Nine Oilers named to All-District first-team

The Pearland Oilers finished the 2007 football campaign as the District 24-5A champions with a perfect 6-0 mark while advancing to the post-season for the eighth straight year. The Oilers beat Fort Bend Kempner 28-0 in the bi-district round of the playoffs before dropping a hard-fought 24-20 heartbreaker to North Shore to finish with an outstanding 10-2 overall record.

The 24-5A coaches gathered to select the All-District 24-5A teams and it came as no surprise that Pearland head coach Tony Heath was selected as "Coach of the Year" after guiding his chargers to another successful season.

Heath is the winningest coach in Pearland history with a 97-34 record. It should be noted that the Oilers are one of the top three winningest 5A teams in the Houston area since 1999 as Heath has seen his teams post a sparkling 90-20 mark during the nine-year span.

When the Oilers beat Deer Park 35-14 in 2000 in the Astrodome, it marked the first playoff win for the Oilers in 50 years. The only playoff win for Pearland prior to 2000 came when the Oilers were competing in Class B and won a game in the post-season when the 1950 squad finished with a perfect 10-0 regular season record. The Oilers closed out that season at 11-1 which was the winningest team in Pearland history before the 2001 Oilers finished with a 13-1 mark losing only in the 5A Division I state semifinals.

While the loss to North Shore was disappointing to end the 2007 football campaign, Pearland fans, especially those who haven't been around over the past 11 years, need to remember where this football program was prior to 1997. High school sportswriters across the state look at Pearland as one of, if not, the greatest turnarounds in Texas football history. And that is covering a lot of great teams over many decades of competition.

As a reminder, prior to Heath and Co. arriving in Pearland, the Oilers were 6-63-1 from 1990-1996 and were the perennial homecoming opponent. Pearland began 11-man football in 1949 and they never had a winning decade until 2000-2007 which guarantees Pearland their first winning decade in school history with 82 wins and counting.

The Oilers moved into The Rig in 2001 and have a seven-year record of 33-3. Two of the losses were to North Shore, once during the regular season and once in a playoff game at The Rig. The other loss was in 2006 against Clear Lake.

To put it in an even greater perspective, there are only two 5A schools who have a better winning record at home since 2001 and that is Katy and North Shore.

Pearland has advanced to the 5A Division I state semifinals two of the past seven years.

Heath has been selected District 24-5A "Coach of the Year" three times (2001, 2005, 2007) and has been named "Coach of the Year" finalist by the Touchdown Club of Houston six times (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006). He was named "Coach of the Year" by the Houston Chronicle in 2001.
Despite all the honors that Heath has received, he still remains one of the most humble coaches that anyone has ever known. Those who know him best testify that he is quick to give all credit to his coaching staff and players and he honestly avoids any personal accolades aimed in his direction.

Offensively, the Oilers had several players receive All-District honors.

Junior running back Kasey Carrier had to fill some big shoes with All-State running back Fozzy Whittaker setting new PHS rushing marks last year on his way to the University of Texas.

However, Carrier set his own standard with 1,707 yards rushing while scoring 19 TDs to finish as one of the top running backs in the Houston area. The 24-5A coaches unanimously named Carrier with the "Offensive MVP" award.

Junior wide receiver Kevin Miller was named to the All-District first-team after finishing second in the league with 45 catches for 604 yards and five TDs. Miller was a first-team pick last season as a sophomore.

Texas A&M pledge senior Brian Thomas (6-4, 270) became a two-time All-District first-team performer. Thomas was named to the first-team last year at tackle, but switched his senior year to center where he became the anchor of the offensive line in protecting the quarterback and opening up huge holes for the running game.

Pearland had six players named to the All-District 24-5A second-team unit.
Junior running back Josh Gonzales had an outstanding season with 75 carries for 458 yards and two TDs.

Senior wide receiver Munda Olford made some clutch catches during the year to finish with 13 catches for 175 yards and one score.

Senior tight end Kevin Davis, who was a first-team pick last season, battled through a knee injury in mid-season to return late to help the Oilers win the league crown. Davis had five grabs for 39 yards and one score while playing a huge roll blocking in the trenches.

Senior Ian Musselwhite and senior Gabe Briones were also honored for their outstanding work in the offensive trenches as second-team picks.

Senior kicker Robbie Hersh was named to the second-team after kicking 29 extra points and hitting five field goals to total 44 points.

Defensively, the Oilers had one of the best defensive units in the history of the school. Pearland allowed only 91 (9.1 per game) total points during the regular season while the offense posted 248 points (24.8 per game).

The Oilers rolled up 3,332 (333.2 per game) total yards while the Pearland defense allowed only 1,912 yards (191.2 per game).

Senior linebacker Gary Robertson had a phenomenal season and was rewarded by the district coaches by being named as the District 24-5A "Defensive MVP" after posting 48 solo tackles, 31 assisted stops, one pass break-up, two caused fumbles, five tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and two quarterback hurries. He also blocked an incredible five extra points with three being returned for two-points. This includes three consecutive blocks in a single game against Brazoswood.

Joining Robertson on the All-District first-team included senior defensive end Bruce Honore who had 22 solo tackles, 18 assisted stops, four pass disruptions, five QB hurries, two pass break-ups, one caused fumble, three sacks, and eight tackles for loss.

UTEP pledge Bernard Obi was named to the first-team with 15 pass disruptions, nine QB hurries, one assisted sack, 32.5 assisted tackles, 20 solo stops, one pass break-up, one caused fumble, four sacks, four tackles for loss, one fumble recovery.

Junior linebacker Jourdan Brogdon was named to the elite first-team after recording 32 solo tackles, 24 assisted stops, seven QB hurries, two caused fumbles, one sack, and two tackles for loss.

Junior outside linebacker Dennis Walls, Jr. came on strong during the season to be honored on the first-team with 15 solo stops, 13 assisted tackles, one pass break-up, one sack, two tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, and one interception.

UH pledge senior defensive back Nick Saenz closed out his illustrious career on the first-team defensive unit with 16 solo tackles, nine assists, six pass break-ups, four interceptions with one returned for a touchdown. Saenz finished with the PHS interceptions record for a single season (8), and for a career (12). Saenz also returned two Robertson blocked extra points for two-point scores against Brazoswood and Clear Brook.

Senior Patric Paul was named to the second-team defensive line with nine pass disruptions, two QB hurries, 13 assisted tackles, four solo stops, and two tackles for loss.

Junior free safety Jarrod Stewart was a second-team pick while finishing as the leading tackler for the Oilers with one pass disruption, 43 solo tackles, 33 assisted stops, two caused fumbles, one tackle for loss, two pass interceptions with one returned for a touchdown.

Sophomore Alex Freas, senior Carlos Lebron-Thachar, and junior Sam Allen were named as All-District offensive honorable mention while senior Matt Sanders, junior Mario Turner, and senior Kris Fields were All-District defensive honorable mention.