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RAYMONDVILLE BEARKATS
’Kats hoping to build quickly
Last season was a rollercoaster for the Raymondville Bearkats that included no district games, a five-week wait between contests and one barnburner comeback victory in the postseason.
This season, the Bearkats will look a little different with only seven starters returning, but the full schedule will give coach Frank Cantu and his staff the chance to build depth and prepare the team for another year chasing the District 16-4A Division II title.
“We’re really excited. We want to contend for the district title,” Cantu said. “It’s a tough district. (Our non-Valley opponents) didn’t stop playing for the whole year, so we feel they’ll have an advantage. We feel like we’re a little behind the 8-ball, and we’re going to do whatever we can to catch up and compete. We hope to overcome and do really well in district and in the playoffs. We’re just excited to have a full schedule ahead of us.”
Raymondville has three experienced offensive pieces in senior quarterback Jayson Cantu and linemen Nick Gomez and John Rubalcaba.
Nathan Munguia is a versatile running back/receiver/defensive back who missed last season due to injury but is expected to come back in a big way this season.
Because of the limited experience and a smaller roster than usual, Cantu said Raymondville will have several athletes playing on both sides of the ball.
Defensive end Diego Gutierrez, a starter since his freshman year, is expected to be a clutch two-way player for the Bearkats.
“We expect (Munguia) to fill in some of what (graduated star ZaRaiVion Armendarez) was doing, and he’s going to be our go-to back. We have some young sophomores we’ll give the ball to. They’ve been having good workouts, so we’re excited for them,” Cantu said. “Some of our defenders will have to go and play offense. That’s just a new set of things to work out and see how we can get the most out of our guys.”
bEARKATS AT A GlANcE
COACH: Frank Cantu
ASSISTANTS: Not available 2020 RECORD: 3-1, area finalist
RETURNING STARTERS (O/D): 4/4
RETURNING LETTERMEN: 16
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Jayson Cantu, QB, 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, sr.; Nathan Munguia, WR/DB, 5-foot-7, 150 pounds, sr.; Nick Gomez, OL, 6-foot-2, 320 pounds, jr.; Diego Gutierrez, DE/QB, 6-foot-1, 230 pounds, jr.
OTHER DISTRIcT 32-6A TEAM PREVIEW cAPSUlES
DONNA NORTH
COACH: Juan Cuevas, second year 2020 RECORD: 0-6
LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: N/A
RETURNING STARTERS (O/D): 3/4
RETURNING LETTERMEN: 15
KEY PLAYERS: QB Robert Gomez, OL Ricky Martinez, OL Isaiah Loya, WR Deandray Quezada, DB Jose Magdaleno. 2021 OUTLOOK: The Chiefs will be looking to snap the Rio Grande Valley’s longest active losing streak, which sits at 30 games. But the team appears primed to do so under second-year head coach Juan Cuevas. Donna North enters the 2021 campaign with added confidence after its first full offseason with Cuevas’ staff and a 2020 season that featured massive strides offensively. Senior quarterback Robert Gomez is back behind center after a sensational start to his junior season was cut short by a season-ending injury in the team’s third game. Nonetheless, Gomez nearly topped the 1,000-yard mark through the air and should soar past that this season with the help of versatile playmaker Deandray Quezada and returning starters Isaiah Loya and Ricky Martinez on the offensive line. The biggest question mark for the Chiefs this year will be upfront defensively, while defensive back Jose Magdaleno will provide some experience in Donna North’s pass defense. WESLACO HIGH
COACH: Roy Stroman, third year 2020 RECORD: 3-2; 6A Division II bi-district finalist
LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2020
RETURNING STARTERS (O/D): 1/2
RETURNING LETTERMEN: 11
KEY PLAYERS: WR/DB Elian Rodriguez, DB Evan Zamora, QB Justin Rodriguez, DB Cesar Gomez, DL Alex Medrano, RB Marcus Saenz. 2021 OUTLOOK: The Panthers are coming off another trip to the postseason, but bring back one of the youngest teams throughout the RGV in 2021. Weslaco High will feature only three returning starters this season led by two-way star Elian Rodriguez, who should play a big role in the team’s pass attack offensively as well as its pass defense. Defensive backs Evan Zamora and Cesar Gomez should give Weslaco one of the Valley’s most well-rounded secondaries, however the team will have several big shoes to fill in the front seven after graduating three starting linebackers and both starting defensive ends from last year’s squad. Quarterback Justin Rodriguez and running back Marcus Saenz proved their ready to step into starting roles after a promising summer of 7-on-7 play, but the Panthers’ will have to rely on a new batch of starters across the entirety of their offensive line.
