KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN—-Harlingen South is in a position to make the playoffs for a second straight season. While the 2019 season has been a roller coaster, the Hawks are in control of their own destiny when they hit the field Friday night.
The case is simple; win and you are in. The Hawks will need to put together a complete game effort if they want to continue playing in November. One player that South will need to step up is senior linebacker Ethan Gonzalez, who is one of the team captains and leaders on the Hawks defense.
Gonzalez, who leads the team in tackles, is eager to help his team reach the playoffs. Still, this could be Gonzalez’s final week of practice, but it is something the senior isn’t thinking about.
“We feel good right now and everything is coming together,” Gonzalez said. “We will be ready. We are not thinking of this being our final week of practice; we are preparing and hoping to make the playoffs. We are treating Friday’s game like a playoff game because if we lose, our season is done.”
South’s defense is as seasoned as they come. Gonzalez got moved up towards the end of his sophomore year and has become one of the leaders on the defense. Along with Gonzalez, is junior hybrid David Cortez and senior Kike Alvarado.
The three upperclassmen have been key cogs to the Hawks’ defense.
“Ethan does a great job for us,” said Hawks coach Brian Ricci. “Especially this year, he has played very well. He has played disincline, he reads his keys well and has had a couple big games. We are proud of him and he is a leader on this defense for sure.”
Gonzalez is built for the linebacker position and stands at 6-foot-1 with quick feet and a nose for the football.
“He is a big guy, he works hard and worked hard all summer and did some speed training,” Ricci said. “All that work is showing on the field. He his faster than you think; he is sneaky fast.”
Gonzalez, who also played a little bit of baseball, is all-in on football. A Harlingen-grown product, Gonzalez attended Coakley Middle School and eventually found his way to Harlingen South.
His younger brother Roland, who is an eighth-grader at Coakley is one reason why Gonzalez plays. Gonzalez plays for his younger brother, who admires him and will eventually play for the Hawks.
“He looks up to me a lot,” Gonzalez said. “He goes to my game and I go to his games; it is a lot of fun and he is going to be pretty good one day, too. He plays linebacker, too, but he might move to receiver. Still, I’m proud of him.”
Gonzalez also looks to his mom Julie Gonzalez as an inspiration to play the game. Football has always been in the Gonzalez family and Ethan is humbled to continue that trend.
“I play for my family,” he said. “Everyone played football and my uncle played here at South, too. My mom has done a lot for me to get me to where I’m at today. My mom has played an important role.”
Gonzalez and the Hawks will hit the field Friday night at 7:30 p.m. against Hanna in the Valley Morning Star’s Game of the Week.