BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
PROGRESO — Progreso junior linebacker Isaiah Valdez doesn’t need anyone to explain what the significance of his team reaching the playoffs this year would be.
The often-referenced stat that Progreso hasn’t reached the playoffs since 1990 is etched in Valdez’s memory. Isaiah’s uncle Salome Valdez was on that team, which went 6-4 and earned a playoff berth.
“It would mean a lot to make the playoffs,” the younger Valdez said. “(My uncle) played linebacker, too.”
Salome has been a big influence on Isaiah’s life since he was young. Isaiah has always counted on his uncle’s support.
“He comes to the games when he can,” Isaiah said. “He is supportive, and he gives me pointers and stuff.”
Salome’s play helped drive Isaiah to the game at an early age. Isaiah started playing so young that it was impossible to play in Progreso at that age. He had to go to Weslaco to play on peewee teams. That’s where he first played with sophomore quarterback Josh San Roman.
“Playing varsity football is a lot easier if you start young, because I know how they play,” San Roman said. “I know what to expect from them. I wish I had that with everyone.”
The nexus between players that was forged on the peewee football fields of Weslaco shows on this year’s team, according to first-year coach Frank Martinez.
“Coming over here, I always felt like they were very big on soccer,” Martinez said. “But one thing about these kids is they love football. They start playing early, which makes me think, ‘How come they haven’t made it to the playoffs?’ Because the talent is there, everybody is here, and everybody gets along with each other because of how small the community is. Everybody knows each other.”
Junior running back and linebacker Jose Medrano referred to his teammates as his “family.” With only 38 kids at practice right now, it’s easy to see how such a deep bond is formed. The team is small enough that the players can all get together socially on the weekends, which only serves to build their unity.
“They are all my brothers,” San Roman said. “I am really close to everyone. For me, honestly, all of us want to break that tradition of losing. Not just for ourselves, but for the younger group, because we want them to follow in our footsteps.”
YOUNG GUN
San Roman played quarterback as a freshman, and it was his relationship with players like Valdez and others, who he has played with for years, that allowed him to take charge in the huddle.
“Josh is a great leader,” Valdez said. “He’s really good. He takes his role seriously, and he wants to win.”
Medrano, who will be a big factor on offense this year, according to Martinez, also has a lot of trust in San Roman.
“Me and Josh, we are really close,” Medrano said. “He is a really good friend of mine. We have learned how to bond together and be united.”
Last year, San Roman ran for four touchdowns and completed 24 of 63 passes for 319 yards and 2 TDs.
One of those touchdowns was incredibly memorable for San Roman. During the team’s Sept. 16 game against Hebbronville, San Roman launched a deep ball that carried more than 40 yards in the air. The pass was right on target to then-junior wide receiver Aldo Martinez.
Aldo Martinez couldn’t quite pull in the ball, but the carom off his hands fell to then-sophomore Edgar Melendez, who pulled it in and ran to the end zone.
“Everyone on the bench was pumped,” San Roman said. “They were all very excited, but not me.”
After the play, San Roman was lying face down, having taken a big hit from his blindside. San Roman said the hit had him smarting, but San Roman showed his toughness by not missing a snap.
YELLOW TINT
Frank Martinez takes on his first head coaching job this year at Progreso. Previously, he was the offensive line coach at Edcouch-Elsa.
“I was always at E-E,” Martinez said. “I played at E-E, graduated from E-E and came back to coach at E-E. This is the first time I am leaving my hometown, but the community has welcomed me, and I am excited about this opportunity.”
Martinez has already added some Yellow Jackets flavor to his new team. His offensive coordinator, Roel Sanchez, and his defensive coordinator, Rene Duque, both previously served on Edcouch-Elsa’s staff.
“All three of us worked together at Edcouch-Elsa for years, so it is a good relationship,” Frank Martinez said. “First of all we try to instill … commitment and consistency. Everybody, including our coaching staff, has to buy in. We are beginning to see it come together. We have high hopes for this season.”
PROGRESO’S PROGNOSIS
Sophomore quarterback Josh San Roman will need to lead the Red Ants’ offense if the team is going to end a 26-year playoff drought.
2016 record: 2-8
Returning starters O/D: 6/7
COACH’S TENURE
Coach: Frank Martinez
Year at school: 1st
Record at school: 0-0