2021 Hidalgo County Football Preview

2021

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2 • Football Preview 2021

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Football Preview 2021 • 3

4 • Football Preview 2021

Players to watch in 2021 sophomore season as he finished with 1,057 ground yards and 10 touchdowns with a 6.6 average per carry. He’s also displayed the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield with two receiving touchdowns. With Edinburg Vela set to bring in a new starter at quarterback, expect Rivera to return to stand out form for the SaberCats running behind a powerful offensive line.

Ricky Reyna, Mission Veterans

The Patriots’ senior quarterback has upped his number each season. Last The SaberCats’ lead back Rivera year, Reyna let it fly for 1,766 passing returns after playing in just four of yards and 19 touchdowns in six games, Edinburg Vela’s six games last seaexceeding his 2019 total by 668 yards son. While he was limited to 221 and six touchdowns. He will work with a rushing yards and three touchcompletely new receiving corp this year, downs on 48 carries as a junior, however, with his top four receivers all Rivera showed promise during his P.J. Rivera, Edinburg Vela

graduated. The three-year starter still looks primed for another electrifying year, working with wideouts Mackopolo Cavazos and Dylan Velasquez during the offseason to build chemistry, as the Patriots aim to prove 2020 was an anomaly after missing the postseason for the first time in 11 years.

AJ Chapa, La Joya Palmview Chapa emerged as a playmaker for the Lobos as a sophomore, recording 451 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns, earning 2019 District 16-5A DI Newcomer of the Year. As a junior, he elected to sit out amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Chapa is back in the fold for the Lobos this season, teaming up with last year’s starter George Speidon to run Coach Requeñez’s Slot-T offense.

Expect the shifty Chapa to pick up where he left off, spending his time away working on his craft while adding size to his frame.

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Football Preview 2021 • 5

Players to watch in 2021 Michael Cisneros, Mercedes Mercedes’ signal-caller Cisneros is primed for a sensational senior season running the spread offense.

The dual-threat threw for 1,402 yards and 15 touchdowns while running for 514 yards and three scores during his junior campaign.

He’ll have some of the top skill-position players available in running back Miguel Jimenez and wideouts Joseph Rocha and Tyrell Treviño.

A three-year starter, Cisneros has grown into a leader on the field for the Tigers as they chase a district title in 2021.

Isaac Gonzalez, PSJA North Gonzalez, The Monitor’s 2020 All-Area Football Offensive Player of the Year, returns for his senior year

after leading the Rio Grande Valley in rushing (1,266 yards) as a junior despite the Raiders playing just eight games last season. The four-year letterman has run for 3,619 yards and 35 touchdowns, while also racking up 400 receiving yards and three touchdowns during his career. The explosive and shifty runner will once again be relied upon to lead PSJA North’s offense, which returns all 11 starters from a year ago. Gonzalez’s goals include repeating as the RGV’s leading rusher.

Joseph Graham Jr., Sharyland Pioneer

Graham, The Monitor’s 2020 AllArea Newcomer of the Year, blew the top off defenses with his blazing 4.4 speed as a sophomore, hauling in 51 catches for 1,075 yards and 13 touchdowns in nine games. The Dia-

across the field and is poised to lead a strong SaberCats squad in 2021.

Tyrell Treviño, Mercedes Treviño splashed onto the scene last season as a sophomore and immediately became one of the RGV’s top playmakers. Mercedes’ offense schemed ways to get the ball in Treviño’s hands and he rewarded them with 630 all-purpose yards and eight total touchdowns in eight games. Treviño’s speed allows him to take the top off of opposing defenses, while his route running and strong frame often results in winning battles for contested catches. With an expe- expect Garza to build off a promising junior year as the Wildcats’ eye their third straight district title.

mondbacks will look to get the ball into their playmakers hands anyway they can this season, with Graham in a three-way battle for the starting quarterback position. Regardless of where he lines up, expect Graham to serve as the Diamondbacks top offensive threat.

Chase Campbell, Edinburg Vela The SaberCats’ quarterback spent his first three seasons on varsity playing behind former Vela quarterback AJ Sotelo. With Sotelo gone to graduation, it’s Campbell’s turn to run the show. The 6-foot-2-inch gunslinger can make all the throws

carries. With a veteran offensive line,

rienced three-year starter throwing him the ball in Michael Cisneros, Mercedes’ quarterback-wide receiver combination has the potential to be among the best in the Valley this season.

Javi Garza, Weslaco East Garza split time at the quarterback position last year with Avery Bowen.

He will take full control of the Wildcats’ offense this season, with Bowen gone to graduation. While Garza won’t be asked to throw the ball much in Burget’s run-heavy offense, he’s shown he’s capable of airing it out, passing for 182 yards and two touchdowns on 23 attempts last year.

The first-year starter also showed his dual-threat ability, adding 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 30

Hunter Curl, McAllen High Bulldogs’ quarterback Curl enters his third year running head Coach Patrick Shelby’s spread offense. Curl threw for 1,207 passing yards and nine touchdowns, while adding 466 yards and five touchdowns on the ground as a junior, earning him Dave Campbell’s Texas Football District 165A DI Preseason Offensive MVP. He’ll have a new group of receivers at his disposal this year, but Curl’s experience behind center has expectations high at McHi.

6 • Football Preview 2021

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear student-athlete, Welcome back. It’s nice to see you.

You’ve returned to the gridiron after facing a year, a season, and a moment in time unlike any other.

You said “I’m going to play,” last year with more fortitude than you probably ever imagined you would need. COVID-19 interfered with you in many ways, from delays to loved ones becoming sick.

Some died.

Still, you were able to march on. Well, most of you.

Don’t forget those players – your brothers no matter where they go to school – that opted out.

Remember, some entire teams missed out on a season.

I’ve heard those who didn’t play use words like “sad,” “angry” and “depressed.”

When one loves something so much and they lose it, those words oftentimes follow.

Now you’re back. For the sophomores, you may have not played football in a year. For those at the schools that opted out, you surely didn’t.

Last year, every interview had a response that included how lucky everyone was just to be able to play. We heard over and over that tomorrow is never given. Enjoy today.

Because you’re playing this year, right now, don’t forget that. Tomorrow is not a guarantee – it’s a suggestion, a hope that we can be blessed with another day of life and doing the things we love.

Remember, there is a virus lurking, refusing to go away and threatening our very lives. You, studentathlete, adjusted first. You were the guinea pigs to see if it would be all right for the rest of us to come out and play. I believe you are the reason many people were able to move forward. I thank you.

We’ll adjust. We always adjust. Like Weebles, we wobble but don’t fall down. We are resilient and we bounce back. But because we don’t fall down, because we bounce back it’s even more important to not take that for granted.

Be blessed this year in the classroom and on whatever your playing field is. Play hard, study hard and love those around you even harder. Hug someone today. Don’t take anything for granted.

Dear student-athlete. Thank you, and welcome back.

Henry Miller is sports editor for The Monitor and RGVSports.com. You can reach him at hmiller@themonitor.com

Table of contents Players to watch................................... 4 Valley schedule..................................... 9 Games to watch................................. 10 Feature: Entire RGV back in action........ 12 District 31-6A preview......................... 14 District 32-6A preview......................... 23 Coaching changes............................... 24 District 14-5A DI preview..................... 34 Feature: Offensive linemen set tone...... 35 District 16-5A DI preview..................... 36 District 16-5A DII preview.................... 51 Sub 5A preview.................................. 56 Sports Editor Henry Miller

Sports Writers Ivan Palacios Bryan Ramos

Follows us on Twitter @RGVSports

Design Staff Bryan Ramos Eddie Mirza

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Photo Staff Delcia Lopez Joel Martinez

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Football Preview 2021 • 7

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8 • Football Preview 2021

FRIDAY NIGHT TYKES PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Pictured Left to Right: Sr. DE Landan Guzman, Jr. MLB Cody Von Wald, Sr. OLB Jude Jaime, Jr. MLB Luis De Hoyos, Sr. OT Angel Bustos, Sr. DE Adrian Garcia, Sr. MLB Luis Balderas, Sr. WR Marckopolo Cavazos, Sr. Center Jayden Morales, Sr. OG Rico Rodriguez, Sr. QB Ricky Reyna, Jr. WR Josiah Guzman, Sr. SS Luis Briseno, Sr. OLB Justin Munoz, Jr. MLB Sebastian Balderas, Sr. RB Damian Cortez, Not Pictured: Sr. OG Ray Castillo, Jr. DT Ashton Guzman

What ever happened to that Friday Night Tykes team from Mission TEXAS, that shocked the youth football world in 2015, by winning the 11u State Football Championship?

Valley, Corpus Christi, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and the MidlandOdessa area. The fall season comes to an end with a state-wide Playoff system where the last team standing is crowned State Champion. Friday Night Tykes covered the journey of these boys from ages 8 to twelve years old.

“Leave it all on the Field, Gentlemen! No Regrets!” ~ Coach Trujillo

In Memory of Coach

OMAR TRUJILLO In this season’s annual “Battle of Conway,” 18 of the 25 young men on the Mission Mustangs football team, who were featured on the nationally televised show, “Friday Night Tykes”, that gained nationwide popularity from 2013-2016.

Most of these boys grew up playing in this organization from 6 years old through spring football in eighth grade. The highlight of their youth career peaked on the 11u Mustang Juniors team where they became the first team from the Rio Grande Valley to win a Division-1 State Championship in the Texas Youth Football Association (TYFA), The most competitive state-wide league for youth football in Texas. The league features more than 350 youth football teams from around Texas, including the Rio Grande

Now, six-years later, 13 of these young men will be starting their senior seasons, and 5 will be starting their Junior Season, at two different Mission high schools.

They will face off for the final time in their high school football careers when The Mission Eagles play against The Mission Veterans Memorial Patriots in the “Battle of Conway”, taking place in Hidalgo, on Thursday, August 26th at 7pm.

Arranging a photo shoot was easier than

expected – they were eager to see each other and get together again before their final face-off with them all on the same field. Although they don’t all have a ton of contact with each other these days, you could see they all share an unbreakable bond.

Before last season, they lost the man who helped teach football to them, when their former Mustang Coach, Omar Trujillo, passed away from Covid-19 in September 2020. This was the first time they have all been in the same place at the same time (when not in competition with each other) since the 2015 State Championship game.

In talking to the boys, we learned that several of them have never lost contact with each other, and they all had one thing in common to say- None of them want to walk off the field after the “Battle of Conway” without bragging rights for life after this season. Judging by the accolades these athletes have earned, Coach Omar Trujillo would be proud.

Omar Trujillo will have the best seat in

the house from up above watching these boys in their final slug-fest.

If he were here to talk to these boys one last time before this game, he would tell them all how proud he is of each one of them and their accomplishments.

“Leave it all on the Field, Gentlemen!

No Regrets!” These Boys can play!

MISSION VETERANS MEMORIAL PATRIOTS Ricky Reyna - SENIOR Honorable Mention All-District QB (2019) 1st Team All-District QB (2020)

Cody Von Wald - JUNIOR 2nd Team All-District ILB (2020)

Adrian Garcia - SENIOR 2nd Team All-District DT (2020)

Justin Munoz - SENIOR Honorable mention All-District OT (2019) 2nd Team All District OLB (2020)

Luis DeHoyos - JUNIOR

16-5A D-2 Defensive Newcomer of the year (2020) All South Texas 1st team ILB (2020) TSWA Honorable Mention All-State ILB (2020)

MISSION EAGLES Jayden Morales - SENIOR 1st Team All District Center (2020)

Angel Bustos - SENIOR 2nd Team All District OT (2020)

Luis Briseno - SENIOR 2- time all district honorable mention (2019 & 2020)

Luis Balderas - SENIOR

30-6a Defensive Newcomer of the Year (2019) 1st Team All District LB (2020) 2nd Team All Area LB (2020) 2x All State All State Honorable Mention (2019 & 2020)

Damian Cortez - SENIOR 1st Team All District RB (2020)

Jude Jaime - SENIOR All District Honorable Mention LB (2020)

Football Preview 2021 • 9 WEEK 1 Thursday, Aug. 26 Non-district Grulla at Brownsville Porter, 7 pm Rio Hondo at LJ Juarez-Lincoln, 7 pm Mission High at Mission Veterans, 7 pm PSJA Memorial at Edinburg North, 7 pm Ed. Economedes at PSJA Southwest, 7 pm PSJA High at Sharyland Pioneer, 7 pm Friday, Aug. 27 Non-District McAllen Rowe at San Benito, 7 pm Mercedes at Brownsville Hanna, 7 pm Harlingen High at Laredo United South, 7 pm Progreso at La Villa, 7:30 pm Santa Maria at Harlingen Marine Military Academy, 7:30 pm Santa Rosa at Lyford, 7:30 pm Premont at Monte Alto, 7:30 pm Valley View at Hidalgo, 7:30 pm La Feria at Raymondville, 7:30 pm St. Joseph Academy at Port Isabel, 7:30 pm Donna North at Donna High, 7:30 pm La Joya Palmview at La Joya High, 7:30 pm McAllen High at Edinburg High, 7:30 pm Edinburg Vela at McAllen Memorial, 7:30 pm Weslaco High at Weslaco East, 7:30 pm Edcouch-Elsa at Los Fresnos, 7:30 pm Mercedes at Brownsville Hanna, 7:30 pm Mission High at Mission Veterans, 7:30 pm Roma at Rio Grande City, 7:30 pm Brownsville Rivera at PSJA North, 7:30 pm Brownsville Veterans at Harlingen South, 7:30 pm WEEK 2 Thursday, Sep. 2 District 16-5A D1 Brownsville Veterans at Brownsville Porter, 7 pm Non-District Edcouch-Elsa at PSJA North, 7 pm Harlingen High at Edinburg Vela, 7 pm Harlingen High at Edinburg Vela, 7 pm Weslaco High at Mission High, 7 pm Friday, Sep. 3 District 16-5A D1 Donna High at Weslaco East, 7 pm McAllen Rowe at La Joya Palmview, 7 pm McAllen Memorial at McAllen High, 7 pm Non-District Port Isabel at Valley View, 7 pm Mission Veterans at San Benito, 7 pm Edinburg High at Brownsville Rivera, 7 pm Gregory-Portland at Los Fresnos, 7 pm Lyford at La Villa, 7:30 pm Monte Alto at Santa Maria, 7:30 pm Santa Rosa at St. Joseph Academy, 7:30 pm Raymondville at Grulla, 7:30 pm Orange Grove at Hidalgo, 7:30 pm La Joya Palmview at La Feria, 7:30 pm Port Isabel at Valley View, 7:30 pm PSJA Memorial at Rio Hondo, 7:30 pm Edinburg North at Mercedes, 7:30 pm PSJA Southwest at PSJA High, 7:30 pm Roma at Ed. Economedes, 7:30 pm Harlingen South at Sharyland Pioneer, 7:30 pm Edinburg High at Brownsville Rivera, 7:30 pm LJ Juarez-Lincoln at Donna North, 7:30 pm Saturday, Sep. 4 Non-District Sharyland High at Brownsville Hanna, 11 a.m.

Kenedy at Progreso, 2 pm WEEK 3 Thursday, Sep. 9 District 16-5A D1 Brownsville Lopez at McAllen Rowe, 7 pm District 16-5A D2 Valley View at Mission Veterans, 7 pm Roma at PSJA Southwest, 7 pm District 31-6A LJ Juarez-Lincoln at Edinburg High, 7 pm Non-District Monte Alto at Harlingen Marine Military Academy, 7:30 pm Friday, Sep. 10 District 16-5A D1 McAllen High at Donna High, 7 pm La Joya Palmview at McAllen Memorial, 7 pm Weslaco East at Brownsville Veterans, 7 pm District 16-5A D2 Edcouch-Elsa at Sharyland High, 7 pm Non-District

Laredo United at Harlingen High, 7 pm Laredo Nixon at Weslaco High, 7 pm La Villa at Santa Rosa, 7:30 pm Port Isabel at Aransas Pass, 7:30 pm Raymondville at Lyford, 7:30 pm Grulla at Orange Grove, 7:30 pm Hidalgo at Rio Grande City, 7:30 pm Donna North at La Feria, 7:30 pm Brownsville Rivera at Rio Hondo, 7:30 pm District 16-5A D2 Edcouch-Elsa at Sharyland High, 7:30 pm PSJA Memorial at Mercedes, 7:30 pm District 31-6A Ed. Economedes at Edinburg North, 7:30 pm Edinburg Vela at PSJA North, 7:30 pm Mission High at La Joya High, 7:30 pm Non-District Harlingen South at Alice, 7:30 pm Los Fresnos at Calallen, 7:30 pm WEEK 4 Thursday, Sep. 16 District 16-5A D1 McAllen Rowe at Brownsville Pace, 7 pm Donna High at La Joya Palmview, 7 pm District 31-6A La Joya High at Edinburg Vela, 7 pm Non-District Brownsville Hanna at C.C. Miller, 7 pm Friday, Sep. 17 District 16-5A D1 McAllen Memorial at Brownsville Lopez, 7 pm Brownsville Porter at Weslaco East, 7 pm Brownsville Veterans at McAllen High, 7 pm District 16-5A D2 PSJA Southwest at Edcouch-Elsa, 7:30 pm Mercedes at Valley View, 7:30 pm Mission Veterans at Roma, 7:30 pm Sharyland Pioneer at PSJA Memorial, 7:30 pm Non-District Laredo Martin at Grulla, 7:30 pm Monte Alto at La Villa, 7:30 pm Santa Maria at Lyford, 7:30 pm Santa Rosa at Progreso, 7:30 pm Hidalgo at Alice, 7:30 pm CC Tuloso-Midway at La Feria, 7:30 pm District 31-6A Edinburg High at Ed. Economedes, 7:30 pm Edinburg North at Mission High, 7:30 pm PSJA High at LJ Juarez-Lincoln, 7:30 pm WEEK 5 Thursday, Sep. 23 District 16-5A D1 McAllen High at Brownsville Porter, 7 pm District 31-6A Ed. Economedes at PSJA High, 7 pm Mission High at Edinburg High, 7 pm District 32-6A Weslaco High at Donna North, 7 pm Friday, Sep. 24 District 16-5A D1 Brownsville Pace at Weslaco East, 7 pm McAllen Rowe at McAllen Memorial, 7 pm District 16-5A D2 Valley View at Sharyland Pioneer, 7 pm Roma at Mercedes, 7:30 pm Sharyland High at PSJA Southwest, 7:30 pm Edcouch-Elsa at Mission Veterans, 7 pm District 32-6A Brownsville Hanna at Harlingen South, 7 pm Harlingen High at Brownsville Rivera, 7 pm Los Fresnos at San Benito, 7 pm District 16-3A D1 Falfurrias at Lyford, 7:30 pm District 16-3A D2 Odem at Santa Rosa, 7:30 pm Non-District SA Southwest at Rio Grande City, 7 pm La Villa at Kenedy, 7:30 pm Progreso at Santa Maria, 7:30 pm Grulla at CC Tuloso-Midway, 7:30 pm La Feria at Beeville Jones, 7:30 pm Ingleside at Rio Hondo, 7:30 pm District 16-4A D2 Port Isabel at Robstown, 7:30 pm Rockport-Fulton at Raymondville, 7:30 pm District 31-6A Edinburg Vela at Edinburg North, 7:30 pm PSJA North at La Joya High, 7:30 pm District 32-6A Brownsville Hanna at Harlingen South, 7:30 pm

Harlingen High at Brownsville Rivera, 7:30 pm Saturday, Sep. 25 District 16-5A D1 La Joya Palmview at Brownsville Veterans, 7 pm WEEK 6 Thursday, Sep. 30 Non-District Somerset at Hidalgo, 7 pm District 16-5A D2 Sharyland High at Mission Veterans, 7 pm District 31-6A LJ Juarez-Lincoln at Ed. Economedes, 7 pm Friday, Oct. 1 District 32-6A San Benito at Brownsville Hanna, 7 pm Brownsville Rivera at Weslaco High, 7 pm Donna North at Los Fresnos, 7 pm Harlingen South at Harlingen High, 7 pm Non-District SA Soutwest at Santa Maria, 7:30 pm Rio Hondo at CC West Oso, 7:30 pm District 16-3A D1 Lyford at CC London, 7:30 pm Progreso at Falfurrias, 7:30 pm District 16-4A D2 Rio Hondo at CC West Oso, 7:30 pm Raymondville at Port Isabel, 7:30 pm District 16-5A D2 Edcouch-Elsa at Mercedes, 7:30 pm PSJA Memorial at Valley View, 7:30 pm Sharyland Pioneer at Roma, 7:30 pm District 31-6A Edinburg High at Edinburg Vela, 7:30 pm Edinburg North at PSJA North, 7:30 pm PSJA High at Mission High, 7:30 pm District 32-6A Brownsville Rivera at Weslaco High, 7:30 pm Harlingen South at Harlingen High, 7:30 pm WEEK 7 Thursday, Oct. 7 District 16-5A D1 Brownsville Veterans at Brownsville Lopez, 7 pm Brownsville Porter at La Joya Palmview, 7 pm Weslaco East at McAllen High, 7 pm District 16-5A D2 PSJA Southwest at Mission Veterans, 7 pm Roma at PSJA Memorial, 7 pm District 31-6A PSJA North at Edinburg High, 7 pm Friday, Oct. 8 14-5A D1 Rio Grande City at Laredo Cigarroa, 7 pm District 16-5A D1 McAllen Memorial at Brownsville Pace, 7 pm Donna High at McAllen Rowe, 7 pm District 16-5A D2 Sharyland High at Mercedes, 7 pm District 32-6A Brownsville Hanna at Donna North, 7 pm Weslaco High at Harlingen High, 7 pm District 16-2A 2A D1 Premont at La Villa, 7:30 pm District 16-3A D1 CC London at Progreso, 7:30 pm District 16-3A D2 Hebbronville at Monte Alto, 7:30 pm Santa Rosa at Taft, 7:30 pm District 16-4A D1 Hidalgo at Grulla, 7:30 pm La Feria at Zapata, 7:30 pm Port Isabel at Sinton, 7:30 pm District 16-4A D2 Robstown at Raymondville, 7:30 pm Rockport-Fulton at Rio Hondo, 7:30 pm District 16-5A D2 Edcouch-Elsa at Sharyland Pioneer, 7:30 pm Sharyland High at Mercedes, 7:30 pm District 31-6A PSJA North at Edinburg High, 7:30 pm La Joya High at Edinburg North, 7:30 pm Edinburg Vela at PSJA High, 7:30 pm Mission High at LJ Juarez-Lincoln, 7:30 pm District 32-6A Harlingen South at San Benito, 7:30 pm Saturday, Oct. 9 District 32-6A Los Fresnos at Brownsville Rivera, 7 pm WEEK 8

Thursday, Oct. 14 District 16-5A D1 McAllen Rowe at Brownsville Veterans, 7 pm District 16-5A D2 Mercedes at PSJA Southwest, 7 pm Friday, Oct. 15 SA Southside at Rio Grande City, 7 pm District 16-5A D1 Brownsville Pace at McAllen High, 7 pm McAllen Memorial at Donna High, 7 pm District 16-5A D1 La Joya Palmview at Weslaco East, 7 pm District 16-5A D2 Valley View at Roma, 7 pm Sharyland Pioneer at Sharyland High, 7 pm District 32-6A Donna North at Harlingen South, 7 pm Harlingen High at San Benito, 7 pm Weslaco High at Los Fresnos, 7 pm District 16-3A D1 Lyford at San Diego, 7:30 pm Progreso at Santa Gertrudis Academy, 7:30 pm Santa Maria at Premont, 7:30 pm District 16-3A D2 Banquete at Santa Rosa, 7:30 pm Monte Alto at Odem, 7:30 pm District 16-4A D1 Grulla at La Feria, 7:30 pm Kingsville King at Hidalgo, 7:30 pm District 16-4A D2 Rio Hondo at Port Isabel, 7:30 pm Sinton at Raymondville, 7:30 pm District 16-5A D2 PSJA Memorial at Edcouch-Elsa, 7:30 pm Valley View at Roma, 7:30 pm Sharyland Pioneer at Sharyland High, 7:30 pm District 31-6A Ed. Economedes at Mission High, 7:30 pm Edinburg High at La Joya High, 7:30 pm LJ Juarez-Lincoln at Edinburg Vela, 7:30 pm PSJA North at PSJA High, 7:30 pm District 32-6A Donna North at Harlingen South, 7:30 pm Brownsville Rivera at Brownsville Hanna, 7 pm WEEK 9 Thursday, Oct. 21 District 16-5A D1 Weslaco East at Brownsville Lopez, 7 pm Brownsville Veterans at McAllen Memorial, 7 pm District 31-6A Edinburg Vela at Ed. Economedes, 7 pm La Joya High at PSJA High, 7 pm PSJA North at LJ Juarez-Lincoln, 7:30 pm Friday, Oct. 22 District 16-5A D1 Brownsville Porter at McAllen Rowe, 7 pm McAllen High at La Joya Palmview, 7 pm District 16-5A D2 Edcouch-Elsa at Valley View, 7 pm Sharyland High at PSJA Memorial, 7 pm PSJA Southwest at Sharyland Pioneer, 7 District 32-6A Brownsville Hanna at Weslaco High, 7 pm San Benito at Donna North, 7 pm Los Fresnos at Harlingen High, 7 pm District 16-2A D1 La Villa at Santa Maria, 7:30 pm District 16-3A D1 Bishop at Lyford, 7:30 pm San Diego at Progreso, 7:30 pm District 16-3A D2 Santa Rosa at Monte Alto, 7:30 pm District 16-4A D1 Zapata at Grulla, 7:30 pm La Feria at Kingsville King, 7:30 pm Port Isabel at Ingleside, 7:30 pm District 16-4A D2 Raymondville at Rio Hondo, 7:30 pm District 16-5A D2 Edcouch-Elsa at Valley View, 7:30 pm Mission Veterans at Mercedes, 7:30 pm Sharyland High at PSJA Memorial, 7:30 pm PSJA Southwest at Sharyland Pioneer, 7:30 pm District 31-6A Edinburg North at Edinburg High, 7:30 pm PSJA North at LJ Juarez-Lincoln, 7:30 pm District 32-6A Harlingen South at Brownsville Rivera, 7:30 pm

WEEK 10 Thursday, Oct. 28 District 16-5A D1 McAllen Memorial at Brownsville Porter, 7 pm Donna High at Brownsville Veterans, 7 pm Laredo Martin at Rio Grande City, 7 pm District 16-5A D2 Mission Veterans at Sharyland Pioneer, 7 pm District 31-6A PSJA North at Ed. Economedes, 7 pm Mission High at Edinburg Vela, 7 pm Ed. Economedes at PSJA North, 7 pm District 32-6A San Benito at Brownsville Rivera, 7 pm District 16-5A D1 Brownsville Lopez at McAllen High, 7 pm McAllen Rowe at Weslaco East, 7 pm District 16-5A D2 Valley View at Sharyland High, 7 pm District 32-6A Los Fresnos at Brownsville Hanna, 7 pm Harlingen High at Donna North, 7 pm Weslaco High at Harlingen South, 7 pm District 16-3A D1 Progreso at Bishop, 7:30 pm District 16-3A D2 Monte Alto at Taft, 7:30 pm Skidmore-Tynan at Santa Rosa, 7:30 pm District 16-4A D1 Hidalgo at La Feria, 7:30 pm District 16-4A D2 CC West Oso at Port Isabel, 7:30 pm Ingleside at Raymondville, 7:30 pm Rio Hondo at Sinton, 7:30 pm District 16-5A D2 Roma at Edcouch-Elsa, 7:30 pm PSJA Southwest at PSJA Memorial, 7:30 pm District 31-6A PSJA High at Edinburg North, 7:30 pm LJ Juarez-Lincoln at La Joya High, 7:30 pm District 32-6A Weslaco High at Harlingen South, 7:30 pm Saturday, Oct. 30 District 16-5A D1 La Joya Palmview at Brownsville Pace, 7 pm WEEK 11 Thursday, Nov. 4 District 16-5A D1 Weslaco East at McAllen Memorial, 7 pm District 16-5A D2 Mission Veterans at PSJA Memorial, 7 pm Roma at Sharyland High, 7 pm District 31-6A PSJA North at Mission High, 7 pm District 32-6A Donna North at Brownsville Rivera, 7 pm Friday, Nov. 5 District 16-5A D1 Rio Grande City at Eagle Pass Winn, 7 pm District 16-5A D1 Brownsville Pace at Brownsville Veterans, 7 pm McAllen High at McAllen Rowe, 7 pm District 16-5A DI PSJA Southwest at Valley View, 7 pm District 32-6A Brownsville Hanna at Harlingen High, 7 pm Harlingen South at Los Fresnos, 7 pm San Benito at Weslaco High, 7 pm District 16-2A D1 La Villa at Ben Bolt, 7:30 pm District 16-3A D1 Lyford at Progreso, 7:30 pm District 16-4A D1 Grulla at Kingsville King, 7:30 pm Zapata at Hidalgo, 7:30 pm District 16-4A D2 Raymondville at CC West Oso, 7:30 pm District 16-5A D2 Mercedes at Sharyland Pioneer, 7:30 pm PSJA Southwest at Valley View, 7:30 pm District 31-6A La Joya High at Ed. Economedes, 7:30 pm Edinburg High at PSJA High, 7:30 pm Edinburg North at LJ Juarez-Lincoln, 7:30 pm District 32-6A Harlingen South at Los Fresnos, 7:30 pm Saturday, Nov. 6 District 16-5A D1 La Joya Palmview at Brownsville Lopez, 7 pm

10 • Football Preview 2021

Must-see matchups

Mission High vs. Mission Veterans Thursday, Aug. 26, 7 p.m. in Hidalgo The “Battle of Conway” will hit the road this season as Mission High and Mission Veterans will meet at Hidalgo’s Bill Pate Stadium with Tom Landry Stadium undergoing construction. The game will be the first for new Mission High head coach Danny Longoria as he leads his Eagles against Mission Veterans and head coach David Gilpin. The Eagles are riding a three-game winning streak in the crosstown rivalry, but the Patriots plan to get back in the win column against their sister school.

Weslaco High at Weslaco East Friday, Aug. 27, 7:30 p.m.

The “Tinaco Bowl”, the rivalry series between the Weslaco East Wildcats and Weslaco High Panthers, has been played eight times. The record is split right down the middle with each team winning four times. The tie is set to be broken this year as they’ll kick off the regular season with must-watch nondistrict action at Bobby Lackey Stadium. The last meeting between the Panthers and Wildcats was also for the District 31-6A championship, which Weslaco East ended up winning with a 17-14 final score. Bragging rights and a 1-0 start to the season are on the line this time around as the Panthers and Wildcats look to begin the year in the win column.

Mission Veterans Memorial and Mercedes have not shared the gridiron since 2013, both a part of District 32-4A then. Last year, both teams made the move to District 16-5A DII but were prevented from playing due to the UIL’s East-West format. Now, a rivalry is renewed, as the Patriots and the Tigers clash in what could be a pivotal district matchup. The Tigers won a highscoring 36-35 affair during their last meeting, finding the endzone during the final eight seconds to secure the victory. Expect both teams to light up the scoreboard again, each led by veteran signal-callers.

Weslaco East at McAllen Memorial Thursday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m.

Two of the Valley’s top rushing offenses take the field together, as Photos by Delcia Lopez | dlopez@themonitor.com 2020 District 16-5A DI co-champions, Edcouch-Elsa Shawn Alvarado (10) bobbles the hand-off as Mercedes defenders Skyler McAllen Memorial and Weslaco East, Reyes (72) and Jaden Gonzalez (54) zero in on the ball in the first half of a District 16-5A DII square off in their regular season football game at Benny Layton Sr., Memorial Stadium on Friday, Nov. 6,2020 Edcouch-Elsa. finale. Both teams are the epitome of ground-and-pound, each averagThe Yellow Jackets intend to snap Vela and PSJA North are set to lock ing over 300 yards per game on the that streak this year, returning seven ground last year and less than 100 horns in their 31-6A opener. Alstarters from last season. Cisneros though the Raiders and SaberCats yards per game through the air. This and the offense helped carry the Tiare in the same district, last year’s year, new faces will tote the rock for reduced schedule prevented the two gers to a 34-21 victory over Edcoucheach team, with junior Jay Vasquez Elsa during their last meeting. from playing against each other due taking over primary ball carrier duties to the East-West Zone format. The last time they squared off was in 2017 Sharyland Pioneer at Sharyland High for the Wildcats, while junior Max Alaniz-Choy should see an uptick in and ended in a 48-7 win in Vela’s faFriday, Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m. touches. The Wildcats out rushed the vor. Now, the Raiders and SaberCats Sharyland High holds a 4-3 series Mustangs 286-191 during their last will meet once again with the winner advantage over Sharyland Pioneer meeting in 2017, but it was the Mustaking a large step in the direction of in the Snakeskin Classic, the rivalry Harlingen High at Edinburg Vela tangs coming out on top 28-14. the District 31-6A crown. series between the two programs.

Thursday, Sept. 2, 7 p.m.

The Diamondbacks, however, have Two of the Rio Grande Valley’s top McAllen High at McAllen Rowe dominated the series recently, comEdcouch-Elsa at Mercedes programs are set to collide as the Friday, Nov. 5, 7 p.m. ing out on top the past two seasons Friday, Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m.

Edinburg Vela SaberCats take on the Crosstown rivals McAllen High and in convincing fashion, winning by a The 70th edition of the historic Harlingen High Cardinals in a noncombined score of 117-69. The game McAllen Rowe will clash on the gridrivalry between Edcouch-Elsa and district matchup with playoff-like iron for the 30th time, in a game that will feature a pair of new faces, with Mercedes will have intensified feels. The contest features District could have postseason and district Sharyland High’s Craig Krell and ramifications, with the winner set31-6A’s defending champion Satitle implications. The matchup will Sharyland Pioneer’s Eddie Galindo ting themselves up to control their berCats against 32-6A’s defending feature a duel between two of the entering their first season as head destiny in District 16-5A DII. The co-champion Cardinals. Each team top quarterbacks in the district, with coach of their respective programs.

Tigers have dominated the series in brings a stout defense to the table, third-year starter Hunter Curl leadwhich should make for a hard-hitting recent years, winning seven straight, Typically a high scoring affair, the ing the Bulldogs, while senior Mateo Snakeskin Classic could turn into a four quarters between Cameron and giving them a 35-33-1 series advantage. Third-year quarterback Michael defensive duel this season, with both Llanes will be under center for the Hidalgo County’s best Class 6A footteams spearheaded by talent on that Warriors. The Warriors have reeled Cisneros will look to extend that ball programs. off four consecutive victories over side of the ball. streak, with some of the Valley’s top the Bulldogs, taking a 15-14 series skill players at his disposal in runEdinburg Vela at PSJA North advantage following their 38-31 vicning back Miguel Jimenez and wideMission Veterans at Mercedes Friday, Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m. tory last season. outs Joseph Rocha and Tyrell Treviño.

Friday, Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m.

District title hopefuls Edinburg

TX-30189659

Football Preview 2021 • 11

12 • Football Preview 2021

Five RGV teams return to action after year away

BY IVAN PALACIOS STAFF WRITER

T

he 2020 football season presented several challenges for teams across Texas. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Friday night lights looked like a shell of itself, with protocols requiring players to wear masks, while limiting the fans.

Still, most programs took to the gridiron, maneuvering through a unique season and making their way onto the field, even if only for a handful of contests.

For five RGV teams, however, the season never came, its districts electing not to play due to low participation or health and safety concerns.

Valley View wideout Jose Casillas said he remembers the feeling after learning from his coaches during a Google video call that they would not see the field in 2020.

“It was pretty sad when we got the news about not being able to have a season,” he said. “We were itching to play. We wanted to play, hardcore. We just couldn’t because of COVID.” The Progreso Red Ants were dealt the news following a team workout during the summer. The blow was devastating for running back Alex Mascorro, struggling with the decision while others across the Valley hit the field.

“There was a bunch of envy and jealousy,” he said.

“They were doing what we couldn’t do.

“We couldn’t really do anything but watch other people play. All we could do was reminisce on when we were able to play.”

The Tigers and the Red

Joel Martinez | jmartinez@themonitor.com

A photo of Valley View’s Tiger Stadium in Hidalgo. Valley View was one of five programs in the Rio Grande Valley to not field a team during the 2020 season due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Ants were one of five teams welcomed back to the gridiron earlier this month after a one-year hiatus, joined by the La Joya Coyotes, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln Huskies, Progreso Red Ants and Rio Hondo Bobcats.

“I feel a lot better being able to play,” Mascorro said.

“Just being able to be out here with my friends and teammates. We’re just getting back into the rhythm.”

The Monte Alto Blue Devils and Port Isabel Tarpons also made their returns, playing in one game last season before forfeiting the remainder of their contests.

“It feels good to get back into it,” Monte Alto quarterback Noah San Miguel said.

“It hurt last year. A lot of us wanted to play and go out there. We just wanted to go have fun and play football.

We were all missing it. To have one game, it was kind of hard.”

Most players, like Coyotes running back Ivan Garces, were eager to get back in the locker room with their teammates, saying they missed the team camaraderie the most.

For others, like Valley View’s Felipe Zarate, the return of football is about more than the game itself.

“Some of us lost family members because of COVID,” Zarate said. “We just wanted last season to get away from our problems.

Some of us have house problems or family problems. Football just clears our head.”

The return to action won’t be without obstacles, the biggest being a lack of experience, then-Valley View

head coach Elifonso Esquivel said during practice Monday.

Most teams bring back little to no letterman players. The Bobcats will be one of the more experienced teams, returning seven athletes with varsity experience, while the Huskies return zero.

The youth and inexperience of the teams has led to coaches focusing on reacclimating the players to the game, some not having stepped onto a field since junior high.

“The main thing during the whole offseason was just teaching them,” Coyotes head coach Rueben Farias said. “Now that we’re getting an opportunity to play, it’s one day at a time.

Hopefully we get these boys to play at a high level and

make sure they stay safe and healthy.”

“We’re definitely focused on technique,” Progreso head coach Jose Meza said. “We’re teaching the offense, but focusing on proper steps and proper technique, especially when it comes to hitting.”

The learning curve was noticeable during the Tigers’ first scrimmage, said Casillas, one of three returning lettermen for Valley View.

“It’s a lot faster than JV and freshman,” Casillas said. “It’s bigger hits, bigger people and just a lot faster.

There are a lot of new guys.

With the new game speed, they’re having a bit of trouble. But I know we’ll get it for sure.”

Another challenge will be getting players who took a year away back on the Meza said, with participation down across the Valley.

“We bring back nine seniors,” Meza said. “We are a fairly small school, so that’s a good number. But we’re lacking in the freshman and sophomore class. Hopefully, when school starts again, we’ll get some of those players back. I think they’re still kind of weary about everything going on.”

Most teams expect to hit bumps and snags during this season following a oneyear hiatus. Still, players and coaches remain eager to be back doing what they love.

After being hit during the Tigers’ first scrimmage Aug. 13 against Lyford, Valley View safety Cesar De Leon said it finally registered that the wait was over.

“It felt amazing getting hit,” De Leon said. “When you get hit, that’s when you realize you’re back. All I can think of in my head right now is, ‘We’re back.’”

Football Preview 2021 • 13

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14 • Football Preview 2021

District 31-6A preview ANDREW MCCULLOCH STAFF WRITER

Edinburg North Edinburg Economedes Coach: Sean Van De Merghel, 1st year 2020 record: 0-5 Last playoff appearance: 2016 Returning starters (O/D): 7/6 Returning lettermen: 32 Key players: WR JC Balderas, RB Jonathan Rubalcaba, DL Robert Garza, OL Preston Alvarado, OL Saul Garza, DB Javier Medellin.

2021 Outlook: The Jaguars will look to turn things around after a winless season during a shortened 2020 campaign. Economedes, however, appears poised to make massive strides with one of the most veteran-heavy teams throughout 6A in the Rio Grande Valley and first-year head coach Sean Van De Merghel, who coached the Valley’s highest-scoring offense for the past three seasons as the offensive coordinator at Edinburg Vela. The Jags will break in a new starter behind center, but veteran running back Jonathan Rubalcaba and three returning starters along the offensive line should give the group a jumpstart on adjusting to its new offensive playbook. Defensive lineman Robert Garza should bring that same intensity to the trenches defensively while Javier Medellin will lead the team’s secondary.

Joel Martinez | jmartinez@themonitor.com

Edinburg High defensive player Oscar Cruz (31) brings down Edinburg North’s Jean Carlo Reyes (25) as he carries the ball in a District 31-6A game at Richard Flores Stadium on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020, in Edinburg.

ership of first-year head coach and former Bobcat football star Rene Guzman, who spent most of the past two decades as the defensive coordinator and powerlifting coach at Weslaco East. Senior quarterback Roland Abrego showed major strides toward the end of last season under center and should continue to develop as one Edinburg High of the RGV’s most experienced signal callers with a stable of talented wide Coach: Rene Guzman, 1st year receivers. Expect the Bobcats to take 2020 record: 3-2 a big step up defensively with startLast playoff appearance: 2018 ers back in the fold led by linebackers Returning starters (O/D): 5/5 Aven Alonzo and Jonathan Duran, as Returning lettermen: 30 well as defensive back Ben Gonzalez Key players: QB Roland Abrego, in the secondary.

LB Jonathan Duran, DB Ben Gonzalez, LB Aven Alonzo, RB Abraham Gonzalez, WR Dylan Garza 2021 Outlook: The Bobcats came tantalizingly close to clinching a postseason berth during a turbulent 2020 campaign, but look poised to break through into the 6A playoffs this time around. Edinburg High returns one of the most experienced varsity units throughout the Valley under the lead-

Coach: Damian Gonzalez, 4th year 2020 record: 2-5, bi-district qualifier Last playoff appearance: 2020 Returning starters (O/D): 5/5 Returning lettermen: 36 Key players: LB Daniel Rodriguez, QB Evan Medrano, DB Giovanni Gonzalez, DL Trebor Acuna, DL Isaiah Cepeda, RB Jean Carlo Reyes 2021 Outlook: The Cougars will be looking to book their third straight trip to the postseason after advancing to the 7-on-7 state championships this summer. That playoff experience and reps against some of the most talented teams upstate during the summer should help Edinburg North roll into the 2021 season riding a wave of momentum. Five starters return from one of the RGV’s most elite defenses last season anchored by defensive linemen Trebor Acuna and Isaiah Cepeda and run-stopping linebacker Daniel Rodriguez. Running back Jean Carlo Reyes will be a featured piece of the Cougars’ offense again this year after a season as one of the most prolific rushers throughout 31-6A in 2020, while quarterback Evan Medrano showed his ability to make North’s offense multi-dimensional throughout an impressive summer of 7-on-7 play.

Football Preview 2021 • 15

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16 • Football Preview 2021

District 31-6A preview Edinburg Vela

La Joya High

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln

Coach: John Campbell 2020 record: 6-1, area qualifier Last playoff appearance: 2020 Returning starters (O/D): 8/7 Returning lettermen: 43 Key players: RB PJ Rivera, WR Justin Vega, DB Matthew Luna, LB Ryan Rodriguez, DB Joshua Garcia, QB Chase Campbell 2021 Outlook: The SaberCats return a loaded squad looking to defend their District 31-6A championship.

Edinburg Vela brings back 43 varsity lettermen, the most of any team throughout the RGV this season, in addition to 15 starters. Senior quarterback Chase Campbell steps in as the SaberCats starter behind center and is set for a breakout season with a bevy of talented skill position players back in the fold. Vela’s two leading rushers — PJ Rivera and Tad Galvan — are back and so are wide receivers Carlos Tamez, Justin Vega and tight end Jaden Tovar giving one of the Valley’s most explosive offenses plenty of weapons. Defensively, the SaberCats should be equally as dangerous with district defensive newcomer of the year Jake Dufner anchoring a fearsome defensive line with linebacker Ryan Rodriguez and defensive backs Joshua Garcia and Matthew Luna providing plenty of veteran savvy in Vela’s pass defense.

Coach: Reuben Farias, 6th year 2020 record: N/A Last playoff appearance: 2017 Returning starters (O/D): 4/4 Returning lettermen: 15 Key players: DB Sal Carmona, LB Carlos Perez, RB Ivan Garces, OL Juan Limon, LB Jaime Sandoval, QB Tristan Trevino 2021 Outlook: La Joya High has two tall tasks ahead of it this season: replacing former First Team AllState running back Eddie Villarreal and ramping back up after sitting out the 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coyotes will be one of two District 31-6A teams returning to the gridiron this fall, but bring back a surprising number of experienced varsity starters given the circumstances.

Four starters return defensively with an additional four starters back in the fold for La Joya’s flexbone offense. Starting from scratch with summer 7-on-7 play along with dual-threat senior quarterback Tristan Trevino should give the team added offensive versatility, while slotback Ivan Garces returns in the backfield behind one of the Valley’s biggest offensive lines. The key for the Coyotes will rest on defense where defensive back Sal Carmona and the linebacking duo of Carlos Perez and Jaime Sandoval are expected to lead the charge.

Coach: Tommy Garcia, 10th year 2020 record: N/A Last playoff appearance: 2016 Returning starters (O/D): N/A Returning lettermen: N/A Key players: LB Jaime Flores, DL Brandon Mendez, QB Javier Castillo, OL Axel Gonzalez, OL Arian Hernandez, DB Omar Garcia 2021 Outlook: La Joya JuarezLincoln was one of two Class 6A programs throughout Texas and the RGV to sit out the 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which will make the Huskies one of the region’s youngest and most inexperienced teams heading into this season. That might play to Juarez-Lincoln’s advantage early, however, as half of District 316A’s squads have no recent experience playing against them. That should give the Huskies’ spread offense an edge after the team snuck up on a number of playoff contenders in 2019 including Mission High and PSJA North.

Juarez-Lincoln will depend on limited experience in the trenches, particularly along the offensive line, early in the season but the key to the Huskies’ success this year likely rests on how they perform defensively.

Mission High

Coach: Daniel Longoria, 1st year 2020 record: 5-2, area qualifier Last playoff appearance: 2020 Returning starters (O/D): 6/5 Returning lettermen: 34 Key players: DB Luis Briseno, LB Luis Balderas, DL Christian Hernandez, DE Zeke Cuadros, RB Damian Cortez, LB Jude Jaime, QB Kevin Guerra 2021 Outlook: Mission must replace former head coach Koy Detmer, but the Eagles bring back five starters from every level of the Rio Grande Valley’s top defensive unit in 2020. Versatile linebackers Luis Balderas and Jude Jaime will help make Mission High one of the Valley’s elite run stopping units in the Valley, while defensive back Luis Briseno should anchor one of the most elite pass defenses throughout South Texas after tallying an interception in every game last year before suffering a season-ending leg injury. Zeke Cuadros and Christian Hernandez will bolster Mission’s front seven as a pair of athletic pass rushers, and running back Damian Cortez ought to provide balance to the Eagles’ offense in their quest for a district title.

Football Preview 2021 • 17

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18 • Football Preview 2021

District 31-6A preview and bounds during an impressive debut season as a freshman starter.

Expect him to thrive in Year 2 within PSJA High’s pass-happy spread offense after his first full offseason of team activities. Lopez and the Bears’ offense will be boosted by the Valley’s deepest receiving corps led by rangy wideouts Viggo Lopez and Andrew Castillo. Defensive back Nevin Herrera PSJA High PSJA North comes back as the leader of one of Coach: Lupe Rodriguez, 5th year Coach: Marcus Kaufmann, 6th year the Valley’s elite secondaries, while 2020 record: 1-4 2020 record: 5-4, area qualifier linebacker Julius Ramirez will provide Last playoff appearance: 2019 some needed experience in the front Last playoff appearance: 2020 Returning starters (O/D): 4/3 Returning starters (O/D): 11/7 seven. The Bears should be set to Returning lettermen: 25 Returning lettermen: 21 contend for a postseason berth this Key players: QB Jaime Lopez, WR year and should go as far as their ofKey players: RB Isaac Gonzalez, Viggo Lopez, WR Andrew Castillo, DB fensive and defensive lines can carry DB Cookie Ramirez, QB Ale Aparicio, Nevin Herrera, LB Julius Ramirez, RB them with holes to fill on both units. OL Ram Martinez, WR/DE Jack Lugo, Lee Torres DL Daniel Garcia 2020 Outlook: The Bears were 2021 Outlook: The Raiders are one of the Valley’s youngest teams back with a vengeance after being during the 2020 season, which should knocked out of the 6A playoffs due to begin to pay dividends this fall. QuarCOVID-19 contact tracing last postterback Jaime Lopez grew by leaps season. PSJA North returns all 11

offensive starters from one of the Valley’s most overachieving young units last season. Sophomore quarterback Ale Aparicio appears to be one of the Rio Grande Valley’s next bright stars after flashing his ability as a runner and passer in 2020. The only player throughout 31-6A who ran for more yards than Aparicio last fall was his running back, Isaac Gonzalez, who led the RGV in rushing yards last year and will be South Texas’ top power back this season. Defensively, Cookie Ramirez will look to build off an impressive junior season and should emerge as one of the region’s hardest-hitting defensive backs as the leader of North’s vaunted secondary.

Jack Lugo might be the single biggest difference maker throughout 31-6A this fall, providing an elite combination of size, speed and athleticism as a pass rusher on defense and utility player offensively.

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Football Preview 2021 • 21

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22 • Football Preview 2021

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Football Preview 2021 • 23

District 32-6A preview BRYAN RAMOS STAFF WRITER

Brownsville Rivera Brownsville Hanna Coach: Mark Guess, 5th year 2020 record: 4-1, bi-district qualifier Last playoff appearance: 2020 Returning starters (O/D): 7/5 Returning lettermen: 18 Key players: DB Anthony Ambriz; DL Humberto Garcia; LB Ramon Reyes; WR Ethan Peña; TE Gilbert Morales; DE Manrique Cantu 2021 Outlook: Brownsville Hanna won a share of the District 32-6A title after a 3-0 record in league play last season. With 12 returning starters, coach Guess and company have the potential to repeat as district champs.

The Hawks had two all-state honorable mentions a season ago as defensive back Anthony Ambriz and defensive lineman Humberto Garcia will lead the defense. Hanna’s offense will depend on its ground game and running back Kriz Peña to open things up for a new starter at quarterback.

Coach: Alberto Leal, 3rd year 2020 record: 1-3 Last playoff appearance: 2014 Returning starters (O/D): 7/8 Returning lettermen: 25 Key players: DE Arnold Rodarte; QB Ramsey Rocha; DL Damian Rubalcava; RB J.R. Hernandez; DL Juan Cuello; WR Devin Parker 2021 Outlook: It’s been six years since Brownsville Rivera last qualified for the postseason. A loaded group with 15 returning starters hope to change that under thirdyear head coach Alberto Leal. The Raiders defensive line has three experienced players in Arnold Rodarte, Damian Rubalcava and Juan Cuello who will be the anchor of the team.

Ramsey Rocha is in for his second season starting at quarterback, and he’ll look to do damage alongside running back J.R. Hernandez, who had 265 rushing yards and three touchdowns in 2020.

Delcia Lopez | dlopez@themonitor.com

Donna North quarterback Robert Gomez passes the ball during football practice at Donna North High School on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, in Donna.

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 secondyear head coach Juan Cuevas. Donna North enters the 2021 campaign with added confidence after its first full off-

UP-TO-DATE ON THE LATEST HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS NEWS. Donna North

Coach: Juan Cuevas, 2nd 2020 record: 0-6 Last playoff appearance: N/A

24 • Football Preview 2021

RGV

High School Football EDINBURG HIGH:

BROWNSVILLE VETERANS:

New Coach — Rene Guzman (Former Weslaco East DC) Former Coach — JJ Leija (Reassigned/ New Edinburg Vela Assistant)

New Coach — Kelly Lee (Former Eastern New Mexico University HC) Former Coach — David Cantu (New Los Fresnos HC)

EDINBURG ECONOMEDES:

HARLINGEN SOUTH:

New Coach — Sean Van De Merghel (Former Edinburg Vela OC) Former Coach — Gabe Pena (Reassigned/ Retired)

LOS FRESNOS:

New Coach — Israel Gonzalez (Former Lyford HC) Former Coach — Brain Ricci (Reassigned)

LYFORD:

New Coach — Gerry Jauregui (Former Lyford ISD Administrator) Former Coach — Israel Gonzalez (New Harlingen South HC)

New Coach — David Cantu (Former Brownsville Veterans HC) Former Coach — Patrick Brown (Reassigned)

MCALLEN MEMORIAL:

New Coach — Moses Patterson (Former McAllen Memorial DC) Former Coach — Bill Littleton (Retired)

Football Preview 2021 • 25

Coaching Changes MONTE ALTO:

MISSION HIGH:

New Coach — Eugenio Garza Former Coach — Robert Meza (Resigned)

New Coach — Danny Longoria (Former Mission High Special Teams Coordinator) Former Coach — Koy Detmer (Relocated/New Somerset HC)

PSJA MEMORIAL:

New Coach — Will Littleton (Former PSJA North Co-DC) Former Coach — David Brown (Reassigned/New Cy Woods DC)

RIO GRANDE CITY:

SANTA ROSA:

New Coach — Jesus Lozano (Former Rio Grande City HC 2004-08) Former Coach — Leo Mireles (Relocated/New Laredo LBJ HC)

SHARYLAND HIGH:

New Coach — Craig Krell (Former Sharyland High DC) Former Coach — Ron Adame (Promoted to Sharyland ISD AD)

New Coach — Joe Marichalar Former Coach — Hector Ayala (Resigned)

SHARYLAND PIONEER:

New Coach — Eddie Galindo (Former Sharyland Pioneer OC) Former Coach — Tom Lee (Promoted to Sharyland ISD Assistant AD)

26 • Football Preview 2021

District 32-6A preview season 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.

Harlingen High Coach: Manny Gomez, 15th year 2020 record: 6-1, bi-district qualifier Last playoff appearance: 2020 Returning starters (O/D): 5/4 Returning lettermen: 22 Key players: DE Nathan Huerta; RB Izaiah Bell; RB Kian Torres; LB J.C. Moradel; DL Christian Luna; DB Ian Solis; WR Paul Price 2021 Outlook: The defending District 32-6A co-champions will look to protect their title after a dominant 2020 season that ended in a onescore loss against San Antonio Stevens in the area round. Coach Gomez has nine returning starters led by defensive linemen Nathan Huerta, the 32-6A Defensive Player of the Year, and Christian Luna. The offense will look different with no guarantees at quarterback, but the Cardinals will rely on the running of returning backs Izaiah Bell and Kian Torres, who com-

bined for 517 rushing yards a year ago.

Expect Harlingen to be in this year’s district title race once the final weeks of the regular season roll around.

Los Fresnos Coach: David Cantu, 1st year 2020 record: 2-4 Last playoff appearance: 2019 Harlingen South Returning starters (O/D): 3/2 Returning lettermen:16 Coach: Israel Gonzalez, 1st year Key players: RB Chris Resendez, 2020 record: 2-4 OL Bo Alanis, DB Hector Muniz, DE Last playoff appearance: 2019 Greg Jones, QB Adrian Longoria, RB Returning starters (O/D): 8/6 Miles McWhorter Returning lettermen: 16 2021 Outlook: The Falcons Key players: QB Xander Casarez; enter Year 1 under former BrownsOL Caleb Davis; RB Marcos Gonzalez; ville Veterans head coach David LB Levi Ince; DB Devin Montemayor; Cantu, who built a 61-33 record RB/DB Jerimiah Rivera during his nine years leading the 2021 Outlook: After missing Chargers’ football program. The out on the postseason in 2020, Los Fresnos alum hopes to revitalHarlingen South decided to make ize the Falcons and he’ll have five a change at the top with the returning starters to work with. The hire of former Lyford head coach offense will do a 180 as they switch Israel Gonzalez. He coached the from running the flexbone offense Bulldogs to four straight playoff to the spread, which Cantu impleappearances during his tenure and mented successfully at Brownsville hopes to replicate the success Veterans. Although a starting quarat the Class 6A level. The Hawks terback has yet to be chosen with offense made strides during the multiple players competing for the offseason by qualifying for the job, returning running back Miles Texas State 7-on-7 Tournament McWhorter will be a key as he ran in College Station. Quarterback for 464 yards last season.

Xander Casarez will lead the team and has an arsenal of weapons in running backs Marcos Gonzalez, Jeremiah Rivera and Ethan Garza.

The last line of Harlingen South’s defense will be its strongest with Rivera and Montemayor patrolling the secondary.

San Benito

Coach: Dan Gomez, 8th year 2020 record: 7-5, area round qualifier Last playoff appearance: 2019 Returning starters (O/D): 3/8 Returning lettermen: 20 Key players: RB Kyler Castilleja, LB Aaron Reyes, QB Elijah Hernandez, DL Gabriel Sandoval, DB Michael Banda, OL Dominick Sanchez 2021 Outlook: The San Benito Greyhounds have made seven straight playoff appearances, all under coach Dan Gomez, and have the look of a team prepared to extend that streak. Jermaine Corbin will see time on both sides of the ball for the Greyhounds as one of the RGV’s top athletes this season. Nathaniel Garcia will lead the offensive line which hopes to give Rodney Rodriguez and Andres Villagran time to make plays for the San Benito offense.

Football Preview 2021 • 27 PAID ADVERTISEMENT

YOU HAVE TO GO THE EXTRA MILE

Sammy Lopez remembers being a bit awestricken as he watched the Dallas Cowboys emerge from the tunnel at this year’s NFL Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. It was, after all, his first game as a summer athletic trainer intern with “America’s Team.”

“I saw the team running out of the tunnel wearing their white jerseys, and the silver d pants, and the star on the helmet,” Lopez recalled. “That’s when it hit me. I was a like, ‘Wow. I’m really with the Cowboys.’ But, I had to snap out of it, realizing I was there as a staff member, not a fan.”

, - Lopez’s current summer internship with the Cowboys is the just latest chapter in a life story - he’s been writing ever since he graduated z from PSJA-North High School in 2014. Lopez o knew he wanted to pursue something related n to sports, but he also wanted a career in the l healthcare field. e He began by studying Kinesiology-Athletic - Medicine at the University of Texas-San Antonio. After earning his undergraduate n degree in 2017, he then went on to earn his e master’s degree in Athletic Training at the f University of Texas-Arlington in May 2021. e “I chose sports medicine, because it deals e with both sides of the story,” said Lopez.

- “As an athletic trainer, I’m considered a healthcare professional, but I’m also around n sports teams all the time. I feel like this is my calling.”

One of Lopez’s first clinical rotations during his graduate program was with SMU football.

The contacts he made there recommended

him to the NFL, and Lopez ultimately landed a summer 2019 internship with the Raiders, during the run up to the team’s last season in Oakland.

“I only applied to three teams that year,” Lopez noted. “I specifically didn’t apply with the Dallas Cowboys, because I didn’t want to show up for my first internship with them and not be good. I wanted to go to a different team initially to see what it’s like, see what it takes, and so I got that under my belt.”

Lopez’s first stint with the Dallas Cowboys comes as the team returns to the spotlight in the HBO television series “Hard Knocks.”

Though the focus is on the players, Lopez notes that it’s the athletic trainers who are the “first ones in and the last ones out.”

“We show up at 5:30 in the morning,” Lopez said. “We start doing treatments with some

of the guys. They have meetings and we start doing field set up, getting everything ready for practice. Then we have practices again in the afternoon, and into the evening, so sometimes we’re there until 9:30 p.m. We have schedules, but they change literally from hour to hour.”

Lopez says he still leans on many of the lessons he learned in college – lessons about the value of having a strong family support unit. He also learned about the value of adversity, and the importance of having friends who push you to be better. Moreover, he says he discovered that an occasional failure is a good thing.

“Failure is okay,” he mused.

“Sometimes you have to fail to be reminded that you have to keep going.”

Since 2019, Lopez has been returning to his old alma mater, PSJA-North, to give talks at the annual Sports Medicine Institute.

It’s his way of giving back to his community, he says. It also gives him a chance to reunite with one of his first mentors, Jeff Darr, who serves as C o o rd i n a t o r for Athletic Trainers for the district.

“I

was

offer advice and help Sammy when he contacted me about starting down this career path,” said Darr. “He did all the hard work, and put in the long hours, and it is all paying off. I couldn’t be prouder of him and I think he will represent PSJA well in the highest levels of the athletic training profession.”

“Jeff’s been at my side through the whole thing,” Lopez added. “I talked to him when I was in the middle of my undergraduate degree. He’s pretty wise, and advised me along the way about the kinds of classes I needed to take, always leading me the right way.”

Lopez’s future is still uncharted. His summer internship with the Dallas Cowboys will end with the last preseason game, and it remains unclear whether he will be offered a full-time position that could lead to a two-year contract with the team. Regardless of what happens, he says his advice to current students is still the same.

“You have to go the extra mile,” said Lopez.

“It’s what you do when the coaches aren’t looking that’s going to set you apart from other athletes. Believing in yourself is another component. Others may be competing against you, but we’re all in competition with ourselves.

And when you believe in yourself it’s a huge confidence builder and helps you achieve the goals you want out of life. Life is not a sprint.

Life is more like a marathon. Focus on living in the moment and taking on the challenges you face in the present day. Short term goals create the bigger picture in the long run.”

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District 32-6A preview Weslaco High Coach: Roy Stroman, 3rd year 2020 record: 3-2, bi-district qualifier 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 post-

season, 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 Joel Martinez | jmartinez@themonitor.com starters across the entirety of their ofWeslaco High quarterback Justin Rodriguez passes the ball during football practice at Bobby fensive line.

Lackey Stadium on Tuesday, Aug 10, 2021 in Weslaco.

District 14-5A DI preview Rio Grande City

Coach: Jesus Lozano, 1st year 2020 record: 2-6 Last playoff appearance: 2019 Returning starters (O/D): 3/4 Returning lettermen: 10 Key players: DB/ATH Mike Compean; OL Julio Moreno; DL Aiden Stafford; RB Christian Javier Garcia; QB Bryan Perez; OL Hiram Gonzalez; LB Jesus Flores 2021 Outlook: Lozano is back at the helm of the program he previ-

ously coached for five years from 2006-2010. With the change at the top comes a different offense as the Rattlers have spent the offseason transitioning from running the spread offense the past two years to running the Slot-T, a run-heavy scheme. Mike Compean is a proven athlete who can make plays on both sides of the ball and he should see plenty of opportunities in the Rattlers offense and secondary. Bryan Perez will take over quarterbacking duties. Meanwhile, linebacker Jesus Flores and defensive lineman Aiden Stafford represent on the first and second levels of the defense. The Rattlers will spend a lot of time on the road again competing in District 14-5A DI against three San Antonio schools, two Laredo schools and Joel Martinez | jmartinez@themonitor.com Eagle Pass Winn.

Rio Grande City quarterback Bryan Perez handles the ball during football practice at Rio Grande City High School on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, in Rio Grande City.

Football Preview 2021 • 35

Trench warfare: O-line sets tone in RGV offenses

BY BRYAN RAMOS STAFF WRITER

X

s and Os can only take a team so far in football.

At the end of the day, it comes down to mano a mano. Which team will be able to outlast, outsmart and most importantly, out-tough their opponents?

Those battles are routinely won and lost in the trenches.

An offensive front matched up against a defensive box. When the ball is snapped, they collide to create a beautiful, yet chaotic portrait at the point of attack.

Schools like Edcouch-Elsa, McAllen Memorial, PSJA Southwest and Weslaco East have mastered the art of strong line play in run-heavy schemes over the years.

The Yellow Jackets, one of the most tradition-rich programs in the Rio Grande Valley football landscape, missed the playoffs in 2017 and 2018. The team struggled to score points, which led to their first twoyear absence from the postseason since 2001 and 2002.

Enter athletic director and now fourth-year head coach Christian Navarro, who was chosen to lead the team midway through the 2018 campaign. After a 2-8 finish that year, Navarro and EdcouchElsa reintroduced to the Slot-T offense. They put emphasis on the weight room and the importance of winning battles on the offensive line.

The result has been a drastic uptick in offensive production and back-to-back playoff appearances.

“It’s the belief in the system.

The kids buy in and everything will take care of itself,” he said.

“The kids believe in it, they know they have to work hard in the offseason in building up their strength and getting big-

win secured the Yellow Jackets’ spot in the playoffs for the second year in a row.

PSJA Southwest senior offensive lineman Oscar De La Cruz stands 6 feet 3 inches.

His size, strength and aggressiveness up front is what allows the Javelinas’ veer offense to find openings.

“You have to be explosive, fast and make sure you hit first,” he said. “We’re a chain, and if one link breaks, it’s going to mess up the whole chain, so we have to make sure we’re all on the same page.”

The offense is also a method to control the clock, tire the defense and limit the opponents’ offense from seeing the field.

The last two RGV teams to advance to the regional finals, Mission Veterans in 2018 and Sharyland Pioneer in 2020-21, saw their seasons end at the Joel Martinez | jmartinez@themonitor.com hands of San Antonio WagThe Edcouch-Elsa offensive line runs through plays during practice Aug. 3, 2021 at Edcouch-Elsa High School in ner’s Flexbone scheme and Elsa.

Liberty Hill’s Slot-T offense.

There’s an old adage that states “the best defense is a ger, faster and stronger.” expect the run, then we throw true last season with playoff good offense.” Those runStarr County’s two Class 5A over them.” spots on the line. heavy, yet high percentage programs, Rio Grande City Weslaco East’s offense has Dec. 5, 2020 was filled with offenses were able to keep and Roma, both run the Slot-T personified the term “smashrain and temperatures dipping former Patriots quarterback offense. When they kick off the mouth” over the years. It’s part into the high 40s. The day also Landry Gilpin and former 2021 season with “The Starr of what’s led to the Wildcats’ featured two District 16-5A Diamondbacks quarterback County Super Bowl” on Aug. 27 streak of 14 consecutive playDII play-in games — PSJA Eddie Lee Marburger on the at Joe R. Sanchez Stadium in Rio off appearances.

Southwest at Sharyland High sidelines, which was the only Grande City, the annual rivalry “We’re known for it. We run in the early afternoon and way to stop either of those game between the Gladiators it straight in your face, right Mission Veterans at Edcouch- electrifying RGV quarterbacks. and Rattlers, it will be a power down your mouth,” said Wild- Elsa at night.

Weslaco East was the last struggle for bragging rights cats’ left tackle David Treviño.

Southwest’s veer offense run-centric team to put appeared unstoppable as the which will likely be decided at Weslaco East senior center together a playoff run with a cold temperature set in during regional quarterfinal appearthe line of scrimmage.

Julian Gonzalez said their Roma senior right tackle Je- in-your-face style of play takes the Javelinas-Rattlers matchup. ance in 2018. With the kick Southwest won 21-7 and off of the 2021 season days sus Garcia, a three-year starter, its toll on defenders, draining said the repeated rush attempts their will with each snap. How clinched a playoff berth for the away, expect fireworks on the offensive line. and consistent yardage eventu- does he know? The opposition first time in program history “It’s all about the O-line and under then fourth-year head ally makes defenses drop their wears it on their face. our ability to block up front. coach Mike Evans. guard in the secondary.

“Coming out of the huddle, It’s about getting tough yards, Later that night as the rain “It’s good for us big boys, they know you’re going to be runfeeding us the ball. It’s old ning and you see on their face that poured on, Edcouch-Elsa grew tiring the defense and us bestronger against Mission Veter- ing fresh out there, so when school football,” Garcia said. they don’t want to go against us it comes back around, we’re ans. The Yellow Jackets ended “You have to be the hammer again and again,” he said. going to be ready to strike,” the game with 28 unanswered instead of the nail. You have The run-heavy concepts are Gonzalez said. points, all rushing touchdowns, to take it to them. Run the also described as “weatherall in the second half.

The 42-28 ball until they get tired, they proof offenses”, which proved

36 • Football Preview 2021

District 16-5A DI preview

BY IVAN PALACIOS STAFF WRITER

Brownsville Pace Brownsville Lopez Coach: Armando Gutierrez, 4th year 2020 record: 1-4 Last playoff appearance: 2017 Returning starters (O/D): 9/7 Returning lettermen: 16 Key players: WR Juan Jaramillo; S Alex Martinez; MLB Manny De La Cruz; DT Omar Cervantes; DT Andrew Hernandez; QB Jacob Cortinas 2021 Outlook: The Lobos look primed to end their playoff drought this year, with 16 returning starters, making them one of the most experienced teams in District 16-5A DI. 2020 second-team all-district defensive tackle Omar Cervantes and newcomer of the year Andrew Hernandez anchor a defensive line which should be the Lobos strength this season, while linebacker Manny De La Cruz, who also earned alldistrict honors, provides experience while patrolling the middle of the field.

Offensively, junior quarterback Jacob Cortinas will be under center for the jmartinez@themonitor.com Lobos, with receiver Juan Jaramillo Brownsville Pace’s Brandon Narvaez (1) carries the ball into the endzone in a 16-5A DI game serving as his primary target. against Weslaco East at Bobby Lackey Stadium on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020, in Weslaco.

Coach: Daniel Pardo, 5th year 2020 record: 4-2, bi-district qualifier Last playoff appearance: 2020 Returning starters (O/D): 5/5 Returning lettermen: 15 Key players: S Andrew Gonzalez; TE Chase Morales; WR Brandon Narvaez; WR Alexander Agado; RB Ivan Gonzalez; LB Jonathan Lerma 2021 Outlook: The Vikings enter the 2021 season with a question mark at quarterback after graduating three-year starter Jose Banda. Still, the Vikings are not to be slept on, with a deep set of skill players including receivers Alexander Agado (20 catches, 263 yards, three touchdowns) and Brandon Narvaez (203 all-purpose yards, two touchdowns). Meanwhile, bruising tight end Chase Morales will help guide the way for new starting running back Ivan Gonzalez, who recorded 319 rushing yards and five touchdowns while serving as the Vikings No. 2 option last year.

Defensively, the Vikings are anchored by their top two tacklers from last season, safety Andrew Gonzalez (50 tackles) and linebacker Jonathan Lerma (48 tackles).

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Football Preview 2021 • 37

District 16-5A DI preview Brownsville Porter Coach: Carlos Uresti, 5th year 2020 record: 3-2 Last playoff appearance: 2015 Returning starters (O/D): 2/4 Returning lettermen: 9 Key players: WR Gunnar Williams; DE Arath De La Torre; DE Sam Moreno; OL Jonathan Alvarado; SS Isai Hernandez 2021 Outlook: The Brownsville Porter Cowboys enter the 2021 campaign as one of the most inexperienced teams on paper, with only six returning starters (two offense/four defense). Junior wide receiver Williams will be the focal point of the young offense after hauling in three touchdowns as a sophomore, earning him First Team All-District honors. The defense is led by senior defensive end De La Torre, who earned the District 165A Defensive Lineman of the Year award after tallying four sacks and two defensive touchdowns. Junior defensive end Moreno, who earned First-Team All District honors as a sophomore, joins De La Torre on a line that should be a strength for the Cowboys this season. Safety Hernandez adds another threat to the Cowboys defense, returning to the starting lineup after leading the team in sacks last year, recording six through five games.

Donna High

Coach: Mike Gonzales, 2nd year 2020 record: 2-4 Last playoff appearance: 2015 Returning starters (O/D): 5/8 Returning lettermen: 17 Key players: FS Francisco Contreras; SS Marcos De Los Ríos; ILB Evan Frías; LB Matt Lopez; DL Lupe Ramos; WR Mark Zamorano; WR Jacob Yanez; WR Ashton Garcia; RB Rey Urbina; QB Jake Garcia; QB Jeffery Lefrve 2021 Outlook: Defense will be the Donna Redskins’ forte this season, with eight returning starters including inside linebacker Frias, who led the team in tackles with 71, and defensive tackle Ramos, who tallied Delcia Lopez | dlopez@themonitor.com 34 tackles in five games played.

La Joya Palmview running back A.J. Chapa (22) carries the ball iagainst Brownsville Pace in a Safeties Contreras (45 tackles) and 16-5A DI match up at La Joya ISD Stadium on Thursday, Oct, 3, 2019, in La Joya.

De Los Rios (36 tackles) are also show this season, with first-year head back, giving the Redskins experience at every level on defense. Excoach Kelly Lee bringing his optionpect the Redskins’ 3-4 defense to based “Ground Strike” offense, be among the district’s best at the which combines the triple option end of the year. Despite a typically with principles of the Wing-T, to the run-heavy offense, the Redskins exChargers. Sophomore quarterback pect to air the ball out more this Miguel Ortiz is expected to take the reins this season after serving as the year, with experienced receivers team’s third option last year. McHale, Garcia, Yanez and Zamorano reafter having an off-season Brownsville Veterans who was the team’s leading receiver turning to perfect Coach Gonzales’ spread last year with 21 catches, 224 yards offense.

Meanwhile, Urbina steps and one touchdown, will look to build Coach: Kelly Lee, 1st year into the starting running back role, off a promising debut season and 2020 record: 2-5 hoping to fill the hole left by former be Ortiz’s No. 1 option.

Meanwhile, Last playoff appearance: 2018 starter Adan Reyes, who led the Sampayo, who served as one of two Returning starters (O/D): 4/2 team with 1,061 rushing yards and quarterbacks for the Chargers last Returning lettermen: 25 six touchdowns. season, makes the move to receiver Key players: LB Williams Wassen; this year, giving Ortiz another option LB/RB Jorge Alvarado; OLB Diego out wide. Linebackers Wassen and Varella; WR/DB Michael McHale; Varella will anchor Lee’s blitz heavy DE Manny Lerma; WR/DB Reece 4-2-5 defense, with defensive Sampayo; DB/RB Emma Vega; CB lineman Manny Lerma and Avery Zachary Dennis; OL Joseph Perez Breedan providing a rush from the 2021 Outlook: The Brownsville outside.

Veterans offense will be a must-see

38 • Football Preview 2021

District 16-5A DI preview La Joya Palmview

McAllen Memorial

Coach: Mage Requeñez, 8th year 2020 record: 0-3 Last playoff appearance: 2019 Returning starters (O/D): 6/3 Returning lettermen: 18 Key players: LB Esequiel Munoz; MLB Daniel Guillen; DB Sebastian Leal; DB Gino Ibarra; WR Tony Villarreal; QB Christian Reyna; RB AJ Chapa; OL Isaias Garcia 2021 Outlook: The Lobos missed the postseason last season, marking only the second time they have missed the playoffs under the guidance of head coach Margarito Requenez. This year, Palmview is eyeing a return to the big dance, hoping to prove last season was a mere anomaly. 2019 District 16-5A DI Offensive Newcomer of the Year AJ Chapa returns to the lineup for the Lobos after opting out last season. Chapa joins last year’s starting running back George Speidon (275 rushing yards; two touchdowns) in the backfield, giving the Lobos a two-headed monster to lead Requenez’s Slot-T offense. Defensively, promising middle linebacker Daniel Guillen, who opted out last season, returns to captain the Palmview defense, joining defensive backs Sebastian Leal and Gino Ibarra, both who were second-team all-district selections last year.

Coach: Moses Patterson, 1st year 2020 record: 5-2, bi-district qualifier Last playoff appearance: 2020 Returning starters (O/D): 8/9 Returning lettermen: 33 Key players: QB JP Cortez; TE Eric Rodriguez; QB Derek Silva; DT Marcos De Ochoa; DB Jalen Muhammad; DB Jaden Muhammad; RB Ethan Garcia; RB/K Max Alaniz-Choy 2021 Outlook: Former McAllen Memorial head coach Bill Littleton announced his retirement June 2, hanging up his whistle after 18 years at the helm for the Mustangs.

Enter interim head coach Moses Patterson, the team’s defensive coordinator for the past eight seasons. Patterson inherits a wealth of talent, with 33 returning lettermen, including 17 starters (eight offense/ nine defense). Expect the Mustangs ground-and-pound attack to not skip a beat despite graduating their top two rushers, with senior running back Ethan Garcia (468 yards, 4 rushing touchdowns) and junior running back Max Alaniz-Choy (176 yards, 3 touchdowns) ready to step into the spotlight. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Marcos De Ochoa (76 tackles, 8 sacks) is back to anchor the Mustangs defense which should be among the district’s best after losing only two starters this offseason.

Roman Madrigal

McAllen Memorial running back Ethan Castillo breaks free for a run against crosstown rival McAllen High on Oct. 30, 2020, at Veterans Memorial Stadium in McAllen.

McAllen High Coach: Patrick Shelby, 3rd year 2020 record: 2-4 Last playoff appearance: 2017 Returning starters (O/D): 5/5 Returning lettermen: 27 Key players: QB Hunter Curl; OL Joshua Herrera; RB Jahir Meza; OL Matthew Vega; WR Christian Echazarreta; WR Obed Alvarez; OL Tres Cantu; FS Thomas Alaniz; RB/LB Weston Guzman; WR AJ Gonzalez; LB Dylan Yanez 2021 Outlook: The Bulldogs enter the season with one of the Valley’s most experienced quarterbacks under center in senior Hunter Curl, who was named the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football District 16-5A DI Preseason Offensive MVP after tallying 1,207 yards and nine touchdowns through the

air last season, while adding 466 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Still, the Bulldogs lack experience in the skill positions, losing a bevy of starters to graduation.

Receivers Christian Echazarreta and Obed Alvarez are two breakout candidates for the Bulldogs, both listed at 5-foot-10, giving Curl a pair of big targets out wide. Senior running back/linebacker Weston Guzman, who is listed at 5-foot-10, 200 pounds, should provide a spark on both sides of the ball, bringing a combination of size and speed onto the field for the Bulldogs. Veteran defensive backs Thomas Alaniz, Kolton Ottmers and Holden Hood give McHi an experienced secondary, which should rank among the Valley’s best at years end.

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District 16-5A DI preview McAllen Rowe Coach: Bobby Flores, 6th 2020 record: 3-4, bi-district qualifier Last playoff appearance: 2019 Returning starters (O/D): 5/8 Returning lettermen: 20 Key players: TE Marco Cisneros; QB Mateo Llanes; LB/RB Yahir Garcia; DB Tito Gonzalez; DE Victor Vega; S/ WR Nelson Ramirez; WR Jorge Diaz; WR/DB Diego Pacheco 2021 Outlook: Warriors quarterback Mateo Llanes seems primed for an MVP caliber season after recording 869 total yards and eight touchdowns while splitting time last year. This season, with full control of the reins, Llanes will have a plethora of weapons, including 6-foot-4 tight end Marco Cisneros. Receivers Jorge Diaz, Diego Pacheco and Nelson Ramirez add another factor to the passing game, combining for 416 yards and eight touchdowns last year. Linebacker Yahir Garcia (35 tackles; one interception) will serve as the Warriors defensive captain, while defensive end Victor Vega (20 tackles; three sacks) brings intensity to the team’s pass rush.

Weslaco East Coach: Mike Burget, 9th year

Joel Martinez | jmartinez@themonitor.com

Weslaco East’s Anthony Jay Vasquez (4) carries the ball against Brownsville Pace in a 16-5A DI game at Bobby Lackey Stadium on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020, in Weslaco.

2020 record: 5-1, area qualifier Last playoff appearance: 2020 Returning starters (O/D): 4/4 Returning lettermen: 28 Key players: DE Josue Moralez; QB Javi Garza; LT/TE David Trevino; C Julian Gonzalez; DT Noe Castillo; DT Rodrigo Puentes; RB Jay Vasquez; WR Omari Bowen 2021 Outlook: The Wildcats qualified for their eighth straight postseason appearance under the tutelage of head coach Mike Burget, extending

the teams streak to 14. Last year’s District 16-5A DI champions face an uphill battle if they hope to extend their streak, with only four starters returning on each side of the ball.

Still, quarterback Javi Garza believes the Wildcats are reloaded and ready to repeat as district champs. Garza and running back Jay Vasquez are tasked with replacing nearly 1,800 yards of total offense after the graduation of dual-threat QB Avery Bowen and speedy running back Gio Guerra.

Garza showed promise during his six appearances last season, recording 297 total yards and four total touchdowns. Meanwhile, Vasquez should be a factor in all facets of the game, tallying 371 all-purpose yards (47 rushing, 177 receiving,147 return) during his debut campaign. Defensively, junior linebackers Joe Lugo, Diego Ruiz and Rangel Silver return after combining for 71 tackles last year, with senior defensive end Moralez (24 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack) also back.

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District 16-5A DII preview

BY BRYAN RAMOS STAFF WRITER

Gonzalez (67 tackles), is a dangerous group. The Tigers will firmly be in the district championship conversation.

Edcouch-Elsa Coach: Christian Navarro, 4th year 2020 record: 5-2, bi-district qualifier Last playoff appearance: 2020 Returning starters (O/D): 7/7 Returning lettermen: 16 Key players: DE Nico Herrera; DB Alexis Rodriguez; DB Diego Valdez; OL Sean Marmolejo; OL Victor Guerrero; RB Joshua Gomez 2021 Outlook: Since missing out on the postseason in 2017 and 2018, “La Maquina Amarilla” has returned to smash-mouth form Joel Martinez | jmartinez@themonitor.com under HC Navarro and produced Mercedes quarterback Michael Cisneros (4) hands off to running back Jordan Gonzales (13) back-to-back playoff appearances against PSJA North in a non-district game at Mercedes High School on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, the past two years. They’ll be in Mercedes. looking to make it three in a row in 2021 with 14 returners set to take WR Tyrell Treviño; RB Miguel Jimenez; the field. Gomez emerged as a LB Roan Galvan; DL Isaac Lozoya; LB powerful runner in Edcouch-Elsa’s Jayden Gonzalez Slot-T offense, which put up 30plus points in all five of their wins a 2021 Outlook: The Mercedes year ago. Three returning offensive Tigers are poised for big things in lineman — Marmolejo, Guerrero 2021 with 12 starters back from and Justin Esquivel — will handle last year’s second-round playoff the dirty work up front for the team. Cisneros (1,402 passing, Yellow Jackets. E-E has seven back 514 rushing, 18 total TDs) is back Mercedes on its “Thunder Defense,” which for this third year behind center for was one of 16-5A DII’s toughest the high-flying Tigers offense which Coach: Roger Adame Jr., 8th in 2020. They’ll be led by Herrera has weapons aplenty. The junior on the D-line and defensive backs year Treviño (630 all-purpose, 8 total TDs) 2020 record: 6-2, area qualifier is one of the area’s top wideouts, Rodriguez and Valdez roaming in Last playoff appearance: while Jimenez rushed for 539 yards the secondary.

2020 and nine touchdowns in 2020.

Returning starters (O/D): 6/6 Experience will lead the Mercedes Returning lettermen: 23 defense as its front-seven, led by Key players: QB Mike Cisneros; linebackers Galvan (91 tackles) and

Mission Veterans Coach: David Gilpin, 12th year 2020 record: 1-5 Last playoff appearance: 2019 Returning starters (O/D): 4/8 Returning lettermen: 33 Key players: QB Ricky Reyna; LB Luis De Hoyos; DL Mark Champion; DL Adrian Garcia; DB Erik Arredondo; LB Cody Von Wald 2021 Outlook: The 2020 season was an anomaly for the Mission Veterans Patriots football program. The team missed the playoffs for the first time in 11 years after a 1-6 record. That fuel is what is driving this year’s group as they look to rebound and put the Patriots back in playoff and district title contention. Reyna (1,766 passing, 22 total TDs) can sling the rock with the best quarterbacks in the RGV running the Patriots’ pass-centric offense.

His wide receiver corps will be a completely new group, however.

De Hoyos broke onto the scene last season as a stingy defender at the second level of the Patriots defense with 99 total tackles in six games.

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District 16-5A DII preview PSJA Memorial

PSJA Southwest

Coach: Will Littleton, 1st year 2020 record: 0-4 Last playoff appearance: 2011 Returning starters (O/D): 7/5 Returning lettermen: 18 Key players: QB Jaden Cruz; LB Ricky Vera; RB Jesus Fonseca; LB Gilbert Alvarado; DB Rolando Maldonado; DB Francisco Torres 2021 Outlook: PSJA Memorial hasn’t won a game since Nov. 9, 2018, but a change at the top in first year head coach Littleton brings hope to the Wolverines program. After serving as defensive coordinator at PSJA North and an assistant at McAllen Memorial under his father, the recently retired Bill Littleton, the younger Littleton is set to run the show at PSJA Memorial. He’ll have 12 returners working to get in the win column in Year 1. Multisport athlete Cruz is set to take over quarterback duties after finishing as the team’s leading rusher as a sophomore in 2020. Combined with the sophomore ball carrier Fonseca, the Wolverines will rely on their ground game to move the chains. Maldonado and Torres add to a solid PSJA Memorial secondary, while Alvarado and Vera hold down linebacker spots.

Coach: Abel Estrada, 1st year 2020 record: 4-4, bi-district qualifier Last playoff appearance: N/A Returning starters (O/D): 8/8 Returning lettermen: 29 Key players: RB Angel Hernandez; DL Joan De La Garza; OL Oscar Cruz; DE Sebastian Sanchez; QB Eric Malpica; DB Josue Lopez 2021 Outlook: PSJA Southwest is coming off a memorable 2020 season in which the Javelinas punched their ticket to the playoffs for the first time in program history.

Estrada and the Hogs upended Sharyland High to do so, and now they hope the momentum carries over into 2021. The Javelinas lose nine offensive starters from a year ago, but it’s next man up in their vicious flexbone run scheme.

Hernandez (407 rushing, 7.1 yards per carry, 5 TDs) will see an increase from his 57 touches as a sophomore as Southwest’s lead back, while Malpica (242 rushing, 1 TD) has flashed as a runner when his number’s called. The first line of defense will be Southwest’s toughest with De La Garza and Sanchez anchoring a speedy unit.

Joel Martinez | jmartinez@themonitor.com

PSJA Southwest’s Jorge Pinon celebrates after the Javelinas District 16-5A DII play-in victory over Sharyland High on Dec. 7, 2020 at Richard Thompson Stadium in Mission.

Roma Coach: Frank Villanueva, 5th year 2020 record: 0-3 Last playoff appearance: 2015 Returning starters (O/D): 5/8 Returning lettermen: 27 Key players: LB Gabriel Garcia; RB Sebastian Garza; QB Ricardo Morales; RB/DB Alejandro Perez;

TE Reynaldo Hovey; OL Jesus Garcia 2021 Outlook: Roma was limited to three games last year with little practice time. A positive for Villanueva and the Gladiators entering the new season, however, is they return 13 starters eager to play a full slate of games. Garza was a reliable runner in Roma’s Slot-T offense when called upon.

Garza, Morales and Perez have an experienced group clearing the way which features three threeyear lettermen on the O-line.

Meanwhile, Roma’s tackling machine Garcia is the heart of its defense.

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District 16-5A DII preview Sharyland High Coach: Craig Krell, 1st year 2020 record: 3-2 Last playoff appearance: 2019 Returning starters (O/D): 4/4 Returning lettermen: 27 Key players: QB Dimas Lopez; LB Javier Treviño; WR Diego Zavala; WR Ricky Vasquez; ATH Alan Gonzalez; LB Jaycob Cano 2021 Outlook: Sharyland High enters a new era under former defensive coordinator and first-year head coach Krell. Two of his biggest defensive weapons from a season ago — Treviño (46 tackles, 5 TFL) and Cano (36 tackles, 3 TFL) — will lead the Rattlers defense. Lopez is expected to handle quarterback duties and he has a few crafty weapons in the arsenal in returning receivers Gonzalez, Vasquez and Zavala. After the Rattlers missed out on last year’s postseason due to a play-in game loss at the hands of PSJA Southwest, Sharyland Joel Martinez | jmartinez@themonitor.com is dead set on returning to the Sharyland Pioneer wide receiver Joseph Graham Jr. (2) makes the catch before running into playoffs in 2021. the endzone against Georgetown East View in a Class 5A Division II Region IV Semifinals at Buccaneer Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Corpus Christi.

Sharyland Pioneer Coach: Eddie Galindo, 1st year 2020 record: 8-1, regional

finalist Last playoff appearance: 2020 Returning starters (O/D): 2/2 Returning lettermen: 16 Key players: WR Joseph Graham Jr.; LB Caleb Fuentes; DE Trevor Huddleston; OL Shawn Halbritter; WR Josh Cuellar; LB Alec Espericueta 2021 Outlook: The Pioneer football team reached new heights during the last two seasons with five playoff victories and a

trip to the Region IV-5A final in 2020. Now, they’re under new leadership with HC Galindo, who was the offensive coordinator and first offensive assistant head coach who helped implement the Diamondbacks’ recordsetting aerial assault which ranked among the best in the nation. While the system is in place, Pioneer will need almost an entirely new group of players to step into full-time roles with only four returning starters. WR

Graham, The Monitor’s 202021 All-Area Football Newcomer of the Year, eclipsed the century mark with 1,075 receiving yards and 13 touchdown grabs in just nine games in 2020. Along with Halbritter, the pair will bring experience to a young Pioneer offense. Fuentes and Huddleston are proven forces in the box and will spearhead the Diamondbacks defense.

Valley View

Coach: Pete Martinez, 1st year 2020 record: N/A Last playoff appearance: 2018 Returning starters (O/D): 4/6 Returning lettermen: 10 Key players: DE Andres White; WR Jose Casillas; DB Cesar De Leon; QB Raul Ramirez; WR Jacob Gutierrez; WR Manuel Islas 2021 Outlook: Valley View’s football program was one of five in the Rio Grande Valley to not field a team in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the Tigers and staff will attempt to pick up on the upward trend the Tigers created before losing last season. Valley View will rely on a core group of seniors who played varsity as sophomores in White, Casillas and De Leon, while also adding a few athletic pieces to the offense in Gutierrez, Islas and Marcelo Peña.

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Sub-Class 5A preview Grulla

Hidalgo

Coach: Abel Gonzalez III, 12th year 2020 record: 1-4, bi-district qualifier Last playoff appearance: 2020 O/D returning starters: 9/7 Returning lettermen: 20 Key players: WR/DB Josue Barrera, WR/DB Roy Guzman, RB Jason Vega, QB/DB Andrew Sanchez, LB Derick Amaro, LB Jorge Guerrero 2021 Outlook: The Gators eye a return to the postseason after having to bow out in the first round due to positive COVID-19 cases within the program last season.

They’ll enter the season with the most experienced team in District 16-4A DI on paper, returning 16 starters. First-year quarterback Andrew Sanchez takes over the reins after spending the last three seasons learning from the sidelines.

He’ll have a number of weapons at his disposal including 2020 District 16-4A DI Newcomer of the Year Jason Vega, a running back, and a pair of first-team all-district wide receivers in Josue Barrera and Roy Guzman. Defensively, all-district linebackers Derick Amaro and Jorge Guerrero anchor the Gators’ defense, while Barrera and Guzman man the secondary.

Coach: Monty Stumbaugh, 5th year 2020 record: 3-2, bi-district qualifier Last playoff appearance: 2020 O/D returning starters: 5/4 Returning lettermen: 24 Key players: OL/DL Saul Hernandez, TE/DE Dustin Earhart, OL/DL Isaac Longoria, QB Steven Martinez, RB/DB Jeremiah Zepeda, QB/DB Anthony Nava 2021 Outlook: The Pirates earned the District 16-4A DI crown a season ago, going 3-1 in district play. They will need to replace their backfield if they hope to repeat, losing last year’s starting quarterback and running back to graduation. An experienced offensive line should ease the transition, returning four of five starters, including Texas Sports Writers Association AllState selection Saul Hernandez.

Senior Steven Martinez and junior Anthony Nava will battle it out for the starting quarterback position, while junior running back Jeremiah Zepeda will serve as the teams cowbell. The line will also be the Pirates strength defensively, with second-team all-district defensive end Dustin Earhart pairing with Hernandez on a disruptive front four. Defensive back Hugo Jauregui will man the secondary, earning alldistrict honors last season.

2020 record: 0-4 Last playoff appearance: N/A O/D returning starters: 5/4 Returning lettermen: 24 Key players: QB/OLB Noah San Miguel, QB/LB Julio Marroquin, C/DL Antonio Marroquin, WR/FS Marcelino Castillo, RB/LB Aaron Alcala, WR/DB Devin Handy, OL/DL Juan Marroquin 2021 Outlook: The Blue Devils were La Villa limited to one game a season ago, forfeiting three of their four contests Coach: Danny Perez, 5th year due to COVID-19 outbreaks. Monte 2020 record: 2-3, bi-district Alto returns 16 starters, with their eyes qualifier set on their first playoff appearance.

Last playoff appearance: 2020 Quarterback Noah San Miguel will O/D returning starters: 5/7 pilot offense, with receivers Marcelino Returning lettermen: 25 Castillo and Devin Handy serving as Key players: LB Victor Garcia, his primary targets. The defense will WR/DB Keanu Escobar, WR Jacob be anchored by a line that returns Espericueta, DT Esteban Torres, OL three starters in Juan Gallardo, Antonio Everardo Reyes, QB/DE Juan Ortiz, MLB Marroquin and Juan Morales.

Jerry Reyes 2021 Outlook: Two-way player Juan Ortiz was a force on both sides of the ball for the Cardinals last year, splitting time at quarterback, while starting at defensive end. He tallied 292 yards and three touchdowns through the air and added 50 tackles in five appearances. He’ll be joined by four all-district selections on the offense, with lineman Everardo Reyes and Aaron Garcia manning the trenches, while Progreso wideouts Keanu Escobar and Jacob Espericueta provide weapons on the outside. Middle linebacker Jerry Reyes Coach: Jose Meza, 2nd year will command the defense, earning 2020 record: N/A District 16-2A DI First-Team All-District Last playoff appearance: 2019 honors after tallying 50 tackles in five O/D returning starters: 5/5 games last year. The Cardinals will look Returning lettermen: 11 to extend their playoff streak with talent Key players: RB/LB Alex Mascorro, returning on both sides of the ball.

C/DT David Garcia, SS/RB Justin Meza, TE Gilberto Garces, LB Fernando Vasquez, RG Ricardo Luna 2021 Outlook: Progreso opted out of the 2020 campaign due to COVID-19, delaying head coach Jose Meza’s debut season. The Red Ants return to action this year, with 11 returning lettermen from the 2019 season. They’ll lean heavily on their experienced veterans, including twoway seniors Alex Mascorro and Justin Meza, who will split ball carrier duties.

Monte Alto David Garcia will anchor the trenches on both sides of the ball, serving as the Coach: Eugenio Garza, 1st year starting center and defensive tackle.

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LA VILLA HIGH SCHOOL

2021

VARSITY TEAM PLAYERS CARDINALS

STAFF Athletic Director/Head Coach: Daniel Perez Assistant Coaches: Joseph Garcia (OC), Jesus Garza (DC), Richard Kretz, Robert Perez, Luis Rodriguez Principal: Antonio Layton Superintendent: Robert Munoz

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Carlous Carranco Rene Reyna Pedro Ortiz Nehemias Martinez Ezekiel Garcia Everardo Reyes Josue Aguilera Kaleb Ellis Shawn Carranco John Espericueta Elihu Hernandez Joe Rodriguez Joey Escobar Anthony Hernandez Marco Rivera Andrew Acosta Issac Garza Jaime Elissetche Aaron Garcia Ayden Reyes Joseph Guzman Esteban Torres John Garcia Tyreke Galvez Aiden Rangel

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Mighty Mission Eagles

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All Things Possible Scholarship My name is David J Longoria.

I am a member of the graduating class of 2011 at PSJA Bears.

I started the All Things Scholarship in 2019, in hopes of creating a positive impact in our community. I look forward to the work I will continue to do, and would like to thank everyone who has shown support!

GOD BLESS! To apply send email to david.jlongoria@gmail.com.

Recipient of the scholarship

Recipient of the scholarship

Lucy Elizondo awarded in 2020

Ana Elizondo awarded in 2021