BROWNSVILLE — The Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers have solidified themselves as one of the more consistent football programs in the Brownsville metro area since competing in UIL in 2012.
No other Brownsville program has made the playoffs more than the Chargers in the last 10 years, Port Isabel and Los Fresnos have established programs outside of the city, but inside the city, Brownsville Veterans’ six playoff trips in ten years is on top.
With 16 returning starters and 34 lettermen coming back to a playoff team, the Chargers look poised for a District 16-5A DI title challenge and a playoff run.
The Chargers are the RGVSports.com’s No. 9-ranked team in the Rio Grande Valley.
“Expectations are a good thing,” Brownsville Veterans second-year head coach Kelley Lee said. “It means you have done something to warrant them, it is a privilege. Then, you have to work hard to try and live up to them. That is what we are trying, we take one practice at a time, one day at a time and get a little better each week.”
Expectations should be high at Brownsville Veterans, the 16 returning starters means the Chargers will be one of the most experienced team coming back to 16-5A DI, only Donna High equals that number.
Senior quarterback Reece Sampayo (785 passing yards, nine passing TDs) has plenty of weapons back in the triple option offense. Storm Montoya (835 rushing yards, five TDs), Jay Valdez (401 rushing yards, four TDs) and Michael Mchale (392 rushing yards, one TD) all come back after strong seasons in the rushing game and passing game for the Chargers in 2021.
Senior linebacker and fullback Bryan Chavez will also feature in the run game. Junior Gerry Gomez and Miguel Selvera are the two receivers that will receive looks this season.
Defensively in 2021, sophomores Gilbert Trillo (43) and Jaime Martinez (41) lead the team in solo tackling. Trillo also had four interceptions. Senior Garry Bardales finished last season with two sacks and 34 solo tackles.
The likes of Sampayo, Chavez, Trillo, Mchale and Valdez will be tested in their first non-district game at home against San Benito.
“Great opportunity,” Lee said. “When you play a program like that, that has good tradition and a good team, it is going to show you the areas you need to work on and expose those weaknesses right away, early in the year, so you can address them. You do not want to play a bunch of weak schools and then find out you have a problem weak five.”
The Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers’ best season of their short history came in 2017, the Chargers went 10-2 and 7-0 in district. They also picked up a playoff win over Laredo Nixon.
This could be the year Brownsville Veterans repeats history.