High School Sports Magazine-December 2008 Issue by David Amador

Special State Football Playoff Issue

> It’s All About Passion P.4 > RGV Football Playoff Action P.8 > Coach of the Year P.22

Volume 4 Issue No. 8

Patrick Granchelli McAllen Memorial H.S.

Ruben Sauceda PSJA H.S.

What a

Mike Moroles Sharyland H.S.

Season!

Angel Marroquin PSJA H.S.

RGV Football Teams Successful in Playoffs. HSSM

TOP 10

1. HARLINGEN 2. LOS FRESNOS 3. SHARYLAND 4. MCALLEN MEMORIAL 5. PSJA 6. PSJA NORTH 7. WESLACO 8. RIO HONDO 9. LA FERIA 10. MERCEDES

2008 RGV H.S. FOOTBALL PROSPECTS at www.hssmscout.com

www.texashighschoolsportsmagazine.com

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

It’s all about passion

....................................................

o family dehis ability as a football serves to lose a player. He had the poloved one. Our tential to become somechildren are our one special. His dreams most prized poswere cut short when he sessions and as their caretakmade the wrong deciers, we watch over them with sion. And it came with cautioned and sometimes, sacrifice too. Now, this fear. As a parent, I watched young teen sits in a many families come together wheel chair, while his during sports like football. 15-year old friend and BY It’s a family. It does not matDAVID dreamer lies deep within ter whether you know these hearts. During the AMADOR our players personally, but you PSJA-PSJA North football HSSM PUBLISHER do know these players by game, head coach Bruce their numbers that they wear on game Bush dedicated LeeRoy’s jersey to his day. I can clearly remember when I family as they wept on the field after used to play football at Progreso. I the game. “He was part of our team. had lots of dreams to become the best He was a Raider,” said Bush. even though I was the smallest. My I never had the chance to meet Leecoached nicked named me “mullet” Roy but I will always remember this and my number was 21. child as a player, son, and everyone’s Last year, a talented young running friend. His number will always be back appeared on our October 2007 remembered by those who loved him cover edition. I was impressed with on game day.

Publisher & CEO David A. Amador Alec D. Amador HSSM Photographers Daniel Silva HSSM Webmaster Jason O. Martinez B.B.A., C.P.T. David R. Smith HSSM Columnists Emails hssmonline@yahoo.com Web www.highschoolsportsmagazine.net Buy Sports Photos www.hssmphotos.com

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Contents

November 22, 2008

www.texashighschoolsportsmagazine.com

Tough Coach! McAllen Memorial Mustang head coach Bill Littleton.

VOLUME 4

ISSUE NO.8

(HSSM IMages)

INSIDE RGV SPORTS

What a Season

By David A. Amador

Heros Rose and Fell. Records were Rewritten.

16 The Huskies

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln ends its season with three wins. Coach Garcia pleased.

18 Playoff Upsets

Weslaco ends season with Harlingen defeat. Villarreal says next year will be better.

22 HSSM Fans

Vote for Coach of the Year...

Fans vote at www.hssmonline.net for the All-South Texas Coach of the Year.

24 The Final

Standings

Teams end season with playoff hopes. See district final standings. Member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

November 2008

Sharyland vs SA Clark-Defensive players Aaron Alaniz and Bobby Moran stop Cougar RB Ryan Jones. The SA Clark Cougars won 49-21 in the Class 5A Division I Regional finals. (HSSM IMages)

HEROES ROSE AND FELL. RECORDS WERE REWRITTEN. AND FANS WITNESSED FEATS THEY’D NEVER SEEN BEFORE. HSSM TAKES A LOOK BACK AND REFLECTS ON THE YEAR THAT WAS RGV FOOTBALL IN 2008. BY DAVID A. AMADOR HSSM SPORTS DIRECTOR

WHAT A

30-5A District Champions-McAllen Memorial celebrated its second district title with a 7-0 record. Joel Chavarin and Adolfo Garza (HSSM IMages)

SEASON

WHAT A SEASON

BY DAVID A. AMADOR

HAT A DIFFERENCE a year makes. Back in August, everyone was talking about the Edcouch-Elsa Yellowjackets as the team to beat in South Texas. They had the talent and coaching. They had the senior squad. Now we’ve seen the results. The Yellowjackets went perfect for eleven games in 2008 and then they had to petition the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Executive Committee in early November just to stay in the playoffs. A grievance was filed by the Mercedes ISD School District regarding

Ed-Elsa QB ERIK NINO-earned MVP honors as High School Sports Magazine’s Player of the Year. (HSSM IMages)

the use of an ineligible player created all the distractions a team would need right before the playoffs. Instead, the UIL granted the Yellowjackets their wishes and were allowed to play in the State 4A playoffs. The Yellowjackets lasted only two rounds, losing to Port Lavaca-Calhoun 28-48 in the area playoffs. Season over. The Yellowjackets won six district titles. 10

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

November 2008

Undefeated Season Ends-Port Lavaca-Calhoun ended the Yellowjackets perfect season at 11-1 in the Class 4A Division II Area playoffs. (HSSM IMages)

Mercedes RB-Ismael Vela led the Tigers to the Class 4A Division I playoffs against Calallen. (HSSM IMages)

GREAT YEAR ALMOST (Mercedes)-Head coach Gilbert Leal had high hopes for his Mercedes Tigers in 2008. They opened their season at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas against 6th ranked Port Lavaca-Calhoun. This would be the game this Queen City had waited for since 2007.“Every restaurant talked about this game in town,” said Leal. But the Tigers would lose 54-26. This is when their troubles begun. Players were tested for illegal substances and were disciplined by the Mercedes ISD school. One player left the team to seek rehab, while the others were relieved of their playing duties. In the end, this left only one player to carry the hopes of the Tigers in the State 4A playoffs against Corpus Christi Calallen. RB Ismael Vela led the Tigers in the State 4A Division I Bi-District Championships by putting Leal’s team ahead 14-0 early in the first quarter with touchdown runs of 13 yards and 15 yards. But, then the Calallen Wildcats responded with two scores of their own to tie the game with an 89-yard kickoff return by Bryden McClure and then QB Dustin Vaughan found WR Adam Hoelscher open from 18-yards out. “It’s been a tough year of the unexpected,” said Leal as he held back his emotions after the loss. Vela scored the Tiger’s last touchdown of the season on a 90-yard run late in the third quarter. The Tigers ended its season with a 7-4 record and second place finish in 32-4A. In the Tigers last two district wins against Valley View and LJ Juarez-Lincoln, they outscored their opponents 114-40. “This was an interesting year,” added Leal. > If you have a comment for David A. Amador, send it to hssmonline@yahoo.com

THE SETBACKS Mercedes QBAlbert Chavez entered drug rehab midway through the season ending his career with theTigers. (HSSM IMages)

(Weslaco)-Head coach Armando Cuellar wanted to coach his son in high school and he kept his dream alive as he experienced two playoff runs with his son, John. Together, they made history at Weslaco East High School by making the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, including this year. The Wildcats met up with Flour Bluff again in the Class 4A Bi-District championships at Bobby Lackey Stadium. The Wildcats trailed

NEW RIVALS HUSKIES VS LOBOSHigh School Sports Magazine witnessed the firstever played game with new La Joya Schools, Palmview and Juarez-Lincoln. The first marquee matchup win went to head coach Aaron Garcia and his Huskies.

Weslaco East-earned its second straight playoff appearance in school history against CC Flour Bluff. (HSSM IMages)

(HSSM IMages)

WINNING TRADITIONS STRONG SIDE

> CLICK

IN THE GARAGE debuts with Touchdown Dave

WWW.HSSM.TV 12

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

21-14 at the half but turned it up a notch in the third period. Senior running back Andrew Alvarado had surpassed 2,000 yards rushing for the season and already, he had scored two touchdowns in the first half but with 1:16 left in the third, Alvarado would score his third touchdown on a 21yard run to make it 26-28. The Wildcats had a chance to score late in the fourth where they faced a 4th and one at mid-field with less than three minutes to play. The Wildcats were stopped by Flour Bluff to end the game. The Wildcats started the season with three straight wins against Hidalgo, La FeNovember 2008

ria, and Lopez. ond half to win 42-23. The In probably one of the Wildcats won their final two biggest games in Cuellar’s games to finish third in the career, he welcomed the 32-4A. 32-4A five-time district After the game, Cuellar told champions Edcouch-Elsa his players, “I’m real proud at Lackey Stadium on a Sat- of you guys. In my book, you urday afternoon to play for guys are true champions.” a possible district title in its district opener. “We’ll www.hssmpolls.com see who the winner will be after the clock expires,” Cuellar told HSSM. 32-4A Weslaco East Wildcats The Wildcats went wild Team Score W/L 21-16 W in the first half behind Hidalgo 21-13 W Feria the superb running of La 47-31 W Brownsville Lopez Alvarado who score 3- Edcouch-Elsa 23-42 L 28-21 W TDs in the first half to Roma 41-26 W LJ Juarez-Lincoln put the Wildcats trailing Valley View 49-13 W 24-27 L 23-28. The Yellowjackets Mercedes 42-23 W Mission regrouped and allowed 24-17 W Mission Veterans Alvarado only 80-yards Flour Bluff 26-28 L total rushing in the sec-

> 2008 Season

RISE TO GLORY Bears started it’s season with three straight losses to playoff teams Los Fresnos (6-23), McAllen (13-31), and McAllen Memorial (15-17). “We played without Angel Marroquin and Gilbert Espino. Both running backs were hampered by injuries throughout the season,” said Rios. Once both players were in the line-up, the Bears racked up the points with three consecutive wins over PSJA Memorial, Economedes, and North to make the playoffs. In the Class 5A Division I Bi-District game, Marroquin rushed 19 times for 146 yards and Espino added another 64 yards to win the ti-

tle against Brownsville Pace 24-7. Against the Sharyland Rattlers, the Bears again, unleashed their potent running game with Marroquin rushingfor 183 yards and two touchdowns. He would give the Bears an early 70 lead with 8:15 left in the first quarter. Marroquin would add another late score but the Rattlers had already built a 21-13 lead in the third quarter. The Bears ended their year with a 6-6 overall record and 5-2 district finish. “These Bears never gave up,” said Rios. “We play tougher schedules to prepare for bigger challenges.”

(Pharr)-Winning the city championship in 2008 had to have been PSJA head coach Mel Rios’ greatest moment. His players hoisted him high above their shoulders after defeating the 31-5A co-champions PSJA North Raiders in their season finale 25-15 to finish fourth in 31-5A and clinching the final spot for a playoff bid.“It’s that Bear mystic that we have here at PSJA,” Rios told HSSM after the game. Rios has built a strong tradition at PSJA and with only one player back on defense, Rios knew that this season would prove to be challenging. And that it was. The PSJA Bear Mystic-head coach Mel Rios led his Bears to the Class 5A Division I Area Championships in back-to-back seasons. (Right photo) RBs Angel Marroquinn and Gilbert Espino led team. (HSSM IMages) > If you have a comment for David A. Amador, send it to hssmonline@yahoo.com

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

THE PERFECT SEASON

30-5A District Champs-RB Gabe Phillips led the McAllen Memorial Mustangs in their win over Laredo Alexander in the Class 5A Division II Bi-District playoffs 53-28. (HSSM IMages) 14

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

November 2008

(McAllen)-The polls picked the McAllen Memorial Mustangs to finish no higher than fourth place in 30-5A but head coach Bill Littleton knew that his team would surprise many teams in 2008. “We had the team to win games this season,” said Littleton. But for the Mustangs, they had to wait two games early on to prove that they were for real. The Mustangs opened their quest with losses to Edinburg Economedes and Brownsville Pace. After ending the 2007 campaign with only one win, Littleton started to hear the heat from Mustang fans. “I stand by every decision I make and people did not like the fact I was starting a freshmen quarterback,” added Littleton. If anyone understands talent and sees opportunity, Littleton is the coach that has this vision. After all, he was the coach who gave freshmen running back Bradley Stephens his first start. Now, it would be Matthew Kaufmann’s time to shine. The freshmen quarterback gave Memorial its first win of the season, a close one too, over PSJA 17-15 in non-district action. Straight district wins over La Joya, Rio Grande City, and La Joya Palmview put the Mustangs at 3-0 and fans started to talk about its match up with cross-town rival, McAllen. Still, they needed to beat Nikki Rowe before thinking about a match up with the Bulldogs. The Mustangs would win 2914 to set up the showdown at McAllen Memorial Veterans Stadium on October 24th. Senior running back Patrick Granchelli led his Stangs past the Bulldogs 49-45 by rushing for 169 yards and scored two touchdowns. Kaufmann was even more impressive by passing for 209 yards and three scores. Overall, the Mustangs rushed for 490 yards against the Bulldogs to set its sights on winning the outright 30-5A title. Littleton praised his coaching staff all year long and was proud to say that “this was a special team and they played together.” The Mustangs clinched their final district win to stay perfect at 7-0 with a win over last year’s district champion, Donna 27-17. The game was highlighted on Foxsports DQ Big Game of the Week in Texas. “It was a good year and I’m proud,” said Littleton. In the state playoffs, Memorial traveled www.hssmpolls.com to Laredo to take on Alexander in the Class 30-5A McAllen Memorial 5A Division II Bi-DisScore W/L trict title game. The Team Economedes 22-25 L Mustangs totally domi- Brownsville Pace 19-33 L nated the game behind PSJA 17-15 W 35-28 W the running of Gabe La Joya Rio Grande City 52-41 W Phillips and Granchelli. LJ Palmview W 49-7 29-14 W Freshmen quarterback McAllen Rowe 49-45 W Kaufmann also contrib- McAllen Sharyland 34-31 W uted with two runs for Donna 27-17 W 2pt conversions to claim Laredo Alexander (Bi-District) 53-28 W Los Fresnos (Area) 15-59 L the 53-28 win.

2008 Season

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Go Huskie Juarez-Lincoln

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

November 2008

es!

Head Coach: Aaron Garcia 2008 Record: 3-7, 2-5 District: 32-4A First Season

(La Joya)-The La Joya Juarez-Lincoln Huskies sported the look of the Ohio State uniforms and if anyone would have told head coach Aaron Garcia that he would not win a game in 2008 he would have walked away and smiled. “We can win some games this year. Just because we are a new school does not matter. I have coached these players since they were in junior high,” added Garcia. The Huskies opened their season with Hidalgo and barely loss 43-47. Then came it’s matchup against newest 5A high school from La Joya, the Palmview Lobos. Garcia watched his Huskies win its school’s first game in history, 42-20 in non-district action on September 12th. The Huskies then opened their District 32-4A season with another win, this time against Roma 35-30. They would not record another district win until they would travel to Valley View High School where they would record another victory and its first shutout, a 480 victory. In its final game against Mercedes, junior RB Jose Bocanegra had 167 yards receiving and three scores in the first quarter as his team held on to a 28-21 lead. The final score: Mercedes 63 Juarez-Lincoln 34. “We had a great year and our team played hard. I am proud of these guys and now we can look forward to playing in 2009 with more pride and higher goals,” added Garcia. > If you have a comment for David A. Amador, send it to hssmonline@yahoo.com

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

Playoff

Upsets!

Teams like Weslaco made the state football playoffs with high expectations only to watch their hopes fade awa

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

November 2008

ay.

For more sports go to www.hssmonline.net

(Weslaco)-All season long, head coach Tony Villarreal played with players that he knew were inexperienced and underclassmen. At one point throughout the Weslaco Panthers season, he even had only one starter on defense leading his troops. But Villarreal found ways to make things exciting. “We made lots of adjustments and our players just came through at the right times,” said Villarreal. The Weslaco Panthers finished tied for second place in 32-5A with a record of 7-3 for the year, and most importantly, another playoff spot in Class 5A. With Villarreal at Weslaco, the Panthers have built a four-year tradition of making the playoffs and now the expectations of winning are exceedingly high. The fanfare of commercials exploding on the Daktronics Scoreboard, the addition of a multi-million dollar weightroom complex, and now the expansion of the Bobby Lackey Football Stadium this summer, Villarreal says that football has become an epedimic around this community. “They (fans) love winning and they love their Weslaco Panthers. I’m glad to just be part of this enviroment. It’s exciting,” added Villarreal. Last season, the Panthers advanced to the Class 5A Regional finals and hosted its playoff game at Bobby Lackey Stadium in Weslaco against the San Antonio Madison Mavericks before 12,000 fans. This year, fans expected the same. “We were a different team this year because we were playing lots of sophomores and juniors,” added Villarreal. In turn, the Panthers watched early on that winning would not come easy. The Panthers started the season with two straight wins over Harlingen South and Rio Grande City and then the three-game slide hit bottom. Losses to Edinburg, Los Fresnos, and Pace had many Panther fans wondering what could happen next. Villarreal managed to get his Panthers back on www.hssmpolls.com track after starting the 32-5A season 32-5A Weslaco Panthers at 0-2 to finish with Score W/L five straight wins. Team W 32-0 Harlingen South The Panthers fin- Rio Grande City 48-21 W ished the year with @ Edinburg 20-24 L 28-35 L Los Fresnos a loss to Harlingen 20-21 L @ Pace in the Class 5A Di- Brownsville Hanna 40-20 W 49-21 W vision I Bi-District @ Porter 42-24 W San Benito playoffs but Villar- Brownsville Rivera 54-20 W real remained opti- Brownsville Lopez 57-28 W mistic saying that @ Harlingen (playoffs) 14-63 L “next year will be different.”

> 2008 Season

By Touchdown Dave HSSM Sports Director

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

NO CELEBRATION

(McAllen)-High School Sports Magazine picked the McAllen Bulldogs to win the outright District 30-5A title in 2008. After all, they were the team to beat. The Bulldogs had the mammoth linemen, experienced quarterback, talented receivers, and probably one of the best defenses in South Texas. Even 11th-year head coach, Tony Harris told the media that “this is probably one of the best teams McHi has had yet.” In the past three seasons, the McHi Bulldogs have posted 9-3, 8-4, and now another 8-3 season. The Bulldogs football season ended quickly with a Class 5A Division II Bi-District loss to 29-5A champ, San Antonio Southwest in overtime, 35-28. It would be then, that Harris would come out and tell reporters that “you guys have the polls and ranked us high.” McAllen High School celebrated its 100th year this season with three losses to Harlingen (17-24), McAllen Memorial (45-49), and Southwest (28-35), along with a second place finish in 30-5A. What’s worst, no district title in 2008. For the past three seasons, Harris has spent his time looking for other coaching positions throughout the state. Top Bulldog players were LB Sam Magnum, WR Nick Garza, WR Aaron Correa, and OL Tino Hong. Overrated-McAllen HighSchool head football coach Tony Harris watched his Bulldogs finish second in 30-5A. (HSSM IMages)

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

November 2008

GREAT FINISH

Rio Grande City Rattlers-The Rattlers ended their 2008 season with a win over La Joya 29-23 and finished third in total offense with 403.0 yards per game and running back Justin Ortega rushing for 1,293 yards and 18 touchdowns. (HSSM IMages)

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

30-5A District Champs-Head coach Bill Littleton led his McAllen Memorial team to the title. (HSSM IMages)

High School Sports Magazine’s 2008

Coaches o

(McAllen)-The fans have voted and High School Sports Magazine’s All-South Texas Coach of the Year award goes to McAllen Memorial head football coach Bill Littleton. “This is quite an honor. The fans have spoken. This is a tribute to our players and coaches. I give praise to all of them,” says Littleton. This year HSSM decided to let the fans vote for the HSSM All South Texas Coach and Littleton received more than 51.33% of the votes online at www.highschoolsportsmagazine.net. “Our HSSM fans wanted to get involve. Maybe the BCS needs to let fans vote this way too,” says HSSM publisher David A. Amador. Littleton grew up in a small town located somewhere on Hwy 90 between El Paso and San Antonio called Sanderson. This is where he would get his first coaching job in 1976 as a junior high coach. “This town sits in the middle of nowhere,” adds Littleton. 22

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

November 2008

> CAREER

2008 All-South Texas Coach of the Year

Bill Littleton 6th Season McAllen Memorial Overall record: 31-34 2008 Record 9-3 30-5A District Champs Class 5A Bi-District Class 5A Area Finals

32-4A District ChampsHead coach Joe Solis led the Edcouch-Elsa Yellowjackets to their 6th consecutive district title. (HSSM IMages)

presented by Dairy Queen

of the Year His journey in coaching led Littleton to Cuero High School where he became the defensive coordinator. In 11 seasons at Cuero, the Gobblers made it to the State 3A finals twice, only to lose to Southlake Carroll in 1993 and Aledo in 1998. Littleton had the opportunity to become the head coach for the Gobblers for four years leading them to the state playoffs three times before coming to McAllen Memorial in 2003. “We cannot be satsified with our playoff runs. We have to aim higher. This is what I tell our coaches and players every year,” said Littleton. Last year was a distasterous season for the Mustangs as they went 1-9 but the Mustang coach knew that his team was on the verge of making a playoff run in 2008. “ I really believed that we had a playoff team in 2007 but injuries set us back. This year fans started to second guess our program again but I stood firm with my decisions I made early on,” he added.

> Send us your weekly player nominations to hssmonline@yahoo.com

> THE VOTE

2008 All-South Texas Coach of the Year

How the Fans Voted

Bill Littleton 51.33% Scott Ford 20.0% Bruce Bush 11.33% Joe Solis 9.33% Robert Valdez 8.0% www.hssmonline.net

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

> Standings

www.hssmpolls.com 30-5A Overall Team

McAllen Memorial McAllen Sharyland Donna McAllen Rowe La Joya Rio Grande City LJ Palmview

Season District

9-3 8-3 10-3 6-4 5-5 3-7 3-7 0-10

7-0 6-1 5-2 4-3 2-5 2-5 2-5 0-7

31-5A Overall Team

Harlingen PSJA North Edinburg North PSJA Edinburg PSJA Memorial Economedes Harlingen South

Season District

10-3 8-3 7-4 6-6 4-6 4-6 2-8 2-8

6-1* 6-1* 5-2 5-2 3-4 1-6 1-6 1-6

32-5A Overall Team

Los Fresnos Weslaco Brownsville Pace Brownsville Porter San Benito Brownsville Hanna Brownsville Rivera Brownsville Lopez *Co-Champs

Season District

12-1 7-4 6-5 6-5 6-4 2-8 1-9 1-9

7-0 5-2 5-2 4-3 4-3 2-5 1-6 0-7

30-5A Top Coach-Head coach Fred Sanchez led his Sharyland Rattlers to the third round of the State 5A Division I playoffs. (HSSM IMages)

148 North Sam Houston Blvd San Benito, Texas 78586 956-399-1353 24

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

November 2008

Firm it stood as he started a freshmen quarterback named Matthew Kaufmann. The Mustangs drew critisim from fans but Littleton knew that opening losses to Edinburg Economedes (2225) and Brownsville Pace

> Standings

www.hssmpolls.com 32-4A Overall Team

Edcouch-Elsa Mercedes Weslaco East Mission Mission Veterans LJ Juarez-Lincoln Roma Valley View

Season District

11-1 7-4 8-3 4-7 4-6 3-8 1-9 0-10

7-0 6-1 5-2 4-3 3-4 2-5 1-6 0-7

32-3A Overall Team

Rio Hondo Lyford Hidalgo La Feria Raymondville Port Isabel Zapata Progreso

Season District

10-3 7-4 6-4 7-6 5-5 4-6 5-5 4-6

6-1 5-2 4-3 4-3 3-4 3-4 2-5 1-6

32-2A Overall Team

Season District

8-2 7-4 5-6 6-3 3-5 2-6

Hebbronville San Diego Santa Rosa Bishop Riveria-Kaufer Premont

5-0 3-2 3-2 3-2 1-4 0-5

32-1A Overall Team

La Villa Bruni Santa Maria Ben Bolt Benavides Agua Dulce Kinsgville Academy

Season District

7-4 9-2 3-4 4-5 3-6 1-7 0-9

6-0 5-1 3-3 3-3 3-3 1-5 0-6

> If you have a comment for David A. Amador, send it to hssmonline@yahoo.com

31-5A Top Coach-Head coach Bruce Bush won a 315A Co-Championship in his first season at PSJA North. (HSSM IMages)

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

(19-33) would change. “We made some adjustments and it paid off for the remainder of the year,” said Littleton. The Mustangs came on strongf winning the next eight games in a row to clinch the 30-5A outright title, along with a Class 5A Division II Bi-District championship. The Mustangs also drew state-wide recongintion from Fox Sports Southwest’s Big DQ Game of the Week in Texas. They ended their district run with a perfect 7-0 record, including a 27-17 win over Donna. Other coaches awarded by HSSM as the District Coaches of the Year presented by Dairy Queen are Los Fresnos’s Scott Ford of 32-5A; Fred Sanchez of Sharyland 30-5A; Bruce Bush of PSJA North 31-5A; Joe Solis from Edcouch-Elsa in 324A; Elifonso Esquivel from 32-3A La Feria; Josh Gonzalez of Santa Rosa in 32-2A; and Raul Villarreal from Santa Maria in 32-1A. While most coaches do not think too much of this tiny town listed somewhere on Military Hwy, just a few miles from the border of Nuevo Progreso, Villarreal came in and believed that this Cougar team could make the playoffs. He led the Cougars to the State 1A playoffs 32-5A District Champs-Head coach Scott Ford led his Los Fresnos Falcons to the title with a perfect 10-0 season. (HSSM IMages)

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

November 2008

for the first time in school history. The Cougars bid for a state title was cut short as they lost to Falls City 40-12 in the bi-district round. The La Feria Lions advanced to the State 3A Division I Quarterfinals for the first time in twenty years after finishing tied for third in 32-3A with a win over Hidalgo 49-21. The Lions opened their playoff run with wins over Robstown (3-0) and then traveled to the Alamodome in San Antonio to upset Bandera 31-14. The Cuero Gobblers ended their season with a 55-13 defeat in the quarterfinals.

> The UIL State Playoffs

www.hssmpolls.com Class 5A Division I Bi-District Laredo United 46 Donna 7 PSJA 24 Pace 7 Harlingen 63 Weslaco 14 Sharyland 35 Del Rio 18 Area Harlingen 35 Laredo United 7 Sharyland 28 PSJA 13 Regionals Harlingen 23 Austin Westlake 49 Sharyland 21 SA Clark 49 Division 5A Division II Bi-District SA Southwest 35 McHi 28 OT Los Fresnos 70 Ed North 21 McA Mem 53 Laredo Alexander 28 PSJA North 27 Porter 15 Area PSJA North 21 SA Southwest 41 Los Fresnos 59 Memorial 15 Regionals SA Reagan 28 Los Fresnos 11 Class 4A Division I Bi-District Alice 56 Mission 20 Flour Bluff 28 Weslaco East 26 Class 4A Division II Bi-District Ed-Elsa 59 Tulso-Midway 22

Calallen 34 Mercedes 21 Area Ed-Elsa 28 Port Lacava-Calhoun 48 Class 3A Division I Bi-District La Feria 3 Robstown 0 Regional La Feria 31 Bandera 14 Quarterfinals La Feria 13 Cuero 55 Class 3A Division II Bi-District Rio Hondo 35 Ingleside 14 Sinton 48 Lyford 14 Area Rio Hondo 48 Devine 43 Regionals Rio Hondo 28 Giddings 28 Class 2A Division I Bi-District Three Rivers 35 Santa Rosa 0 Class 1A Division I Bi-District La Villa 43 Yorktown 42 Regionals La Villa 12 Junction 51 Class 1A Division II Bi-District Falls City 40 Santa Maria 12

Class 3A Division I Quarterfinalist-Head coach Elifonso Esquivel of La Feria High School led his Lions to the state quarterfinals against Cuero in 2008. (HSSM IMages)

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

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