By DAVE FAVILA
Staff Writer
Last season was a banner year for the La Feria Lions.
Not only did they go 10-3 overall and make it to the second round of the playoffs, the 2015 Lions also went undefeated in District 16-4A Division I play and won their first outright league crown in several years.
However, as far as Lions head coach Oscar Salinas is concerned, all that is ancient history. Although that’s not to say his 2016 squad isn’t eager to prove that last year was no fluke.
“We are extremely motivated to repeat what we did last year and I think our chances are as good as anyone,” Salinas said. “We’ve got a good ballclub and if we can stay healthy we can compete with anybody in our district.”
But if the Lions hope to repeat what they achieved last season, they will have to do so without several key weapons, especially on offense. Gone is star quarterback Isaac Galpin and running back Russ Gonzalez.
Fortunately, several key players are coming back this season, including wideouts Brandon Perez and Julian Trevino.
But who will be under center to throw to them with Galpin now a memory? And what about the ground game? Who will replace the hole left by Gonzalez?
“We will put Jonathan Leija out there as our QB,” Salinas said. “He looked good in our scrimmage against Brownsville St. Joseph last week and he’s got some good playmakers around him so he doesn’t need to always make big plays, he just has to maintain the game.
“As for running back, we have tabbed Darius Hernandez, who was a receiver last year. He moved over to running back. He’s an explosive kid who is fast and will be a good addition for us.”
In the Lions’ scrimmage against St. Joseph last week, Salinas said he was pleased with how the first team performed and liked the way the backups looked.
“What I’m most pleased with is the effort and the attitude the guys have given me so far,” Salinas said. “They could have come in with a big head after last season, but instead they came in with the attitude that they want to get better and they want to repeat (as district champs), so they are not cocky at all and they just have a great working attitude.”
The Lions’ preseason continues this Friday when they take on Brownsville Lopez. They then open the regular season at home on Aug. 26 against former district rival Raymondville.