Kanipes, Ukwuachu headline All-District 22-5A teams

December 15, 2009

PEARLAND — At 5-8, 160 -- and that is stretching it -- Pearland's Myles Kanipes is not an intimidating-looking force in school clothes. In fact - he might be asked for identification to even get into the stadium for the football game, much less be recognized as the 2009 "Player of the Year" for District 22-5A.

But something happens when the "Pearland Dynamo" gets into a football uniform. He plays bigger than his size. He runs faster than expected. He hits harder than imagined. He catches the ball like no other.

Kanipes is the heart of the Pearland Oilers. He plays with heart. He hates to lose worse than anyone on the planet. He is a competitor, a warrior, a young man-on-a-mission.

That's what every district coach saw this past season when Kanipes took the gridiron and he was a factor in every contest in some way which is why they voted him "Player of the Year."

He made it his business to put his nose on both sides of the ball and somehow make an impact that helped determine the outcome of several games -- especially the games against Fort Bend Kempner and Spring Branch Memorial.

In those two games alone - Kanipes willed the Oilers to win and both times, Kanipes helped the Oilers pull out miraculous wins in the final seconds.

If each Pearland player would take the field in 2010 with the heart and drive that Kanipes exhibits -- there is no limit to what the Oilers could accomplish.

Mark Kanipes has that burning zeal and fire in his belly as very few players who have ever donned on a Pearland jersey. It is going to be fun to watch him next season as a senior.

On offense - Kanipes had 29 carries for 143 yards and two touchdowns. He hit 9-of-19 passing for 136 yards and one TD - the game winner against Kempner with 41.3 seconds left in the game for a 22-21 win. He led the team in receiving with 34 catches for 538 yards and seven TDs.

On defense - Kanipes had 38 unassisted tackles, 25 assisted stops, three pass break ups, one caused fumble, two tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, three pass interceptions, one fumble recovery for a touchdown, and a punt return for another score.

Also gaining MVP honors was defensive end Sam Ukwuachu. The 6-4, 210 junior is another with a lot of heart and grit that was influencial on both sides of the ball.

Ukwuachu was named the "Co-Defensive MVP" by the district coaches after his overall performance on defense -- though he was also an impact player on offense too.

The lanky, quick Ukwuachu had one pass disruption, seven QB hurries, eight assisted tackles, 24 unassisted stops, four pass break ups, four sacks, two tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, and one interception.

Kanipes and Ukwuachu are complete physcial opposites -- but they both play with the same intense fire and drive in their guts. And both will be back to lead the Oilers in 2010.

Junior running back Dustin Garrison also came of age as the season progressed for the Oilers. Garrison was a unanimous All-District first-team pick after continuing the tradition of the Pearland running backs.

Ever since 1999 - Pearland has had a running back gain at least 1,000 yards on the season. Garrison has displayed some of the great moves and runs as previous Oiler greats which include Anthony Evans, Jeremy Brown, Brandon Roberson, Fozzy Whittaker, and Kasey Carrier.

Garrison had 201 carries for 1,334 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also had nine catches for 140 yards and one score. Garrison also was 1-of-1 passing for a touchdown covering 33 yards - with Kanipes on the receiving end.

Senior offensive tackle Ian Gray (6-8, 330) was a unanimous choice for All-District first-team after anchoring the offensive line that saw the Oilers' offense rack up 4,269 total yards. Pearland was second in rushing yardage and first in passing yards among the District 22-5A foes.

Gray has made a verbal commitment to continue his education and playing career for the Rice Owls, but he is also keeping his options open before national signing day in February.

Second-team All-District picks on offense included: Junior QB Trey Anderson, senior running back Desmond King, senior wide receiver T.J. Strayhorn, junior center Derek Hoffpauir, senior tight end Charles Plaster, and senior offensive lineman Alex Freas.

Anderson led the league in passing hitting 127-of-244 for 1,755 yards and 14 TD with six INTS. The junior signal-caller set a new PHS single-game passing record with 311 yards against Sam Rayburn.

The Oilers also had three players on the first-team defense which included Ukwuachu, Kanipes, and senior outside linebacker Josh Harrision.

Harrison had one pass disruption, 17 unassisted tackles, 13 assisted stops, one pass break up, one caused fumble, and one sack.

The second-team All-District team included: senior Trevor Sealy, senior defensive lineman Bradley Drenon, sophomore inside linebacker Kendall Ehrlich, senior defensive back Claudius Smithers, and senior punt returner Charles Ortiz.

Honorable mention All-District on offense included: senior running back Alex Deason, senior wide receiver Matt Rhodes, junior WR Sam Ukwuachu, junior offensive linemen Kyle Mulligan and Nikolis Bryant.

Honorable mention All-District on defense included: senior defensive lineman Thomas Beltran, sophomore defensive lineman Chris Alexander, senior inside linebackers Stephen Nava and Alex Deason, senior outside linebackers Erik Dixon and Jacob LaFortune, and senior defensive backs Jeff Phillips and Travis Cook.

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