KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

PALM VALLEY — With this year’s Gillman South Texas Junior Golf Classic teeing off Saturday, some of the Valley’s best golfers were on full display at Harlingen Country Club.

On the boys side of the 15-18-year-old division, Lyford’s Jacob Serna led the way, shooting a 3-under par 69 to take the first-round lead. Meanwhile, Brownsville Hanna’s Santiago Garcia was hot on Serna’s heels after firing a 2-under par 70.

“I did well today. I shot a 69 with eight birdies, three bogeys and a double (bogey),” said Serna. “I felt good and I was rolling my putts in. I knew I was going to bogey some, but that one double hurt me.

“The competition is great and it’s always good to compete against guys from the bigger schools. My last hole was the toughest. After that, I birdied and finished strong.”

Serna was the runner-up last year, falling to Mission Veterans’ Aaron Martinez in a playoff. The defending champ finished in the middle of the pack Saturday at 9-over par 81.

Harlingen High product Dylan Martinez fared well in his opening round, shooting a 3-over par 75. Hanna’s Austin O’Brien remains in the hunt with a 2-over par 74.

“The back nine was pretty tough. I struggled to make my putts,” said Martinez. “On the front nine I made my putts, although I didn’t finish strong. I still have Sunday to make up some ground. It also helps that I know the course, I know the greens and I know where to place the ball. All that is important.”

On the girls side, Brownsville Veterans’ Julie Lucio shot an impressive 73 to take a commanding first-round lead over Linsey Garza of Palmhurst, who fired an 88, and Harlingen High’s Micaela Leandro, who shot an 89.

“I felt great today. Although my game wasn’t quite there, I managed to finish strong,” said Lucio. “My drive is what helped me today. At the turn is where I was able to pull away and adjust my game.”

The Veterans product is no stranger to Harlingen Country Club or the South Texas Junior Golf Classic.

“This is one of my favorite tournaments. I love coming out here and playing on this course. On Sunday, I’ll have the same approach and that’s to par every hole.”

Serna is looking to avenge her loss in last year’s tournament where she fell to Weslaco’s Anika Hovda in a playoff.

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

Five Rio Grande Valley products were named to the Texas Sports Writers Association All-State softball team earlier this week. The list was from Class 2A through the 6A ranking.

Ashley Reyna of Harlingen South was the lone representative in Class 6A, receiving an honorable mention nod at the first base position. Reyna was a four-year varsity member and will continue her softball career at The University of Houston-Victoria. As a senior Reyna collected 19 doubles and batted a team high .615.

Rio Hondo led the way with four players on the list. Tianna Sandoval was the only player named to the first team as an outfielder. Sandoval batted .632 along with 42 RBIs in 2017.

“When I first got the call from Coach (Brett) Esparza, I was speechless,” said Sandoval. “I’m excited to receive a spot on the first team. I worked hard all my four years, but I never expected to receive first-team honors. This is truly a blessing.”

Battery mate Bianca Cruz was named a second-team outfielder, Jennifer Flores was tabbed an honorable mention designated player/utility player and Alexa Castellanos wrapped up the list as an honorable mention shortstop. Both Flores and Castellanos will be attending Sul Ross State University in Alpine in the fall.

“We are extremely happy as a program to see the hard work pay off,” said Rio Hondo coach Brett Esparza. “These recognitions are a result of them striving daily to be the best version of themselves and it also shows their dedication to each other.”

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

COLLEGE STATION — After falling shy of advancing to the Division I championship bracket on Friday at the Texas State 7on7 tournament, Saturday presented a new set of challenges for the Mercedes Tigers in the consolation bracket.

The Tigers would not be denied as they marched their way to the semifinals for a second straight season. However, in the semis, the Tigers fell just short against Hutto 39-32. Hutto went on to win the consolation bracket title with a 41-39 win over San Antonio O’Connor.

Mercedes wrapped up tournament play with a 5-2 overall record and a 3-1 record in the consolation bracket. The Tigers’ offense wracked up plenty of points and held their own with some of the top dogs in the state.

The Tigers began their consolation bracket run with a 32-20 win over El Paso Coronado. In Game 2 they locked horns with Corsicana. Both teams swapped leads until a pick-six put Corsicana ahead 19-14.

Before the first half ended, Tigers QB Marc Ledesma lobbed one up for Ryan Reyes, who climbed the ladder and held on for the score that put Mercedes up 28-19 at the break. Reyes hauled in another score in the second half and Mercedes pulled away for the 47-33 victory.

In the quarterfinals, the Tigers met up with Lufkin and gutted out a 27-21 win putting them in the semifinals.

The Tigers jumped out to a 13-6 lead in the semis, but Hutto tied the game twice in the first half and in the second half took a slim 33-26 lead. Mercedes tried battling back, but a late Hutto pick-six sealed the win for the Hippos.

“It was a great tournament overall and another great experience for us,” said Roger Adame III. “Today’s one-and-done scenario helped us because that’s what the playoffs will be like. We know what to expect when we come up here, it’s the best of the best and as a senior this was my last tournament so I’m just thankful for my team and all the support we have gotten.”

——-

NOTEBOOK: Mercedes’ Ledesma-Reyes combo shines at state

Heading into Saturday’s slate of games at the State 7on7 tournament, most knew that the Marc and Matt Ledesma combo was one not to be taken lightly. However, quarterback Marc may have found himself another trusty target in Ryan Reyes.

Reyes, like Matt, stretched the field and hauled in big play after big play. However, none was bigger than Reyes’ leaping grab in the corner of the end zone that gave Mercedes a 28-19 halftime lead over Corsicana in the second round of the Division I consolation bracket.

In the quarterfinals against Lufkin, Reyes once again displayed his hops and reeled in another TD grab in the corner of the end zone. Once again, Reyes gave Mercedes momentum and helped the Tigers to a 20-14 halftime lead.

Last summer Reyes did not make the trip to College Station due to a knee injury. However, Reyes had surgery last July and is now fully healthy.

“At first it was frustrating because we made state last summer and I couldn’t be out here because of my injury,” Reyes said. “Now that I’m healthy, I was able to come out here and play. Our offense played great and it’s something we have confidence in, and we’re excited for the fall.”

THE BEST OF THE REST: Sharyland Pioneer was the only Valley school outside of Rio Hondo to reach the championship bracket this week. However, its journey was short-lived as the Diamondbacks fell in the opening round to Cinco Ranch 26-12.

Lake Travis went on to win the championship bracket title with a 34-33 win over Waxahachie.

Meanwhile, in the consolation bracket, McAllen Rowe slipped past Lubbock Coronado 41-39 before bowing out to Dickinson in the second round, 40-34.

Edinburg North picked up a 33-27 win against Marshall, but fell to the Woodlands 40-12.

Finally, Weslaco lost to Hutto, 47-27, in the opening round. Hutto won the consolation bracket title with a 41-39 victory over San Antonio O’Connor.

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

The Mercedes Lady Tigers have found their new head softball coach in San Benito’s Kristy Leal. The Tigers made it official Thursday afternoon.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to build off of what coach (Betty) Morrell and her prior teams have established,” said Leal on Friday. “The community in Mercedes loves softball and loves their Lady Tigers, so I intend to give my absolute all for the program.”

Leal will be replacing longtime softball coach Betty Morrell, who retired at the end of the season.

Leal spent the last two seasons as the head coach at San Benito and amassed a 53-10 overall record along with a 25-3 district record. She also led the Lady Hounds to a district and bi-district title.

Prior to San Benito, Leal served as an assistant coach for one year at Donna High School and two years at Weslaco High.

“We’re excited to have Coach Leal,” said Mercedes ISD Athletic Director Roger Adame Jr. “Our softball program is one of the premiere programs in the Valley and in the region. She (Leal) brings plenty of experience from the college and high school level. Her track record is awesome, along with her knowledge and passion she brings to the game.”

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

COLLEGE STATION — The Mercedes Tigers showed their Texas State 7on7 tournament experience and displayed toughness in what was an impressive first-day performance Friday afternoon at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex.

Despite a 2-0 start in pool play, Mercedes fell to Montgomery 34-18 in their third and final game of the afternoon, and wound up in the Division I consolation bracket due to a point differential.

The Tigers narrowly missed the championship bracket after falling to Montgomery on points, 62-61. The Bears ended up taking the second seed in Pool D while the Tigers had to settle for the third spot. The Tigers will now play at 8 this morning against El Paso Coronado.

“We had a strong showing today,” said Mercedes cornerback Ivan Vela. “We have been here before so we knew what to expect. Our offense did its thing and we made plays in the secondary.”

Mercedes began its day with a bang against Del Valle. The Ledesma twin combo proved to be too much for the opposing defense as Marc Ledesma hit his go-to target Matt Ledesma on the first play from scrimmage in stride for a touchdown as the Tigers routed the Cardinals 39-15.

In Game 2, the Tigers were tested against a quick and physical Timberview team. Mercedes jumped out to a 26-13 lead, but the Wolves managed to cut into the lead and eventually took a 27-25 advantage.

After that, the fireworks began with both offenses answering each other in what ended up being an old-fashion shootout. Marc Ledesma hit Ryan Reyes in the back of the end zone in the final minute to secure a 43-41 Tigers win.

“This game was tough and our speed got tested,” said Vela after the win over Timberview. “We made the plays we needed to on defense and we earned this one.”

The Tigers had hoped the momentum from Game 2 would carry over into their final game of the day, but they fell short against Montgomery and caught the unlucky break in the final standings.

Despite being placed in the consolation bracket for a second straight year, the Tigers were pleased with their performance.

“It’s always great to come back and compete against the best,” said Marc Ledesma. “We got our 7on7 season started a little slow, but over time we all began to click.

My brother and I practice every day. We have a special connection and I thought he did a great job today. We have a lot of experience and we played good teams today. Overall, we did a great job and I’m proud of my team’s effort.”

—–

NOTEBOOK: Rio Hondo’s championship bracket journey ends in first round

Rio Hondo’s State 7on7 journey quickly came to an end Friday morning in the first round of the Division II championship bracket.

The Bobcats ended the tournament with a 2-2 overall record.

Despite falling behind 14-0 right out of the gate to Boerne, Rio Hondo scored, forced a turnover and tied the game at 14 midway through the second half. The Bobcats managed to shake off the slow start and battled back to take a 27-21 lead.

However, Boerne managed to pull away with a late score and win 48-41, ending Rio Hondo’s tournament run.

“This was a great experience, coming out here for the first time and playing against different schools,” said Rio Hondo wide receiver Erik Pizarro. “We gave it our best these last two days and sometimes the chips don’t fall your way, but I’m proud of my team.”

Rio Hondo’s offense looked like it was in mid-season form. Tyler Bush was in sync with Pizarro and running back Danny Vazquez displayed his pass and route-running ability. The transition from 7on7 to full pads doesn’t always pan out, but in Rio Hondo’s case, the Cats are a team on a mission and have the pieces in play to make some noise come this fall.

“We’re excited for this upcoming season,” said Vazquez. “Playing against tough competition will help us in the fall. It gave us great practice to see the bigger schools. We want to carry this momentum into the fall. Our offense was on point and I’m happy with the way our offense performed.”

TOUGH DAY: Five Division I teams from the Rio Grande Valley took the field Friday afternoon and only Sharyland Pioneer advanced to play in the championship bracket. The Diamondbacks went 1-2 in pool play with a 33-27 Game 3 win over Dickinson that secured them a bid in the championship round. The D’Backs will play Cinco Ranch at 9 a.m. today.

Edinburg North, McAllen Rowe and Weslaco High all finished pool play 0-3 and will play in the consolation bracket this morning at 8.

Edinburg North will play Marshall, Weslaco will meet Hutto and Rowe has a date with Lubbock Coronado.

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

COLLEGE STATION — Rio Hondo entered pool play at the Texas State 7on7 tournament Thursday as the young, inexperienced pups who were very eager to showcase their skills.

Despite it being their first time at state, the Bobcats showed some teeth and flexed their muscles to finish 2-1 in pool play at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex.

The two-win mark was enough for the Bobcats to clinch a spot in today’s championship bracket, where they’ll face Boerne in the first round.

“Heading into our first game we had confidence,” said Rio Hondo quarterback Tyler Bush. “Yes, we were excited to be here, but we were also ready to get out there and play.”

Rio Hondo began pool play against Stafford and entered the second half with the game tied at 20.

The Bobcats wound up prevailing in overtime 33-27 on a touchdown pass from Bush to Erik Pizarro.

In Game 2, Rio Hondo faced Kaufman, the defending champs. Early turnovers proved to be too much for the Bobcats to overcome and the Cats fell 40-26.

In their final game of the day, The Cats fended off a late Mineral Wells rally to win 34-31. Ruben Hernandez patrolled the secondary and made plays for the Bobcats while Pizarro, Danny Vazquez, Jimmy Weaver and Frank Hernandez all stretched the field and made plays on offense all afternoon long.

Rio Hondo displayed toughness and the ability to force turnovers.

“It was hot today, I’m not going to lie,” said Frank Hernandez. “We overcame that heat and worked through it. The second game was tough and it was big for us to rebound and pick up a win in the third game. We’re excited to come back tomorrow and get back at it.”

—-

NOTEBOOK: Cats soaking it all in at College Station

Not every team gets a chance to make the Texas State 7on7 Tournament in College Station. Meanwhile, some teams make it an annual trip to Aggie Land and showcase their skills.

The road trip and team bonding is what makes the experience fun. Another cool perk is the gear the players receive all via tournament sponsor Adidas.

For Rio Hondo, the Bobcats are taking in the moment and just playing football.

“Getting the gear was the coolest thing,” said Rio Hondo quarterback Tyler Bush. “We got two sets of jerseys, gloves and cleats. So far this has been a fun experience with my team.”

Rio Hondo turned heads Thursday afternoon in pool play, coming up with a 2-1 record and a spot in the championship bracket. Not bad for a first-time club.

“Traveling up here was fun and, of course, getting the Adidas gear was pretty sweet,” said receiver Frank Hernandez. “We learned a lot in one day and we got to see other teams’ speed. The corners here have great closing speed and that’s a good challenge for us to go against.”

PIRATES PLUNDERED: The Hidalgo Pirates were the other Division II school to represent the Rio Grande Valley at state on Thursday. However, unlike the Cats, the Pirates finished 0-3 in pool play and will now play in the consolation bracket today. They take on Brock at 8 a.m.

It was a rough day for Hidalgo, as the Pirates dropped their first game to El Campo 34-22, lost their second contest to Texarkana Pleasant Grove 59-12 and dropped their final game of the day to Pecos 30-21.

ON TAP: In addition to the conclusion of Division II action, today is the start of the Division I tournament, which involves Mercedes, Weslaco, Sharyland Pioneer and Edinburg North.

Mercedes starts the day with a 1 p.m. Pool D contest against Del Valle. At 3 p.m. the Tigers will take on Timberview and at 5 p.m. they play Montgomery.

Weslaco, meanwhile, kicks things off with a Pool M contest against Waxahachie at 2 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m. game against Cy Fair and, finally, a 6 p.m. contest vs. College Station.

Pioneer is in Pool J along with Abilene, Dickinson and The Colony, which the Diamondbacks open up with.

Finally, Edinburg North is in Pool P along with Texas A&M Consolidated, Bush and Lovejoy. The Cougars kicks off their day against Lovejoy at 2 p.m.

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

It has become an annual thing for the Mercedes 7on7 team to reach the Texas State tournament in College Station.

The Tigers have now qualified for the state in back-to-back seasons. They punched their ticket this year with a 41-34 win against McAllen Memorial in the Mission state qualifying tournament.

The Tigers have experience on both sides of the ball with 13 players returning from last summer’s 7on7 squad.

The Tigers air-raid attack possesses multiple weapons with twins Marc and Matt Ledesma, Zach Gomez and Fabian Ledesma. Defensively, Roger Adame and Ivan Vela will lead the charge.

“Most of us were on the team last summer, so we know what to expect,” said Adame. “Our experience will help teach the younger guys on the team. We have the team to make a run, it’s just a matter of being consistent on every play, but we’re excited to be going back.”

This will be Mercedes’ sixth trip to College Station as the team also qualified in 2007, 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2016.

Joining Mercedes in Division I will be Sharyland Pioneer, Weslaco High, McAllen Rowe and Edinburg North. In Division II, meanwhile, Hidalgo and Rio Hondo round out the other schools from the Valley.

Mercedes will be placed in Pool D and will begin play at 1 p.m. Friday with the games continuing at 3 and 5 p.m. In Mercedes’ pool will be Del Valle, Montgomery and Timberview (Mansfield).

“As a senior this was a goal of ours to make it back to state,” said Ledesma. “It’s always a great experience to go play in College Station. We get a chance to showcase our skills and compete with the best. We love our community because they support us 100 percent. We feed off their energy and to have them follow us to state is a great feeling.”

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

The shortstop position is arguably the hardest position next to pitcher.

A shortstop requires leadership, knowledge of the game, athleticism and confidence. Rio Hondo’s Alexa Castellanos displayed those things.

Castellanos was tabbed this year’s Valley Morning Star All-STAR Most Valuable Player. Castellanos anchored the Rio Hondo defense with a .939 fielding percentage and a 74 percent put out rate as the everyday shortstop.

Castellanos also hit in the middle of the order and batted .480 while driving in 58 runs.

With the Lady Bobcats searching for a spark in their regional semifinal series against Wimberley, Castellanos stepped up and made play after play, and served as the vocal leader. Rio Hondo ended up winning in Game 3 and advancing to the region final.

“We knew that series was going to be tough,” said Castellanos. “Our team needed a leader and I knew as a senior I needed to step up and lead my team. Winning this award means a lot, I worked hard every year and to see it pay off, it’s a blessing.”

Pitcher of the year

Rio Hondo’s pitching was a key part in the team’s playoff run this season.

Senior Jennifer Flores served as the club’s ace and put forth a masterful senior campaign. Flores was named the All-STAR Pitcher of the Year.

“This was the most memorable year I’ve had,” said Flores. “I wanted to go out with a bang and this year was by far my best year I’ve had as a player. None of this was possible without my teammates. I knew I could trust my defense every time I pitched. Over my career I gained confidence, not only in myself but in my teammates.”

Flores finished the year with a 17-4 record in 93 innings of work while racking up 124 strikeouts. Flores also provided pop at the plate batting .463 with 50 RBIs.

Offensive Player of the Year

The 2017 Harlingen South club was loaded with underclassmen and was unsure of the direction the Lady Hawks would go.

The Lady Hawks overcame injuries and reached the regional quarterfinals. South’s offense was fueled by senior first baseman Ashley Reyna.

Reyna batted in the cleanup spot and swatted six homers and 19 doubles while batting a staggering .615

Reyna was named this year’s All-STAR Offensive Player of the Year.

“I didn’t know my average was that high,” said Reyna. “I didn’t change my approach, I just kept swinging. I also had a great support system. The one thing I did work on was my mentality. Throughout the season I kept my mental game strong and focused. To win this award means a lot and it was my last year so I couldn’t have ended it on a better note.”

Defensive Player of the Year

After losing Kim Harper to graduation, San Benito coach Kristy Leal needed to find a catcher to replace her. The task was a tall one, but junior catcher Joanna Gonzalez was up for the challenge.

Gonzalez was named this year’s All-STAR Defensive Player of the Year.

Gonzalez made the switch from third base to catcher and directed traffic from behind the plate. Gonzalez finished with a .944 fielding percentage while committing only one error through 32 games.

“Once Kim graduated, I knew I was going to have to step up and be ready,” she said. “At first it was hard adjusting to a different position, but I was able to get it all down. I thank my coaches for that. It was harder because catcher takes a lot of work and I was now responsible for leading the defense. However it has been fun to play catcher because I like the tension.”

Newcomer of the Year

It’s not everyday one sees a freshman take over and dominate at the varsity level. However, Lyford freshman Jerrica Rojas did just that in 2017.

The star-studded freshman played both pitcher and third base for the Lady Bulldogs. Rojas was tabbed All-STAR Newcomer of the Year.

“It’s an honor to win this award,” she said. “All season long, I just went out there and played my game.” I still have three years ahead of me and I’m ready to get back to work. This year I learned a lot from the seniors and juniors, and without them this wouldn’t be possible.”

Rojas led the club in hits with 47, a .566 average and 45 RBI. Rojas also played a vital role in Lyford’s unbeaten district season along with a trip to the regional quarterfinals for the first time in program history.

Coach of the Year

The Rio Hondo Lady Bobcats reached new heights in 2017. Not only were they the last Valley team standing in the playoffs, but they reached the regional final for the first time in program history.

Rio Hondo’s magical season was led by a core of five seniors and a veteran coach in Brett Esparza.

Esparza guided the Lady Cats to a fourth consecutive district title and in his sixth year as head softball coach, Esparza has amassed 144 wins. Esparza is this year’s All-STAR Coach of the Year.

“This year was special and this year’s group of kids was special,” he said. “This group has been a part of my family’s life for a long time. I had them for class when they were in junior high and they would always want to talk softball with me. That’s when we realized that this group was special.

“As a coach you always want to have an impact on their lives and guide them. Winning this award is a reflection on how hard the kids worked and it’s really special to see these kids grow up and the impact they have had in my life.”

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

RIO HONDO — With the dust settled and the 2017 softball season in the rearview mirror, the time came for Rio Hondo’s Alexa Castellanos and Jennifer Flores to look toward the future.

Their softball careers will continue as the pair inked their names on the dotted line Wednesday to play softball at Sul Ross State University in Alpine next spring.

“I’m excited to go to Sul Ross,” said Castellanos. “Jenn is coming with me so that makes the transition easier on both of us.”

It was just last week that both Castellanos and Flores made a visit to the university and right away they felt like it was the place for them to be.

“Their coach saw us play and liked what he saw,” Castellanos said. “Coach (Brett) Esparza spoke highly of us and that got their coach to invite us for a visit. I’m open to playing any position, but I know I can play shortstop at the college level.”

Both Castellanos and Flores have played together since their Little League days and saw that togetherness transfer to the varsity level in high school, and now the two will don the Lobo red and black.

The pitcher-shortstop combo played a vital role in Rio Hondo’s recent success. Both were four-year varsity members with Castellanos being the everyday shortstop, and Flores moving between the outfield and serving as the team’s ace.

The Lady Cats saw this year’s bunch not only claim a fourth consecutive district title, but also reach the region finals for the first time in program history.

Castellanos served as a vocal leader on the field while Flores let her work in the circle lead the way.

Castellanos batted over .400 on the season, scored more than 40 runs and collected over 40 hits.

Flores flourished her senior year, stymieing the opposition at every turn. Flores struck out more than 100 batters and also contributed at the plate with a batting average over .400 and over 50 RBIs.

“The trip (to Alpine) was long, but the scenery was nice and both Alexa and I can drive so we split the time driving,” Flores said. “We really enjoyed the campus and their coach was great because he reminded us of Coach Esparza. I want to continue pitching and I’m ready to go, but I’m also OK with playing the outfield.

“Both Alexa and I have an opportunity to play as freshmen next year and we just need to show them what we can do.”

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — Heading into the 2017 football season, San Benito’s offense is poised to have yet another strong season. The Greyhounds did not have spring football so their 7on7 squad provides a glimpse of what fans can expect this fall.

San Benito isn’t known for having a 7on7-savvy squad, but is looking for their fourth trip to the state tournamnet in College Station. The last time the Hounds reached the state tournamnent was in 2007. Before that was 2001 and 2006.

After a season-opening win on Tuesday, San Benito fell 48-35 to Rio Hondo, which also possesses plenty of fire power. Both squads have the offensive weapons to seal a bid for the state tournament.

For the Greyhounds, everything begins with quarterback Erick Retta. The quick-footed signal caller displayed a cool, calm and collected effort last season and is in sync with his go-to target Isaiah Trevino.

“As a quarterback I can work on hitting my targets and my release time,” said Retta. “I only have four seconds to throw the ball so that clock in my head helps. One thing I’m working on with my receivers is the timing. We understand the routes and it’s just a matter of mastering the timing,”

Last summer San Benito did not attend a qualifying tournament, but the Hounds are looking to compete in an area one soon.

“We’re trying to get into a state qualifying tournament in San Antonio,” said Retta. “We wanted to enter some here in the Valley but they were already full. Our group has never made the state tournament and it’s a goal of ours to make it back.”

Retta will turn to Trevino and fellow wide out Jacob Cavazos. The duo provides Retta with soft hands and crisp route running. Running back Tyrone Harper will also be in the mix adding fire power out of the back field.

“We’re excited to be out here and play football,” said Trevino. “During the offseason we have gotten faster and have worked with Erick on our timing.

“As a wide receiver I use this time to master my route running. Just because its 7on7 doesn’t mean guys won’t be competitive and that makes it fun. They will play you the way they will play you with pads on,”

The Hounds will be back in action Tuesday at 9 p.m. as they have a matchup against Harlingen South.

All 7on7 games are being played at Victor Park in Harlingen.