20-4A mentors honor Jackets’ boss Celaya
WEST ORANGE — Making the most of an adverse circumstance, Thomas Jefferson assistant head coach Al Celaya was chosen 20-4A coach of the year by the league’s coaches late Wednesday.
Meeting at West Orange-Stark to select their annual coaches all-district football squad, the coaches voted for Celaya to receive the league’s top honor after he guided the Yellow Jackets to their first playoff trip in seven years.
The last-place team in most 20-4A pre-season area predictions, TJ lost its head coach Richard Marler to an Aug. 20 heart attack. Marler lived for three final months in a coma before he died on Nov. 22 at Houston hospital.
Celaya stepped into the role of directing the Jackets to a 4-0 start and completing a 7-3 season.
“It’s been a tremendous ride, something I will never forget all my life,” said the 43-year-old Celaya, who has planned to apply for the TJ head coaching vacancy in January.
Another Yellow Jacket, sophomore tailback James Johnson was chosen newcomer of the year, while Nederland senior Sean Yoder and West Orange-Stark senior Paul Thomas won the offensive and defensive Most Valuable Player selections.
Five other members of the WO-S Chain Gang defense received first-team defensive spots — defensive backs Jermaine Hope, Jeff Thibodeaux and Michael Ledet, linebacker Turquoy Riggs and lineman Delwin Pinkins. Thibodeaux and three other Mustangs earned first-team offensive unit spots — running back Markee Hudson, quarterback Jonathon Feathers and tackle Donald Paul.
Five players were unanimous first-team selections by the league’s coaches — Hope, Thibodeaux, Riggs, Paul, and Nederland’s Jeff Mayhew.
Yoder and Mayhew led the Nederland contingent along with center Coleman McMains and tailback Joe Ramoin on offense, and linebacker Ryan Cobb on defense. All of those NHS honorees are seniors.
TJ’s first-team award winners consisted of five seniors (Kevin Everett, Nick Benton, Brian Morgan, Josh Stephens and Tony Tompkins) and a junior (lineman Kenneth Hunt).
Port Neches-Groves placed five players on the first unit — offensive representatives Joseph Hollis and Joey Price, and defenders Trayce Boudoin, Jeremy Davis and Justin Mercer.
Lincoln’s first-team members were senior receiver Graylon Proctor, senior defensive lineman Israel Joubert and junior defensive back Ricky Wilson.
— TOM HALLIBURTON
COACHES 20-4A ALL-DISTRICT TEAM
Here is the 2000 District 20-4A all-district football squad as selected by the league’s coaches:
SPECIAL AWARDS
Offense MVP: Sean Yoder, Nederland, Sr.
Defense MVP: Paul Thomas, West Orange-Stark, Sr.
Coach of the year: Al Celaya, Thomas Jefferson
Top Newcomer: James Johnson, Thomas Jefferson, Soph.
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Center: Coleman McMains, Nederland, Sr.; Interior Line: Joseph Hollis, PN-G, Sr.; Jeff Mayhew, Nederland, Sr.; Nick Benton, TJ, Sr.; Donald Paul, WO-S, Sr.; Tight ends: Kevin Everett, TJ, Sr.; Wide receivers: Joey Price, PN-G, Sr.; Graylon Proctor, Lincoln, Sr.; Jeff Thibodeaux, WO-S; Quarterback: Jonathon Feathers, WO-S, Sr.; Running backs: Joe Ramoin, Nederland, Sr.; Markee Hudson, WO-S, Sr.; Justin Sibley, LC-M, Jr.; Kicker: Brian Morgan, TJ, Sr.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Ends: Justin Mercer, PN-G, Sr.; Josh Stephens, TJ, Sr.; Line: Delwin Pinkins, WO-S, Sr.; Israel Joubert, Lincoln, Sr.; Jeremy Davis, PN-G, Jr.; Kenneth Hunt, TJ, Jr.; Linebackers: Turquoy Riggs, WO-S, Jr.; Trayce Boudoin, PN-G, Sr.; Ryan Cobb, Nederland, Sr.; Defensive backs: Jermaine Hope, WO-S, Sr.; Jeff Thibodeaux, WO-S, Sr.; Michael Ledet, WO-S, Sr.; Ricky Wilson, Lincoln, Jr.; Tony Tompkins, TJ, Sr.; Punter: Ryan Pickering, LC-M, Jr.
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Center: Jason Platt, WO-S, Sr.; Interior Line: Emmanuel Augustine, Lincoln, Jr.; Adam Murty, Nederland, Sr.; Aaron Bergeron, TJ, Sr.; Jordan May, Nederland, Sr.; Tight ends: Jared Gary, PN-G, Sr.; Wide receivers: Jake Askew, Nederland, Soph.; Daniel Francis, Lincoln, Jr.; Ricky Wilson, Lincoln, Jr.; Quarterback: Kevin Barbay, Nederland, Sr.; Running backs: Jeff Bergeron, PN-G, Sr.; ShanDerrick Charles, Lincoln, Sr.; Marcus Sias, Lincoln, Sr.; Kicker: Joey Price, PN-G, Sr.
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Ends: Matt Sanchez, Nederland, Sr.; Kevin Everett, TJ, Sr.; Line: Tyrone Brown, WO-S, Jr.; Warren Gipson, WO-S, Sr.; Melvin Getwood, Lincoln, Jr.; Jarrod Bijeaux, Nederland, Jr.; Linebackers: Adrian Johnson, TJ, Jr.; Tommy Cook, WO-S, Sr.; Joseph Threats, Lincoln, Jr.; Defensive backs: Keegan Swann, PN-G, Jr.; Cliff Woodson, LC-M, Sr.; Daniel Francis, Lincoln, Jr.; Jeff LeBlanc, PN-G, Sr.; Ben McPherson, Nederland, Jr.; Punter: Ben McPherson, Nederland, Jr.
