2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW September Issue 2018
Eddie Villarreal-La Joya HS
Jonas Ortiz-McAllen Rowe
Tate Scott-Vela HS
Alejandro Franco-Mission HS
Landry Gilpin-Mission Veterans
Ben Flores-Rio Hondo HS
Robert Amador-McAllen HS
Hearlin Benavides-Edinburg HS
Josue Martinez-Ed North
Jonathan Salazar-LJ Juarez-Lincoln
Brandon Rojas-Pioneer HS
Isaiah Garcia-PSJA SW
Trey Guajardo-PSJA HS
Frank Sauceda-PSJA North Simon Fernandez-Valley View HS
INSIDE LOOK 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A
The Schedules. District by District
The Preview. Tddave Knows Israel Rordiguez-La Feria HS
Mario Reyna-Economedes
Orlando Munoz-PSJA Memorial
Marc Buhidar-Freer HS
The Predictions.
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2018
Rio Hondo Bobcats
Raymondville Bearkats
LJ Juarez-Lincoln Zapata St Joe Academy Hidalgo Grulla La Feria Raymondville Progreso Port Isabel
Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28 Octo 5 Octo 19 Octo 26 Nove 2
Away Home Home Away Home Away Away Home Away
Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28 Octo 5 Octo 19 Octo 26 Nove 2
Home Home Home Away Away Home Away Home Away Home
Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28 Octo 5 Octo 19 Octo 26 Nove 2
Progreso Red Ants Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28 Octo 5 Octo 12 Octo 19 Octo 26 Nove 2
Taft Greyhounds
Monte Alto Blue Devils Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28 Octo 5 Octo 12 Octo 19 Octo 26 Nove 9
Premont Falfurrias MMA La Villa Taft CC London Santa Rosa Odem Hebbronville Banquete
Away Home Away Away Away Home Away Home Away Home
Aug 30 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28 Octo 5 Octo 19 Octo 26 Nove 2 Nove 9
Away Home Away Home Home Away Home Away Home Away
Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28 Octo 5 Octo 12 Octo 26 Nove 2 Nove 9
Lyford La Feria La Villa Progreso Odem Hebbronville Monte Alto Banquete Taft CC London
Odem Owls Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 20 Sept 28 Octo 12 Octo 19 Octo 26 Nove 2 Nove 9
CC West Oso Mathis Ganado Santa Gertrudis Santa Rosa Hebbronville Monte Alto Banquete Taft CC London
PAGE 4
Away Home Home Home Home Away Home Away Home Away
Freer San Diego Falfurrias Refugio CC London Santa Rosa Odem Monte Alto Banquete Taft
Bishop Badgers Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28 Octo 5 Octo 19 Octo 26 Nove 2 Nove 9
Home Away Home Away Away Home Away Home Away Home
Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 28 Octo 5 Octo 12 Octo 19 Octo 26 Nove 2 Nove 9
Away Home Home Away Home Away Home Home Away
Port Isabel Tarpons Brownsville Porter Valley View Hidalgo La Feria St Joe Academy Grulla Progreso Raymondville Rio Hondo
HomeAway Home Away Away Home Away Away Home
Lyford Bulldogs
CC London Cotulla Taft Aransas Pass San Diego Mathis Santa Gertrudis Falfurrias George West Lyford
Home Home Away Home Away Home Away Home Home Away
Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28 Octo 5 Octo 19 Octo 26 Nove 2
Aransas Pass Panthers
Hebbronville Longhorns
Santa Rosa Warriors Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28 Octo 5 Octo 12 Octo 19 Octo 26 Nove 2
John Paul II CC West Oso Bishop Hallettsville Monte Alto Banquete CC London Santa Rosa Odem Hebbronville
La Villa St Joe Academy Santa Gertrudis Academy Santa Rosa Hidalgo Santa Maria MMA Port Isabel Rio Hondo Raymondville
La Feria Grulla Lyford St Joe Academy Kingsville Orange Grove Rio Hondo Port Isabel Progreso
Rockport-Fulton Ingleside Refugio Bishop George West Lyford Falfurrias San Diego Mathis Santa Gertrudis
Santa Rosa Hidalgo Raymondville George West Falfurrias Aransas Pass San Diego Mathis Santa Gertrudis
Home Away Away Away Home Home Away Home Away
Falfurrias Jerseys Home Away Home Away Home Away Away Home Away Home
Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 28 Octo 5 Octo 12 Octo 19 Octo 26 Nove 2 Nove 9
Banquete Monte Alto Hebbronville Mathis Lyford Santa Gertrudis Aransas Pass Bishop San Diego George West
Home Away Away Home Away Away Home Away Home Away
Banquete Bulldogs Home Away Home Away Away Home Away Home Away Home
Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Octo 5 Octo 12 Octo 19 Octo 26 Nove 2 Nove 9
Falfurrias Santa Gertrudis Robstown Freer Taft CC London Santa Rosa Odem Hebbronville Monte Alto
Away Home Away Home Home Away Home Away Home Away
Santa Maria Cougars Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28 Octo 5 Octo 19 Octo 26 Nove 2
MMA Premont La Villa Progreso Three Rivers Ben Bolt Refugio Kaufer Freer
Away Home Away Away Home Away (At Rivera) Away Home
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE
La Villa Cardinals Aug 31 Sept 6 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28 Octo 12 Octo 19 Octo 26 Nove 2 Nove 9
Progreso Three Rivers Santa Rosa Monte Alto Santa Maria Agua Dulce Benavides Bruni Woodsboro Premont
Away TBA Home Home Home Away Away Home Away Home
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2018
30-6AAAAAA
31-6AAAAAA
32-6AAAAAA
Which Teams Five Straight will Make it... District titles? ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Can Edinburg win it all...
Corporate Offices 2416 South McColl Road McAllen, Texas 78504 956-278-1215
Sports Photographer/Editor
We Accept Major Credit Cards
16-5A DI AAAAA
16-5A DII AAAAA
Ten Teams, Only Four Playoff spots
Sharyland Could Make a run again...
Ruben Solis Jr., Agent 112 E. Expressway 83 La Joya, Texas 78560
956.584.3333
www.RubenSolis.com
CALL FOR A QUOTE 24/7.
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE
PAGE 5
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2018
PAGE 14
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE
Vela, Bobcats Favored To Run (Edinburg, Tx)-In only his first season as the head football coach at Robert Vela High School, John Campbell led his Sabercats to the third round of the UIL State 6A DII Regional Championships against 25-6A Austin Westlake. The Chaps ended the Sabercats run at a possible state title with a 70-14 win. “They were tough to play,” said senior linebacker, Luis Gutierrez. “Hopefully, this year will be different.” The Sabercats
will be gunning for another district title under Campbell and with non-district games against Laredo United, McAllen Memorial, Brownsville Hanna, and Los Fresnos, the Sabercats could go 4-0 before they meet Edinburg North on September 28th at Richard R. Flores Stadium. At quarterback, the Vela Sabercats could see two under center with sophomore Anthony Sotelo (5’10 165lbs), and Elijah Trujillo
Justin Cantu QB Edinburg Vela HS
Aaron Alvarez RB Edinburg Vela HS
Marc Esquivel MLB Edinburg Vela HS
Richard Campos SS Edinburg Vela HS
Micahel Balderas DT Edinburg Vela HS
Sergio Carrizales DE Edinburg Vela HS
Good Luck to All Teams!
www.MarioBaez.com
2015 East Griffin Pkwy Mission, Texas 956-827-0170 HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE
PAGE 15
are a senior ball club and we are excited about 2018,” says Lejia. The Bobcats return senior running back Hearlin Benavides (1,678 yards rushing 17 TDs), who had a spectacular season in 2017 and is expected to carry most of the load on offense. Another player to watch will be junior Erick Cano (558 yards 5 TDs).
“
At quarterback, the Bobcats look to make a third straight playoff appearance with Matthew Cruz (929 yards passing 4 TDs) along with wide receivers Richard Alaniz and Adrian Garza as the go-to-players. Last year the Bobcats gave up 254 point on defense with losses to Brownsville Lopez (28-24), Nikki Rowe
(30-9), Edinburg Vela (4321), PSJA (45-28), and Los Fresnos 34-14. The Bobcats will play four non-district games against Harlingen South, Brownsville Rivera, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, and Mercedes before opening their 2018 district campaign against Weslaco East on October 4th at Richard
We are senior ballclub and we are excited...
“
JJ Lejia
R. Flores Stadium. The Bobcats will continue district play with games against Edinburg North on October 12th and Economedes on October 19th. 2017 District 31-6A Final Standings Edinburg Vela** PSJA* Edinburg* Edinburg North* PSJA Mem Economedes PSJA North PSJA Southwest
12-1, 7-0 8-3, 5-2 6-5, 5-2 5-6, 4-3 3-7, 3-4 4-6, 2-5 2-8, 2-5 0-10,0-7
6A Playoffs Bi-District Championships Edinburg 14 Los Fresnos 34 Edinburg North 7 San Benito 50 PSJA 13 Weslaco East 49 Edinburg Vela 34 Hanna 32 Area Championships Edinburg Vela 28 Eagle Pass 10 Regional Championships Westlake 70 Edinburg Vela 14
EDINBURG HS HEAD COACH
**District Champion *Clinch Playoffs
Matt Cruz QB Edinburg HS
Mario Rodriguez MLB Edinburg HS
Jalen Arebalo WR Edinburg HS
Aaron Alfaro OLB Edinburg HS
Brain Salinas Edinburg HS
PAGE 18
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE
Panthers, Donna North, East Playoffs? (Weslaco, Texas)-Three Mid-Valley teams will move into District 31-6A in 2018 after the University Interscholastic League realigned all teams in February and will collided with all four Edinburg CISD teams. The Weslaco Panthers could be the team to watch in 2018 under second-year head coach Michael Salinas. The Panthers return with plenty of
lettermen, including junior quarterback Jacob Cavazos. The elusive QB was injured in 2017 but he will return as the “spark plug” of the Panther offense. Other players to watch are running backs Peyton Knaub and Roy Trevino. At Weslaco East High School, the Wildcats are playing, probably, its toughest non-district schedule under head coach Mike Bur-
get. The Wildcats will meet Manor HS in San Antonio, followed by Laredo Alexander at home on September 7th, Brownsville Hanna, and end their non-district schedule against Harlingen HS. The Wildcats open district play against Donna North HS on September 28th. The Donna North HS Chiefs found themselves former head coach from Edcouch-Elsa, Joe Marichalar.
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE
“We will be improving each week and I’m excited to be here at North,” says Marichalar. The Chiefs will play non-district games against Donna, Mission, Grulla, and Valley View High school. “We are rebuilding this football program and players are responding to our offense and defensive schemes,” adds Marichalar. The Chiefs will meet Edinburg North at home on October 5th.
PAGE 19
La Feria, Grulla, Hidalgo Much Improved
(La Feria, Texas)-New Season. New District. Five Teams. Only Four Playoff Spots open. That’s what head coach Oscar Salinas will be facing as his La Feria Lions begins its 2018 season. The Lions will begin its quest of defending their district title after finishing tied with Kingsville HS at 3-1 overall. Grulla and Zapata HS both finished third and fourth place. Leaving the Hidalgo Pirates out the State 4A playoffs for the fourth straight year in a row. Head coach Monty Stumbaugh has been trying to build a Pirate offense that has struggled to 1-19 overall for the past two seasons
and this year could be the season that Stumbaugh will lead the Pirates back to the state playoffs since 2013. Returning are QB Angel Lopez, RB Jose Figueroa, RB Bryan Aleman, and WR Gus Sanchez and WR Chris Delgado. The Pirates will begin their quest for a playoff spot when they meet Zapata at home on October 12th followed by a road trip to Rio Grande City to play Grulla HS on October 19th. A win in either game could get the Pirates back into the playoffs in 2018. “We are improving and hopefully, this will be the year,” says Stumbaugh. The Grulla Gators and head coach
Abel Gonzales will lead a much improved team from 2017 after finishing 2017 District 16-4A DI Final Standings Kingsville** La Feria** Grulla HS* Zapata* Hidalgo
7-5, 3-1 6-4, 3-1 5-6, 2-2 5-5, 2-2 0-10, 0-4
4A DI Playoffs Bi-District Championships La Feria 14 Rockport-Fulton 19 Grulla 16 Pleasanton 32 Kingsville 28 La Vernia 6 Somerset 33 Zapata 10 Area Championships Kingsville 7 Waco La Vega 54
The Grulla HS Gators will be looking for it’s third straight playoff appearance in 2018 under head coach Abel Gonzales. (HSSMIMages/RGCCISD)
PAGE 28
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE
Alexis Villegas Hidalgo HS
Moises Longoria WR Hidalgo HS
5-6 overall with a 4A DI playoff appearance in the Bi-District Championships. The Gators lost to Pleasanton 32-16 to end their state title hopes. Players to watch are QB Jose Trulio (6’0 160lbs), WR Jesus Garza Jr (5’10), WR Axel Garza (5’8), and QB/ SB Dillen Salinas (5’10). The Gators will open district play against Hidalgo on October 19th followed by a showdown at La Feria on October 26th for the possible district
Dorian Hernandez QB La Feria HS
Jarek Gonzalez T Hidalgo HS
Joshua Lee Martinez RB Hidalgo HS
title. At La Feria High School, head coach Oscar Salinas will be the team to watch as they make a run at the district title. The Lions will begin district play against Kingsville HS on October 12th followed by a tough road trip to Zapata High School. At quarterback, sophomore Dario Sanchez will take over at the top spot along with RB Avishai Dickerson, RB Darius Hernandez, and junior WR Caleb Flores. Joel Lopez takes over the Zapata Hawks
Noah Conde WR La Feria HS
Osbaldo Zuniga RB La Feria HS
Angel Pulido DL Hidalgo HS
football program and with a challenging non-district schedule against Rio Hondo, Crystal City, Laredo Nixon, and Robstown, the Hawks could find themselves seasoned once district kicks off against Hidalgo on October 12th. The Kingsville Brahmas will also be another team to watch with two quarterbacks battling for the top spot. Matthew Loera and Tarance Carter will be the players to watch in 2018.
Darius Hernandez RB La Feria HS
Bobby Fraga MLB La Feria HS
5342 E US Hwy Rio Grande City 956-487-4746
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE
PAGE 29