NATE KOTISSO | THE MONITOR
MISSION — Two things jumped out to Mission Veterans coach David Gilpin when he first heard about Mikey Garcia’s triumphs on a junior high football field.
“Speed and hands,” Gilpin said. “Mikey has speed, and you can’t coach speed. We’ve known that as he’s come through junior high. He’s been blessed with speed from his parents. He also catches the ball extremely well. He’s had good hands since he’s gotten here.”
Garcia has proven Gilpin right in his first full season at the varsity level. The sophomore led the Valley in receptions (63) and receiving yards (1,146) during the regular season. His 10 touchdown receptions were second in the Valley to PSJA High’s Nathan Sanchez, who had 11 on the year.
“Most likely,” Garcia said when asked if speed was his best trait. “I’m not big or that built, either. But if I have speed to get away from defenders, I guess that’ll work.”
Athletic bloodlines are firmly entrenched into Garcia’s DNA. His dad, Gilbert, was a former quarterback at Mission High. And Mikey Garcia’s mother, Sara Rendon, ran track for the Eagles.
“Ever since I started playing football, my dad’s been working me and working me to help me become a better receiver,” Garcia said.
Garcia’s football career began at Patriot Field — Mission Veterans’ on-campus practice field — long before he was a Patriot.
“I grew up playing here on this field when it was just grass in little league,” Garcia said. “I played up in the Boys and Girls Club with Landry (Gilpin). We were just a dominant team. We had basically the team we have right now back then.”
After his middle school career, Garcia joined little league teammates Landry Gilpin, wideout John Aguilar and linebacker Joey Garcia on the varsity level in 2016, but a fractured wrist suffered during a practice kept him away from the field all year.
“It was hard getting used to the feel of it,” Garcia said of the transition to varsity. “It’s a huge upgrade from middle school, where you’ll just have your parents coming to watch you, and now having more stands and more fans than before.”
Garcia started his varsity career against Harlingen High on Aug. 31, leading the Patriots with 85 receiving yards and a touchdown catch.
David Gilpin knew Garcia would have to step into the void left by graduating senior wide receivers Jacob Guerrero and Roman de Leon, who had combined for 2,319 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns in 2016.
“There wasn’t a question in our minds he could be great immediately,” David Gilpin said of Garcia. “One of the reasons we still felt good about what we were going to do was because of Mikey. What he has done this year, we expected. The touchdowns have been a plus. You never know if he’s going to have that many scores, but as far as number of catches and becoming a threat every Friday night, I’m not surprised at all.”
Garcia’s role as Veterans’ top receiving threat continued into an emotional bi-district round of the playoffs. The Patriots (10-1) played their first home game of the season at the renovated Tom Landry Stadium last Friday night.
The relief of finally coming home and the high stakes of playoff football didn’t seem to faze Garcia, who had six grabs for 74 yards and a touchdown in a 25-17 win against Brownsville Lopez.
“I have to bring all the emotions in, ball it up, and when game day comes, let it out,” Garcia said. “Usually, listening to old school Drake will get me there. Those pump up songs like ‘Headlines’ really get me ready for Friday night lights.”
Garcia and the rest of his Mission Veterans teammates will travel north to face Flour Bluff (9-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Hornet Stadium in Corpus Christi. The Patriots and Hornets have considerable playoff history dating back to the 2009 postseason.
Mission Veterans defeated Flour Bluff in last year’s area round by two touchdowns, but the Patriots are still 2-3 against the Hornets since David Gilpin took over as head coach in 2009.
“It’s definitely a confidence booster knowing that we’ve beat them before, but they’ll be pumped because it’s a home game,” Garcia said. “We have to be ready for whatever comes.”