RGVSports.com

After just one week, Weslaco East has supplanted San Benito as the No. 1 team in the RGVSports.com high school football top 10 poll.

On the strength of a dominating 62-0 win against a Sharyland High team that received votes in the preseason poll, Weslaco East received seven first-place votes to accrue 104 points in the rankings. That total was just barely enough to edge out San Benito, which amassed 103 points and four first-place votes.

The 11 voters are the writers and editors who cover RGV high school football for AIM Media’s three newspapers: The Monitor, Valley Morning Star, and Brownsville Herald.

Entering the year, San Benito was ranked No. 1, with Weslaco East at No. 2.

San Benito opened the season with a hard-fought 23-20 win against Laredo United, needing a touchdown pass from Erick Retta to Tyrone Harper with 1:33 remaining to seal the win.

Mission Veterans was the biggest riser of the week, moving from No. 9 to No. 4 after a 31-26 win against Harlingen High. Conversely, Harlingen High made the biggest drop, falling from No. 3 to No. 6.

Also moving up in the rankings this week were McAllen Memorial (up from 4 to 3 after a 41-24 win against Sharyland Pioneer), Edinburg Vela (up from 7 to 5 after a 34-13 win against Laredo Nixon) and Brownsville Veterans (up from 10 to 7 after a 39-21 win against Edinburg North).

Slipping in the rankings this week were Mercedes (down from 8 to 5 after a 35-7 loss to Calallen) and Sharyland Pioneer (down from 8 to 10 after losing to McAllen Memorial).

Edcouch-Elsa makes its 2017 debut in the rankings at No. 9 after a 24-21 upset of Los Fresnos in Week 1. As a result of the loss, Los Fresnos dropped out of the poll entirely after checking in at No. 6 during the preseason.

Highlight matchups this week pit No. 1 Weslaco East against No. 4 McAllen Memorial and No. 9 Edcouch-Elsa against No. 5 Edinburg Vela.

The following are the teams in the RGVSports.com top 10 poll, with first-place votes in parentheses and total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through 1 point for a 10th-place vote. The 11 voters are the writers and editors who cover RGV high school football for AIM Media’s three newspapers: The Monitor, Valley Morning Star, and Brownsville Herald.

Record Pts. Prev.

1. Weslaco East (7) 1-0 104 2

2. San Benito (4) 1-0 103 1

3. McAllen Memorial 1-0 89 4

4. Mission Veterans 1-0 66 9

5. Edinburg Vela 1-0 64 7

6. Harlingen High 0-1 46 3

7. Brownsville Veterans 1-0 42 10

8. Mercedes 0-1 37 5

9. Edcouch-Elsa 1-0 23 NR

10. Sharyland Pioneer 0-1 14 8

Other teams receiving votes: Los Fresnos (8), Grulla (4), Harlingen South (2), Brownsville Lopez (2), McAllen Rowe (1).

With a wild Week 1 of Valley football in the books, host Greg Luca is joined by The Monitor writers Saul Berrios-Thomas, Nate Kotisso and Nathaniel Mata to recap all the action, with the Valley Morning Star’s Kevin Narro also joining to talk about the Mid-Valley. The guys break down a week of upsets, including Mission Veterans taking down Harlingen High, Edcouch-Elsa besting Los Fresnos and Mission High shocking PSJA North.

The podcast is available on iTunes. Follow this link to subscribe.

No.1 San Benito

2016 record: 10-2, 6-1 in 32-6A; area qualifier

Of note: The sky is the limit in 2017 for the San Benito Greyhounds. Senior quarterback Erick Retta returns to orchestrate the quick-tempo offense. Retta threw for nearly 2,500 yards and 34 touchdowns in 2016. Retta has trusty target Isaiah Trevino back at wideout, paired up with Tyler Solis. Bruising runner Tyrone Harper will be the feature back for the Hounds. Defensively, the Hounds have a stout line led by a pair of bookend pass rushers, Ryan Reza and Avelino Garcia.

1. SAN BENITO
2. WESLACO EAST
3. HARLINGEN HIGH
4. McALLEN MEMORIAL
5. MERCEDES
6. LOS FRESNOS
7. EDINBURG VELA
8. SHARYLAND PIONEER
9. MISSION VETERANS
10. BROWNSVILLE VETERANS

RGVSports.com revealed its preseason Top 10, one team per day, leading up to the season.

The RGVSports.com podcast is back for another year, complete with everything you need to know in advance of the 2017 Rio Grande Valley high school football season. Host Greg Luca is joined by The Monitor staff writers Saul Berrios-Thomas, Nate Kotisso and Nathaniel Mata, with appearances from the Valley Morning Star’s Kevin Narro and The Brownsville Herald’s Andrew Crum. The guys debate who should be the preseason No. 1 team in the Valley, run down the rest of the top 10 and then preview District 30-6A (10:58), District 31-6A (16:36), District 32-6A (23:40), District 31-5A (42:56) and District 32-5A (52:52). As the show winds down, The Monitor guys highlight a few games to watch and present their Locks of the Week.

The podcast is available on iTunes. Follow this link to subscribe.

No. 4: McAllen Memorial

2016 record: 8-3, 7-0 in 30-6A; bi-district qualifiers

Of note: The Mustangs will look to avenge a first-round playoff exit behind the legs of electric sophomore running back Campbell Speights. He rushed for 1,320 yards last year, but that number could skyrocket with him getting more touches in 2017. Defense will be key to making the Mustangs a well-rounded, elite unit. Look out for Frank Opazo leading the defense from linebacker or defensive end. Success will be measured by what happens after the regular season ends.

4. McALLEN MEMORIAL

5. MERCEDES

6. LOS FRESNOS

7. EDINBURG VELA

8. SHARYLAND PIONEER

9. MISSION VETERANS

10. BROWNSVILLE VETERANS

RGVSports.com will reveal its preseason Top 10, one team per day, leading up to the start of the 2017 football season on Aug. 31.

No. 5: Mercedes

2016 record: 7-5, 6-1 in 32-5A; area qualifiers

Of note: Coach Roger Adame Jr. returns a veteran Tigers team, and he projects about 16 of the 22 starters will be seniors. The unquestioned leader of the defense is Adame Jr.’s son: linebacker Roger Adame III, who piled up 21 sacks in 2016. Quarterback Marc Ledesma will get his shot at leading the Mercedes offense in his senior year after spending time as the backup (six touchdowns, seven interceptions in 2016) and top receiver (29 receptions, 551 yards, three touchdowns) last year.

5. MERCEDES

6. LOS FRESNOS

7. EDINBURG VELA

8. SHARYLAND PIONEER

9. MISSION VETERANS

10. BROWNSVILLE VETERANS

RGVSports.com will reveal its preseason Top 10, one team per day, leading up to the start of the 2017 football season on Aug. 31.

No. 6: Los Fresnos

2016 record: 8-5, 4-3 in 32-6A; regional semifinal qualifiers

Of note: After a slow start last year, Los Fresnos won four of its final five games to earn a postseason berth, then ended up going three rounds deep in the playoffs.

On offense, Charles Chapa will step in for the Falcons at quarterback after Mark Mata graduated last year.

A pair of seniors, Sebastian Gonzales and JJ Sanchez, both all-district selections last season, return to lead the defensive unit.

6. LOS FRESNOS

7. EDINBURG VELA

8. SHARYLAND PIONEER

9. MISSION VETERANS

10. BROWNSVILLE VETERANS

RGVSports.com will reveal its preseason Top 10, one team per day, leading up to the start of the 2017 football season on Aug. 31.

No. 7: Edinburg Vela

2016 record: 9-2, 7-0 in 31-6A; bi-district qualifiers

Of note: Last year, Edinburg Vela cruised to an undefeated district season, earning the SaberCats the District 31-6A title in their first year as a 6A school.

Vela had a lot of key offensive weapons leave the program, but one who will be returning plays the most important position. Nathan Garcia will again be the starting quarterback in his senior season. Last year, Garcia threw for 1,809 yards and 22 TDs.

In 2016, Vela’s defense wasn’t its strong point, but the team compensated by averaging 48 points per game. New coach John Campbell has put an emphasis on defense, and with a large group of returners on that side, the group could become the strongest on the team.

7. EDINBURG VELA

8. SHARYLAND PIONEER

9. MISSION VETERANS

10. BROWNSVILLE VETERANS

RGVSports.com will reveal its preseason Top 10, one team per day, leading up to the start of the 2017 football season on Aug. 31.

No. 8: Sharyland Pioneer

2016 record: 8-3, 7-1 in 31-5A; bi-district qualifiers

Of note: Sharyland Pioneer shared the District 31-5A championship with Laredo Nixon last season.

Key returners include junior Jacob Rosales, who registered 23 touchdown passes and only four interceptions last year, and junior Michael Benavidez, who ran for 589 yards and five touchdowns.

Senior free safety Tyler Bulthuis will anchor the Diamondbacks’ secondary after pulling in three interceptions in 2016, and senior linebacker Angel Chapa returns after leading the team with 132 tackles last season.

8. SHARYLAND PIONEER

9. MISSION VETERANS

10. BROWNSVILLE VETERANS

RGVSports.com will reveal its preseason Top 10, one team per day, leading up to the start of the 2017 football season on Aug. 31.

No. 9: Mission Veterans

2016 record: 8-5, 5-3 in 31-5A; regional semifinal qualifiers

Of note: Despite qualifying for the fourth and final playoff spot in District 31-5A, Mission Veterans advanced further in the playoffs than any other team in the district.

Key returners include junior quarterback Landry Gilpin, who spent last season as a wide receiver and racked up 851 yards and 13 touchdowns, and senior wideout Buda Gonzalez. Anchoring the defense will be junior linebackers Jazz Vallejo and Joey Garcia, who combined for 231 tackles and 42 tackles for loss in 2016.

9. MISSION VETERANS

10. BROWNSVILLE VETERANS

RGVSports.com will reveal its preseason Top 10, one team per day, leading up to the start of the 2017 football season on Aug. 31.