By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
LOS FRESNOS — Los Fresnos has had some success over the past two seasons with back-to-back trips to the third round and some of those talented players have been rewarded.
Two of the Falcons football players, Sebastian Gonzales and Robert Ramirez, are going to the next level to continue their football careers after making their decisions official during a signing ceremony Friday.
Gonzales earned a full scholarship to play for University of Texas-Permian Basin, an NCAA Division II school in Odessa. As a senior, he was a standout linebacker that led the defense and earned honors on the All-Metro first team with 71 tackles, a sack and an interception on the season.
“I’m ready to work,” he said. “It feels like a weight off my shoulders … now that I’m here, I’m ready to go.”
Gonzales, who plans to major in English and become a teacher and a coach, chose Permian Basin because of its proximity to Los Fresnos.
“The free education was nice,” he said. “Staying close to home … that was a big factor. I don’t know if I’m ready for the next level, but I hope that I am. The coaches believe I am. I’m going to start at the bottom of the depth chart, but it only motivates me to work harder.”
Los Fresnos head coach Patrick Brown is sure he is and made sure the coach at Permian Basin, who coaches some of Brown’s former players, knew that as well.
“(I told him) this kid can play, I know it, I’ve coached some of these other kids that star for you that played for me and he’s as good, if not better,” Brown said. “He called me the next day and said ‘full scholarship.’”
The Falcons coach has been so impressed with Gonzales over the past two seasons that he has already extended an offer for his star linebacker to come back and coach when he’s finished with school.
“He’s the single best football mind I’ve ever coached,” Brown said. “He studies film like no one else. He audibled all our defensive calls, that’s not something most kids can do. I think he’s going to make an amazing coach one day.
“He’s incredibly special.”
Gonzales was taken back by his coach’s words.
“It was a humbling moment especially for someone you hold in such high regards thinks so well of you, it’s very gratifying,” he said. “Coach Brown has been the perfect father/head coach figure that you always thought of, he makes sure everyone works hard.
“He helped mold me into what I am … without him I wouldn’t be in the same place I am right now.”
Ramirez is headed to Texas Lutheran University, an NCAA Division III school in Seguin.
He was a versatile player that played on both sides of the ball, as a cornerback, a receiver and even returned kickoffs and punts. As a receiver, he finished his senior season with 30 catches for 390 yards and four touchdowns and even threw a 27-yard pass for a touchdown.
“It opens some doors for me … to get my education while playing football at the next level, so it’s a dream come true,” Ramirez said. “I’ve been working for this my whole life and it’s finally here.”
At Texas Lutheran, he’ll play as an inside receiver, but there is the possibility to move to defense as well.
“He’s such a dynamic player,” Brown said. “He stretched defenses for us.”
Ramirez plans to study kinesiology to become a physical therapist one day. The senior receiver said Brown’s influence helped get him ready to play at the next level.
“He teaches discipline, he made us do everything right,” Ramirez said. “Everything we do, we have to do it right, there’s no point in wasting time in life.”
Brown hoped that these signings helped younger players try to achieve the same goals.
“It’s up to these kids in the Valley to stick with it … it’s so important if they want to take advantage of it to stay full time,” he said. “It says if you put in the work, you put in the time and put in something solid on tape, you’re going to have an opportunity to play. These guys didn’t miss a workout all summer; they came during Christmas break and Spring Break.
“It’s a very proud day to be the head coach at Los Fresnos.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter, he’s @andrewmcrum.