HIDALGO — The Hidalgo Pirates are no strangers to fielding a small roster Friday nights. With an enrollment of 1,089 according to the University Interscholastic League, the Pirates classify as a 4A program, dressing 45-50 athletes on average, head coach Monty Stumbaugh said.
This year, however, they are seeing below-average numbers following last season’s COVID19-marred year, with roughly 35 players.
“It changes a lot because we need to condition to go both ways,” Pirates offensive lineman Saul Hernandez said. “But we can deal with it. We’ve done this for a while now. For example, I’ve been going both ways since I was in junior high. A lot of these guys are used to doing it. Over here at Hidalgo, we’re used to playing both sides.”
They’ll be eyeing their third straight winning season under Stumbaugh, looking to build off earning a share of the District 16-4A DI title in 2020.
Hidalgo will have a pair of new faces in the backfield, graduating both their starting quarterback and running back.
Senior Steven Martinez and junior Anthony Nava will battle it out for the starting quarterback job, both receiving high praise from their teammates.
They’ll be joined by junior running back Jeremiah Zepeda, who takes over as the team’s workhorse.
A veteran offensive line will ease the transition for the Pirates, returning three of five starters, including Hernandez, a Texas Sports Writers Association All-State selection. Seniors David Garza and Isaac Longoria return to man the trenches alongside Hernandez, both earning all-district honors last season.
“A lot of us have been playing together on the O-line since junior high,” Longoria said. “It’s been good having that chemistry because it lets us focus on incorporating our new quarterback and running back. We’ve always had that good chemistry between us, being able to call out what we need to on the line really easily.”
The trio will also be called on to anchor the defensive line, joined by senior Dustin Earhart, a potential breakout candidate who tallied one sack and two hurries in three appearances last year.
Senior defensive back Hugo Jauregui, who nabbed a pair of interceptions last year, will lead an inexperienced secondary, while also seeing time at receiver.
The Pirates have spent the offseason focusing on conditioning more than previous seasons, with most starters expected to see action on both sides of the ball.
“We’re a little smaller than usual, but we’ve always had that challenge,” Longoria said. “What Coach Stumbaugh has made important to us is conditioning. It’s been a lot of conditioning and a lot of lifting.”
“I’m pretty sure we’re probably the most-conditioned school in the Valley,” Jauregui said.
Hidalgo kicks off the 2021 campaign with a non-district matchup Aug. 27, hosting Valley View at Bill Pate Stadium in Hidalgo. The Pirates will play four additional non-district games before opening District 16-4A DI play Oct. 8 against Grulla at Joe R. Sanchez Stadium in Rio Grande City.