By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer
The Harlingen High Cardinals hit the practice field way before the sun comes up, but the early start doesn’t bother anyone.
Coaches, players and fans across the Rio Grande Valley have been waiting for the return of football and other fall sports, and the Cardinals aren’t taking their chance to play even a reduced schedule for granted.
“(Monday) was like the night before Christmas. We’re rocking and rolling in Cardinal land,” Harlingen High football coach Manny Gomez said. “I’ve been itching, knowing that there’s football out there. Not playing football in September felt awkward, it’s, like, the first time in 33 years that I’ve been involved with football that I wasn’t doing any football in September.
“We’ve been blessed with the opportunity to have seven games, so every day we’re definitely embracing it,” he added. “Can’t wait for our first game, which will be in Weslaco, but between now and then, we have a lot of little things we’re taking care of. It’s execution and effort and conditioning, and we all know that everybody didn’t have an offseason, so that’s not an excuse because everybody’s in the same boat.”
Gomez said the biggest asset for the Cardinals this season will be the continuity of the team, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines. Harlingen High has four returning starters on offense and five on defense, giving some young athletes a chance to fight for starting positions.
Senior linebacker Ezvyn Zuniga, senior Pedro Luna and junior defensive tackle Nathan Huerta — last season’s District 32-6A defensive newcomer of the year — will be leaders of the Cardinals’ defense. The offense will feature a lot of young skill players, so Gomez said receiver-turned-quarterback senior Joe Zuniga will be a key factor. Gomez said the offensive line, led by senior Hayden Mann, will be “one of the biggest offensive lines we’ve had in a while.”
“It’s going to be exciting. We got some kids stepping in that are excited about the opportunity, because that’s one thing about Cardinal football, you just can’t wait until it’s your turn,” Gomez said. “The quarterback has to be the guy that leads your team. (Joe Zuniga is) a kid who is a competitor. He saw first-hand Jaime Galvan’s ways and work ethic… he knows that he has big shoes to fill, but it’s like I mentioned to him, you don’t wear shoes, you wear boots now. He understands and he’s excited, and we’re excited for him.”
The Los Fresnos Falcons are starting bright and early, too. Coach Patrick Brown said the family-oriented Falcons were excited to be reunited for their first practice Monday morning, and he’s happy with the effort and participation displayed by his team so far.
“I don’t know who was happier, the coaches or the kids,” Brown said. “There was definitely an energy from the kids and coaches just because we hadn’t seen each other, and I think we’ve been worried about each other. When you’re in a program like this and you’re as close as we are, it’s just fantastic seeing everybody again. I know I have a pep in my step for sure.”
Los Fresnos is focusing hard on conditioning and getting its players to football shape in a short amount of time, and Brown said he’s “exceptionally pleased with where we are physically” considering the Falcons haven’t worked out in-person since March. They’ll open the season Oct. 23 against Brownsville Rivera, and there’s no room for error in a schedule featuring only district contests this unusual season.
“These first few games are going to be determined by who’s in physically better shape,” Brown said. “Right now, the very first game is everything. Generally, you have scrimmages and preseason games to move kids around and find out who your guys are, but we’ve got to do that in 2 ½ weeks. It’s a challenge, but it’s something I think we’re up for and we’re excited.
Brown expects the offense “to be really good this year.” The Falcons have nine returning starters on that side of the ball, including senior quarterback Adrian Longoria, junior running back Miles McWhorter, junior athlete Matthew Padilla and senior running back Chris Resendiz. Brown said the Falcons staff believes Resendiz “could be the best running back in the district.”
Senior defensive tackle Steven Atkinson and junior linebacker Greg Jones will lead a young defensive unit. Brown said Atkinson “is our best returning lineman and he’s going to be a stud,” and called Jones a Division I-type player with huge potential.
“If our defense can come up and help us out, I think we’re going to be pretty good,” Brown said. “I told our kids, how much fun would it be to spend Christmas weekend in San Antonio or Austin with your teammates playing a third-round playoff game? We think our district has several teams that could be a three-round-deep type, so that’s what we’re talking about. We want to be playing late into December, so we’ll see what happens.”