BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
HIDALGO — It’s always easy just to assume, same old Hidalgo Pirates.
That’s not the case this year. Things are changing in a major way at Bill Pate Stadium, and that’s not just because of the new scoreboard.
“Our attitude is so much different,” Hidalgo coach Monty Stumbaugh said ahead of his second year at the school. “The kids’ attitude is better. The coaching staff is better. We finally understand the system.”
Seniors like Bryan Aleman and Napolean Garza have lived through some of the toughest days in the program’s recent history, and they are here to warn District 16-4A DI that the Pirates are a new team this year.
The stability of the same coach has allowed the players to buy in and give their max effort.
“In my sophomore year, coach (David) Duty was coach, and he told me to try to quarterback,” Aleman, a running back, said. “I did. I think we won one game that year. The mindset with Duty, I don’t think a lot of the players, like, trusted him. It wasn’t a good connection there. There were times guys didn’t want to show up, because they didn’t like it. It was a struggle. It was bad. It was really frustrating.”
Aleman was there, though, consistently trying to work with his team to get better.
“I definitely thought about leaving the team,” Aleman admitted.
“I couldn’t leave my teammates out there. I couldn’t leave the team. I am a pirate,” he said with pride, tapping the name of his team written across his chest. “I love this team. I had to keep pushing forward, but there were definitely some tough parts.”
Enter Stumbaugh, who came over from Port Isabel after 16 years. Stumbaugh entered with a 123-64 record at PI, where the Tarpons only missed the playoffs twice under his direction.
“We are a whole lot better than we were at this time last year,” Stumbaugh said. “This group is going to compete. Last year’s group played hard, don’t get me wrong, but it was a learning process.”
Last year, the Pirates went winless, 0-10. That misery is what brought them together.
“In the middle of the season, last year, the attitude was kind of changing,” Aleman said. “Everybody changed their mindset. There were still people who weren’t really feeling it, but we started talking to everybody, and everybody started to trust coach. It was really great, actually, to see everyone coming together as a team. Unfortunately, we couldn’t pull it together as a team before the end of the season, but when it was done, everyone was talking about it, talking about coach and how he is going to change everything around.”
“Midway was too late,” Garza said. “What we are doing right now is just incredible. This is the foundation for a great year.”
The vision the players had at the end of the year has come to fruition, as the Pirates look like they haven’t looked in years.
“I feel amazing this year. It’s way different than years past,” Garza said. “Just the way we practice, the way we played the last scrimmage. Everyone knows their assignments. Everybody knows what they have to do. It is incredible.”
The stability of the staff has allowed Stumbaugh to add some of his unique twists to the offense and defense. Aleman is one of the players tasked with implementing those new wrinkles.
“We are still going to run the football. That is what we do,” Stumbaugh said. “Bryan will be the lead runner. He is a great kid, and he works hard. He will be a leader for us this year.”
UNDER CENTER
The Pirates have multiple players they are trying at quarterback. Of course, under Stumbaugh, the position doesn’t require the most passing in the Valley. The trick for Stumbaugh is finding the right balance between run and pass in a quarterback.
The three players vying for the starting spot are junior Angel Lopez, senior Alexis Villegas and sophomore Victor Martinez.
“It is a good little battle,” Stumbaugh said. “They all showed some good things in the scrimmage, and they showed some things they have to work on.”
“They all have very different play styles,” Aleman said. “Angel is more of a throwing quarterback. Alexis is more of a runner. Victor is more of a dual threat. They are out there looking good, and they are doing their own thing.”
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Garza is one of the strongest players on the team. He can squat 545 pounds and bench 360.
But perhaps his best asset is his mental strength. Garza knows the system. He is like a second coach on the field.
“He gets that whole side of the line on the same page,” Aleman said.
“Napo is a great leader,” Stumbaugh said. “He will be on both sides of the line for us. We have some depth, so we hope to be able to find him some rest. But, honestly, he doesn’t even need it.”
Garza plays left tackle on the offensive line and defensive tackle on the other side.
“We are doing a lot of new things,” Garza said. “We have tweaked the system. The guys are picking it up, and we are ready to compete this year.”
HIDALGO’S KEY TO THE SEASON
Hidalgo appears to be jelling and finding the right mix. Coach Stumbaugh’s system is proven. If the Pirates can execute it, they will be in a good position to earn a playoff spot.
2017 record: 0-10
Returning starters O/D: 7/6
COACH’S TENURE
Coach: Monty Stumbaugh
Year at the school: 2nd
Record at Hidalgo: 0-10