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See the Matadors' defensive end in action.
It's the heart of the football season in Texas with the first round of playoffs in the books. Here are the defensive leaders to this point in the year.
TOTAL TACKLESAnthony Hines III, Sr., Plano East (Plano) 245The middle linebacker was a beast this year with 138 solo tackles and 38 for loss. His team fell in the playoffs 40-35 to Hebron on Nov. 11, but Hines had 25 tackles in the season-ending loss. In the final three games of his career, Hines had 83 combined tackles.
Anthony Hines III is leading the state of Texas in tackles.
Photo by Robbie Rakestraw
Kershaw had just 12 tackles in a 42-23 playoff win over St. Thomas Catholic on Nov. 12. The middle linebacker has been solid all season with 15 tackles for loss and five sacks.
Isaias Gonzalez, Sr., Banquete 202Gonzalez has 128 solo tackles this year and amassed 20 or more tackles in a game six times. He's tied for second in the state with 26 tackles for loss.
Sloan Rodberg, Sr., Wills Point 195Rodberg is coming off a season-high 29 tackles in a 20-13 win over Bonham in the playoffs on Nov. 12. He hasn't just stopped opponents running the ball, but he's credited with causing eight fumbles.
Nick Enriquez, Jr., Vela (Edinburg) 180Enriquez has been busy at free safety this season. He has 126 solo tackles and has racked up 30 tackles twice in games.
SACKSJoshua Wells, Sr., Parkland (El Paso) 24Wells has recorded two or more sacks in seven games this season, including a five-sack performance early on. The outside linebacker's 24 sacks have tallied 193 yards in losses.
Cody Roscoe, Sr., Houston Heights (Houston) 22Roscoe has 33 career sacks with two-thirds of those coming this season. He has had multiple sack games eight times and 24 tackles for loss on the year.
Mike Munoz, Sr., Americas (El Paso) 21Munoz has been a force on the interior line this year and tallied three or more sacks four times in a game. He also has one five-sack outing.
Roger Adame III, Jr., Mercedes 19Adame has put up eye-popping numbers in his junior year. He had a 6 ½-sack game in a 28-14 victory over Veterans Memorial on Sept. 29. He's been shut out on sacks three times this season, but still has 19 overall to go along with 122 tackles.
Miguel Garcia, Jr., Coronado (Lubbock) 18The defensive end has three or more sacks four times and has been disruptive in the backfield all season.
INTERCEPTIONSPoppie Balfour, Sr., Wharton 10Balfour has double-digit picks in just six games. The cornerback/free safety hauled in four interceptions in a 40-0 win over Sinton on Oct. 14.
Christian Waller, Jr., Clear Springs (League City) 10He has interceptions in seven games this season and two on three occasions. Waller is also deadly after a pick, racking up 188 return yards.
Christian Hayes, Sr., Coronado (Lubbock) 9Hayes had his best game of the season with three interceptions in a 49-14 victory over Monterey on Oct. 14.
Joseph Cruz, Sr., Bruni 9Cruz had back-to-back games early in the season with three interceptions apiece. He's also an offensive weapon with 1,762 all-purpose yards.
Jamyus Jones, Jr., Sabine Pass 8Christian Hodshire, Jr., Rio Vista 8Abel Casas, Jr., San Diego 8Colby Buckhanan, Sr., Northland Christian (Houston) 8Jamichael Williams, Sr., New Waverly 8Brian Williams, So., Bishop Dunne (Dallas) 8
