MCHS football players chosen All-Conference

MCHS football players chosen
All-Conference

Dec. 9, 2000

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

Tabbed All-Conference

THIS TOUGH-LOOKING CREW from Montezuma-Cortez High School was recently honored by the football coaches of the Class 3A Western Slope League. Seniors Josh Lee (left) and Dan O’Neal (right) were chosen First Team All-Conference and junior Derique Duran was honored as Honorable Mention.

Three Montezuma-Cortez High School football players have been chosen Class 3A Western Slope All-Conference, announced recently by the league’s coaches.

Chosen First Team were senior runningback/defensive back Josh Lee and senior runningback/linebacker Dan O’Neal. Named to the Honorable Mention list was junior offensive lineman Derique Duran.

Lee led the Panthers in all-purpose yards with 1,500. He carried the ball 100 times for 550 yards (5.5 average) and scored two touchdowns. Lee grabbed seven catches coming out of the backfield for 220 yards and two TDs. He also ran back 660 yards and scored three touchdowns on kickoff returns. Lee also ran punts back for 410 (25-yard average) and scored twice. Lee was chosen as the Panthers’ Most Inspirational Player.

"Lee was an integral part of our offense," MCHS first-year head coach Karl McGee said. "He was an excellent receiver and a threat on special teams as well. Josh was a good pass blocker. He came back from being knocked out at the Glenwood Springs game and played very, very hard. Against Battle Mountain, he was throwing up all morning and then came back that afternoon to have one of his best games of his career. He is just an outstanding athlete and a good kid all the way around."

O’Neal, despite playing most of the year with a dislocated shoulder, made 69 solo tackles and assisted on 50 others. He made two sacks and intercepted two passes. O’Neal was chosen as the Panthers’ Most Valuable Player.

"He really epitomizes what an MVP is all about. He was a leader on the field as well as off the field. He was a force on defense. He was a great blocking fullback on offense. He was a devastating force on special teams. He will definitely be missed once he graduates. Dan was one of the leading vote getters on the league coaches’ ballots," McGee said.

Duran, who transfered to Montezuma-Cortez High School from Texas his freshman year, made an immediate impact on the program. Duran played mostly on the offensive line but during the last game of the season he played some at fullback and carried the ball.

"Derique is a great kid and he was a great addition to our team. He will play on the offensive line next year, but he will also be a fullback. He really was a dominating lineman and he has the potential to become a major college prospect if he continues to build up his muscle mass. It was a senior dominated offensive line but Derique received notice from the league’s coaches. I look for him to be a leading candidate for Lineman of the Year for the Western Slope League," McGee remarked.

Rifle led the list with six players named First Team. They included senior Justin Brun, senior Jef Harper, senior Lehry Davis, senior Doug Geck, junior Ryan Whittington, and sophomore Anthony Alfiri. Palisade had several First Team members including senior Dan Miller, senior Mark Blanchard, junior Chad Kelly, junior Josh Roseberry, senior Donnie Gates, and junior Dan Lewis.

Steamboat Springs had several including senior Derek Harverly, senior Stewart Beall, senior Blake Julian, senior Joseph Bucci, and senior Tristan Cavillo. Chosen First Team from Moffat County were senior Kevin Voorhees, senior Jeff Gaylord, and junior Chris Field. Delta had one named in junior Ramon Jackson. Battle Mountain had two in senior Jon Hite, and senior Kyle Ferguson.

Several were honored as Honorable Mention including seniors Rob Cable, Mark Schenk, and Chase Bowlby from Glenwood Springs; senior Rusty Lovato from Battle Mountain; juniors Ted McCollum and John Courts from Moffat County; seniors Chris Lang and Brandon Henderson Gross and junior Ryan Enright from Rifle; juniors J. Hartley, Jesse Compose, and Dillan Caster, and senior T. Miller from Palisade; seniors Eck, and .McKelvie from Steamboat; and Delta seniors Dave Hires and Tyson Esquibel and junior Jake Schmalz.

Todd Casebier of Palisade was named Coach of the Year. Steamboat’s Haverly was named Outstanding Back. Rifle’s Brun was named Outstanding Lineman; and Jackson of Delta was chosen Outstanding Special Teams Player.