BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — Edinburg High senior quarterback Matt Cruz rolled to his left, looking for someone to pass to.

It was the second play of the second half, and senior receiver Ricky Alaniz was looking for a way to help the team punch it in, because the Bobcats were down 14-0.

“As soon as I saw the corner go straight to Adrian (Garza), I saw myself wide open in the middle,” Alaniz said. “I called for the ball. Matt saw me down the field, and we connected.”

Alaniz knew the safety was coming over to him, so he cut back toward the ball and grabbed it for the Bobcats’ first touchdown of the game.

That drive, and the play that set it up, launched Edinburg High to a 34-21 win over Harlingen South on Friday at Richard R. Flores Stadium.

“It feels amazing. Feels great,” Alaniz said. “These guys have a lot of energy. I got to see that in the second half. The coaches got on us. We knew we made mistakes, but we also knew what the game plan was and how to execute it.”

Edinburg High kicked off to start the half, but South fumbled the return and the Bobcats pounced, pilfering beautiful field position to set up Alaniz’s score.

“That kickoff sparked everyone,” Alaniz said. “The first touchdown ignited the fire, and there was no stopping us from there.”

Harlingen South looked to be in the driver’s seat in the first half, scoring twice and blanking Edinburg’s offense. The Hawks dominated the line of scrimmage, and Cruz had almost no time to pass. Cruz ate a few hits early, but he never lost faith in his line. He spoke to them at halftime.

“I told the line we were behind them,” Cruz said. “‘Me and Hearlin (Benavides, senior running back), we are going to work no matter what. We are going to do what we can. We need you with us.’”

Benavides was the only thing that kept Edinburg High afloat in the first half. He had 91 first-half yards, compared to the rest of the team’s 5. Benavides finished with 209 yards and 2 TDs.

But Benavides wasn’t enough for the Bobcats. He was gaining yards, but he couldn’t get holes big enough to break long runs. When he did, he busted a 53-yarder, but EHS missed the ensuing field goal and gave the ball back to South without any points.

The Bobcats’ faithful spark plug, junior Erik Cano, breathed new life into the offense. He ran outside the hashes, taking some pressure off of the line.

“Erik came up big on multiple drives,” Cruz said. “A few touchdown plays, he really helped us. He should have got in there, but he’ll get them next time. Cano made a big difference toward the end.”

Cano said he didn’t have any nerves when his number was called. He is ready at a moment’s notice, and when he enters the game, the tone shifts.

“I just try to motivate the offensive line, motivate the guys around me,” Cano said. “I know when we have that energy, that gives us the best opportunity for the win.”

Edinburg High coach J.J. Leija said he was glad to have both backs Friday.

“Cano’s spark was pretty good for us, because we were able to give Hearlin a rest,” Leija said. “Then (Cano) got tired, tapped himself out, so we got Hearlin in there. It’s a great one-two punch to have.”

Harlingen South junior Corban Hendrick scored two rushing touchdowns. The Hawks’ third score came on a 37-yard pass from junior quarterback David Torres to senior Derrick Delgado.

Delgado was a threat for the Hawks, catching five passes for 100 yards. Edinburg senior Antoine Woodard, who missed almost all of the preseason, was asked to guard Delgado all night.

“Antoine is still a little rusty, but he played well,” Leija said. “He came up and made a few plays, had some hits, and he was a great cover corner for us tonight. But, he does have a long way to go.”

This isn’t the first time Leija and his staff have turned a Bobcats game around at halftime, but the old ball coach insists they don’t do anything special during intermission.

“It’s pretty simple. We go in and make our adjustments,” Leija said. “We just try to make things simple and let the kids play. Our deal is, we are never going to back down. We are going to keep playing for all four quarters. The fourth quarter belongs to us. Today, the second half belonged to us. We scored 34 points in the second half, and they scored 7. So these kids responded to what I told them in there, and what the coaches told them.”

[email protected]

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — One of the biggest stories heading into the season for Edinburg Vela was the migration of Daniel Enriquez from defensive secondary to receiver.

The hype was warranted, as Enriquez caught five passes and had a classic 97-yard kickoff return Thursday in Vela’s 48-27 win over Laredo United at Richard R. Flores Stadium.

But what made the move even sweeter was the play of the guys who took over for Enriquez on defense.

Jaime Perez Jr., a sophomore safety, picked off the first pass of the game on United’s first play from scrimmage.

“It was nerve-wracking, because it was my first varsity play,” Perez said. “The quarterback turned my way. I cheated that way, and when he let it go, I broke on it. Intercepted it.”

The perfect start became even more perfect. Vela’s first play from scrimmage was a 31-yard TD run by senior running back Cristian Flores.

“Honestly, I’ve been waiting for this for a while,” Flores said. “The past is the past, but coming out here with my boys and getting it done, it was a lot of fun.”

Perez was not done, though. He picked up a second interception later in the first half. The pick was crucial because it came in the end zone, and Perez was able to return the ball to near midfield. Enriquez’s return prompted United to kick it to Perez, who also broke a kickoff return for a touchdown, but it was called back because of a penalty on Vela.

“We have a lot of things to clean up,” Vela coach John Campbell said. “I think overall, we weren’t very consistent. We saw the explosive plays, which we are not going to knock that, but the consistency, the ability to sustain drives, the ability to go three-and-out on defense, that’s where we didn’t do a real good job. First game of the year.”

Perez is joined in the defensive secondary by fellow sophomore safety Ivan Mendoza.

“Two talented sophomores. You are always a little bit skeptical when you have two sophomores back there,” Campbell said. “I was very proud with their performance tonight.

“We thought that little Jaime, Mito is what we call him, had a chance to be a special player for us,” he continued. “We put a lot on that, because he was the guy who allowed us to move Daniel over to the offensive side of the ball. He came out and performed just like we thought he had the ability to. We are very pleased with his performance tonight.”

Perez said he had nerves coming in, but he knew he had to perform for his seniors.

“Ivan and I worked our tails off all summer,” Perez said. “We wanted to get everything right, learn our assignments, get stronger and get bigger. Mentally, we prepared for this game, especially to set the tone of the rest of the season.”

“We always want to set the tone,” Flores said. “My coach said he wanted to put 60 on them, because they were talking trash. Stuff happens. It’s a preseason game. We had fun.”

Flores rushed for 105 yards on Thursday. He scored Vela’s first three touchdowns, and by the time he needed a sip of water, Vela was up 21-0.

“All the credit to my line. They set me up,” Flores said. “This O-line, they are always juiced, honestly. Once they are working, they are working, and they don’t stop.”

The line was also pivotal in the performance of the quarterbacks.

Sophomore AJ Sotelo opened the game under center. Sotelo completed 9 of 15 passes but for just 27 yards. After halftime, Elijah Trujillo took over at QB. Trujillo went 5-for-10 passing for 114 yards and 2 TDs.

“I think Elijah performed well in our scrimmage. (Senior quarterback) Frankie (Zuniga) did, as well,” Campbell said. “We have a little bit of a quarterback battle on our hands. AJ is getting his wings, getting going. We figured we needed a little bit of a change-up. Elijah came in there and executed a component of our offense that was missing in the first half.”

Sotelo did not play in Vela’s last scrimmage.

“We are not knocking AJ,” Campbell said. “He made some good decisions. He got us in some good plays, but looked a little bit rusty at times. But, when the bullets were flying, he made some good decisions. He had a big-time scramble, knew where the ball was supposed to go. They both did a good job, particularly, for the first game of the year.”

Trujillo said he wasn’t expecting to get in the game so early.

“I thought eventually I would get something, but I knew our team would put up a lot of points, and everyone would get the opportunity to get in,” Trujillo said. “I didn’t expect to go in that early, but I am glad I got my opportunity.”

Trujillo made the most of it, and it started with his first pass. In the first half, junior receiver Justin Cantu had just one catch. On the first play of the second half, Trujillo rifled a pass to Cantu.

“I think that play really picked up a lot of people: me, him, the crowd, the team,” Trujillo said. “It was a great tone setter for the whole night.”

Cantu finished as the team’s leading receiver in yards (99) and tied for the lead in receptions (five). He caught two touchdowns, both from Trujillo.

Trujillo also credited his line — a trend across the team. Campbell highlighted Vela’s lack of consistency but was quick to point out that the O-line was reliable throughout.

“Cristian does real good reading the outside zone. He was hitting some cuts. We still have Aaron (Alvarez) back there, and to be honest with you, I was very pleased with some of Kevin McKinney’s runs, as well,” Campbell said. “None of that is possible without the offensive line.”

“Obviously, we have to go as an O-line,” senior left tackle Jayden Borjas said. “If it doesn’t start up front, we are in trouble. So, we just go. We don’t stop. We push each other, but we have each others’ backs.”

[email protected]

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — Edinburg North senior cornerback Carlos Coronado has a vivid memory from his time at Longoria Middle School, before he donned the navy and gold of the Cougars.

“When it happened, my mom came to Longoria,” Coronado said. “Out of nowhere, she showed up. I saw she had tears in her eyes. I asked her, ‘What’s going on?’”

Coronado’s mother explained that she was moving out and his father was staying at the family’s home.

“She made me pick between my dad and my mom,” Coronado said. “Since I saw all my brothers going with her, I didn’t want to leave my dad by himself, so I stuck with him. And ever since then, I go every chance I get to see my mom.”

Coronado said that time in his life was tough, but football was his escape.

“Football has been an outlet for me,” Coronado said. “It made me focus on school and get my grades up. Being around these players helps me forget about all the problems in life.”

Coronado, along with his close friend and fellow senior corner Isaac Bernal, forms the backbone of the Cougars’ defense. The two are focused and hungry entering their Week 1 matchup with Mercedes at 6 p.m. Saturday at Richard R. Flores Stadium.

“This week is very exciting,” Bernal said. “There is so much adrenaline going through me right now. I can’t wait to get on the field with my brothers. We are going to be home, so we are going to take care of business here at the house and catch a ‘W’ for the first game of the season.”

The Coronado-Bernal connection was in full effect last week as North scrimmaged against Laredo Alexander, a perennial playoff contender that advanced to the second round last year.

“Without a doubt, those two guys are the ones we built our defense around,” North coach Damian Gonzalez said. “We had three interceptions against Alexander, and Carlos had two of them.”

Coronado’s first pick was a prime example of what makes him special.

“He is a ball hawk,” Gonzalez said. “He is around the ball. He is everywhere.”

“I was even with the receiver. I felt him beside me,” Coronado said. “He looked up, so I looked up, and I saw the ball.”

Coronado positioned his body in front of the receiver’s and put enough height on his leap to pull the ball down. Still, he wasn’t happy that he allowed himself to be tackled on what he felt should have been a big return.

“It felt wonderful,” Coronado said. “I was trying to stay on my feet, but he got me from the back, and fell on me. I just like that feeling when everyone comes to you and taps your helmet. I love that feeling.”

Bernal and Coronado have complementary skill sets. Coronado is a technical wizard, always in the right place at the right time, and always ready to make the play.

“Isaac, he is a little nastier, tougher,” Gonzalez said. “He is one of those guys that will get in your face. He is going to tell you what he feels. He is aggressive. He doesn’t shy away from hitting.”

To assume they are always confined to their standout attributes would be a mistake. Coronado can thump with the best of them, as well, and Bernal makes great reads on balls. But, their biggest strengths fit together like pieces to a puzzle.

For any receiver, a matchup against the Cougars is a nightmare. First, the receiver is locked down by Coronado, unable to find any separation. Then, he gets matched up with Bernal, who will bother him at the line or crush him on a running play, just to send a message.

Bernal wasn’t always a big hitter, but during his junior year, he made a play that opened his eyes.

“My junior year, I just decided that I will be one of those cornerbacks that will go out and hit you every play,” Bernal said. “We were against Economedes. I was going against an all-district receiver, Pete Segura. He ran a little screen pass, and I came up and cracked him. Ever since then, I fell in love with that feeling.”

Bernal and Coronado knew each other when they were in elementary school, but they weren’t that close.

“As soon as we came in (freshman year), I saw him in the weight room and I told him, ‘Let’s work out,’” Coronado said. “We have been working out since then. We go out to eat, movies, whatever.”

When North reassigned coach Rene Saenz last year and the mass exodus of transfers began, Coronado and Bernal knew they could count on each other to be back in the Cougars’ colors for senior year.

“There were a lot of players that left, but just seeing the people that decided to stay, stay true to the navy and gold, that just made us know that we are actually here for this school,” Bernal said. “We are here to put this squad on our back, represent it proudly, and bring it back to the good ol’ days: winning, going three rounds deep, everything like that. We all stayed for a reason, and that is to win.”

Coronado and Bernal have each others’ back, but they are also extremely competitive with each other.

“(Coronado) is actually from Longoria,” Bernal said. “I’m from B.L. (Garza Middle School). As soon as we came together, we just clicked. We took it from there.”

Before that, in middle school, the two were on opposing sides.

“And you know B.L. won that,” Bernal said.

“We push each other a lot, especially in the weight room,” Coronado said. “I will tell him he can’t do something, and he will be like ‘bet,’ and then he will do it. And then I’ll do 10 more pounds or whatever it is.

“On bench, I am way stronger than him. I put up 225, he’s at like 180. I’ll say I take that dub.”

For Coronado, game nights hold a special significance, because he gets to see both his mom and his dad.

“I kind of wish they were back together, but stuff happens in life,” Coronado said. “You just have to take it and move on and learn from it.”

Coronado has certainly done that, developing a stronger relationship with his father — something he is very thankful for.

“Before, we didn’t really used to joke around,” Coronado said. “He would just be like, ‘I’m going to work, bye.’ Now, we are competitive in the weight room. I’ll tell him he can’t do this and that. We have that kind of bond.”

They are even working together to build a two-story home. Coronado’s father makes a living in construction.

“I try to help him out whenever I can,” Coronado said. “I was in there catching bricks the other day.”

He has learned about working with his hands, but he also learned a valuable lesson.

“I learned that it is tough out there. It’s hot, all day,” Coronado said. “That makes you think twice about school and stuff. You have to get good grades so you have options when you graduate.”

[email protected]

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

PHARR — Everybody wants to know who will be running the high-powered Edinburg Vela offense.

Right now, the answer seems simple, but the talent on the roster makes the choice anything but.

“(Sophomore quarterback) A.J. Sotelo was our starter heading out of spring training,” Vela coach John Campbell said.

Sotelo is a sophomore who was used sparingly last year for the SaberCats. He attempted only one pass on the varsity roster, but he earned the trust of the team when he stepped in after starter Nathan Garcia suffered an injury during a playoff game.

Sotelo is a talented player who showed a lot at the freshman level last year, leading the team to a 10-0-1 record and a district title.

The 5-foot-10-inch, 165-pounder also led South Middle School to a district title during his eighth-grade year. Sotelo plays baseball for Vela, too, and he earned some time in the outfield during the fourth round of the playoffs.

Sotelo did not play in Edinburg Vela’s football scrimmage against PSJA High, which was abnormal because Campbell said his main goal in the scrimmage was to get players without varsity experience some playing time against a varsity team.

After the game, Campbell said Sotelo was “fine,” and that he expected him to be ready for Week 1.

Should anything keep Sotelo from playing at any point this year, Campbell has plenty of options.

Frankie Zuniga transferred into Vela this summer after playing last year at Edinburg North. Zuniga was injured just three games into the season and was not able to return. In the Cougars’ first three games, Zuniga passed for 403 yards and one touchdown on a 69.8 completion percentage. He also ran for a touchdown.

Elijah Trujillo is a senior who has played a bit for Vela, mostly in mop-up duty. Vela also has freshman Chase Campbell, who was a standout at South Middle School. Chase Campbell played in Vela’s JV scrimmage on Friday, and coach Campbell said he was impressed with Chase’s adjustment to the speed of the JV game.

For now, the job is Sotelo’s, but his play will have to keep him in that position. Plenty of SaberCats are eager to get those snaps.

ONE-TWO PUNCH

Senior running back Aaron Alvarez was a powerful weapon for Vela last year. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry while racking up a team-high 871 rushing yards and 18 TDs. The converted linebacker is a bruising runner between the tackles, but when he gets to the edge, he can zip up the sideline and get away from the defense, as he did so many times last year.

Senior running back Cristian Flores is back at Vela after a year at Edinburg North during which he ran for 1,244 yards and 13 TDs.

Flores started his varsity career at Vela, and during his sophomore year he put up 984 yards and 11 TDs.

Few thought he would be able to top his 2016 totals on a new offense in 2017, but Flores showed he is capable of being an elite back on any team.

While Vela’s backs may be competing for carries, both said they are excited to be working together.

“It’s pretty good, seeing us be successful back there,” Alvarez said. “We love the personnel that we have, and we are doing great.”

Flores and Alvarez aren’t the only backs Vela has. If last year is any indication, there is no limit to the number of rushers the SaberCats will use. Kevin McKinney also returns for his sophomore season. McKinney is a very shifty back, and he is a valuable asset in the passing game.

“The main thing is it gives us a chance to do some things that we weren’t able to do last year in terms of two-back personnel,” coach Campbell said. “That mix is a little bit different. We can keep them fresh throughout a game, as well. So, we are really pleased with our running back situation. We are pleased with our offensive skill situation overall. Moving Daniel (Enriquez) over from our defensive side to what we call our H, he’s a threat. So, we feel real good about that.”

LINE DANCING

All-state honorable mention offensive lineman Jayden Borjas returns for his senior year.

The Vela line has been a strong point during the last few years, giving prolific offenses time to pull off dazzling plays.

Borjas is an anchor on that line, and as a senior he is one of the leaders on the unit.

“Jayden is one of the few guys that we have that are three-year letterman,” coach Campbell said. “He brings a consistency to him. Jorge Hinojosa, who is lined up right next to him, (is a) talented underclassmen. Being able to have two guys of a very high ability level, at two different grade levels, creates a pretty good little dynamic over there. Obviously, Jayden is an important part of our football team, as are the rest of our offensive line.”

The line overall has been outstanding through preseason, and the running backs and quarterbacks alike appreciate their high level of play.

“Right now, the O-line is tearing it up,” Zuniga said. “They are giving me at least four seconds every play. By that time, the ball is already out. They are doing spectacular. Even on the running plays, we busted a couple long runs (at Vela’s scrimmage against PSJA High). That’s all because of the O-line right there.”

[email protected]

EDINBURG VELA’S KEY TO THE SEASON

Vela’s offense still has the talent to be one of the best in the Valley, but A.J. Sotelo takes over at quarterback without much experience at the varsity level. The defense is still a strong point. The SaberCats come into the year as the top team in the Valley, and they will be difficult to dethrone.

2017 record: 12-1

Returning starters O/D: 6/6

COACH’S TENURE

Coach: John Campbell

Year at the school: 2nd

Record at Edinburg Vela: 12-1

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

Last season was a whirlwind for the La Villa Cardinals.

They got out to an 0-5 start, and things didn’t look very promising.

Enter Zach Gomez, the standout quarterback from Mercedes who transferred into La Villa midway through the year.

Gomez became one of the most intriguing storylines of the football season, passing for 791 yards and 5 TDs and running for another 537 yards and 16 TDs.

In order for Gomez to help the Cardinals turn around their season, the team needed to make sacrifices.

“I said to (senior Rey Felix), ‘You are my quarterback. You have been since you were a sophomore,’” La Villa coach Daniel Perez said. “So I asked him, ‘You know Zach plays quarterback. Do you want him to play receiver?’ He goes, ‘No coach, I will play running back. I played that position before. I will be the running back. Let him play quarterback.’ So he made that decision. We told him it was his choice, and that we wanted him at quarterback, because he is our quarterback. But he said it himself, ‘I want him to play quarterback. I will move.’”

The respect Felix earned for that move last year should pay dividends this year.

Felix returns as La Villa’s starting quarterback this year, and, as a senior, this is his chance to use that respect to guide the team down the right path.

“Most kids wouldn’t make that sacrifice. He is respected for that,” Perez said. “He doesn’t say much. He just goes out there and plays. … Everybody looks up to him. He is a quiet guy. He doesn’t say much. On the field, he is a different person.”

ALL STATE

Senior linebacker Bryan Hinojosa had a major year last year.

He totaled 163 tackles, including 105 solo tackles. He had three sacks and five tackles for a loss. As the man in the middle, he commanded the defense and led the way for his teammates.

As a result of his great play on the field, Hinojosa was rewarded after the season. He was named to the All-State first-team defense.

“Bryan is a great player for us,” Perez said. “He is a leader on that defense, and he works hard. It was great to see him recognized for his phenomenal play last year. He definitely is deserving, and we are glad he was named to the first team.”

ANTS AND CARDS

Progreso and La Villa will meet in Week 1 this year. The meeting has special meaning for the two men who will be manning the sidelines Aug. 31 at Red Ant Stadium in Progreso.

Progreso coach Frank Martinez played defensive lineman at Edcouch-Elsa when Perez was coaching there. After Martinez finished his playing career, he joined Perez on staff. The two coached together at E-E before both eventually left to pursue their coaching careers.

“We are close friends,” Perez said. “We reach out to each other throughout the season. We will text each other, ‘Good luck,’ before our games. We have a real good friendship, but when we go out there on Friday, he is going to try to win, and I am going to try to win.”

[email protected]

LA VILLA’S KEY TO THE SEASON

La Villa will never have huge numbers, and trying to find enough bodies to play every play is never easy. Despite that, the players’ connection to coach Daniel Perez shows the growth of the program in just a year. La Villa is eager to return to the playoffs, and with Rey Felix running the offense, the future looks bright for the Red Birds.

2017 record: 4-7

Returning starters O/D: 7/7

COACH’S TENURE

Coach: Daniel Perez

Year at the school: 2nd

Record at La Villa: 4-7

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

GRULLA — On Oct. 20, quarterback Dillen Salinas and the Grulla Gators were battling with Zapata.

Salinas rolled out of the pocket, looking to run the ball to the sideline.

“It was a horse-collar, but whatever. It’s football,” Salinas said.

What made the impact so much worse was the Grulla offensive lineman who got tangled up and landed on Salinas’ left ankle.

“I heard a pop,” Salinas said. “I knew I was done. I was there crying a little bit”

Salinas’ junior year came to an end that day.

Shortly after, he had surgery on his ankle to insert pins, which will give him stability.

Salinas was devastated. Through six games, he led the district in passing yards, rushing yards, and touchdowns.

“After the surgery, I felt like I didn’t want to play anymore, because I felt sad and stuff,” Salinas said. “The first day of therapy I was like, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore.’ I stopped going for five days.”

Salinas felt alone. He was frustrated, and all he wanted was to be back out on the field for the team.

“We knew if Dillen went down, we were going to be in trouble, because we didn’t really have a backup,” Grulla coach Abel Gonzalez III said. “Ruy (Salinas) did a great job for us stepping in and taking over that role. But we knew with Dillen going out, it would be tough for us. For it to happen the first week of district play was tough for our kids, but our kids kept battling. Our kids kept playing hard.”

Freshman quarterback J.T. Trujillo injured his ankle during Week 1 of the season, which meant Grulla didn’t have a true quarterback to fill the role. Ruy Salinas, no relation to Dillen Salinas, is a defensive back who stepped in at quarterback for his junior year last season. Things only went downhill from there, as the Gators lost three of their next four games. The team closed the season one game away from a share of the district title, going 5-6 overall and 2-2 in district.

After five days, Dillen Salinas decided he had to return to therapy. On day six, he made a beeline for lead athletic trainer Gary Aguirre’s office.

“I realized that it’s football,” Dillen said. “My last year. I have to make it my best year. People say that, ‘Senior is your best year.’ So, I have to make it my best year.”

Dillen Salinas came back to therapy with a renewed urgency. His goal was to be healthy for spring sports.

“Missing football, I cried a lot. I had depression here and there,” Dillen Salinas said. “I wanted to play sports my junior year. I wasn’t going to miss any sport that I didn’t have to.”

He worked hard and was ready for baseball season. He even competed in track. He came into the Grulla summer football program on a mission.

“It was a pretty tough injury,” Gonzalez said. “He was on an MVP pace before the injury. He’s hungry to get back out there. He has a lot of his weapons out there, which is going to help him out.”

The goals are high for the Gators this year. Last year left a bad taste in their mouths, and now they are eager to get back to the top of the district, where they have been so often under Gonzalez.

“I set my mind to it: Do a lot of therapy, a lot of therapy,” Dillen Salinas said. “I was in Gary’s room 24/7. First game came, and I did good. Practice has been good.

“I am really excited to be back out here again, and hopefully win that district title.”

“We need him. It was really tough when he got hurt,” junior receiver Jesus Garza Jr. said. “Now that we have him back, we are going to do some big things.”

NONSTOP

Most of the Gators will tell you senior Miguel Salazar is one of the strongest players on the team.

Not only can he do some very impressive things in the weight room, but he is mentally strong, as well.

This summer, Salazar got a job but kept his devotion to the team.

“I would wake up early, come here to the school to do my footwork and conditioning, and then I would go to work at 4, and stay until the end of the day (10:30),” Salazar said. “I worked the whole entire summer, but when they needed me here, I was here. No excuses. Because this is my last year, I can’t let them down.”

Salazar plays left guard on the offensive line and tackle on the defensive line.

Most of the offensive line players have nicknames for each other, and Salazar is no exception.

The guy they call “Fluffy” will be anything but when his opponents run up against him this year.

“Miguel Salazar, who has played offensive line, will also be back on that defensive line,” Gonzalez said. “He is a really strong player and a leader out there for us. He has worked very hard this summer, and we are really glad to have him this year.”

After a long night at his job at KFC, Salazar was always there in the morning to lift weights with the guys.

“We are super competitive,” Salazar said. “We are always throwing up those two plates just for warm-up, and we compete with each other and push each other. We know we can’t be the weaker team on the field, because we don’t have that size. What we do have is strength, speed and conditioning. We are always running, constantly. We will be the more fit team every time.”

CONSISTENCY

Gonzalez enters his ninth year as the head coach at Grulla this year.

“I’ve been blessed here at La Grula,” Gonzalez said. “We were able to have success here early in my career. The kids understand that the program works. What we do is for a reason. We say things for a reason. Success breeds success. We find ourselves in the playoffs every year. We find ourselves trying to fight for a district title every year. 2016 we won it. Last year, we were about a half away from winning a share of it. Our kids have bought into what we are trying to do, offensively, defensively and on special teams.”

The kids come in knowing they can rely on their coaches to put them in the best position to win.

“(The staff’s continuity) helps a lot, because they have been here for a very long time and they have communication,” Salazar said. “They all went to school together. They have that spark. They want to win. We want to win. So it helps a lot.”

[email protected]

GRULLA’S KEY TO THE SEASON

Everything looks right for Grulla to regain their throne atop the district, but the Gators were reminded last year just how devastating even one injury can be at the 4A level.

2017 record: 5-6

Returning starters O/D: 7/6

COACH’S TENURE

Coach: Abel Gonzalez III

Year at the school: 9th

Record at Grulla: 37-49

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

HIDALGO — It’s always easy just to assume, same old Hidalgo Pirates.

That’s not the case this year. Things are changing in a major way at Bill Pate Stadium, and that’s not just because of the new scoreboard.

“Our attitude is so much different,” Hidalgo coach Monty Stumbaugh said ahead of his second year at the school. “The kids’ attitude is better. The coaching staff is better. We finally understand the system.”

Seniors like Bryan Aleman and Napolean Garza have lived through some of the toughest days in the program’s recent history, and they are here to warn District 16-4A DI that the Pirates are a new team this year.

The stability of the same coach has allowed the players to buy in and give their max effort.

“In my sophomore year, coach (David) Duty was coach, and he told me to try to quarterback,” Aleman, a running back, said. “I did. I think we won one game that year. The mindset with Duty, I don’t think a lot of the players, like, trusted him. It wasn’t a good connection there. There were times guys didn’t want to show up, because they didn’t like it. It was a struggle. It was bad. It was really frustrating.”

Aleman was there, though, consistently trying to work with his team to get better.

“I definitely thought about leaving the team,” Aleman admitted.

“I couldn’t leave my teammates out there. I couldn’t leave the team. I am a pirate,” he said with pride, tapping the name of his team written across his chest. “I love this team. I had to keep pushing forward, but there were definitely some tough parts.”

Enter Stumbaugh, who came over from Port Isabel after 16 years. Stumbaugh entered with a 123-64 record at PI, where the Tarpons only missed the playoffs twice under his direction.

“We are a whole lot better than we were at this time last year,” Stumbaugh said. “This group is going to compete. Last year’s group played hard, don’t get me wrong, but it was a learning process.”

Last year, the Pirates went winless, 0-10. That misery is what brought them together.

“In the middle of the season, last year, the attitude was kind of changing,” Aleman said. “Everybody changed their mindset. There were still people who weren’t really feeling it, but we started talking to everybody, and everybody started to trust coach. It was really great, actually, to see everyone coming together as a team. Unfortunately, we couldn’t pull it together as a team before the end of the season, but when it was done, everyone was talking about it, talking about coach and how he is going to change everything around.”

“Midway was too late,” Garza said. “What we are doing right now is just incredible. This is the foundation for a great year.”

The vision the players had at the end of the year has come to fruition, as the Pirates look like they haven’t looked in years.

“I feel amazing this year. It’s way different than years past,” Garza said. “Just the way we practice, the way we played the last scrimmage. Everyone knows their assignments. Everybody knows what they have to do. It is incredible.”

The stability of the staff has allowed Stumbaugh to add some of his unique twists to the offense and defense. Aleman is one of the players tasked with implementing those new wrinkles.

“We are still going to run the football. That is what we do,” Stumbaugh said. “Bryan will be the lead runner. He is a great kid, and he works hard. He will be a leader for us this year.”

UNDER CENTER

The Pirates have multiple players they are trying at quarterback. Of course, under Stumbaugh, the position doesn’t require the most passing in the Valley. The trick for Stumbaugh is finding the right balance between run and pass in a quarterback.

The three players vying for the starting spot are junior Angel Lopez, senior Alexis Villegas and sophomore Victor Martinez.

“It is a good little battle,” Stumbaugh said. “They all showed some good things in the scrimmage, and they showed some things they have to work on.”

“They all have very different play styles,” Aleman said. “Angel is more of a throwing quarterback. Alexis is more of a runner. Victor is more of a dual threat. They are out there looking good, and they are doing their own thing.”

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Garza is one of the strongest players on the team. He can squat 545 pounds and bench 360.

But perhaps his best asset is his mental strength. Garza knows the system. He is like a second coach on the field.

“He gets that whole side of the line on the same page,” Aleman said.

“Napo is a great leader,” Stumbaugh said. “He will be on both sides of the line for us. We have some depth, so we hope to be able to find him some rest. But, honestly, he doesn’t even need it.”

Garza plays left tackle on the offensive line and defensive tackle on the other side.

“We are doing a lot of new things,” Garza said. “We have tweaked the system. The guys are picking it up, and we are ready to compete this year.”

[email protected]

HIDALGO’S KEY TO THE SEASON

Hidalgo appears to be jelling and finding the right mix. Coach Stumbaugh’s system is proven. If the Pirates can execute it, they will be in a good position to earn a playoff spot.

2017 record: 0-10

Returning starters O/D: 7/6

COACH’S TENURE

Coach: Monty Stumbaugh

Year at the school: 2nd

Record at Hidalgo: 0-10

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — Edinburg North remains stacked with talent, despite all of the departures and graduations.

They have a bona fide star in senior receiver Roel de Leon.

Despite dealing with an injury and playing behind a talented crop of receivers last year, de Leon found the end zone three times, a number that is sure to grow in his senior year.

The 6-foot-2 speedster has natural ability combined with veteran savvy, and he hopes that will be a deadly combo for senior quarterback Max Aguilar to utilize in the passing game.

“Max looks really good,” de Leon said. “We have been running routes over and over again to get the timing down. He’s gotten it. We’ve all gotten it. We started off a little bit rusty, but we are all starting to get it down now. All the receivers are getting used to it.”

Of the nine receivers who caught a pass for North last year, only two return. The group surrounding de Leon is young, but they have head-turning potential.

“We have speed and height on the perimeter,” North’s new coach Damian Gonzalez said. “Roel is 6-2, Ivan Garza is 6-1, our tight end Brandon Vacera is 6-1, 6-2. We have some good kids with height.”

De Leon said the group has more than raw size.

“A lot of the new sophomores, they have hands, and some of them are really fast,” he said. “They just have to work on their routes. That is usually the thing I am working on with them.”

De Leon remembers joining the team during his freshman year.

“When I was a little freshman, since I was tall, they liked to mess with me,” de Leon said, smiling as he remembered the fond experiences he shared with those seniors. “They would teach me, too. They helped me, so I am going to help the younger ones.”

De Leon remembers Cougars like Justin Guerra, Juan Palacios and Adrian Rivera welcoming him to what would become his new family during the next four years.

“They used to help me a lot. They were always there running routes and running the workouts,” he recalled. “Everyone was pushing each other.”

De Leon is trying to recreate that atmosphere this year.

“They look to me for leadership,” de Leon said. “I always try to teach them the routes. If they get a little thing wrong, I have to correct them on it. I mean, I don’t mind. I like it, just helping the team out for next year.”

GROUND AND POUND

Gonzalez hopes to keep the offense fairly well-balanced, but the Cougars are expected to run the ball, run it hard and run it right at defenses.

“We have plenty of running backs to choose from,” Gonzalez said. “I am very excited about the ground game. We have a good unit up front. Reminds me of a lot of the units that we were running when I was coaching them.”

Gonzalez was a line coach at North before becoming an offensive coordinator under current ECISD athletic director Roy Garza. He then transitioned to head baseball coach — a position he held until he got the job as the head football coach earlier this year.

Senior Armando Ramirez is the first of several backs the Cougars will use this year. Ramirez brings a consistency that is key. He was on the JV unit last year and joins several of that team’s offensive linemen on varsity this year.

“They are hungry, and they look ready,” Ramirez said. “A lot of them have slimmed down, lost weight and gotten a lot quicker.”

Gonzalez’s familiarity with the offensive line has helped the unit reach top form. The linemen bought in immediately and have worked over the summer to reach the level of physical fitness Gonzalez demands, while also learning the new system and understanding how they can take over a game by blocking correctly for the talented backs and Aguilar.

Junior Jacob Peralez is a back who has dazzled Gonzalez in practice.

“Jacob Peralez is a junior who reminds me a lot of Matt Whitesides, not just on the field, but off,” Gonzalez said. “He’s full of energy.”

Whitesides, one of the best backs to go through North in recent years, put up 2,860 yards and 24 TDs in 23 games between 2013-15.

Peralez has the chance to do something special this year, and Gonzalez believes he will.

The last two backs who may factor in are both sophomores who will have to earn every snap. Moises Maldonado and Miguel Contreras are both spark plugs of energy for the Cougars.

“They are going to be in the backfield. They will be split out in the slot,” Gonzalez said. “We are going to find ways to use them.”

SUPER MAX

Last year, Max Aguilar played in six games, completing 24 passes for 278 yards and five TDs.

His season was a whirlwind, as the two QBs in front of him on the depth chart both suffered injuries at differing points in the year. Aguilar had to stay ready, because he never knew when he would be called upon.

This year, things are different. Aguilar was named the starting quarterback for this year before spring ball started.

He got time to grow into the role, and now he is prepared to take District 31-6A by storm.

“I feel ready for this opportunity,” Aguilar said. “I have been waiting for this chance for the longest time. I’m ready to help this team become a lot better.”

Aguilar has put in many hours with offensive coaches Max Habecker and Marty Hammond, trying to learn everything he needs to know to lead his team in and out of the huddle on Friday nights.

“I worked a lot on my footwork and the timing with the offense,” Aguilar said.

Aguilar also had to study the playbook.

“Although the offense is somewhat similar, we did make some changes offensively,” Gonzalez said. “Those changes are in the different schemes, and reads and things we do. Max has done a tremendous job of learning.”

Aguilar is confident. His teammates are confident in him. The Cougars have started to buy in to Gonzalez and the staff, leading to optimism on North Closner Boulevard.

“This team is going to lead the district in passing yards, rushing yards, passing touchdowns, rushing touchdowns, the whole works,” Aguilar said. “Everybody is ready to contribute. Everyone is excited, and we all want the opportunities.”

[email protected]

EDINBURG NORTH’S KEY TO THE SEASON

The pieces are in place for the Cougars to have a great year. The offense has talent and a strong line in front of them, and the defense is fast and physical. The question is: Will the inexperience on the team show, or will new stars be born at North this year?

2017 record: 5-6

Returning starters O/D: 7/6

COACH’S TENURE

Coach: Damian Gonzalez

Year at the school: 1st

Record at Edinburg North: 0-0

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

DONNA — Senior Jesus Lagunes has never played quarterback before.

The last three years, he has been on Donna North’s varsity team as a defensive end.

When coach Joe Marichalar was hired at North, he realized he didn’t have a quarterback on the roster.

Sure, Lagunes knew he could throw the ball from his backyard games with his brother, sophomore Marcus, but varsity quarterback was a whole new level.

Jesus used to joke about it with offensive coordinator Alejandro Rosales, who was previously at San Benito. None of the coaches knew if he was serious about it, or if it would work.

Jesus showed up to practice one day, and the Chiefs didn’t have anyone to take the quarterback snaps.

“Coach, we need a quarterback. We don’t have a quarterback,” Jesus recalled his teammates and coaches saying. “Coach Marichalar said, ‘Yes, we do. Lagunes is there.’ I stepped up, got some touchdowns, and now I am here: starting quarterback.”

Lagunes has never let being late to the party slow him down.

“I never played any other sports,” Jesus said. “I never even really played football. Starting seventh grade, I knew I had it in me. … But my main position they put me in was defensive end.”

Jesus earned a job that wasn’t contested, but his actions every day since suggest he wasn’t going to give up the spot no matter who he was competing with.

“I’m really proud of Lagunes for standing back there. You know, if you haven’t done it, it’s not easy,” Marichalar said. “We expect a lot from him. Obviously, he is new to the position, but he will learn little by little. He showed some signs that he can get it done, and some signs that he’s inexperienced and needs more work. So we have a lot of cleaning up to do, and that is what we are going to do.”

Jesus has done his best to earn the trust of his locker room.

“I have put a lot of work in,” Jesus said. “All summer, we put in a lot of work. I was trying to get my whole team here. Like my running back said, we are trying to get to the city of Round Rock. And that means, one day, be recognized as champions. And we are going to get there if we keep working hard.”

YOUNG TRIBE

The chiefs return four starters, they have eight or nine returning lettermen, and they have just eight seniors on the roster.

“I have been told, a lot of them go work up north during the summer,” Marichalar said. “They return when school starts. The numbers might get a little bigger here, according to some of the coaches who were here before.”

Regardless, North will field an extremely young team. Sophomores and juniors form the core of the team.

So far, the numbers in the program haven’t helped.

“Our numbers are not going to be like that of the schools that we will face, but I will tell you what, the quality of our kids, whether it be 40 or 30, it doesn’t matter. You still have to compete and go play the game of football,” Marichalar said. “I tell our guys, some of you are going to have to go warrior football, and that means go both ways. There is nothing you can do about it. The season is going to get here whether you are ready or not.”

Donna North was added to Class 6A just this year in the new realignments of districts. The Chiefs were 41 students above the Class 5A limit.

ROLL TRIBE

The Chiefs have a pair of backs who they are hoping can make a difference and take the pressure off of Jesus Lagunes, at least for a bit.

“We have sophomore Alex Benavides and junior Adrian Sanchez,” Marichalar said. “They are little guys. They are about the same size. They might look like twins, but they think they are 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, and they are going to go out there and have fun, compete, and get after it.”

Sanchez was out of the area for the summer, so he, Benavides and Jesus Lagunes have worked together to make sure they all know the playbook.

“I just want my team to work together, so we can have a good bond,” Sanchez said. “We want to make sure we are ready for the season.”

Benavides will take his first crack at varsity this year, and he is getting used to the change.

“It has been fun and tough,” Benavides said. “Coach Marichalar has pushed me to limits that I didn’t even know I could exceed. He has made me into a much better player than I was last year, and I thank him for that.”

The signs of a new regime are often what give the players the confidence to buy in and commit to helping the team. Marichalar instituted a battle cry: Roll tribe, Chief pride.

“I’m here to try to help these kids,” Marichalar said. “I want to help them compete, day in and day out, and have fun playing the game of football.

“Our kids have bought in completely. I believe we have the beginnings of something special here in Donna North. We just need to build a foundation.”

[email protected]

DONNA NORTH’S KEY TO THE SEASON

Young Donna North will have to fight for every inch. If the team is all-in and stays healthy, the Chiefs might be able to turn some heads this year.

2017 record: 1-9

Returning starters O/D: 2/2

COACH’S TENURE

Coach: Joe Marichalar

Year at the school: 1st

Record at Donna North: 0-0

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
WESLACO — Weslaco High’s Jeremy Coronado remembers sitting in the stands as kid watching his older brother playing in the same jersey he wears today.
“I looked up to him so much,” Coronado said. “It was a great experience, and then my sophomore year, I got to play with my other brother. … I am looking forward to having them come out and see what we have been working for.”
Coronado racked up 144 yards on the ground in just three games last year. He scored two touchdowns. He also shared the backfield with a number of talented players.
Heading into his senior year, Coronado will not be sharing as much.
“Jeremy Coronado and Peyton Knaub are working at running back for us right now,” Weslaco coach Michael Salinas said. “Both guys are returners, and we are excited to see what they are going to do. They both worked hard over the summer and prepared themselves. So they are going to be two guys that we rely heavily on in the running game.”
Knaub, a junior, also made his mark last year, compiling 85 yards and a touchdown in just three games.
Though they are competing against each other, they make sure not to take the competition off the field.
“Me and Jeremy, we are like brothers,” Knaub said. “He’s going to push me, and I will push him. We know we have each others’ back.”
Junior quarterback Jacob Cavazos has watched each back work over the summer to be ready for this year.
“They bring a lot to the offense,” he said. “They spread a lot of things out. They can hit holes everywhere — outside or inside. It’s a good feeling (to) have guys like that.”

MEAN D
The Weslaco High defense returns a lot of talent from last year’s team.
Leading tackler Marco Noriega, a linebacker, is back for his senior year.
The defensive line returns a solid core of Seth Sanchez, Jesse Ramos, Benito Juarez and Sam Perez, who are all entering their senior season.
And in the secondary, few are better than senior safety Roy Trevino.
“We are excited to see them grow in our system,” Salinas said.
The first-team offense has been going against the first-team defense in practice, and Knaub is excited about what he has seen.
“They are dogs, man,” he said. “They hit hard. They run fast. They are well-coached and disciplined. They are a really good defense.”

WHO’S THE Q?
Salinas said Weslaco High is holding a quarterback competition coming into the year, and Cavazos is fighting to earn his starting spot.
Cavazos is the only quarterback on the roster who played live reps last year. He featured alongside two seniors, Marco Leal and Eljah Banda, who also took snaps at quarterback.
“They had a lot of experience,” Cavazos said. “They taught me the ins and outs, reads, and the intelligence required to play quarterback for varsity football.”
Knaub knows Cavazos has the skill and ability to be a special player for the Panthers.
“He’s amazing,” Knaub said of Cavazos. “He’s smart. He has an arm. He can run. He can do everything we need him to. He is what you look for in a quarterback.”
[email protected]

WESLACO HIGH’S KEY TO THE SEASON
The Weslaco High defense has a ton of talent and experience. That group will need to shut down the high-powered offenses in District 31-6A.
2017 record: 3-6
Returning starters O/D: 6/8
COACH’S TENURE
Coach: Michael Salinas
Year at the school: 2nd
Record at Weslaco High: 3-6