By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

Christmas is still weeks away, but soccer players and coaches across the East Valley felt that same giddiness when the season started this week.

Monday marked the first day of practice for UIL soccer programs, and excitement was a common emotion radiating through local teams.

“It’s very exciting,” Harlingen South boys coach Julian Robles said. “I was looking forward to it, the kids were looking forward to it. We always wait for this time of year. Once the cold weather hits, you know soccer season is here.”

Added Los Fresnos boys coach Michael Miller: “It’s tough to put it into words. … There’s a lot of happiness, just being on the field and competing with each other.”

After having some limitations due to COVID-19 last year, East Valley coaches are glad to have tournaments back on the schedule. Teams are allowed to begin scrimmaging Dec. 10, and Jan. 3 marks the first day of games.

“(There) was excitement and anticipation,” Pace girls coach Jesus Villarreal said. “We wanted this season to get started already. … When time was up for us, nobody wanted to leave. It’s a very different season from last year. In a way, we’re back to normal. … Last year, most of the scrimmages and non-district got canceled because of COVID (issues for our opponents).

“This year we’re on a full load. We have four scrimmages, three tournaments, non-district. We’re getting ready for this season, and we’re very excited about it.”

The return of tournaments and non-district competition is especially important for programs in similar situations as the Hawks and Falcons. Both boys teams graduated double-digit seniors and have few starters back. Getting to face new teams this year will prepare area squads before district begins the week of Jan. 24.

“We’ve got a very young team coming in, and we’re just excited to get on the field and see where we’re at,” Miller said. “We lost 14 seniors from last year’s team, so a lot of players are looking to prove themselves and prove that even with all those seniors lost, they’re still ready to compete for another district title.”

Los Fresnos had more than 70 boys show up for the first day of practice. Robles said Harlingen South had around 95 participants with only three returning starters after graduating 13 seniors. Robles was impressed by the preparedness of his athletes and assistant coaches.

“One of the main things I liked was the effort and the total involvement, the devotion to the game,” Robles said. “I was really impressed by their work ethic, and that’s one thing we have here that puts us over the top. The vibe was really, really positive on Day 1.

“Our numbers were incredible. It builds a lot of competition. The kids did the conditioning, all the running, and they did an incredible job, so I was very pleased with the first day.”

The La Feria Lionettes also had a strong turnout to open their season Monday. Coach Jesus Echevarria said his staff has made it clear already that reaching the postseason is La Feria’s main focus, and he’s thankful to have a full non-district slate that will help the Lionettes reach that goal.

“We had a great first day of practice/tryouts on Monday,” Echevarria said. “The girls came out ready to work and put forth a great effort. We are fortunate to have the numbers we had for tryouts. It is actually one of the highest number of participants we’ve had. …

“We have a talented group of ladies, and our goal is to be at a highly competitive level when the playoffs come around. Looking forward to the team staying healthy, injury free and having our best season yet.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

It’s nearly impossible for Brownsville Pace coach Jose Luis Ramirez to keep his Vikings out of the gym.

Even on Thanksgiving Day, his players were blowing up his phone, wanting to get some work in.

That endless passion for basketball is something observers can feel when watching the TABC Class 5A No. 24 Vikings in action. Pace’s will to win fueled its suffocating defense Tuesday, leading to a 73-52 non-district victory over the Los Fresnos Falcons at home.

“They put in a lot of work, unbelievable work,” Ramirez said. “Every day they come in here and they grind. It’s a special group, and I know they look great on the floor because they hustle. They love to win, and they hate to lose.

“Every game we get to play is an opportunity for us to get better and grow,” he added. “I know there’s a lot of hype about this team, but we don’t pressure ourselves like that. We don’t look at that. We believe we’re great, but at the same time we have to be humble and know that each night we have to prove ourselves.”

Los Fresnos jumped out to a 5-0 lead behind a good start from Roger Capetillo and Darius Garcia, who competed on the boards. The Vikings responded with a 7-0 run sparked by Cristian Guajardo and Dax Delgado.

The Falcons used crisp passing to create scoring opportunities in the paint to regain the lead midway through the opening quarter. Then, Pace’s defensive fuse was lit, and the Vikings dominated the rest of the first half to take a 37-18 advantage at halftime.

Elias Fortaneli, Alexander Agado and Tyler Rudder led the defensive charge, staying low and using their active hands to swipe steals and force poor passes and turnovers. Delgado and Chase Morales cleaned up the rebounds, and played good defense inside against Los Fresnos’ size.

Pace monopolized the momentum and went on a 20-0 run that carried into the second quarter. Guajardo scored 16 of his 27 points during the first half, driving through double teams for layups and knocking down deep 3-pointers. He hit five from behind the arc and dished out a handful of assists as he anchored Pace’s consistent offensive production.

Delgado and Benny Villarreal combined to score 10 points inside the paint as they muscled their way to rebounds and kissed strong drives off the glass.

“Relentless defense. We swarm. If somebody loses a man, someone else is going to be there to pick them up,” Ramirez said. “That’s what we live on. We have prolific scorers, we have guys that can run the floor and finish layups and make free throws, shoot 3s. We have all the things offensively, but it all starts with our defense.”

Capetillo, Garcia and Keane Ogao sparked Los Fresnos’ fight during the second half. The Falcons showcased their defensive abilities and held Pace to its lowest offensive production in the third quarter, allowing only 15 points. Los Fresnos forced some turnovers and swarmed to the ball to keep the Vikings contained.

Capetillo (14 points) used his size to battle for rebounds and plow through Pace’s defense to the basket. He scored 10 points during the second half and finished consecutive strong drives to start the fourth quarter, trimming the deficit to 11 points. Garcia and Ogao also rebounded well and showed their handles to create space and knock down shots.

“I called them out at halftime,” Falcons coach Marco Hinojosa said. “I asked them to step up to the challenge and play as hard as (Pace was) playing, and the second half they did that. I don’t mind losing as long as we compete, and they competed in the second half, so I’m proud of the way they finished the basketball game (and) for responding at halftime.”

Pace opened things up again behind a strong fourth quarter from Morales and Rudder. The Vikings controlled the game’s tempo in all but the third quarter, racing up the court with long feeds after defensive rebounds and distributing the ball to their many scorers.

Even with subs closing out both halves, the Vikings kept Los Fresnos in check and turned in an impressive performance from start to finish.

“Pace is just a phenomenal team. My hat’s off to them,” Hinojosa said. “They should be doing some special things this year. They’re in 5A, not in my district, so I’m 100 percent rooting for them. Coach Ramirez was one of my old high school coaches, and I’ve got nothing but respect for him and his program.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

The Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers held off a tenacious Brownsville Rivera squad to claim a 46-40 victory in a competitive non-district contest Saturday.

“It was good to see because lately we’ve been struggling on finishing out second halves,” Chargers coach Albert Briones said. “We just got to be more disciplined. When we have control of the game, we got to keep it. … We were the aggressor a little bit more, but we still need a lot of work.”

Brownsville Veterans took a 14-5 lead during the first quarter behind crisp ball movement that opened up the paint. The Chargers used their size and physicality under the basket to bring down a plethora of rebounds, anchored by Alex Ocampo and Pablo Castaneda, who scored six of his 10 points in the opening frame.

“We emphasize we have to get inside touches,” Briones said. “We finally started getting some touches in the mid-post, high post and the short corners, and it opened up the game a little, better looks. We just didn’t shoot the 3-ball well today, and it hurt us.”

The Chargers’ defense gave Rivera fits, keeping the Raiders from executing in a half-court set. Instead, they threw up contested shots that bounced off the rim. Ramsey Rocha scored the only Rivera points during the first quarter.

Campy Rodriguez contributed immediately off the bench to keep Brownsville Veterans’ momentum rolling in the second quarter. Rodriguez, Rodrigo Castaneda and Kenny Davis played well to force a Rivera timeout.

Then, Rivera’s defense took over. Alek Guzman, Rafael Smith and Enrique Lozano led an effective Raiders defense that forced the Chargers to rush and get sloppy. Rivera forced several turnovers with its full-court press, but it couldn’t finish at the basket. Irineo Acevedo battled BVM’s size in the paint and increased his rebounding efficiency.

Rivera’s big three of Rocha, Acevedo and Guzman got going during the third quarter. The Raiders leaned on a stellar defensive performance in the frame, forcing the Chargers to commit turnovers and take poor shots that were cleaned up by Acevedo and Sebastian Mejia.

As the rebounding improved, so did the offense — Rivera outscored Brownsville Veterans 14-9 in the third and got within two points of the lead.

“A lot of defense, a lot of boxing out,” Rivera coach Jesus Alvarez said. “We were trying to pick up the intensity and convert off those turnovers. We created turnovers but we couldn’t finish. Missed a lot of layups and free throws, and we’re not going to win ball games like that. Kids played hard. They left it on the floor, and we gotta be proud.”

Davis and Oscar Anzaldua came up big for the Chargers during the final frame to hold on to the victory. Brownsville Veterans settled back down and passed the ball well to create scoring opportunities. Anzaldua’s energetic playing style benefited his team on both ends of the court, and he scored all five of his points in the fourth to open the lead back up.

Again, the Raiders’ defense made things tight during the final two minutes. The full-court press forced a five-second violation on a Chargers inbounds attempt, then Rocha and Smith pulled down rebounds and made clutch shots consecutively to cut the deficit to 43-40.

Davis (10 points) and Pablo Castaneda (10 points) secured the win in the final minute. The big duo, along with Nick Fuentes, locked down the paint and pulled down rebounds to keep Rivera from getting extra chances after missing rushed shots.

“(Davis) stepped up really well,” Briones said. “He’s been in and out of the starting lineup, but whether he starts or comes off the bench he needs to be that catalyst.

“If we miss shots, he has to be the guy with offensive rebounds and putbacks. There at the end they were beating us to the boards … so we needed more inside presence on both ends, and when he did get set up, he got some big-time boards that we needed.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

LOS FRESNOS – Los Fresnos coach Marco Hinojosa has been wanting more from his Falcons in this young season.

They answered the call in a non-district matchup with McAllen Rowe on Friday, leaning on an aggressive defense to capture a quality 69-48 victory.

“Rowe’s a first-class organization,” Hinojosa said. “We schedule them every year because they’re pretty damn good. I’m proud of my kids today because they stepped up to the challenge.

“We’ve been challenging the kids all week, calling them out all week. They need to get better. It’s a work in progress, and we tell the kids trust the process. This is just a little step in the right direction, and we still have work to do.”

Rowe’s Emiliano Ramirez controlled the offensive and defensive boards to start the contest, helping the Warriors take a small lead.

But Los Fresnos turned up the intensity on defense and completely dominated the rest of the first quarter behind an inspired performance from JJ Salazar. The sophomore notched blocks, steals and deflected passes, then he cashed the stops in on the other end of the court.

Salazar scored nine of his game-high 25 points during the frame and dished out assists to get his teammates going, leading to an 18-0 run that put Los Fresnos firmly in control. Salazar continued to slice up Rowe’s defense throughout the game.

“JJ is a special player. I’m glad he’s on our team,” Hinojosa said. “Nobody has it harder on this team than him because I’m very hard on him. He takes it with a positive. He’s very unselfish, a team-first type of guy.”

The Warriors fought back in spurts throughout the second and third quarters, but the Falcons didn’t let the lead dip below eight points. Roger Capetillo and Keane Ogao were productive on the boards, allowing Los Fresnos to clean up misses on both ends to maintain possession. The Falcons consistently swarmed to the ball, causing turnovers and poor passes from Rowe.

“We turned the ball over too many times against a team that was fired up to beat us. I don’t think we ever got into a rhythm,” Rowe coach Jose Luis Yebra said. “We talked about getting the ball inside (at halftime), and we did a couple of times and that opened up our outside game. But we didn’t do it enough. We still got a lot of work to do.”

Rowe came out of halftime and battled well during the third quarter. The Warriors played solid defense to slow the Falcons in a halfcourt set, swiping some steals and forcing Los Fresnos to cough up the ball a few times. Justin De Luna, Elijah Alcantar, Daniel Fraire and Julian Avila made good defensive plays and knocked down some key shots to find some momentum.

Luis Guerra turned the tides back in Los Fresnos’ favor with a steal and a pair of free throws. The Falcons opened things up as Salazar and Capetillo (10 points) dominated the fourth quarter. Los Fresnos hauled in rebounds with high frequency and took care of the ball in a strong effort from start to finish.

“We’ve been up several times at halftime in scrimmages, games, and we don’t know how to finish. They showed a good sign turning the corner by finishing today strong and not letting their foot off the gas,” Hinojosa said.

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

Twelve teams competed in the Coastal Bend-Rio Grande Valley Thanksgiving Basketball Classic on Tuesday in the East Valley.

Los Fresnos and Brownsville Veterans Memorial hosted three games apiece, each pitting one RGV team against one Corpus Christi program. The two areas split the six-game set, each winning three matchups.

The Los Fresnos Falcons played the first game at the Los Fresnos United dome and lost 73-56 to Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial. It was a close contest early, but the Eagles wore down the Falcons to open things up during the second half.

“Vets is a first-class organization. We wanted Vets, and I know they say be careful what you wish for, but that’s the only way you’re going to get better,” Falcons coach Marco Hinojosa said. “I think the kids got better at the end of the day. You learn from today, so that’s a win in my book.”

Roger Capetillo, JJ Salazar and Luis Ramirez led Los Fresnos’ effort and sparked a 32-30 lead at half. The Falcons increased their rebounding production and finished strong drives to keep things tight.

But CCVM’s full-court press made Los Fresnos a little sloppy with its passing during the fourth, and the Eagles were efficient in their half-court set. They continued to play fast and aggressive as the Falcons fell behind to put the game out of reach.

“They started pressing, and we couldn’t handle the press,” Hinojosa said. “It’s early in the season and we’ve got some things to work out, but we’ll be fine.

“It was two good teams going at it for two and a half quarters. They caused havoc, and we coughed it up and those added up quick.”

The Chargers battled in a down-to-the-wire 54-52 loss to Corpus Christi Miller. Brownsville Veterans played aggressive defense but committed a lot of fouls, of which the Buccaneers took advantage. Miller was 14-for-18 at the free-throw line.

Gerry Castaneda led the Chargers with 19 points. Oscar Anzaldua and Nick Fuentes were catalysts for the defense and knocked down some big shots. The Chargers had some issues with Miller’s size in the paint, particularly down the stretch when they struggled to create scoring opportunities.

Harlingen High closed the afternoon by defeating Corpus Christi King 49-46. The Cardinals outscored King 17-6 during the fourth quarter to complete the come-from-behind victory.

“We were down in the fourth quarter, and just the resiliency of the team continuing to play hard was great to see and is going to pay dividends later in the season,” Cardinals coach Clayton Cretors said. “Playing a team that is from outside the area is always good. You get to see different looks, different matchups, different type of athletes. We played as hard as we could, and we were fortunate to come out with a ‘W.’”

The Cardinals didn’t shoot efficiently during the first half as King contained the outside shooting and forced them inside. Shots bounced off the rim and turned into transition points for King as it outrebounded Harlingen High early.

Ryan Sanchez, Dallas Gilbert and Jayden Rendon were a few of Harlingen High’s top performers. The Cardinals trailed by eight heading to the fourth quarter, and Rendon’s play inside the paint helped slow down King’s top scorer and gave Harlingen High the ball. Sanchez and John Salinas combined to score 11 of Harlingen High’s points during the final quarter.

“Credit King for challenging us on our shots and making it difficult. They didn’t give us any open look,” Cretors said. “We got some guys who can knock down shots, so we told them to continue looking for a shot and shoot with confidence, and in the second half a couple guys were able to find some rhythm and put the ball in the hole.”

Other games in the classic included Harlingen South defeating Corpus Christi Ray 81-46 and Weslaco East topping Corpus Christi Carroll 81-37. Mercedes lost 63-54 to Corpus Christi Moody.

Hinojosa said Miller coach Maurice Bastian suggested the event, and he immediately thought it was a good idea and jumped on board. Coaches felt it was a good way to see some new things and challenge their teams. The 2022 Coastal Bend-RGV classic is in the works to be played in Corpus Christi.

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

The Los Fresnos Falcons ran into a freight train when they faced Northside Brennan in the area round Saturday at Farris Stadium in San Antonio.

The unbeaten Bears (12-0) cruised to a 63-10 victory, ending Los Fresnos’ season at 7-4. Even though it’s over, the Falcons felt they had much to be proud of.

“When you have a combination of athleticism like Brennan has and great coaching and a certain mojo they’ve got, it’s tough. Early on they got momentum, and it was difficult to stop,” Falcons coach David Cantu said. “(Falcons players) put L.F. football where it’s been in the past. To be the team that does that is difficult, because it takes a lot of persistence and sacrifice. They did all the little things right to create this kind of season, which was a special one.”

Brennan scored on five of six first-half possessions to take a comfortable 35-0 lead by halftime. Junior quarterback Ashton Dubose led the effort, accounting for four touchdowns.

Dubose put the first points on the board with a 10-yard rushing touchdown. Then he tossed three straight touchdown passes, two to senior receiver Chase Campbell and one to junior receiver Aaron Dubose. Sophomore running back Jason Love tacked on a 1-yard rushing score after Ashton Dubose connected with senior Marvin Hill on fourth down.

Los Fresnos started blitzing often to slow the Bears with aggressive pressure, holding Brennan to a field goal attempt that was missed just before halftime. Senior linebackers Greg Jones and Samuel Burton rushed Ashton Dubose out of the pocket and recorded good tackles.

“I felt great,” Jones said. “I was just out there playing with my brothers, trying to give it my all and keep this train going. Unfortunately ended up with a loss, but we played our hearts out. Would’ve liked a better result, but I wouldn’t want to be here with anyone else.”

As the Falcons headed to the locker room, the large fanbase stood and cheered for their team. Announced attendance was more than 2,800, with a hefty portion of those supporters cheering in maroon and gold. Cantu said it was their consistent support that kept Los Fresnos fighting during the second half.

“When we were down 35-0 and our whole entire crowd gave them a standing ovation, I got chills and the kids understood what that was all about,” Cantu said. “The second half was about playing for all these people who came to support them and love them. Not getting overly frustrated, staying together, staying united (was important in the second half). It’s difficult against this kind of team, but the kids kept a good mindset throughout.”

The Falcons scored twice during the fourth quarter. Senior quarterback Matthew Padilla ran hard throughout the contest and got the chains moving in the second half, using his speed to beat Brennan on the edge. Padilla spoiled the shutout with a 13-yard rushing touchdown, then sophomore kicker Jose Contreras nailed a 38-yard field goal.

Senior running back Hector Muniz broke off some big runs during the second half. Senior receivers Edsson Picazo and Cody Taylor blocked well to aid Padilla and Muniz when running to the outside. Brennan’s defensive front kept Los Fresnos from finding much success running up the middle.

The Ashton Dubose show continued in the second half as he added three more touchdowns to his stellar game. He notched a 52-yard rushing score and two touchdown passes to Campbell and Jaheim Lard. Brennan tacked on a late rushing touchdown with subs playing during the fourth quarter.

Senior linebacker Santiago Cruz and junior defensive backs Tyler Turner and Malik Tolbert, along with Brennan’s physical D-line, led the Bears defensively. Brennan recorded three turnovers, all interceptions, from Tolbert, Turner and Gavin Ramos. Turner’s pick was on a heave to the end zone to end Los Fresnos’ first trip to the red zone in the third quarter.

RJ Limon, Jayden Moreno and Ethan Gonzalez also played well defensively for the Falcons. Jones and Burton continued to make their presence known to the very end. Senior linebacker Fernando Pino recovered a fumble during the fourth quarter, setting up the field goal.

Los Fresnos is graduating a substantial number of playmakers, and the impact they had on the program to help the turnaround in Cantu’s first year is undeniable.

“Coming into this season, we knew we were going to have to turn things around because the past couple years have been mediocre at best. I feel like we did that,” Jones said. “We were building blocks, so hopefully the next players that come through here will have something to build on.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

LOS FRESNOS — The Los Fresnos Falcons have been surprising doubters, and even themselves, all season.

They went on a five-game winning streak after dropping two in a row, setting themselves up to play for a share of the District 32-6A title. Then, they rolled to a blowout 56-14 victory over Mission High in the bi-district round.

Los Fresnos (7-3) hopes to shock people again when it battles Northside Brennan (11-0) at 2 p.m. today at Farris Stadium in San Antonio in the area round.

“We’ve been looked at as the underdogs this whole year, so it’s nothing new to us. It doesn’t faze us,” senior Hector Muniz said. “They’re a good team and so are we, so we’re just going to stick to the game plan. I know it’s a big game, but we’ll treat it like it’s a regular one. Soak it all in.”

Muniz is a versatile weapon for the Falcons, making plays as a running back, receiver and corner. He has shined particularly bright on offense and feels this season has showed off his athleticism and maturity.

This season has been the most successful and special for Muniz during his Falcons football career. He said the team’s chemistry and willingness to “fight together and succeed together” instead of playing as individuals has been key.

“I wish I would’ve had more time on offense in my past years, but I feel I’ve shown people what I can do,” Muniz said. “I’ve learned how to keep my composure. I (used to) lose my cool after one bad play. Now I shake it off and bounce back. … I’m trying to make the most of (this season), and hopefully things keep going. It’s a new L.F. Until the wheels fall off.”

Los Fresnos’ defense and special teams have anchored the team’s strong performances this season. The Falcons believe they have an edge over Brennan on special teams, and a big part of the unit is linebacker Jayden Moreno. The junior is also a playmaker on defense, and he feels Los Fresnos’ mentality and physicality can lead it to victory.

“Our perspectives really changed because of COVID. We all came out with integrity and wanted to play hard,” Moreno said. “We usually stay constant, make sure we’re on top of things. We don’t like to mess up. I personally feel like other teams haven’t hit (Brennan) as hard as our defense is going to hit them. They don’t push as hard as we do. We’re going to have a good game, win or lose.”

Junior linebacker RJ Limon is another impactful athlete on defense. He credited defensive coordinator Brent Blackman for making the defense as dominating as it is and believes the Falcons will bring a different challenge than Brennan has seen before.

Limon is excited to experience the area round for the first time and likes his team’s chances on the big stage.

“Day 1, I felt we were not going to be this great. Coach Blackman kept pushing us and pushing us to be what we are now,” Limon said. “(Brennan hasn’t) played a team that does what we do. Their running game is really good, they have a lot of athletes. I’m strongly confident in our D-line and our box that we can stop the run as much as possible.

“Lots of people didn’t expect us to do what we did, and it’s crazy to be here,” Limon continued. “It feels amazing. We’re ready and we’re coming.”

First-year Falcons coach David Cantu said his players learned to “never (let) anyone in life allow you to feel inferior” throughout various obstacles this season. That confidence culminated in a total team effort in the impressive bi-district victory. And that confidence will lead Los Fresnos to leave everything on the field as it fights to keep this season alive.

“The belief ultimately had to come from the kids, and that started with the seniors and certain leaders we have on this team in Greg Jones, Matt Padilla, Hector Muniz, Rex Halford, Cody Taylor and Ethan Gonzalez,” Cantu said. “Once those guys truly in their hearts believed in what they were doing, that’s all they really needed because it’s a talented team.

“All three phases finally clicked (against Mission High),” he added. “It’s usually defense dominated, or special teams had huge plays, but finally offense kicked in pretty consistently as well. And when that happens, if we can do that again, we have a chance.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

A high-scoring first half lifted the Geronimo Navarro Panthers to a 55-7 victory over the Port Isabel Tarpons in a Class 4A Division II area-round contest Friday in Beeville.

The Panthers advance to the regional quarterfinal round to face Sinton. Port Isabel ends its strong season at 8-4 after losing in its first area appearance since 2013.

“You have to execute offensively and defensively because they’re a very good team,” Tarpons coach Tony Villarreal said. “They’ve been to the quarterfinals the last four years, and you could see why.”

The first half was a highlight reel for the Panthers as they opened a 49-0 advantage. Port Isabel only stopped Navarro from scoring on one drive, when senior defensive end Kaiden Martinez forced a fumble that was recovered by senior defensive back Christian Aguilera.

Whether it was rushing or passing, Navarro moved the ball rapidly downfield. Senior quarterback Nick Billings twice delivered touchdown passes to senior tight end Seth Rodriguez on the first play of a drive, taking advantage of an incorrect coverage scheme. Colton Chambers, Antwoin Mebane, Cole Mouser and Diego Chapa each scored one rushing touchdown.

Billings tacked on another first-half passing score to start the second quarter, connecting with Jaxen Monkerud from 30 yards out. Navarro’s speedy athletes turned on the jets in the open field and beat the Tarpons to the edge to consistently rack up big gains. Four of the Panthers’ scores during the first half were on plays of more than 50 yards.

“We had a mistake here, a mistake there, a flag here, a flag there. We never recovered, and we gave up,” Villarreal said. “They run our offense. We knew what they were doing. I think more than anything it was we made some mistakes. Defensively we got caught twice in the wrong defense. We have to be smarter.”

The Tarpons were visibly frustrated on the field and on the sideline as their deficit increased. They channeled their emotions to close the second quarter with some strong moments, led by the fiery Martinez.

Junior defensive end Wyatt Aikman and junior defensive back Cross Martinez notched good tackles. Senior running backs Gilbert Medina and Jaden Lopez broke off some good runs. Senior running back/defensive back Derrin Valdez gave a good effort on both sides of the ball.

Villarreal said he gave “the most impassioned speech” he could muster in the locker room, encouraging his players to fight for each other to the end. The inspiration worked and led to Port Isabel playing hard to the final whistle despite the large deficit.

“One of the things I told them was it’s a brotherhood,” Villarreal said. “It’s easy to love the guy next to you when you’re winning. But the lesson you have to learn is when you’re losing and things go bad, you have to love your brother and pick him up and encourage him to be better. That was a perfect example. The love has to be shown by your effort.”

Medina prevented the shutout with a strong run to cap Port Isabel’s best drive in the fourth quarter. Sophomore running back Andrew LeBlanc took a reverse for a big gain to set up the score. Medina cut through a lane and raced untouched to the end zone for the touchdown.

Navarro tacked on a 36-yard rushing touchdown from Ryatt Kluckman late in the third quarter. The Panthers recorded four turnovers, two interceptions and two fumbles, all during the first half.

After the game, Villarreal praised the seniors for their dedication and passion for the program. He had the underclassmen thank them for putting Tarpons football back on the right track.

“We played this powerhouse with only eight seniors,” Villarreal said. “You got to give those eight seniors credit. They played their hearts out all year long.

“I wanted to give that tribute to them because we couldn’t have been here without them. We have to learn about what it takes and make them an example of, this is what a Tarpon really is.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

CEDAR PARK — The Marine Military Academy Leathernecks fell short of their goal in the TCSAAL state championship game Thursday.

MMA lost 49-0 to the Spring Legacy School of Sports Sciences on a chilly night at John Gupton Stadium. The Leathernecks finish the season 9-2 and as state runners-up.

“I’m proud of every one of ’em,” MMA coach Jim Morton said. “That was a better team tonight, and they proved it. We’ll build on it for next year.”

Spring Legacy was in control from start to finish. The only thing that slowed the Titans was the bevy of penalties they committed. But even when they were backed up or when the Leathernecks got extra chances on offense, the Titans made big plays.

Titans senior quarterback Luke Alanis accounted for four touchdowns during the first half — three of which came in the air. The Leathernecks struggled to contain Spring Legacy’s speedy receivers.

Alanis delivered a 36-yard touchdown pass to Aiden Smith on Legacy’s opening drive. He added a pair of 8-yard passing scores to Noah McClatchey and Keisean Henderson.
Alanis also rushed for a 4-yard touchdown and delivered a two-point conversion pass. The Titans were 2-for-3 on two-point attempts during the first half, with the second coming on a run from Jermon Williams.

Injuries were an issue for the Leathernecks. They lost junior quarterback Nathan Harvey and senior running back Malik Rivers during the first half. MMA couldn’t move the ball for first downs and wasn’t able to slow the multitude of Titans athletes often enough.

“We had a lot of kids hurt, and it put us in a situation where we couldn’t do a lot of stuff,” Morton said. “On defense we were spot playing people, I couldn’t call any type of stunts. It was a tough deal. (Rivers and Harvey) have been leaders throughout the year. Our best defensive player (William Webb), he was sick right before the game and we were questioning whether he was going to play or not. We only played him on defense, and he’s a two-way starter.

“I’m not taking nothing away, that’s a good team. But I would’ve loved to have everybody healthy to at least give them a chance.”

Legacy kept its foot on the pedal during the second half. In the third quarter, Markeillion White scored on a 1-yard carry, then Henderson, who took over at quarterback, found Smith from 22 yards out. Williams tacked on a rushing touchdown in the fourth.

Despite the large deficit, the Leathernecks continued to fight and had some successful plays during the second half. Kenedy Uzuegbunam, Jack Tinsley, Wyatt Goodrich, Jacob Scaife, Brandon Flowers and Gage Casper played hard on defense.

Tinsley notched an interception and recovered a fumble forced by Webb. Goodrich broke up several passes. Casper recorded a sack. Uzuegbunam forced a sack when he chased down Henderson, and Frankie Ratliff recovered.

Sophomore Benjamin Smith turned in an admirable performance after taking over at quarterback. The offensive line struggled to block, and without consistent pass protection Smith took a lot of hard hits from the physical Titans defense. But he held his own and ran the ball well in the fourth quarter.

“I told them at half, ‘I don’t care, win or lose, I don’t care if it’s 60 to nothing. Go out with a fight.’ A lot of them did. And that’s what makes me proud,” Morton said.

Though MMA is losing some talented playmakers to graduation, Morton believes the Leathernecks can make a return trip to state next season and leave on a better note.

“For the younger kids, I told them, ‘Remember this. It’s a bad taste in our mouth. Learn from it,’” Morton said. “You don’t want to finish a state championship like this, but we’ll be back next year and maybe it’ll be better results.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — The Harlingen High Cardinals opened their 2021 season with a 35-10 victory over Laredo United South.

They’ll look to go 2-0 against the Panthers at 7 p.m. today in a Class 6A Division I area-round game at Joe R. Sanchez Stadium in Rio Grande City. Even with a win against United South (8-3) under their belts, the Cardinals (8-3) aren’t taking this game lightly. But they believe they’ll be advancing to the third round for the first time since 2015.

“I know we won 35-10 the first game, but it’s different this time,” junior defensive tackle Pedro Silguero said. “They’re changing up their plays, same as us, so it’s definitely going to be a good game playing them again. It’s going to be a good fight. We feel really good about our chances to get to Round 3. We’re going to keep pushing, and we’re not going to take them softly, at all.”

Silguero has played a major role on Harlingen High’s defense this season. His physicality on the line is the first obstacle teams have to face when they try to move the ball. He powers his way into the backfield for sacks and tackles for loss often.

JC Moradel, Nathan Huerta, Christian Luna and Remzi Memik are players Silguero tries to mirror in terms of effort on the field. He said the bond and trust shared between all Cardinals players allows them to hold each other accountable, which makes everyone better.

“It’s really great seeing everyone busting their butt hard, driving every play,” Silguero said. “I feel like I’ve done great this season, but I feel like I can do better. That’s what I’m going to push for every game. … It’s the bond between us because we love each other so much and we trust each other (that drives us). If everyone does their job, that’s what makes us successful.”

Offensive tackle Roy Reyna has plowed through defenses to lead Cardinals into the end zone or to big running gains all season. The junior is a first-year letterman, and he’s handled the jump to the big leagues well. Reyna credited his linemates for backing his play and is proud of how the unit has performed.

“It’s a different type of play than the JV level. It’s way faster and way more physical,” Reyna said. “We have to come together as a unit to be able to block. We depend on the guy next to us, that he’s going to get there. It’s all about trust.”

Harlingen High’s skill players can trust Reyna and Co. to anchor the offense’s success. It’s a selfless job working in the trenches, one Reyna loves to do for his team.

“On the O-line, you don’t really get that much credit, but it feels amazing seeing your teammates score,” Reyna said. “I love all my brothers on the team, and I play for them every day.”

Reyna said Harlingen High’s early losses taught the team a lot. He believes the Cardinals are hitting their stride, and he wants to see a lot of red and black in the stands rooting for them as they chase a ticket to Round 3.

“We had some rough losses, but we learned from those mistakes and we fixed them,” Reyna said. “We’re coming together at the right time. We feel confident. Just have to execute the game plan. … I expect (our fans) to be out there supporting us like they’ve always done. It’s a Cardinal tradition.”