Garza, Cardinals feeling good about season

HARLINGEN - Pablo Garza is all smiles.

He feels good. He's excited.

There's even a bounce in his step lately.

The Harlingen High Cardinals' junior running back is borderline giddy.

Garza was wearing his regular street clothes Tuesday at the Cards' training facilities when practice was delayed because of lightning in the area.

Garza looked like a powderkeg of emotion ready to erupt, and Harlingen coach Manny Gomez hopes he will.

Garza's day will come Friday when the Cards take on McAllen High at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.

"I just want to help out and be productive," Garza said. "I think I could really help out this offense. Murph (John Muprhy) is a great leader and we have an awesome offensive line. They're all a big part of this new offense."

Garza will start in his first game for the Cards as running back. He got some playing time last year as a ball carrier and even started at defensive back, but this will be his first start in the offensive backfield.

Garza did well in two scrimmages, and gained over 150 yards in less than 10 carries in an exhibition against Rio Grande City last week. He has speed (4.5), but he's also got power as he ran over his share of RGC defenders last week.

Gomez is just as excited to have Garza carrying the ball as anyone else involved with Harlingen Cardinals football.

"He's just an athlete," Gomez said. "We used him as a sophomore on defense because he was too valuable. I have that philosophy that you put your best 11 guys on the field. And he was one of them"

And he still is.

Last year was the first time Garza played defense since he started playing pee wee football. But Garza's always loved running with the ball and looks forward to a big season as the Cardinals running back.

"My only goal is to help the team win," Garza said. "I think we already have something to prove. McAllen has one of the toughest defenses in the Valley. Supposedly they're No. 1."

Garza is part of a new-look offense at Harlingen that was installed when Spencer Gantt was hired as offensive coordinator.

The Cards' new one-back, spread offense has looked impressive in the two scrimmages this preseason. While the new offense features a passing game, it opens up the ground game too and Garza is licking his chops at the opportunities that await him.

"I'm excited about him," Gantt said. "He's the prototypical kid for this offense. Pablo is to this offense like jelly is to peanut butter. He's got great speed and if he gets by you, he's going to the house."

Eladio Jaimez covers District 31-5A for Valley Freedom Newspapers. He can be reached at (956) 430-6885.