August 22, 2016
TOP 15 POLLS
1. HARLINGEN 2. WESLACO 3. EDCOUCH-ELSA 4. ROMA HS 5. EDINBURG NORTH 6. MERCEDES 7. MCALLEN ROWE 8. LOS FRESNOS 9. MISSION VETERANS 10. RIO GRANDE CITY 11. SHARYLAND PIONEER 12. MCALLEN 13. EDINBURG VELA 14. MCALLEN MEMORIAL 15. PORT ISABEL
Football
RB LEO TIENDA HARLINGEN HS
PREVIEW RIO GRANDE VALLEY
DISTRICT BY DISTRICT PREVIEWS
The Predictions by Tddave
GameDay Schedules All Teams
Coaches Who Played Football
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football coach. “I came back to where I started,” said Detmer. “It is the greatest feeling ever.” Many fans will be wondering in 2016 if Detmer can revive a program that has struggled for the past three seasons and maybe, another state semifinal appearance could be waiting for the first-year head coach. “I love this game,” adds Detmer. Like Detmer, McAllen Memorial head football coach Bill Littleton shares the same stories of playing high school football. It’s been 45-years since Littleton last wore his No.11 football jersey from Sanderson High School. A winless, Class 2A school near Del Rio, Texas, until head coach Willie Myers took over the program. It was then, Littleton knew that he wanted to become a head coach someday. “It’s been a long time since I’ve played high school football,” says Littleton. “Boy, did I love playing too. He inspired me.” Today, Littleton will begin his 41st year as a coach,and will begin his 14th season with the Mustangs in District 30-6A. Many head football coaches today, dreamed about coming back and coaching on the sidelines at the high school level. “It’s a game that we love so much,” says Brownsville Hanna High School graduate, Tony Villarreal. After 36-years of coaching on the sidelines, the current Weslaco High School head football coach has led the Panthers to numerous of district titles and playoff appearances, along with his state semifinal appearance while coaching at Port Isabel. Today, he is the winningest Hispanic head football coach in Texas with 192 career wins, but the most memorable moment in his career was coming back home to coach the Brownsville Hanna Eagles. “Coming back to coach at your alma mater is special. I was given that chance in my career and we even won our first district football title.” At Hanna High School, Villarreal was an all-purpose player while, longtime coach, Littleton played defensive back. “Those playing days are still fresh in my mind,” adds Littleton. Other coaches like Port Isabel High School head football coach, Monty Stumbaugh went on to play at the colligiate level. He played at Monterrey Tech back in 1980 while head coach Kevin Brewer from McAllen High School played for the TCU Frogs from 1991-95. Other coaches like Joe Marichalar (Edcouch-Elsa HS) and Abel Gonzalez (Grulla HS) both attended Texas A&I Kingsville and played football. “Those were great moments and experiences,” says Stumbaugh. “I share these moments with our students and I try to help each one understand that education is so important.” If any student/athlete is so grateful to what education really means, athletic director and head football coach, Roger Adame understands how education at the college level can always bring you back home. Adame graduated from Mercedes High School in Marcus Kaufmann
1992 Abilene HS
(PSJA North Head Coach)
Bill Littleton 1971 Sanderson HS (McAllen Memorial Head Coach)
Abel Gonzales 1987 Rio Grande City HS (Grulla HS Head Coach)
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Football Preview 2016
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1990, where he starred as a linebacker. Today, he is now coaching his own son, at Mercedes. “It’s special to come back home and see that this community believes in us as coaches,” adds Adame. In the offseason, the Rio Grande City High School Rattlers gave another alumni the same chance of coaching the team he once played for too. Aaron Garcia, a 1980 graduate from Rio Grande City High School will lead his team on the sidelines this season. Every coach that played high school football, at some point in their careers, all will agree that they were inspired by their peers. All will share the same grinding stories of hard-fought practices; all will share their stories of heart-breaking losses; and every coach will also share the glory of winning the big game. “Those Friday Night Lights were special to all of us,” said EdcouchElsa HS head football coach, Joe Marichalar.
Aaron Garcia 1988 Rio Grande City HS (Rio Grande City Head Coach)
Rocky James 1986 Harlingen HS
(Rio Hondo Head Coach)
Ron Adame 1985 Mercedes HS
Tony Villarreal 1976 Hanna HS
(Weslaco HS Head Coach)
Michael Uribe 1991 Harlingen HS
Ramiro Leal 1984 McAllen HS
(Donna HS Head Coach)
Joe Marichalar 1998 Ed-Elsa HS
(Sharyland HS Head Coach)
(PSJA Memorial Head Coach)
(Edcouch-Elsa Hs Head Coach)
Kevin Brewer 1991-95 TCU Frogs
David Duty 1985 McAllen HS
Monty Stumbaugh 1995 Monterrey Tech
(McAllen HS Head Coach)
(Hidalgo HS Head Coach)
High School Sports Magazine
(Port Isabel HS Head Coach)
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DISTRICT 32-5AAAAA
Mercedes Could Win It All
Head Coach: 3rd Season Roger Adame Jr Returning Lettermen: 18/15 Starters Returning: 8/7 2015: 7-4 5A DII Bi-District Finalist/ 6-1 District
(Mercedes, Texas)-For the past two seasons, head coach Roger Adame has led the Mercedes Tigers to the UIL State 5A playoffs and has added one district title to his trophy case. Now, in his third season, Adame will be looking to find a way to get past the “one and done” mindset in the playoffs and win an area title instead. The Tigers were a very young team last season after only losing one game in district play against Donna 28-21 and that team had twelve starting sophomores, who are all coming back as juniors. Led by junior 5A All-State LB Roger Adame (139 tackles) and junior QB Zach Gomez, named 32-5A newcomer of the year, threw for over 1,400 yards and 10 Tds last season. With another ten starting juniors added to the mix, Adame is hoping that this experience will knock off Edcouch-Elsa (10/14) and Donna (9/23) when teams collide in district play. The last time the Tigers went two rounds deep in the state playoffs was back in 2009 when they played Port Lavaca-Calhoun and lost 47-39. The Tigers will open against Calallen (8/26), Nikki Rowe (9/2), and Weslaco (9/9) before its showdown with Donna on September 23rd at home. Mercedes HS senior RB Issac Vela led his team to the UIL State 5A Division II Bi-District Championships. (HSSMImages/Alec Amador)
North Chiefs Solid As A Rock
Head Coach: 1st year Matthew Rokovich Returning Lettermen: 32/5 Starters Returning: 9/7 2015: 1-9/ 1-6 District
bring in the “Multiple I” offense formation. Leading the way at the line will be OT Juan Martinez and OT Luis Costilla making holes up front. On defense,
(Donna, Texas)-Don’t tell new Donna North High School head football coach Matthew Rokovich that his team will not have a chance to make the playoffs in 2016. He will only stare you down. “These players here at Donna North are great and that’s what makes great football teams,” says Rokovich. “Coach Rock” takes over a program that went 1-20 for the past two seasons and with nine starters returning on offense and seven back on defense, Rokovich believes they will be playoff contenders in District 32-5A. He hopes to bring his 32 years of coaching experience to the Chiefs as they have only won three games in their three years of existence. The Chiefs gave up 388 points on defense last year and managed to score just 140 points in ten games. The Chiefs were shutout twice in blowout losses against La Feria (66-0) and PSJA Southwest (40-0). Rokovich will Matthew Rokovich will take as the new Chief at Donna North High School. (HSSMImages/Alec Amador)
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August 22, 2016
Football Preview 2016
seniors S Alex Gonzalez along with DE Chris Villalobos and LB Jerry Sanchez should bring plenty of experience against opposing teams.
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DISTRICT 31-5AAAAA TDDAVE’S PRESEASON PICKS 1. MISSION VETERANS 6. VALLEY VIEW 2. SHARYLAND 7. LAREDO NIXON 3. RIO GRANDE CITY 8. LAREDO CIGARROA 4. ROMA 9. LAREDO MARTIN 5. PIONEER
www.HSSMLive.com
PRESEASON OFFENSIVE MVP
RIO GRANDE CITY-QB JASON PEREZ
PRESEASON DEFENSIVE MVP
ROMA HS-GERARDO GONZALEZ-LB
Nine Teams Ready For
Western Shootout
(Rio Grande City, Texas)- New head coach Aaron Garcia is confident that his Rio Grande City Rattlers football team will be much improved in 2016. He also feels that his junior quarterback, Jason Perez will gel with new offensive coordinator, Paul Reyes. Nine teams must be ready and confident to begin District 31-5A with Laredo Nixon, Laredo Martin, and Laredo Cigarroa all jumping in the mix of the district race along with Mission Veterans, Sharyland, Sharyland Pioneer, Valley View, and Roma. Last year, three teams finished tied for second place with 4-2 records while Edinburg Vela went 6-0 and won the district title. With Vela moving up to Class 6A, that leaves Roma High School as the possible frontrunner for its first district title. Chasing the Gladiators will be Sharyland, Sharyland Pioneer, and Mission Veterans Memorial High School. The Patriots back-up QB Landry Gilpin stepped in late last season and passed for 1,589 yards and he also rushed for another 895 yards and led them to a bi-district win over Donna. Head coach Dave Gilpin knows that he will have to make a game-day decision on whether to start his son Landry, or bring back Diego Hernandez. The 6’2 quarterback was off to his best season ever until an injury sidelined him after six games. He had already passed for more than 1,700 yards and 19 TDs. Don’t be surprised if the Patriots use both players under center. If there is one team that will be much improved, that team will be the Rattlers. The Rattlers missed the playoffs with district losses to Roma (19-14), Edinburg Vela (27-26), and Mission Veterans (14-3). HSSM previews District 31-5A... Jason Perez Rio Grande City H.S.
(HSSMImages/Alec Amador)
Andy Marroquin Roma H.S.
(HSSMImages/Alec Amador)
Landry Gilpin Mission Veterans Memorial H.S.
(HSSMImages/Alec Amador)
Edinburg Vela High School Robert Guerra (RB) enters his senior year as the top running back in District 316A. The Sabercats move up to Class 6A after competing in Class 5A. The Sabercats lost in the UIL State 5A Division I Regional finals to Austin Vandegrift 49-39. (HSSMIMages/Alec Amador)
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August 22, 2016
Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
Football Preview 2016
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North HS Talented and Improved...
DISTRICT 31-6AAAAAA
Sabercats Move to New 6A District
Edinburg Bobcats Could Be Better... Economedes Hopes to Make Impact...
(Edinburg, Tx)-The Edinburg Vela High School Sabercats have been one of the top football programs since 2012 despite go- ing 0-10 in their first year of UIL Football. Since then, they have gone 5-5, 10-2, and 12-1 over the past four years, including three-rounds deep last year before losing to Austin Vandegrift 49-39. Head coach Michael Salinas will see his team play in Class 6A, moving up from Class 5A. Many will say that “Class 5A is weaker than Class 6A” but, Salinas will tell fans “not true”. Leading the Sabercats will be senior running back, Robert Guerra (1,891 yards rushing 32 TDs) who will bring plenty of experience on offense. The problem on offense will be at the quarterback position. Fabian Pedraza graduated in May and with no one to fill in, the Sabercats will scramble, finding a quarterback who will take over duties. The Sabercats will open its season against Victoria East on August 26th on the road and will travel to Edcouch-Elsa on September 2nd for a great match-up and will end the non-district schedule at home against Brownsville Veterans Memorial on September 9th.
Edinburg Economedes HS Head Football Coach: Gabe Pena-5th year Record last season: 5-6 (3-3) 2016 Class 6A DI Bi-District Finalist Made back-to-back playoffs in 2012 and 2013
Edinburg North High School Head Football Coach: Rene Saenz3rd year Record last season: 3-7 (2-4) Made playoffs in 2014. Lost to Los Fresnos in 6A Bi-District Championships
Returning lettermen: 23 Playoff appearances:
Returning lettermen: 26 Playoff appearances: (10) 1992, 94, 96, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014
(3) 2003, 2012, 2013, 2015
Michael Salinas Edinburg Vela HS Head football coach.
(HSSMImages/Alec Amador)
Edinburg High School Head Coach: J.J. Leija 1st year Record last season: 1-9 (1-5) Returning lettermen: 30 Playoff appearances: 1936, 46, 53, 71, 77, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 90, 92, 93, 94, 98, 99, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011
Edinburg Vela High School Head Coach: Michael Salinas 4th year Record last season: 12-1 (6-0) Advanced to the UIL State 5A DI Regional Championships against Austin Vandegrift Returning lettermen: 35 Playoff appearances: 2014, 2015
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High School Sports Magazine
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