The Snyder News All-Decade series

The Snyder News All-Decade series shifts to the defensive side of the ball this week, focusing on the best defensive six-man football players for the Ira Bulldogs and the Hermleigh Cardinals since 2010.
First Team
Jared Cotton
Ira, 2010-13
In his four years as a starter at Ira, Cotton played with both the Morris brothers and was a big part of one of the most dominant eras in Ira football history. While Lance and Logan Morris put up the eye-popping numbers, Cotton quietly put together one of the best four-year careers in Scurry County history.
Cotton made an impression in his first year as a starter, earning all-state Newcomer of the Year as a fullback and cornerback for the Bulldogs. In 2011, he improved to first team all-state honors at cornerback. He was named to the all-region and all-district first team for his play at cornerback as a sophomore.
In 2012, Cotton earned first team all-region honors.
As a senior, Cotton made the switch to safety to fit the Ira defense. He went on to record 75.5 tackles, two interceptions and district defensive MVP honors. He was named an all-region first team safety.
Cotton finished his career with two defensive all-state awards, four all-district awards and four all-region awards.
Logan Morris
Ira, 2011-14
One of the most complete players in Ira football history, Morris got his career off to a fast start, earning the all-state Newcomer of the Year award. As a sophomore in 2012, Morris was the most dominant defensive player in the district, earning district Player of the Year and first team all-region honors at safety.
In 2013, Morris recorded 78 tackles, which led the Bulldogs, 13 tackles for loss and recorded three interceptions, earning him a spot on the all-region first team as a utility player.
In his senior season, Morris recorded over 100 tackles and was named the district’s defensive Player of the Year and the Region II Defensive MVP.
Tanner Schifflett
Ira, 2012-14
Another member of the early-decade Ira teams, Schifflett was one of the better linebackers in the region throughout his three-year career.
Starting his career as a utility player, Schifflett earned first team all-district honors as a sophomore in 2012. As a junior, he made the move to linebacker and alongside Cotton and Morris, made up one of the state’s best six-man defenses in 2013. Schifflett earned all-region and all-district honors in 2013, earning first team all-district honors and second team all-region.
In his senior season, as a linebacker, he finished second in tackles behind Morris and earned first team all-district and all-region honors. His play garnered recognition at the state level, landing him on the all-state second team.
Zach Digby
Hermleigh, 2011-14
Digby remains one of the most electric and versatile athletes to come through the Hermleigh program in the last decade. A member of our all-decade first team offense, Digby excelled anywhere his coaches put him.
As a sophomore in 2012, Digby emerged as a playmaker along the defensive front for the Cardinals, earning first team all-district honors. As a junior he recorded 79 tackles and three fumble recoveries en route to his second straight first team all-district distinction. He and safety D.J. Botts were defensive threats both up front and in the secondary, but when Botts was unavailable in 2014, Digby moved to safety. He led the Cardinals in tackles and earned second team all-region honors his senior season.
Digby finished his career with three defensive all-district awards.
Rowdy Mhoon
Ira, 2012-2014
A model of consistency, Mhoon anchored the trenches offensively and defensively for the Bulldogs.
As a sophomore in 2012, Mhoon earned second team all-district honors at defensive lineman. As a junior, Mhoon earned second team all-region honors with 31 tackles and 13 tackles for loss.
By the time he was a senior, Mhoon was anchoring the Bulldog defense, earning second team all-state honors and helping the Bulldogs to a 12-1 record in 2014. He was a consistent defensive lineman for the Bulldogs for his three-year career.
Anthony Coy
 Ira, 2017-19
The first member of the 2019 class to appear on our list, Coy teamed up with Karson Valentine, Matthew Brazil and Nathan Goodwin to produce one of the most dominant three-year stretches in Ira history.
As a sophomore in 2017, Coy emerged as one of the better players in the region, excelling at safety in his first season as a starter. As a junior, Coy recorded 39 tackles and garnered first team all-region and all-district honors at safety.
In his senior season, Coy and the Bulldogs went 11-1 and Coy was named to the second team all-state as a safety, as well as being named the district Defensive MVP.
Second Team
Karson Valentine
 Ira, 2017-19
The go-to playmaker for the Bulldogs over the past three years, Valentine’s ability to play on the line and fall into the secondary made him a valuable player on the defensive side of the ball.
As a sophomore, Valentine was named the district Newcomer of the Year for his contributions both on offense and defense. As a utility player, Valentine recorded 66.5 tackles and snagged four interceptions.
As a junior, Valentine recorded 56 tackles with two interceptions, earning him first team all-district honors and second team all-region honors, both as a utility player.
In his senior season, he did the majority of his damage on the offensive side of the ball, but earned first team all-district honors as a defensive utility player.
Michael Portillo
Hermleigh, 2011-14
Portillo emerged as a freshman at wide receiver for the Cardinals in 2011, but he was a standout on the defensive line for the Cardinals from 2013 to 2014. In his three years as a starter, Portillo was named the district’s first team nose guard twice and he earned second team all-region honors in both his junior and senior seasons.
Asher Fowlkes
Ira, 2016-19
One of the few members of the 2019 class to start all four years on varsity, Fowlkes emerged as the district’s co-Newcomer of the Year in 2011 after recording 11 tackles on the defensive line. He became a steady force for head coach Toby Goodwin over the next three seasons. Fowlkes was named to the all-district first team twice and was named all-state honorable mention as a senior in 2019.
Honorable Mentions
Anthony Sosa
Ira, 2015-16
D.J. Botts
Hermleigh, 2011-13
Payton Rivera
Hermleigh, 2017-19
Matthew Brazil
Ira, 2017-19
Richard DeLuna
Ira, 2010