorable mentions Caleb Rodriguez, Richard Camposano, Luke Miner and Moses Fernandez.
Rodriguez, a senior, was a standout lineman for the Rams who spent all four years on varsity. He was also a member of the powerlifting team.
Camposano, a sophomore, was another member of the Rams standout secondary though he can also play linebacker as well.
Miner, a junior, was an all-district selection at defensive line.
Fernandez, a junior, was an all-district selection at linebacker. Both he and Miner made their varsity debuts this season.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
