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.
Proudly supports all Edinburg Teams
POLITICAL AD PAID FOR BY CANDIDATE
HAVE A GREAT YEAR!
