Photo by Victor Tapia
Farmer senior quarterback-defensive back
Austin Brooks was tabbed as the District
13-3A Most Valuable Player in a unanimous
selection by the coaches. He was the second
Farmer to win the award in 13-3A and the
previous was Chase Wiggins in 2008.

Farmers lead way in selection of district awards

By David Jenkins
Staff Writer

It was a banner year for the Farmers’ football team in 2009.

They captured their fourth consecutive district championship, and second in 13-3A in as many seasons.

“It was good to carry on that tradition,” head coach Ross Dodson said. “We set that as one of goals before the start of the season, and we accomplished it. Not many teams can win district and go undefeated.”

The previous two  titles came in 2006 and 2007 when the Farmers were a member of 13-2A.

During the Class 3A Div. II Region II playoffs, Farmersville captured the bi-district title (17-14 over 14-3A’s Eustace) and were an area finalist (lost 30-24 to 16-3A’s Texarkana Pleasant Grove).

The Farmers became the first team in school history to advance past the opening round of the 3A playoffs.

“It was great to have that happen,” Dodson said. “They definitely left a mark on this program that will never be forgotten. Overall in the 30 years that I’ve been a head coach this is one of the most enjoyable groups I’ve coached. They gave great effort and made me proud to be their coach.”

The previous three teams that played in the first round were in 1993 (Lost 42-7 to 10-3A’s Commerce), 1996 (lost 55-19 to 9-3A’s Frisco) and 2008 (lost 24-21 to 14-3A’s Kemp in Div. II). 

Along with its on-field success, Farmersville also enjoyed it off the field, specifically with 20 selections to All-District team, the most for any team in 13-3A. 

Rounding out the list were Lovejoy (17), Community (15), Quinlan Ford (14), cross-lake rival Princeton (10) and Emory Rains (five).

“We felt like we could have had a few more kids receive awards,” Dodson said. “However, we are very pleased with the awards we did receive. I think all-in-all we were well represented, and we’re happy about that.”

Farmers topping the list in superlatives were Most Valuable Player Austin Brooks (unanimous), Defensive MVP Daniel Wise (unanimous), co-Special Teams MVP Chase Wiggins (along with Lovejoy’s Eddie Puskarich) and the Coaching Staff of the Year.

The remaining superlative went to Community’s Collin Strahan, who was named the Offensive MVP.

Selected to the first team on defense were Michael Thompson (defensive tackle), Payton Adams (defensive end), Steven Duncan (defensive end), Morgan Harbison (inside/outside linebacker) and  Wiggins (safety). 

First-team offensive honors went to Wiggins (running back), Thompson (center), Adams (tackle) and Marcos Delafuente (kicker).

Named to the second team on the defensive side were Harbison (running back) and Sean Day (tight end).

Tabbed for the first-team defense were Daniel Rodriguez (defensive tackle), Tyler Ravsten (inside/outside linebacker), Dalton Wood (inside linebacker), Curtis Stanley (cornerback) and Richard Gill (safety).

Players selected honorable mention by the Farmer coaching staff were Danny Honey (offensive tackle), Dalton Wood (tight end), Byron Brooks (wide receiver), Wes Dillon (free safety), Justin Perez (offensive guard), Rodriguez (offensive guard) and Stanley (wide receiver).

Receiving academic All-District honors were Brent Hamilton, Zac Sydney, Adams, (Austin) Brooks, Day, Dillon, Harbison, Rodriguez, Ravsten, Thompson, Wise and Wood.

The Farmers will feature a new look on both sides of the ball next season as they graduate 20 players off of this year’s squad.

“We’re going to miss those kids a lot,” Dodson said. “It was a very enjoyable season, from a stand point of the kids wanting to be here and wanting to do right.”

They return 14 and will get added help from the subvarsity, the incoming freshman class and any new students to the district.

“There is a lot of work to be done, but I’m looking forward to it,” Dodson said. “We graduated quite a few seniors form a small (Class) 3A school. Our work is cut out for us. However, this is a good football town. The tradition is big, and the kids like football.” 

The UIL will announce realignment Feb. 1 for 2010-’10 and 2011-’12 school years. 

That could possibly lead to the Farmers dropping down one classification (2A), with a new district and opponents.