DONNA — It’s been three years since Donna High last qualified for the postseason, a drought for one of the Rio Grande Valley’s most storied programs. The RGV’s lone football state champion back in 1961, Donna is determined to return to its winning ways in 2019.
Senior middle linebacker Pedro Ramirez said there’s only one result he’s looking for at the end of the regular season, and that’s with Donna playing in the postseason.
“I’m one of the captains and I’m dedicated to do anything for this team to try to make the state playoffs. We haven’t made the playoffs these last couple years, this year I’m feeling pretty confident we can get it done,” he said.
Donna nearly ended the drought a season ago, but playing in the 10-team district of 16-5A-DI, there’s no room to slip. Donna dropped two of its final four games by a combined six points, and even though it finished with a 6-4 record, the team was left on the outside for last year’s playoffs.
“We felt really bad considering that we were so close getting in there; a field goal here, a play there could have made the difference between making the playoffs,” head coach Ramiro Leal said. “But that was last year. We have five guys coming back on offense, five guys coming back on defense and they’re hungry. When you taste it, when you’re so close to getting there and not getting there, it puts a little more fire underneath you to get over the mark into playoffs. We’re hungry. We’re used to making the playoffs, but it’s tough in this district. It’s a grind every week and they all count.”
Offensively, Donna will be relying on the big men up front as four starters return from the 2018 squad. Senior right guard Carlos Piñeda and the rest of the hogs are looking to establish the ground game right out of the gates this season.
“Our coaches tell us all the time: we have to come out and start getting after it. It sets a big tone to the game. If you come out strong, you’re going to finish strong. We’re excited and ready to go and hit,” he said.
The last time Donna was in the playoffs back in 2015, the team was led by running back/quarterback Amonte Bowen. If this year’s squad can manage to put Donna back in the postseason, another Bowen will have a large part to do with that.
Junior Avery Bowen has been tabbed as the starter for Donna this season and adds a dual-threat from the quarterback position.
“I feel great. We’ve been putting in a lot of work, now we’re just ready to come to play,” Bowen said.
Leal expects big things from him during his first year as a starting quarterback.
“We’re looking for big things from him; he’s a talented young man. He’s real similar to his brother, I think he’s even bit more shiftier,” Leal said. “The biggest thing for him is just getting adjusted to the quarterback position and all the checks and reads that he has. It’s hard to play quarterback, you have to be very savvy football-wise because there’s a lot of different coverages, different checks, but with the more experience he gets, the better he’s going to be.”
Leading Donna’s defense will be cornerback/safety Ethan Rodriguez, a three-year starter.
“Our defense was really strong last year, now we’re just going to try to capitalize and grow in every phase of the game. Our season came up short last year, but we’re going to use that to fuel us to get back into the playoffs,” Rodriguez said.
Donna will kick off its season with a three-team scrimmage as Edcouch-Elsa and Harlingen South visit Bennie La Prade Stadium at 6 p.m. Friday in Donna.
Donna is scheduled to open the season with a rivalry game as they’ll face Donna North in Week 1 at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 30 at Bennie La Prade Stadium.