RGV Since 1994
FOOTBALL
High School Sports Magazine
30-6A ROWE’S LEADING RUNNING BACK RAUDEL GARCIA
Tddave Makes Bold Predictions TWO-A-DAYS KICKOFF... HSSM’S TOP 10 1. SAN BENITO 2. WESLACO EAST 3. NIKKI ROWE 4. RIO GRANDE CITY 5. HARLINGEN 6. LOS FRESNOS 7. MERCEDES 8. EDINBURG VELA 9. MCALLEN MEMORIAL 10. MISSION VETERANS
FOOTBALL SCHEDULES TEAM BY TEAM POLLS COACHES PICKS AUGUST 2017 Edition
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2017
It’s Been a Great Run... Since 1994, I have had the opportunity to watch football players and athletes excel to their fullest potentials. I have written thousands of stories and have taken thousands of photos. Throughout this process, I have never experienced what it really feels like to be a fan in the stands. I have decided to become that fan for my family, and most importantly, my son. After much thought, I have decided to retire as a sportswriter and publisher from the field of sports. This will be my last season. This will be my final issue of HSSM’s Football Preview. As I put my business up for sale, for future growth for another publishing company or entrepreneur, I am proud of my accomplishments in the media industry. Looking back, I have had the pleasure of watching football players like Mission High School’s Koy Detmer grow from a teenage quarterback to a top-rated quarterback at Colorado. From there, he was drafted by the NFL Philadelphia Eagles. Today, he is now a head football coach at Mission High School. It seems, that no matter where we go, we somehow end up back in the Rio Grande Valley. A place many call home.
Throughout the years, it was difficult trying to be a fan for my sons who also played sports. They would watch their “Dad” get criticized for the stories I would publish. In today’s society of social media, many take to heart and write their feelings about what they think without realizing how they may offend the families of media members. The First Amendment calls it “Freedom of the Press” while those who express their feelings, call it “Freedom of Speech.” As I step away and become the true fan I want to be for my son, I will always cherish the moments of those who made an impact in my life. I thank-you for being part of my life. In turn, I will miss the University Interscholastic League and what they stand for as the governing body of high school sports in Texas. I will also miss the great people I have had the opportunity to shake hands with in my career. And moreso, I will miss covering the games as a sportswriter. By the grace of God, this will be my last season, I will retire in May 2018. But for now, its time to start becoming a true fan for my son. It’s been a great run. I never thought about retiring..Maybe...
Email story ideas to: hssmonline@Yahoo.com
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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE
CONTENTS
TABLE OF
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2017
18 Bobcats Back
25 Hawks Flying
AUGUST 2017
35 Tigers On Prowl
Wants District Could Be Bettitle next... ter in 2017... ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 32-6A Teams Ready...
tddave@highschoolsportsmagazine.net
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GRIDI
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2017
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rinding, grueling, gruesome, and those awful gnats. That’s what football players experience in the South Texas heat index of Two-A-Days. Football Two-ADays. Worst, it’s all aboutstaying Hydrated. The heat index in South Texas quickly climbed to 85 degrees in the early morning hours before Rio Grande City High School’s football team took the field for its first official practice of the
5A All-State LB/DE Roger Adame III will lead his 32-5A Mercedes Tigers this season. (HSSMImages/Alec Amador)
GRIN
STORY BY DAVID A. AMADOR HSSM SPORTS DIRECTOR
2017 season on Monday. The Rio Grande Valley’s fartest western team, next to Roma High School, faces the hottest climate in Texas. Temperatures can rise in August to 110 de-
“TWO-A-DAY
grees and for football players, it’s a grueling test when it comes to “Two-A-Days”. “We made the choice to practice in the early morning hours as the sunrises,” says second-year head football coach, Aaron Garcia. “It’s cooler and our players enjoy it. Yes, its difficult waking up at 5:30 a.m. every day, but, it beats the hot temperatures.” The first day of practices started on Monday, August 7th for all Class 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A teams and teams without spring train-
ing in Class 6A and 5A. The University Interscholastic League allows players to wear helmets with shorts and t-shirts during the first week of two-a-days with no contact amongst players. “This allows our players to adjust to the
Rio Grande City Rattlers Luis Salinas ready to lead team in 31-5A. (HSSMImages/Alec Amador)
IRON
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2017
NDS
YS IS A BI...!”
physical activitiy before wearing full equipment.” As the preseason gets underway, athletic directors, athletic trainers, and coaches shared tips for staying safe in the summer heat. High School athletic trainers and student trainers play a vital role to keeping and maintaining players to stay hydrated inorder to survive the grueling two-a-day temperatures in August. To stay hydrated, athletes must start drinking water before they set foot on the field. Drinking “pedialyte” the day before practices will help prevent dehydration, muscle cramps, and loss of nutrients. Once athletes arrive at practice, they must increase their water intake if they want to stay one step ahead of the heat.
The NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee recommends drinking 8-to-16 ounces immediately before physical activity, then 4-to-8 ounces every 15-to-20 minutes during physical activity. Teams can help athletes stay hydrated with frequent water breaks. At McAllen Nikki Rowe High School, second-year head coach Robert Flores will begin twoa-day practices beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the evening. “It’s all about the players and we want to make sure they stay healthy,” adds Flores. “It gets hot during the day and besides it makes more sense Defending 5A DI Area Champions, Mission Veterans Memorial and quarterback Landry Gilpin. (HSSMImages/Alec Amador)
HIGH
PAGE 7
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2017 A HSSM Selfie with Tddave! Teams from across the Rio Grande Valley attended the annual HSSM Photoday sponsored by Hacienda Ford in Edinburg. (HSSMImages/Alec Amador)
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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2017 Pre-Season MVPs Offense QB Zac Gomez-Mercedes HS Defense MVP Robert Cervantes-Edcouch-Elsa HS DT 6’2” 235lbs; Roger Adame III LB Mercedes HS
DISTRICT 32-5A Yellowjackets Bidding for Third Straight... HSSM’s Pre-Season Picks 1. Mercedes 2. Edcouch-Elsa 3. Brownsville Veterans Memorial 4. Donna 5. Donna North 6. Brownsville Lopez 7. Brownsville Porter 8. Brownsville Pace
(Edcouch-Tx)-In this tiny community of less than 8,800 in population, head coach Joe Marichalar has led his Edcouch-Elsa Yellowjackets to two straight Class 5A Division II Regional Championship games in 2015 and 2016. “It’s amazing with what we do here at Edcouch-Elsa. It’s all about pride,” says Marichalar. With an enrollment of just 1,401 students, the Yellow-
2016 District 32-5A Standings Mercedes Bro Veterans Ed-Elsa Bro Lopez Bro Pace Donna Donna North Bro Porter
7-5, 6-1 8-3, 6-1 9-4, 5-2 7-4, 5-2 3-7, 3-4 3-7, 2-5 2-8, 1-6 0-10, 0-7
The Playoffs Bi-District Championships
Mercedes 17 Sharyland 7 Shary Pioneer 28 Ed-Elsa 45 Mission Vets 35 Bro Vets 14 Bro Lopez 17 Laredo Nixon 23 Area Championships
CC King 28 Edcouch-Elsa 58 Mercedes 0 Calallen 49 Regional Championships
Edcouch-Elsa 0 Victoria East 48
jackets played Cedar Park on November 27, 2015 at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio, Texas with temperatures as low as 20 degrees and wet. “It was cold but we stood out there,” said Marichalar in their 42-0 loss to the eventual State 5A Champions. “We lost to state champions,” added Marichalar. Despite not winning the District 32-5A title in 2016, again, the Yellowjackets advanced three rounds in Class 5A Division II and played Victoria East and lost 48-0. “We are working harder to get to state,” says Marichalar. In 2017, the Yellowjackets will return 35 lettermen and with the loss of quarterback Marco Aguinaga, head coach Marichalar will take a look at prospects juniors Marco Barco (5’7 140lbs), Albert Trevino (5’8 150lbs), junior Christian Maldonado (6’0 145lbs), and senior Alejandro Hernandez (5’9 175lbs). Regardless of who starts at quarterback, the Yellowjackets will feature a potent backfield with seniors Jorge Gomez (937 yards rushing), and John Gonzalez (247 yards rushing).
Cesar Caceres E-E Alumni Class 0f 1976
Something to Smile About. Edcouch-Elsa HS head coach Joe Marichalar will be vying for a third straight UIL 5A Regional Finals in 2017. (HSSMImages/Alec Amador)
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