KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

PALM VALLEY — The 38th South Texas Junior Classic presented by Gillman Auto, is scheduled to tee off Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. at the Harlingen Country Club. Local golfers will get a shot in the two day tournament.

Tournament director Durrell Lovell is excited for yet another weekend filled with golf, giving fans a glimpse of what to expect from the varsity level and see the young guns display their skills.

“We have around 75 kids signed up and ready to play,” Lovell said. “That is a about the average amount of kids we have each year. What is good about this tournament is the kids are taught how to keep their own score. The tournament is designed as an exact replica to what a PGA Tour is like. It is special to see the kids start out at a young age, and they eventually get to play at the varsity and college level, it’s always great to see the kids succeed.”

Defending champion Santiago Garcia will return to the tournament for one final go around. Garcia just graduated from Brownsville Hanna earlier this summer and will play golf at Texas A&M International University.

“I’m excited to be back, it’s one of the best tournaments I’ve competed in, it is a lot of fun,” Garcia said. “I’m ready to defend my title, this is my last playing in this tournament, last year was special because I hadn’t won the tournament before. So it will be nice to finish off with a win.”

Garcia will face some familiar opponents in Dylan Martinez and former teammates Austin O’Brian and Nate Newman.

“This year is full of great golfers,” Garcia said. “Last year it was tough and this year I will play tough competition again. A win is always good, playing against those guys are always fun.”

As far as the 12-13 year old division goes, Elijah Galvan who is 13 years old, competed in his first tournament at the age of five and is eager to get back on the course he is well familiar with.

“I have learned to have more patience and discipline,” Galvan said.

Galvan is the defending champ from last summer and is eager to repeat as tournament champion this weekend.

“I have become a better golfer because of this tournament,” said Galvan. “The competition is great and it’s also fun to watch the older guys compete.”

KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

COLLEGE STATION — The Mercedes Tigers have made some noise at the state 7on7 tournament in the past, reaching the consolation semifinals the last two years. This summer, however, was a different story.

In pool play on Friday, the Tigers went 0-3 and found themselves lined up against Parkland on Saturday morning in the Division I consolation bracket.
The Tigers battled back and forth in what quickly became a shootout with Parkland taking a 19-13 lead at the half.

In the second half, the Tigers managed to tie the game at 19 thanks to wide receiver Josiah Cantu, who reeled in a pair of scores from quarterback Isreal Alegria in the contest.

Parkland, however, got the go-head score and then got a key stop late to come away with a 32-26 win and end Mercedes’ tournament.

“It was a great experience. There is a lot of competition and a lot of speed,” said Mercedes’ Sebastian Arteaga. “Playing against tough teams helps us with different things like our foot work and gives us a chance to use and work on our speed.”

While the Tigers didn’t go on their annual deep run, their sights are now set on August.

Isreal Alegria will direct the offense and will have veteran wide outs Sammy Galindo and Leeroy Garcia. Defensively, Mercedes will look to linebacker Juan Morales and Arteaga, who will play in the secondary.

IT’S ALL IN THE FAMILY: The Adame family is no stranger to football. Roger Adame Jr. is the head football coach at Mercedes while one of his sons, Roger Adame III, just graduated. And now Brandon Adame is an incoming freshman and made his 7on7 debut this weekend.

“It’s crazy because I was just in his shoes last year,” said Roger III. “It’s great to see him play and compete here in College Station so he can see what it is like to play at a high level.”

As for Brandon, he grew up around the sport and was once the ball boy for the 7on7 squad, watching his older brother play for the Tigers.

“It was fun being out here and actually playing for the first time,” Brandon said. “It is a great feeling to make it to state after watching my brother play over the last few years. He is always giving me advice and helping me get better each day.”

Brandon also plays defense and lines up at linebacker just like his older brother. Roger III who will be attending the University of the Incarnate Word in the fall is scheduled to leave for San Antonio next week, making it extra special for him to see his younger brother play before he leaves for college.

“It was emotional for me to see him play,” said Roger III. “It will be a while until I get to see him play again. Over the summer, I’ve tried my best to instill as much as I can before I leave.”

Another set of brothers on the team are Raul and Sebastian Arteaga, and Sonny and Ivan Vela.

Both Raul and Ivan graduated with Roger III this past summer and were both cornerbacks. Sonny is slated to play running back for the Tigers this fall while Sebastian will play defensive back like his older sibling.

Raul was in attendance to watch his brother on Friday and Ivan offered a helping hand on the 7on7 coaching staff.

“My brother helped me so much last year with everything,” Sebastian said. “He helped me learn the game and helped me learn coverages. On Friday, he was here helping, and I love him and I’m thankful for everything he has helped me with.”

KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

COLLEGE STATION — The new kids on the 7on7 block did not disappoint at the state tournament on Friday.

Raymondville did not back down, or give up, as the Kats overcame the heat and checked in a fine outing in their first trip to College Station.

“I’m proud of my team. We showed up and made some noise,” said Kats running back Marcus Capetillo. “We came together and won some games. It was a great experience coming here and competing against some good competition. Now the focus is the real season and we’re ready to get back to work.”

The Kats finished the tournament with a 3-2 record. On Thursday, they dropped their first game, but rebounded with two straight wins putting them in the winner’s bracket on Friday.

In their first game, Raymondville entered the second half tied at 14 with Bonham. After the teams exchanged touchdowns, Bonham took a 27-20 lead, but in the blink of an eye Capetillo forced a safety that gave the Kats two points and the momentum.

Much like Thursday, the Kats trailed but clawed their way back for a thrilling 28-27 victory. With just seconds left in the game, Jacob Posas hit Capetillo for the game-winning touchdown.

“My guys showed up,” Posas said. “They never ran a poor route; they were always ready to go. All of us gave it our best and it was a great outcome. I’m proud of them.”

In its second game of the day Friday, Raymondville trialed East Bernard 18-6 early then fell behind 26-6 at the half.

However, the Kats found their offense and rallied for 19 points in the second half, while the defense pitched a shutout.

Unfortunately, the Kats’ comeback fell short 26-25 to end their state tournament run.

Justin Cantu was another weapon Posas looked to for big plays along with Xavier Ledesma and Zaraivion Armendarez. Cantu provided the Kats with key plays on Friday and is now looking forward to the fall season.

“Jacob (Posas) and I go way back,” Cantu said. “We have been playing together since we were little, and he knows me and I know him. We kept pushing today and I gave it my best. This was a great experience. The competition was tough and we knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but I’m ready for the season to come so I can play with my brothers.”

How the Kats fared
Pool B games
Thursday
-vs Sunnyvale, L 32-19
-vs Burnet, W 33-27
-vs Palestine, W 33-26 (finished 2nd)
Division II championship bracket
Friday
-vs Bonham, W 28-27
-vs East Bernard, L 26-25

KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

COLLEGE STATION — It’s not every day fans get to see brothers lace them up and play a sport together.

However, such is the case for Raymondville’s Noe and Thomas Zambrano, who have been playing football together all their lives.

This year is particularly special, though, because Noe will be a senior and Thomas will be a junior. Both also play defense and happen to play at the linebacker position.

“I look up to my older brother, Noe,” said Thomas. “I’ve always looked up to him. This is our last year in high school together so I’m enjoying the time we have because next year he won’t be here playing with me, so I’m learning as much as I can.”

While the duo will compete together on the field come the start of the 2018 football season this fall, they were fortunate to get in some extra time together this summer thanks to 7on7 football.

Raymondville’s 7on7 team made some noise this week by having a successful run at the state tournament in College Station.

Both Zambrano brothers played defense and Noe forced a key interception in their overtime win against Burnet in pool play on Thursday.

“I enjoyed my time here in College Station,” Noe said Friday as the Kats concluded tournament play. “It is extra special when you get to play with your brother alongside you. We had never been here before, so being able to accomplish that was special.”

With Noe gearing up for his final season, he is making sure that his younger brother will be prepared for after he graduates.

“I give him (Thomas) advice all the time,” he said. “Next year, I won’t be here and he will have to step up and be a leader on the team. As for our family, it means so much to them to see us out here playing. We have done it all our lives and we’re ready for one last season together.”

KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

COLLEGE STATION — Day 2 of the state 7on7 football tournament means two things: Division II and Division III champions will be crowned, and Division I schools get underway.

In the past, the Mercedes Tigers have gone up against the big boys at state. Two years ago the Tigers went toe-to-toe with quarterback Shawn Robinson and the Desoto Eagles, who went on to win state that year while Robinson is currently the signal caller at TCU.

Fast-forward to 2018 and the Tigers faced yet another perennial power in Lake Travis. The Cavaliers won the UIL state title in 2016 and were the runners-up in 2017. As far as 7on7 goes, they won the D-I title last summer.

On Friday, the Tigers met the Cavs in their 7on7 opener and the Cavaliers were flawless, scoring on their first four drives to take a 27-6 lead at the half. They wound up cruising to an easy 39-6 win.

Despite the loss, the Tigers used it as a learning lesson.

“It’s great to play against guys that will be playing at the Division I level,” said Sammy Galindo “It makes us better and prepares us for the regular season. As a senior, I have to be a leader and make sure the younger guys come out and play.”

In their second game, the Tigers faced Westfield, which used a pick six to jump out to a 13-0 lead. The Tigers cut into the lead with a late score before the half and trailed 21-19, but that was as close as Mercedes got as Westfield went on to win 47-25.

“It was tough; we had some bad breaks today, but tomorrow our goal is to win the consolation bracket, we just need to rest and regroup and get after it tomorrow,” Galindo said.

In its final contest of the day Friday, Mercedes fell to Pearce 41-28, marking an 0-3 day in pool play.

Logan Luvano, who was playing in his first state 7on7 tourney, had heard war stories from the Tigers’ previous years and was excited to be a part of this season’s state team.

Luvano, who jumped from playing wide receiver to defensive back, had a pick 6 against Westfield.

“It’s a great experience to be up here and competing,” he said. “I just expected more out of myself and the team because I know we can win. It’s a privilege playing the bigger schools and it is also a challenge, but it is something that I can look back on and be proud of.”

How the Tigers fared
Pool I games
Friday
-vs Lake Travis, L 39-6
-vs Westfield, L 47-25
-vs Pearce, L 41-28

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

COLLEGE STATION — Both Xavier Ledesma and Zaraivion Armendarez brought their A-game Thursday afternoon and had a key hand in Raymondville’s 2-1 run in pool play.

Ledesma and Armendarez provided quarterback Jacob Posas with a solid 1-2 punch from the wide receiver position.

All afternoon Posas looked for his guy, Ledesma, and in each game, Ledesma reeled in a score, and provided big catches for the Kats.

“It was fun playing against tough teams,” Ledesma said. “We kept our head down and kept working and pulled through to pick up those two wins. Our coaches wanted us to keep fighting and we knew we needed to win out to make the winners bracket.”

Posas relied on both Ledesma and Armandarez on several key situations; the chemistry between the three is something Raymondville fans can look forward to in the fall.

“Jacob is a great QB, he and I have played since our Jr High days, and he knows where I will be when I run my routes,” Ledesma said.

Armandarez finished the afternoon with four interceptions with two of them coming in their final game against Palestine.

“We made mistakes early, but we adjusted on defense and on offense. We knew what we were doing wrong, so it was a matter of correcting the little things and we were able to correct those things and pick up the wins.” Armandarez said.

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

COLLEGE STATION — The question to how the young pups of Raymondville would fair in their first trip to the state 7on7 tournament was answered Thursday afternoon at the Veterans Park and Athletic Complex.

The Kats went 2-1 in pool play and finished second behind Sunnyvale who went 3-0. Raymondville’s only loss of the afternoon came against Sunnyvale 32-19. Burnet finished in third while Palestine finished last in pool play.

The top two teams from each pool advance to Friday’s winner’s bracket where Raymondville will play at 9 a.m. on field four against Bonham.

Against Sunnyvale, Raymondville used a late Marcus Capetillo touchdown to grab a 19-14 lead at the half. In the second half it was Sunnyvale’s defense pitching a shutout, and outscoring the Kats 13-0.

“We were tired, it was a long day of games, but we made adjustments on defense and on offense,” said Xavier Ledesma. “It was fun coming out here and playing against different teams.”

The next two games were hard fought for the Kats. In the second game against Burnet, it was Capetillo who made key plays for the Kats.

Raymondville prevailed in overtime 33-27 over Burnet. Ledesma picked off a pass that set up the go head score 27-20, but Burnet quickly answered and tied the game and sent it to overtime.

Capetillo scored the game winning touchdown, and on the issuing drive, before braking up the would-be tying score to seal the win for Raymondville.

Raymondville needed every bit of energy to get past Palestine. Trailing 14-7 at the half, Zaraivion Armendarez picked off a pair of passes to help guide the defense.

After a late touchdown from Ledesma that gave the Kats a 27-26 lead in the final minutes, Armendarez picked off his second pass, and returned it to the 10-yard line before pitching it back to Jacob Posas for the pick-six and sealing a 33-26 win.

“We knew they had to go deep,” Armendarez said. “There were a few seconds left in the game, so I played back and the ball came right to me. Right now we all feel a little beat, it was a long day, our plans are to rest this evening and drink a lot of water.”

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

RAYMONDVILLE—With 60 odd days left before the start of the 2018 high school football season, us football junkies get our football fix through the 7 on 7 summer leagues. While 7on7 is special in its own ways, it provides a small glimpse of what is to come in the fall.

Four teams from the RGV will hit the road for the state 7on7 tournament in College Station. Division II and III kick off their play Thursday and will continue into Friday. Division I schools will get going on Friday and roll into Saturday.

All games will be played at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex.

The Bearkats are in uncharted waters, the 2018 squad broke new ground by becoming the first team to qualify for the state tournament.

Raymondville went 2-1 in pool play at the McAllen qualifier, and finished as the No. 2 seed in their group, and beat Rio Hondo 20-19 to reach the state tournament.

The Kats will be in Pool B, and will meet Burnet, Palestine and Sunnyvale. Given this is the first trip for the Kats, they’re not alone. Sunnyvale is also a first timer in College Station. This will be Palestine’s third trip and also happens to be their third straight.

Burnet meanwhile is the most experienced team out of the pool. Since 2009, Burnet has reached the state tournament nine times from 2009-2018. The 2017 summer was the only summer they missed out.

Speaking of teams with experience, Graham has reached state 10 times, and is back for a ninth straight year. Graham is also the defending DII champs, last summer they beat Abilene Wylie 27-20.

In the last ten years, Graham has made the finals four times and have won three times along with back to back titles in 2013-2014.

So while the road will be tough for the Kats, the road to the winners bracket will start by beating Burnet in their pool.

As the old saying goes, “to be the man, you gotta beat the man.”

It won’t take long to find out what the Kats have up their sleeve in Aggieland.

By KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

RAYMONDVILLE — The Raymondville Bearkats 7on7 football team will be heading to the state tournament in College Station in style.

On Tuesday, the community hosted a pep rally for the state-bound squad with the feel of a Friday afternoon pep rally in the fall.

“It’s amazing to see the community rally behind us,” said Kats wide receiver Zaraivion Armendarez. “It means a lot for us to make it to state. We all have put in a lot of work and it’s all paid off. The last two months have been real busy for us. Our community has been looking forward to this group playing together and we don’t want to let them down.”

The Kats rode in on a city fire truck and were greeted by family and friends outside of the Raymondville gymnasium.

The team will hit the road later today with the tournament starting on Thursday at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex.

Raymondville will begin pool play at 1 p.m. against Sunnyvale followed by a 3 p.m. contest against Burnet and, finally, a 5 p.m. game against Palestine. The Kats will be in pool B and all their games will be played on field three.

It was a long time coming for the Kats to reach the state 7on7 tournament. Raymondville qualified for the big dance at the McAllen qualifier and beat longtime rival Rio Hondo 20-19 in the semifinals to seal their trip to state.

Senior quarterback Jacob Posas’ father, Juan, is the team’s coach and is excited for the squad’s opportunity to compete at the state level.

“When we started, we had a special feeling about this year,” Juan said. “A lot of the kids I have known since they were little and they have played together since they were young.

“Last year they were close (to making it to state), and this year they have worked hard. Some of the kids don’t get to leave town so it’s great to see the community get together and support the kids. As a parent, it’s great to see all of us come together and support the kids.”

Running back Marcus Capetillo is one senior who is taking in the limelight and enjoying the 7on7 action.

“We’ve gone over different plays and schemes,” Capetillo said. “We haven’t stopped working and to have the support from our community is amazing. Not every team makes it to state, so for us to be able to reach state is a good feeling. It shows our work has paid off.”

State 7on7 tourney
Division II Pool B
-Raymondville
-Burnet
-Palestine
-Sunnyvale
Bearkats play beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday on Field 3 at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex, 3101 Harvey Road, College Station

KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

SAN BENITO — The long, hot days of June and July can be brutal, but with the summer comes offseason workouts and summer volleyball leagues.

The San Benito Summer Volleyball League has been hosting 16 teams from across the Valley with each team playing two games a day twice a week.

Six teams are out of Class 6A, three are from 5A, three are from 4A, two from 2A and one team each from 3A and TAAPS.

“It’s been a great summer so far, but it’s also been very hectic,” said incoming Harlingen High senior Taegan Dickey. “With volleyball three days out of the week, and then I also play basketball, too, and tournaments on the weekend, so it’s been crazy so far.”

Dickey is a two-sport athlete that suits up for volleyball in the fall and basketball in the winter. She is also a key starter returning to the Lady Cards’ lineup this upcoming season along with Alina Prado, Desiree Sanchez and Kirsten Kattan.

The Lady Cards are poised to be in the District 32-6A title race and have the pieces in play to make a run. And all that work begins in the offseason.

“We’re continuing to work hard over the offseason,” Dickey said. “We want to make a run (at the league title) this year. We have some tough teams in our district; we pay attention then we don’t because, yes they’re in our district, but nothing is set in stone just yet. We’re not sure who will be on the varsity come the fall.”

As for the Lyford Lady Bulldogs, the uphill climb will be a tough one with just two returning starters from last season in Jerrica Rojas and Sarah Martinez.

The Lady Dogs are the lone 3A team competing in the summer league, and are competing against some of the tougher teams in the Valley.

There are six teams from 6A level including Harlingen, Harlingen South and San Benito that the Lady Dogs will face.

“We’re taking in a lot of practice with this summer league,” Martinez said. “We have a new team and a lot of new faces so I’m trying my best to guide the younger girls, and show them the rotations and getting them up to speed with the varsity level. Playing the big schools will help us because it prepares us for the season and we plan to take what we learn here in the summer league and use it in the regular season.”