COMPETING WITH THE BEST
Meridian Yellowjackets draw All-District 10-2A, DII honors, Alvizo named to first team on offense & defense; Jones, Pope draw first-team nods
After taking the football program in the right direction and working hard to improve throughout the 2023 Texas high school football regular season, the Meridian Yellowjackets were rewarded for their efforts when All-District 10-2A, Division II selections were announced this week.
Playing in the same district with perennial powerhouse and the 2023 Class 2A, DII state finalist Mart Panthers, the Jackets face some of the best teams in the state in their own district during the regular season. After doing so, senior offensive tackle and inside linebacker Noah Alvizo was selected as a two-way, first-team, all-district player, while junior Matty Jones earned first-team recognition as a punter, and sophomore Garrett Pope as a placekicker.
Meridian all-district second-team selections included senior safety Brayden Wehmeyer, sophomore safety Jesse Scott, senior offensive guard Jesus Martinez, and Pope at inside linebacker.
“I believe that District 10 2A is one of the toughest 2A districts in the state,” Meridian football head coach Jim Kerbow said. “And it is loaded with talent. So we are excited that we had three selected to the first team and four to the second Team. It is just a testament to the effort of our entire team all season.”
Jackets receiving honorable mention awards include senior running back Brayden Wehmeyer, junior quarterback Matthew Jones, junior offensive tackle Bradley Kihnel, junior wide receiver Ian Gomez, sophomore wide receiver Jesse Scott, sophomore center Cohen Lumpkins, sophomore outside linebacker Dustin Padgett, and freshman outside linebacker Josh Nunez.
Wehmeyer led the Jacket offensive attack by rushing for 832 yards and seven touchdowns, while catching 15 passes for 160 yards and two more scores. Jones completed 52 of 96 passes for 745 yards and six touchdowns while rushing for 252 yards and five scores. Scott finished as the top target through the air with 22 receptions for 333 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, Alvizo led Meridian with 81 tackles, followed by Scott with 74 takedowns and an interception, Nunez with 56 tackles and a fumble recovery, Wehmeyer with 51 tackles, three interceptions and a fumble recovery, as well as Pope with 41 takedowns and two fumble recoveries.
“We feel like we have made tremendous progress this past season. We were in several ball games and had some chances, but fell a little short. But the good news is that we have a lot of players coming back next year. We also played a junior varsity schedule, which allowed our younger players an opportunity to hone their skills.”
Jackets making the Academic All-District squad include Noah Alvizo, Ian Gomez, Matthew Jones, Bradley Kihnel, Isaac Lira, Cohen Lumpkins, Jesus Martinez, Josh Nunez, Dustin Padgett, Austin Pogue, Garrett Pope, and Brayden Wehmeyer.
Although Meridian will only be losing four seniors in Noah Alvizo, Austin, Pogue, Brayden Wehmeyer, and John Wyatt, they have been impact players for the Jackets this season and have played significant roles in the growth of Jacket football program the last two years.
“We will be losing four seniors that have made a huge impact on the direction of our football program, and we will miss them,” Kerbow said. “These four guys really bought in to what we are trying to build here and have led by example with their work ethic and dedication to the overall program.
“The football program and entire boys athletic program would not have made the progress it has made without those four young men. Fortunately, we have the majority of our team coming back and we are excited for the success that is in our future.”
Photos by WENDY OROZCO
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