GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

HIDALGO — With 23 minutes left in the opening half of Valley View’s soccer scrimmage against Harlingen South, forward Avi Garcia let a long pass bounce once, then neatly tucked a midair volley just under the crossbar and into the upper-right corner of the net.

The astonishing play was enough to set off a small celebration, even in a scrimmage setting. As a few of his teammates gathered around him, Garcia grabbed and looked at the small No. 10 printed in blue on the front of his jersey, shaking it and drawing attention to the digits. He then looked excitedly up at the 100 or so fans in the home stands, who had let out a collective “ooh” in reaction to his feat.

Those fans have grown accustomed to seeing amazing goals from the player wearing No. 10. Last year, it was Jose “Toro” Soto, who finished his high school career with 208 goals, including a state record 78 in 2014. Now, it’s Garcia, who is tasked with replacing one of the state’s all-time greats in an effort to lead Valley View back to the state final, where last season’s run ended with a 2-1 loss to Northwest Nelson. The Tigers enter 2015 as the No. 5 team in RGVSports.com’s top 10.

“It’s hard to put the team on my back, but I’m just going to do whatever functions are needed,” Garcia said through an interpreter. “Whether I need to score goals or assists, I’m there to do whatever the team needs.”

A distributor by nature, Garcia fit in well on last year’s team, which often aimed to get the ball on Toro’s feet and watch him charge towards the goal.

Garcia is not the same type of offensive threat. His game is played less downhill, with more patience. He can score on a wide array of shots from many locations on the pitch, and he knows how to manipulate defenses and keepers to create scoring opportunities.

Sometimes, his penchant to look for the best possible chance gets him in trouble with coach Damian Magallan, who wants Garcia to be shooting whenever he sees an opening.

“We’re going to put pressure on him,” Magallan said through an interpreter. “He’s going to sometimes carry the team on his back. Last year, he saw Toro do it. So now it’s his role.”

If his choice of jersey number is any indication, Garcia is ready for the challenge. He asked Soto, who now plays with Laredo Community College, for permission to wear No. 10, and Soto granted it. Now, Garcia wears the digits that throughout soccer history have been reserved for a team’s top playmaker, the number worn by all-time greats like Pele, Ronaldinho, Maradona and Messi.

But simply putting on the jersey does not bring Soto back. When asked about the challenges of replacing not just Soto, but also All-Valley Defensive Player of the Year Erik Martinez, Magallan and interim athletic director Julio Martinez simply laugh.

“It’s a big difference,” Magallan said. “It’s a different style of play. It’s more touching the ball and attack as a group instead of attacking as one. So that could be dangerous, also.”

Valley View returns just three starters from last year’s team: Garcia, Cristian Tobias, and Evan Alonzo.

Alonzo, Valley View’s keeper in 2014, will be moving to sweeper, the result of a decision Magallan made on the bus ride home from last season’s state tournament loss. That’s how quickly preparations for this season got underway. At Valley View, soccer is year round.

Plenty has changed from 2014, but summer and fall leagues have made the transition a little bit easier. That experience has helped build a rapport among the new group, which will need better communication than in years past.

“Last year, we had Torito, and he was the main one on the team,” sophomore Jose Pesina said. “Now we have to try to work more as a new team, as a new family. … Last year, we didn’t play a lot together. We just touched the ball, touch the ball, and then Toro. This year, we have to work from the defense, to the midfield, to the offense.”

And when the ball gets to the offense it will usually be on the foot of Garcia, who recognizes the pressure he’s under to replace last season’s All-Valley MVP.

“A little, a little,” Garcia said, smiling timidly as he looks down at his cleats. “But it’s a challenge for me, and I’m willing to take that challenge.”

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GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

MISSION — Sharyland High’s Nikki Gonzalez, an All-Valley first team defender last season, enters 2015 with her role still in flux. The Rattlers come into the season as RGVSports.com’s No. 3 team, but with a new coach in Aaron Clemons and a portion of their talent siphoned off to Sharyland Pioneer, a lot about this year’s Sharyland High team is still to be determined.

“My freshman year I was offense, my sophomore and junior year I was defense, and now I think he might be putting me on offense more,” Gonzalez said. “I’m not really sure. It just depends on the team we’re playing and where I feel more comfortable.”

The Rattlers return just two starters from last year’s team. That number was expected to be four, but Beatriz Garza suffered an ACL tear playing with her club team, and Daniela Ortiz also suffered a torn ACL during the Rattlers’ fall league.

For that reason, Clemons will use Gonzalez’s talent everywhere he can. Although Gonzalez is one of the team’s shorter players and has a very slight build, Clemons said “she’s probably going to be our No. 1 utility player.”

“She may be little, but she’s very aggressive,” Clemons said. “Very feisty. She’s the type of player that is not going to get beat, and hates to get beat.”

That attitude fits perfectly with what Clemons hopes to build in his first year at the helm of the Rattlers: a more aggressive, physical team than what Sharyland High has had in the past. To that end, he’s been having the team run substantially more than the players were accustomed to. He expects Sharyland’s strength to lie on offense, specifically with a group of midfielders who excel at ball control.

Although the split that produced Pioneer has been a major hit to Sharyland High’s depth, Clemons is confident the team has the talent to be “just as good, if not better than what they have been in the past.” Last year’s team went 16-0 in district play and made a run to the regional quarterfinals.

“With the team we have and how everything is playing itself out,” Gonzalez said, “it looks like we could possibly go.”

No. 5 McAllen Rowe

Even with seven starters returning, McAllen Rowe will be one of the Valley’s youngest teams. Coach John Martinez calls the Lady Warriors “babies”.

Sarah Rodriguez, an all-district honorable mention, is the lone senior on Rowe’s roster.

“She’s kind of the mom on the team,” Martinez said. “All of the girls look to her for guidance. She’s been a four-year starter for us. She’s been pretty much in every situation you can think of in a high-school career. Nothing really fazes her.”

Rodriguez has plenty of young talent around her. Nyssa Davila was a first-team all-district selection on defense, and Martinez calls her Rowe’s “rock” on the back end, a player who reads the offenses like a safety reads a quarterback.

Juniors Amaris Lopez (all-district second team) and Alexis Alvarado (all-district honorable mention) are two-year starters who have developed great communication in the midfield.

Forward Victoria Castro returns after leading the team in scoring and earning all-district first-team honors last season, and Martinez expects her “amazing speed” to cause problems for defenses.

Last year, Rowe reached the playoffs but lost an overtime heartbreaker to Harlingen South in the bi-district round.

“We have high expectations for this year, with this group,” Martinez said. “We’re really looking forward to this season.”

No. 7 McAllen High

Coming off of last season’s area round loss to Sharyland High, McAllen High coach Pat Arney knows he has a lot of work to do. As the season gets underway, McAllen High is very much a team under construction.

Not only are the Lady Bulldogs losing five seniors from 2014, but Ana Hover will also not be returning after moving to Oklahoma City. Arney called Hover “an incredible dribbler and playmaker.”

“So that’s a nice chunk (of the team),” Arney said. “We’ve got girls coming back, and we’ve got some good freshmen. But we’re still really young. We’ll see. Hopefully things will work out and we’ll get where we need to be by district.”

Working in McHi’s favor are returning players Ruby Iracheta, a second team all-district goalie, and Quetzel Toren, last season’s All-Valley Newcomer of the Year.

“She’s always dangerous,” Arney said.

No. 9 Sharyland Pioneer

Even after coaching at his alma mater, Sharyland High, for 17 years, coach J.J. Lopez jumped at the chance to take the head coaching job at Sharyland Pioneer. The opportunity was perfect. His brother, Alex, coaches Pioneer’s boys team, his parents live on his drive home from work, his nieces and nephews will someday feed into Pioneer, and he was ready for a new test.

“Sometimes you’ve been at one place so long that you kind of need different challenges,” J.J. said. “To start a program, I felt that was going to reenergize me.”

J.J.’s presence is a big reason the Diamondbacks are ranked in the top 10 before even playing a game. It also helps that Pioneer poached some of Sharyland High’s varsity talent from last season, namely all-district second team defender Taylor Marquez, all-district second team midfielder Julie Alanis and all-district honorable mention midfielder Hanna Padilla. Depth will be an issue, with a few players new to the sport entirely, but J.J. and Pioneer expect to be competitive from the jump.

“We’re certainly not going to use being a new school as a scapegoat,” J.J. said. “That’s the attitude that we’re taking. That’s the mindset I want my team to have.”

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RGVSports.com Girls Preseason Top 10
1. McAllen Memorial
2. Brownsville Lopez
3. Sharyland High
4. Brownsville Hanna
5. McAllen Rowe
6. Los Fresnos
7. McAllen High
8. Harlingen South
9. Sharyland Pioneer
10. Brownsville Rivera

GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

HIDALGO — McAllen Memorial’s Leslie Flores has played side by side with America Martinez, last year’s All-Valley Player of the Year, since she was four years old. Martinez was always the natural striker, with Flores as the distributor and playmaker. A dynamic offensive pairing, the two reached new heights as juniors last season, when the Mustangs advanced to the Class 5A regional semifinals.

“It’s always been me and her on top,” Flores said.

Expectations for senior year soared, with the Mustangs set to return 10 starters. But in October, Martinez was given a rare opportunity: She had enough credit to finish high school a semester early, which would allow her to enroll in UTPA during the spring and jump start her college career.

The opening was too good to pass up, so Memorial enters 2015 down the Valley’s leading scorer from last season. The blow wasn’t enough to knock the Mustangs out of the No. 1 spot in RGVSports.com’s preseason top 10, but it puts a new pressure on Flores and the rest of the team as they look to build on last season’s playoff run.

“It’s been kind of an adjustment to play without her,” Flores said. “She was the leading scorer, and I was more assisting her. Now, I have to step it up and be the leading scorer. It’s a lot of pressure, but it’s just going to make me a better person and player in the end.”

Replacing a player like Martinez, whose speed, quickness and dazzling moves made her a nearly impossible mark, will be a group effort for the Mustangs. Flores figures to be at the center of those efforts, given her ability to come back to the ball on offense, control possession and generate a scoring opportunity for whoever is open.

“She plays a lot smarter than before,” coach Matthew Kaiser said. “She’s accepted that challenge and that pressure, that she’s the one we’re depending on to make the big play.”

Part of that burden will be shared by Alyssa Adriano, a first-team All-Valley midfielder last season. Kaiser said Adriano is key for the Mustangs on both ends of the pitch, shining because of her quick decisions and ability to pass or shoot effectively with either foot.

“We’re looking forward to an awesome season. Teams are chasing us,” Adriano said. “Unfortunately, we lost one player. We just need to get back in a rhythm of trying new things without her.”

With nine starters back from last year, finding that rhythm figures to be fairly easy. Kaiser had already decided on a formation before learning of Martinez’s departure, and nothing changed with the news. The Mustangs simply plug in the next player on the depth chart. In this case, that’s Cameron Alaniz, another returner.

“We don’t have to worry about new girls, and coping with them,” Flores said. “We’ve all been practicing for a long time together.”

So that means everything is business as usual, right? Same practice routines, same tactics, same everything?

“Well, no,” Flores said. “This year, we’ve been working harder, because we have higher expectations. We need to work harder than we did last year.”

Kasier said his players have run longer than in any previous preseason.
He’s also changed up his approach to coaching, toning down the overall intensity in favor of asking questions and developing more thoughtful players.

“Some of the players are four-year varsity starters,” Kaiser said. “At this point, a lot of things that happen, they should know how to deal with. So I put that challenge on them.”

Only time will tell whether McAllen Memorial will answer that challenge and return to regionals without the services of its best player.

The Mustangs passed their first preseason test with flying colors, routing Hidalgo in last week’s scrimmage. Martinez joined a small group of mostly parents looking on from the stands.

“Her being gone, it just makes everybody else step up and work harder,” Flores said. “It’s going to improve everyone, individually and as a team.”

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BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

McALLEN — Even after posting the third best single-season rushing total in Valley history, McAllen Memorial’s Trevor Speights wasted no time getting back to work after the year ended.

Speights says he’s been lifting “about every day” since the Mustangs season came to a close, adhering to a five-meals-per-day plan designed to help him bulk up so that his senior year, and eventual college career, can be even better.

That commitment is why Speights ran for 2,655 yards and 30 touchdowns, committed to play for the University for Arizona, earned AP first-team All-State honors, garnered two SEC offers and was named the All-Valley Player of the Year for the second consecutive season during a busy 2014.

“It’s a great achievement, and I’m grateful for achieving this achievement again,” Speights said.

Speights tore up the Valley this year at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, and his goal is to get to 205 before he enters college.

Right now, the destination looks to be Arizona. Speights showed up to McAllen Memorial on the final day of classes before winter break decked out in Wildcats gear: an Arizona t-shirt, Arizona shorts with an Arizona lanyard hanging from the right pocket, and even an Arizona-red watch.

But national signing day is still a ways off, and plenty of schools are hard at work recruiting. Speights said he receives 20 to 30 letters per day, from schools like Florida State, Georgia, TCU and Texas. He picked up offers from Tennessee and Missouri during his junior season.

“It’s always good to get an SEC offer under your belt,” Speights said.

Despite all of the attention, his father, John Speights, said Trevor always has an eye on the players considered better than him. Trevor was at one point ranked as the No. 266 player in the 2016 class by ESPN, but he has since dropped out of the rankings. ESPN still rates him as a three-star prospect. Rivals also has Speights as a three-star player, the No. 23 running back overall and the No. 54 prospect in Texas.

“He does spend a lot of time here watching film,” John said. “Not only his film, but film of his peers around the country. Guys who are maybe ranked higher than him. He evaluates what they’re doing, and he compares himself to those guys.”

Trevor also picks up drills and techniques from his home study. On Twitter, he once saw a running back drill Charlie Strong was using at Texas, with players powering through the resistance arms of the blaster, planting their foot, and coming back through the other way. Thinking it might be beneficial, he brought the idea to Memorial practice the next day.

“We started doing it, and that’s our staple now,” Memorial offensive coordinator Marcus Kaufmann said.

Trevor said he owes his success to his family. The Speights own the Optimum Therapy clinic in McAllen, with John handling the clinical side and Trevor’s mother, Alandra, handling the administrative. They do well enough to send Trevor to all the camps and visits he could need, and to provide added benefits like a $250 Under Armour mouthpiece designed to help Trevor breathe better.

They’ve also bestowed him with good genetics. Trevor’s cousin Marreese plays for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. John played college football at a small school in Tennessee, and he remembers teaching Trevor how to hold the ball and execute a proper stiff arm. Trevor’s younger brother, Campbell, just finished his seventh-grade season at Cathey Middle School, notching a nine-touchdown game among his many highlights.

“He’s going to be a real good one,” McAllen Memorial coach Bill Littleton said.

For now, Memorial can still rely on Trevor, who enters his senior year having already amassed 6,673 yards and 66 touchdowns in his career.

With 1,130 yards, he can become the leading rusher in Valley history, and with 2,182 he would rank fourth on the state’s all-time list.

“I’m very proud of him. I know how much work he puts in trying to get better, faster and stronger,” John said. “He’s pleased with his success, and I am to. We feel like he’s been blessed to do as well as he has been.”

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For the second year in a row, McAllen Memorial running back Trevor Speights has been named to the Associated Press All-State first team.

The AP announced its All-State selections for Class 6A on Thursday morning, and eight Valley players made the list. Speights, a junior, was the lone first-team selection, and Edinburg North senior defensive back Joey Benitez was named to the second team.

The Valley also had six honorable mentions: Weslaco East senior offensive lineman Sergio Moralez, Weslaco East senior running back Lupe Moron, PSJA North junior offensive lineman Fabian Ramirez, McAllen Memorial senior linebacker Lucas Rios, Weslaco High senior linebacker Brandon Torres, and Weslaco High senior defensive end Rene Perez.

Speights carried 238 times for 2,655 yards and 30 touchdowns this season. His yardage total is the third best in a single season in Valley history, breaking a McAllen Memorial school record previously held by Bradley Stephens (2,633 yards in 2005). A University of Arizona commit who has received offers from the University of Missouri and the University of Tennessee, Speights also returned a punt for a touchdown in 2014. Last season, he was named to the AP’s 5A All-State first team.

“Being my second year in a row, it’s a great feeling just to be able to repeat a great accomplishment,” Speights said. “It wouldn’t be possible without my teammates, and I just want to thank each and every one of them.”

A year after racking up 11 interceptions, Benitez tacked on another five in 2014. He also switched into more of a run-support role as the only returning starter on Edinburg North‘s defense, notching a team-high 105 tackles. Benitez defended eight passes, forced one fumble and recovered two.

Weslaco East finished the year as the Valley’s only 10-win team in Class 6A, and two members of its dominant rushing attack were rewarded with All-State honors. Moron, a transfer from La Villa, racked up 2,205 yards and 31 touchdowns despite playing much of the second half of the season on a bad ankle. Moralez paved the way for Moron, grading 98 percent with 62 pancake blocks and no sacks allowed.

PSJA North‘s Ramirez also earned a nod along the offensive line after grading 96 percent with no sacks allowed.

Rios brought leadership to a young McAllen Memorial defense, racking up a team-high 137 tackles, including seven for loss. He also had three sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass defended.

Weslaco High’s stalwart defense, which led District 31-6A en route to a district title, was rewarded with two selections. Torres amassed 137 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, two sacks and a pass broken up, while Perez had 97 tackles, three tackles for loss, one pass broken up and a fumble returned for a touchdown.

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The 2014 Texas Associated Press Sports Editors Class 6A all-state high school football team, released Thursday. Voting based on regular-season performance. Players are listed in alphabetical order at each position.

FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE

Linemen:

— KEJUAN KING, DeSoto, Sr. — 96 percent grade, 92 pancakes, no sacks allowed for team that averaged 50 points and 550 ypg

— GREG LITTLE, Allen, Jr. — 85 knockdowns, 95 percent grade for team that averaged 527.4 yards per game

— MJ MORRIS, Waco Midway, Sr. — 98 percent grade, 76 pancakes, 1 sack allowed

— JUSTICE POWERS, Cedar Hill, Sr. — 112 pancakes, no sacks allowed for offense that averaged 489.6 ypg

— MAEA TEUHEMA, Keller, Sr. — LSU commit, 108 pancakes.

Receivers/ends:

— REESE CHILDRESS, Abilene, Sr. — 102-1,240, 19 TDs receiving

— JALEN GUYTON, Allen, Sr. — 63-1,326; 15 TDs receiving

Quarterback:

— KYLER MURRAY, Allen, Sr. — 174-265-2,971, 32 TDs passing; 874 yards rushing, 18 TDs; 37-0 as a starter

Running backs:

— SOSO JAMABO, Plano West, Sr. — 190-1,952, 38 TDs rushing; 3 receiving TDs

— TREVOR SPEIGHTS, McAllen Memorial, Jr. — 213-2,467, 29 TDs rushing

— CHRIS WARREN, Rockwall, Sr. — 207-2,085, 31 TDs rushing, 2 receiving TDs

Kicker:

— PARKER DAVIDSON, Plano West, Sr. — 8-10 FGs, 2 FGs longer than 50, 64-65 PATs, 40 touchbacks

Offensive Player of the Year: Kyler Murray, Allen

___

FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE

Linemen:

— JORDAN ELLIOT, Houston Westside, Jr. — 78 tackles, 31 TFL, 12 sacks, 2 FR, 6 batted balls, 9 FF or tips for INTs

— TROY IRBY, SA Northside Brennan, Sr. — 62 tackles, 20 TFL, 6 sacks, 12 FF, 4 FR, defensivee TD

— DU’VONTA LAMPKIN, Cypress Falls, Jr. — 81 tackles, 16 sacks, 38 TFL, 8 FF

— JALEN SCOTT, North Mesquite, Sr. — 109 tackles, 20 TFL, 4 sacks, 2 FF, 2 PBUs

Linebackers:

— KEITH BATISTA, Houston Langham Creek, Sr. — 115 tackles, 12 TFL, 2 sacks, 4 FF, 2 INTs

— BRANDON DURMAN, Tyler Lee, Sr — 149 tackles, 11 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 PBU

— RICHARD MOORE, Cedar Hill, Sr. — 118 tackles, 20 TFL, 10 sacks, 7 FF, Texas A&M pledge

Defensive backs:

— KAHLIL HAUGHTON, Waco Midway, Sr. –81 tackles, 4 INTs, INT return for TD, 5 FF, 5 PBU

— JARED MANNON, Wolfforth Frenship Sr. — 43 tackles, 7 INTs

— MASON RAMIREZ, Round Rock, Sr. — 107 tackles, 7 INTs

— NIKO SMALL, Arlington Bowie, Sr. — 120 tackles, 7 TFL, 6 INTs, 6 PBU, 3 blocked kicks, 3 defensive TDs

Punter:

— TAYLOR DUNLOP, Hurst Bell, Jr. — 52 punts, 41.3 avg., 14 inside 20

Defensive Player of the Year: Niko Small, Arlington Bowie

___

SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE

Linemen:

— Clarence Henderson, Dallas Skyline, Jr.; Connor Lanfear, Buda Hays, Sr.; Patrick Vahe, Euless Trinity, Sr.; Toby Weathersby, Spring Westfield, Sr.; Connor Williams, Coppell, Sr.

Receivers/ends:

— DaMarkus Lodge, Cedar Hill, Sr.; Emmanuel Moore, Justin Northwest, Sr.

Quarterback:

— Zach Hall, Tyler Lee, Jr.

Running backs:

— Rodney Anderson, Katy, Sr.; E.J. Davis, Alief Elsik, Jr.; Aca’Cedric Ware, Cedar Hill, Sr.

Kicker:

— Patricio Botello, SA Northside Brandeis, Sr.

___

SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE

Linemen:

— Zach Abercrumbia, Dallas Skyline, Sr.; Isaiah Chambers, Aldine MacArthur, Sr.; Lonzell Gilmore, Spring, Sr.; L.J. Mason, Keller Central, Sr.

Linebackers:

— Louis Hamilton, Alief Taylor, Jr.; Joshua Nguyen, Odessa Permian, Jr.; Anthony Wheeler, Dallas Skyline, Sr.

Defensive backs:

— Joey Benitez, Edinburg North, Sr.; Andy Chelf, Southlake Carroll, Sr.; Rodney Clemons, Katy Taylor, Sr.; Matthew Wright, Round Rock McNeil, Jr.

Punter:

— Haygen Tibbetts, Belton, Sr.

___

HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE

LINEMEN: Keaton Bates, Arlington Lamar; Gunnar Chance, Denton Guyer; Randy Crystian, Cedar Hill; Conner Dyer, Mesquite Horn; Beau Hott, Plano; Dakota Laws, Denton Ryan; Austin Meyers, Manvel; Sergio Morales, Weslaco East; McKenzie Nworah, Manvel; Tres Perez, CC Carroll; Fabian Ramirez, PSJA North; Bobby Reynolds, Keller; J’Don Robinson, Dallas Skyline; Austin Sargent, Rockwall; Zack Shackelford, Belton; Tato Sipili, Arlington Sam Houston; Terrence Steele, Cibolo Steele; Mitchell Watanabe, SA Northside Brennan; Alec Wesling, SA Reagan.

RECEIVERS/ENDS: Kofi Boateng, Arlington Lamar; Xavier Castille, Rockwall; Keith Corbin, Beaumont West Brook; Erik Corona, Laredo United; Reed Klubnik, Austin Westlake; Luke Mayock, Fort Bend Clements; Trelen Norton, Houston Langham Creek; Xavier Ortiz, SA Northside Stevens; Richie Rodriguez, EP Eastwood; Landon Sawyer, San Angelo Central; Anu Somoye, Alief Taylor; Jarrison Stewart, Mesquite Horn; Wanya Ward, SA East Central.

QUARTERBACKS: Shane Buechele, Arlington Lamar; Braden Hucks, San Angelo Central; Jalen Hurts, Channelview; Kylan Johnson, Dallas Skyline; Jesse Jones, CC Carroll; D’Eriq King, Manvel; Shawn Robinson, Denton Guyer; Bo Schneider, Dallas Jesuit.

RUNNING BACKS: Aron Dobbins, Midland Lee; Lil’ Jordan Humphrey, Southlake Carroll; Vincent Johnson, Lubbock Monterey; Xavier Jones, Spring; Noah Lisk, CC Carroll; Markeith Miller, Garland; KeShawn Mitchell, Keller Fossil Ridge; Lupe Moron, Weslaco East; Michael Nelson, Garland Naaman Forest; Nicholas Pelrean, Houston Chavez; Justin Pratt, Klein Collins; Grant Sandercox, Wolfforth Frenship; Nic Smith, Arlington Martin; Anthony Taylor, Denton Guyer.

KICKERS: Eric Carasco, Duncanville; Tony Pecora, Rockwall; Brannon Satterfield, Lake Travis; Joel Scarborough, Houston Langham Creek.

___

HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE

LINEMEN: Coleman Dennis, Wolfforth Frenship; David Dorsett, Hurst Bell; Elijah Earls, SA Northside Stevens; Ethan Englebrecht, SA Lee; Bryce English, DeSoto; Miguel Espinoza, Abilene; Tipa Galeai, Euless Trinity; Eli Howard, San Angelo Central; Scott Huntman, Coppell; Mark Jackson, Cibolo Steele; Kendell Jones, Killeen Shoemaker; Dalen Morgan, Mesquite Horn; King Newton, Southlake Carroll; Sammy Ochoa, Lake Travis; Ed Oliver, Spring Westfield; Feno Pearson, Lake Travis; Rene Perez, Weslaco; Alton Robinson, Converse Judson; Roy Sutton III, Keller Fossil Ridge; Sam Tecklenburg, Plano; Rahssan Thornton, Killeen Shoemaker; Joe Wallace, Dallas Skyline.

LINEBACKERS: D.J. Allen, SA Northside Brennan; Bo Anderson, Coppell; James Bailey, Lake Travis; Garrett Blubaugh, Keller; Teddy Britton, SA Northside Stevens; Paddy Fisher, Katy; Hudson Hall, Austin Westlake; Hayden Harrison, Wolfforth Frenship; Bryce Hines, Keller Fossil Ridge; Jonathan Hood, North Crowley; Jeffrey McCulloch, Aldine Davis; Chris Orr, DeSoto; Dillon Owens, North Mesquite; Logan Paschal, Waco Midway; Lucas Rios, McAllen Memorial; Rick Rivera, Del Rio; Brucks Saathoff, SA Reagan; Collin Scott, Manvel; Emilio Solis, Midland; Dalton Tarr, SA East Central; Daquaylyn Thomas, Arlington Martin; Ty Thomas, Rockwall; Brandon Torres, Weslaco; Ronnell Wilson, Abilene.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Deontay Anderson, Manvel; Jaelan Collier, SA Northside Brennan; Ian Edwards, Denton Guyer; Darryl Godfrey, SA Northside O’Connor; Gavin Graham, Austin Anderson; Brad Ingle, Smithson Valley; Mack Kelley, Austin Westlake; Will Lockett, Manvel; Devontre McGarity, SA Northside Brennan; Jacob Murray, Coppell; Colin Padalecki, SA East Central; Cameron Price, Tyler Lee; Chris Roller, Lake Travis; Camden Ross, Keller Timber Creek; Garrett Strauss, SA Reagan; Bryan Sturges, Katy Seven Lakes; K.J. Turner, North Mesquite; Luke West, San Angelo Central; Travis Whillock, Katy; Trip White, Arlington Martin; Collin Wilder, Katy; Lucas Williams, Arlington Sam Houston; Montrel Wilson, Keller Fossil Ridge.

PUNTERS: Drew Galitz, Garland Rowlett; Chris Robison, Mesquite Horn; Josh Stewart, Cedar Hill.

BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

CORPUS CHRISTI — As is often the case when Valley teams run up against San Antonio-area schools in the third round of the playoffs, the difference Friday was simple: Speed.

Cibolo Steele darted to huge gains on offense and swarmed to the ball on defense, routing Weslaco East 48-17 at Buccaneer Stadium in the regional round of the Class 6A Division II playoffs.

“They had a lot of size and speed,” East quarterback Darren Rivas said. “It’s a whole different ballclub when you play in the third round.”

Cibolo Steele started fast and never looked back. On the game’s first offensive play, Bryson Denley ran right on a toss, cut back to the left side of the field and beat Weslaco East’s defense to the sideline for a 66-yard touchdown.

“They were really fast to the outside,” East linebacker Ram Mendoza said. “It’s pretty tough to stop them. … We’re right there, and then it’s just cut back, cut back, cut back.”

The Knights needed two plays to extend the lead on their next drive, scoring on a 7-yard pass from LG Williams to Antoine Wesley.

Steele seemingly scored at will throughout the half, racking up 393 yards and 34 points on just 23 offensive plays.

East, meanwhile, struggled to generate any offense. The Wildcats failed to even cross midfield until 36 seconds remained in the half. That drive ended in East’s only first-half score, an 8-yard strike from quarterback Darren Rivas to Ciro Rojas. Before that 65-yard drive, the Wildcats had fewer total yards (19) than Steele had points (34).

“Our coaches told us it would be a game between speed and strength,” center Jerry Decanini said. “Usually speed gets tired, but in this case, they just worked hard.”

Wildcats running back Lupe Moron, who came into the game questionable because of an ankle injury, carried 24 times for 98 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown in the second half. Moron completed an incredible season — his first with a 6A program after playing at La Villa — with 2,205 yards and 31 touchdowns.

He and many of his teammates were emotional after the game, with tears dripping from their eyes as the school band played the alma mater.

“I’m proud of my team,” Rivas said. “I love my team.”

Weslaco East finishes the season 10-3 and as the only 6A team in the Valley to win double-digit games.

“Overall, it’s been a great senior year,” Mendoza said. “I couldn’t ask for a better senior year. Came three deep. Wish we would’ve won this game, but they’ll be all right.”

In the second season under coach Mike Burget, East has continued to establish itself as one of the Valley’s best and most consistent programs. East has won at least 7 games in every season since 2007 — a streak matched in the Valley only by Sharyland High.

“We’re getting closer,” Burget said. “I know it don’t look like it on the scoreboard, but I’m telling you, we’re going to work hard for next year.”

State-ranked Steele advances to the fourth round for the fifth consecutive season, a streak during which they’ve trampled four Valley opponents. Steele played McAllen Memorial in 2010 and Edinburg North in 2012 and 2013. In the four games, Steele has won by an average margin of 30 points.

“We’ve got to get to a level where we can match that speed,” Burget said. “I don’t know if we could ever match their size. We have to get their speed, and you see what speed did tonight.”

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BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

WESLACO — As Weslaco East was running through its first practice of the week preparing for its toughest test of the season, coach Mike Burget took a moment to look at the big picture.

Weslaco East faces state-ranked Cibolo Steele at 6 tonight in Corpus Christi’s Buccaneer stadium. Steele is 11-1 and unquestionably one of the state’s top programs. The Knights have advanced to the fourth round of the playoffs every year since 2010, when they won the state title.

They’ve trampled three Valley opponents in this round during that spree, beating McAllen Memorial and Edinburg North (twice) by an average margin of 29.7 points.

Margins of that size have hardly been uncommon for Valley teams in the third round, which for years has proved a nearly impassible roadblock. And, to make matters even more dire, East star running back Lupe Moron is questionable to play because of an ankle injury.

The odds are stacked against East, but Burget looks forward to a day when those roles are reversed. He believes that day will come.

“We’re going to win a state title, sooner or later. People think that’s crazy, but that’s our mentality here at East,” Burget said. “I believe we have just as good a chance as anyone else to win a state title some year. And if it ain’t this year, we’re going to keep doing what East does until it happens.”

Burget’s formula to get to the top is simple: run the ball and play defense. If the Wildcats can control possession on the ground and shorten the game, Burget believes they can keep it close and potentially advance.

That plan would be difficult to execute even on East’s best day, and today does not project to be East’s best day.

Moron, who has run for 2,107 yards and 30 touchdowns this season, is questionable because of an ankle injury. He’s been nursing the injury for a few weeks, playing through it in every game. But he was more limited than ever in a 56-6 area-round win against Palmview, carrying the ball just twice. Moron visited a doctor on Monday, but his status for tonight remains up in the air.

“He was running on it, felt better,” Burget said Thursday. “But still very questionable.”

Regardless of Moron’s status, Steele will be the bigger, faster team. The Knights are coming off a 24-12 win against San Antonio Northside Brennan, the state’s No. 6-ranked team. Their only loss of the year is by 5 points to DeSoto, the state’s No. 8 team.

Four of Steele’s wins have been shutouts. Quarterback L.G. Williams has thrown for 1,551 yards and 16 touchdowns and run for 667 and 10 TDs. Receiver Jaylen Harris has 40 catches for 727 yards and 6 scores.

“This cat can move,” Burget said. “He’s one of the best athletes I’ve seen since I’ve been down here in Texas. … Are they faster? Are they bigger? Some say yes. Some say no. We’re going to find out (today). Our kids are looking forward to the challenge.”

Indeed, they players acknowledge the odds but are ready to fight. Linebacker Ram Mendoza, the leader of the defense, expects Steele’s speed to be a major obstacle.

“They’ve got some quick guys,” Mendoza said. “We just have to slow them down as best we can.”

On offense, East looks to maintain its smash-mouth style. Maybe Steele is bigger and faster, but the Wildcats expect to match the Knights’ strength.

Center Jerry Decanini is trying to approach Steele like any other opponent, just with the added intensity that comes from the playoff stakes.

“It’s going to be one of those tests that people in the Valley are going to see, can Weslaco East’s offensive line hang with this state-ranked team’s d-line?” Decanini said. “Coaches have told us, yes we can. Strength-wise, yes. Speed-wise? That’s going to be another test that we’re going to have to face.”

Although he stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 330 pounds, offensive tackle Sergio Moralez admitted that Steele will generally be “a little bigger” and “a little faster” than East.

Steele junior defensive end Mark Jackson is rated a four-star prospect by ESPN, with reported offers from Baylor, Oklahoma and Texas already.

Just one of the many challenges standing in East’s way tonight.

“I know we’re going to have our hands full,” Moralez said. “But as good as they are, we aren’t going to back down from their team. We’re going to bring it and show them what the Valley’s got.”

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BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

WESLACO — When Weslaco East is on defense, Ram Mendoza is usually shouting. On a group that starts eight underclassmen, the middle linebacker has a lot of organizing to do. Mendoza knew coming into the year that taking on that leadership role as a senior would be critical.

“Coach tells me I have to be a leader out there,” Mendoza said. “I have to put everybody in their place.”

Junior defensive back Ciro Rojas said he hears Mendoza nearly every play. ‘Let’s make tackles.’ ‘Let’s break to the ball.’ ‘Let’s get to fourth down.’

“It’s on every level,” Mendoza said. “I have to get them lined up, and then also I have to guide them. I have to get them better. Some of them are freshmen, so obviously they need to stay focused.”

Mendoza has also become a leader with his play, topping the team with more than 140 tackles this season. Coach Mike Burget cited Mendoza as the biggest reason Weslaco East’s defense has gotten better from week to week.

Before the team’s Week 8 bye, the Wildcats allowed 362.1 yards per game. In five outings since, they’ve allowed 263.6 yards per game. A group that struggled to get off blocks and wrap up early on has become better at both with continued weight training during the season.

“They’ve gotten stronger,” Burget said. “When they get stronger, when you wrap up, it seems like you can bring a kid down a lot easier.”

The young players have also learned the system and their roles. Rojas said the team’s biggest improvements have been figuring out pursuit angles and eliminating arm tackles.

Mendoza has played a key role in all of it. When he came to Weslaco East from Donna as a sophomore, coach Mike Burget said he didn’t stand out in any way.

“He was an average athlete,” Burget said. “And then he got in that weight room, and he made himself really strong. And then he became vocal. And when he became vocal, people started to follow him. He does all of the talking on defense. All of it.”

Mendoza is the perfect player to fill that role. He said his biggest strength is being able to read the opposing offense, something he learned from coach Mike Gonzales, a former linebacker.

Mendoza also puts in a lot of time watching film, picking up on the offense’s tendencies so he knows how to adjust.

“You see little keys, and you pick it up. It just becomes second nature,” Mendoza said. “When I was younger, it was kind of harder. Now that I see it, I can see the big picture. Everything got a lot easier. Adjusting, moving around, speed wise, everything. I think I’ve progressed a lot.”

Mendoza sees the young players around him slowly making the same progress. As the year has gone on, every position group has learned how to do its job. He credits his tackle total to the defensive linemen and outside linebackers properly funnelling the play his direction.

“Everybody is flying to the ball,” Mendoza said. “It’s a lot more chemistry. We’re all just coming together really good.”

Weslaco East’s high-powered rushing attack has gotten most of the publicity this season, but Burget said the Wildcats would not have even made the playoffs were it not for the defense. Yes, the group ranked towards the middle of the district, but that’s not the whole story.

“They don’t talk about the turnovers our defense has got,” Burget said. “They don’t talk about our defense flying to the ball. Our kids have done a great job. Our defensive coaches have done a great job of putting game plans together. And it’s because of them we’re sitting at 10-2.”

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GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

WESLACO — Weslaco East offensive tackle Sergio Moralez could barely finish a 100-yard sprint during his first year in the program. Coach Mike Burget said Moralez was almost always last, if he made it at all.

Then, Moralez was 6 feet tall and about 400 pounds. Now, after years of conditioning and strength training, Moralez is the best offensive linemen on one of the best units in the Valley.

“When I got here, I was just big,” Moralez said. “These coaches got me into the summer program, powerlifting and all of that stuff. I changed my body.”

By doing so, he’s transformed into the starting right tackle for the Valley’s top rushing attack. The 6-foot-3, 330-pound Moralez is yet to allow a sack this year and notched 62 pancake blocks during the regular season. His coaches graded his performance 98 percent.

“If you watch our game film, what he does to defensive ends or defensive tackles, is brutal,” Burget said. “He’s one of the best linemen that I’ve seen play since I’ve been down here.”

That level of production would have been difficult to predict during Moralez’s freshman season. He described himself as “slow,” and admits he had a lot of work to do to develop the proper technique and footwork.

Burget said the coaching staff needed an entire year just to get him into playing shape. Moralez said he worked out with his teammates Monday through Thursday every week during the summer.

“He earned everything that’s coming to him,” Burget said. “He worked hard in the weight room. He worked hard outside by himself running laps. The kid worked hard to become an athlete.”

Much of the shift came as a result of East’s powerlifting program, something Burget has put an emphasis on throughout his coaching tenure.

Burget said Moralez entered East “just big,” rather than strong. Four years later, Moralez benches more than 400 pounds and can deadlift about 675. Burget thinks Moralez has a shot to break the state’s high school deadlift record of 730 pounds.

“He’s a monster, and I mean a monster, in the weight room,” Burget said.

Moralez was shy when he started at East, but Burget has watched him grow into a vocal leader.

Center Jerry Decanini, an all-district caliber player in his own right, has seen the same change. He and Moralez have known each other since they played tee ball in grade school.

“Sergio is the one that pushes us the best,” Decanini said. “We all listen to Sergio’s voice.”

Moralez provides the words of encouragement on the field or in practice. This week, he’s been the player telling his teammates that state-ranked Cibolo Steele — East’s next opponent — is just another team.

Even on the weekends, Moralez texts his teammates to keep them focused.

“I just send them, ‘Let’s get ready for next week,’” Moralez said. “‘We did a pretty good job this week. Let’s try to do a better job next week.’ Just trying to keep them going.”

A test that probably would have seemed daunting to Moralez as a freshman is now an exciting opportunity to show that East’s line can hang with a bigger, stronger Steele team.

With Steele defensive end Mark Jackson rated a four-star prospect by ESPN, Moralez may get a chance to prove he can compete at the next level. He hopes to get a shot to play at UTSA next season. After watching Moralez transform from an out-of-shape freshman to a dominant force, Burget has no doubts Moralez can succeed at that level.

“Even though hes 330 pounds, that kid works hard,” Burget said. “He’s a kid that I’m going to miss next year. Those offensive linemen don’t come every day. I can tell you that kid is an outstanding football player.”

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GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

LA JOYA — All season long, Weslaco East running back Alexis Cervantes has been patiently waiting his turn.

With newcomer Lupe Moron leading the offense, and District 31-6A, with 1,783 rushing yards during the regular season, Cervantes had been relegated to a secondary role.

But, when Moron left Friday’s playoff game against La Joya Palmview after only his second carry because of an ankle injury, Cervantes and the rest of East’s backs stepped up. Six different players scored rushing touchdowns for Weslaco East as the Wildcats routed the Lobos 56-6.

“In my mind, I knew I needed to step it up and help my team,” Cervantes said. “Help Lupe. Sometimes he gets hurt, so I’m right behind him, ready to be back there and do my job.”

The win moves the Wildcats into the regional round of the playoffs for the third time in five years, and first since 2011. East will face the winner of today’s game between Cibolo Steele and San Antonio Northside Brennan at 7 p.m. next Friday at Buc Stadium in Corpus Christi. Both teams were ranked in the top 10 in the final AP poll of the regular season, with Steele checking in at No. 9 and Brennan ranked No. 5.

“I know we’re going to be big underdogs,” Weslaco East coach Mike Burget said. “People are going to say we don’t have a shot. But those kids don’t believe that. Our coaching staff doesn’t believe that.”

The Wildcats chances will take a significant hit if Moron is unable to play. The senior transfer from La Villa has been nursing an ankle injury for the past few games, although it has rarely shown. He’s run for at least 125 yards and scored multiple touchdowns in every game since Week 4.

Moron sprinted for an 81-yard score on his first carry Friday, but twisted the injured ankle awkwardly on his second rush and did not return to the game.

Burget was optimistic Moron would be ready, but said he wouldn’t risk Moron’s future by playing him before he’s healthy. Moron is confident he’ll be a go.

“I’ve just been playing through pain, having mental toughness, but today it was just too much,” Moron said. “I’ll be good. The trainers will have me up to full speed again.”

If not, East will again lean on the stable of rushers and star quarterback that helped the team amass 530 yards on Friday. Palmview’s defense allowed an average of just 102.5 yards per game on the ground during the regular season, including holding vaunted McAllen Memorial to 274.

Quarterback Darren Rivas led the way, carrying 16 times for 160 yards and three scores. For the year, he now has 1,236 yards and 19 touchdowns.

“I had to step up,” Rivas said. “We have a lot of backs that can run the ball. Everybody is getting touches, and we were moving the ball. The line did great today.”

Cervantes carried 11 times for 133 yards and a score.

Alejandro Flores ran three times for 26 yards and his first touchdown of the season, a special moment for a senior coming off what Burget called a severe knee injury last year.

Angel Flores ran 5 times for 80 yards and his first touchdown since Week 2.

And Emilio Tamez — a junior Burget referred to as “our future” — carried three times for 24 yards and a score.

“We have other football players, and they showed that,” Burget said. “Those guys have been waiting patiently. All of those guys average around 6 yards per carry on the year, so we know we have backs. We knew we would be OK.”

For Palmview, the loss ends a historic season in which the Lobos captured their first winning season, first playoff appearance and first playoff win in school history.

“I just kept telling them that nobody expected us to be here,” coach Margarito Requenez said. “We were trying to prove people wrong. We didn’t show up to play tonight.”

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