BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

PROGRESO — The rebuild of the Progreso football program is happening right in front of the players’ eyes, and they are all-in.

Last year, Progreso had about 28 players on its roster. This year, the Red Ants already have 55 players in camp, and that number may grow as more kids return to the area for the school year.

“We still don’t have many players compared to the other teams in our district,” coach Frank Martinez said. “You look at Rio Hondo. They get over 100 players. But it’s like I told the kids, ‘Only 11 players touch the field at a time, so that’s all we need.’”

Junior quarterback Josh San Roman has been on the team since his freshman year, and he said the added numbers have been beneficial to the group.

“It’s going to help us out a lot in the long run,” San Roman said. “Last year, almost all of us went both ways, and we were all exhausted by the fourth quarter. Now, with the new numbers, we will be able to substitute and get some fresh legs in there.”

Coach Frank Martinez held Progreso’s first summer football camp this year, then hosted a midnight madness event to kick off the season. The response was electric.

“They have bought into the program,” Martinez said. “The kids have shown a little bit more pride. They have shown more leadership, and I think they embrace the philosophy that we came in with. And at the end of the day, they know we care about them.”

The new-look District 16-4A DII has given the Red Ants added reason for optimism. The 27-year playoff drought in Progreso is already over, because with just four teams in the district, the Red Ants are assured a spot in the postseason.

“Honestly, I am not very satisfied, because to me, I like to earn what we get,” San Roman said. “It’s pretty much a slap to the face, saying, ‘You can’t make it unless there are four teams.’ With that in mind, we are excited about the season to show what we got.”

The Red Ants don’t want to be handed a playoff berth.

“That just means we have to keep pushing and working hard,” senior linebacker Mike Medrano said. “We want to show people that it wasn’t just given to us.”

Year two under Martinez has brought added excitement and comfort with his system.

“Last season, we were barely learning the new system,” senior lineman Emmanuel Pineda said. “It was hard to learn the system, because we were used to the old one. But with two years now, we are starting to get used to this system already.”

THE BIG DOG

Pineda is one of the strongest players on the Red Ants. The team tracks who is putting up the most weight during the summer weightlifting program, and Pineda is at the top of many of those categories, including power clean and bench press.

“It’s pretty competitive,” Pineda said. “It feels good. It basically means I’m at the top of the whole team.”

Because of the added numbers this year, fewer Red Ants will have to play on both sides of the ball.

“We only have about four guys that are starting both ways,” Martinez said. “So, other than that, everyone is going to have a fresh spot.”

Pineda is expected to be on the field for both offense and defense.

“It’s great to have a player like that,” senior linebacker Isaiah Valdez said. “Not only is he strong. He is really quick, too. That’s what helps a lot.”

Pineda and Valdez complement each other well. Pineda is at defensive tackle, and Valdez is a middle linebacker, so Pineda said he knows how to open up holes Valdez can run through to blow up plays in the backfield.

“Him playing on both sides shows that he has a lot of love for the game, and we are a big family here, so it shows a lot,” Valdez said of Pineda.

Valdez will also be playing on both sides and could be a key weapon at tight end on offense. He was one of the leading pass-catchers last year, but Martinez said Valdez may be limited on offense to allow him to excel at linebacker.

Pineda is excited for the chance.

“It’s good to play both ways this year, because it’s more playing time for me,” Pineda said. “But, at the same time, if I get tired, there is someone there that can back me up.”

REPLACING ALDO

Last season, wide receiver Aldo Martinez led the team in all-purpose yards. He made plays in the return game, he was a target in the passing game, and against the toughest defenses Progreso faced, he was tasked with running the ball, as well.

Aldo Martinez graduated, and now the task at hand for Frank Martinez is to replace that production.

Jose Medrano returns as the leading rusher, and San Roman said he is looking faster and stronger this year.

Julian Alvarez posted some solid production in the ground game as a sophomore last year.

“He got to showcase himself last year,” Frank Martinez said. “He will be back this year, and he will get a lot of reps in. We are excited about what he brings.”

Elian Rodriguez is Progreso’s secret weapon — a sophomore who already stands about 6-foot-2.

“We are hoping to get him some snaps and see what he can do,” Frank Martinez said.

Rodriguez is a quarterback by trade, but with San Roman ready to lead the offense, Frank Martinez will find creative ways to get him in the game.

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PROGRESO’S KEY TO THE SEASON

The Red Ants are assured a playoff spot before the season even begins. Their goal now is to prove they deserve to be there.

2017 record: 1-8

Returning starters O/D: 8/7

COACH’S TENURE

Coach: Frank Martinez

Year at the school: 2nd

Record at Progreso: 1-8

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — When Rolando Alviso goes back to San Antonio, he’s usually hanging around the River Walk with his buddies, possibly grabbing a bite to eat at the Rainforest Café.

Alviso grew up in San Antonio, and he didn’t move to Edinburg until he was in seventh grade.

Now, the senior defensive back and linebacker has adopted a new crew — the Edinburg Economedes football team.

Alviso started playing football in fourth grade. He played on offense growing up: receiver and running back.

“I wasn’t really that great of a football player growing up,” Alviso said. “Through the years, I have trained harder and harder, and I have developed.”

When he got to the Valley, he was immediately drawn to the football field. Many of his teammates then are still his teammates today with the Jaguars.

“They all welcomed me and made that transition easier for me,” Alviso said.

Alviso moved to the Valley because his father was transferred to the Valley as part of his career with the Border Patrol.

“I had never lived in the Valley,” Alviso said. “My parents grew up in the Valley, but once they got married, they moved to San Antonio.”

Alviso’s father, Lucio Alviso, played football growing up. He was a linebacker and safety in high school.

During Rolando’s freshman year, he was moved to linebacker, putting him on the defensive side for the first time.

Lucio had plenty of experience to share with Rolando when he made the move.

“He was pretty excited about me making the switch,” Rolando said. “He was happy to see I was excited about it.”

Lucio has always supported Rolando on and off the field.

“He was my main resource in football, and he has pushed me throughout the years,” Rolando said. “Since my childhood, he has always pushed me to be a better person and a better athlete.”

The move to defense gave Rolando a new dedication to the game. He became a player Economedes coach Gabe Peña can rely on. During his sophomore year, he started doing CrossFit to increase his strength.

Rolando said this summer has been the most intense of his life. He trained, learned and prepared for what he expects to be a breakout senior year.

“He is very intelligent,” Peña said. “He is probably the guy on our team that has the most football savvy.”

Because Economedes has the smallest roster numbers of the four football teams in ECISD, depth has never been a luxury. As a result, Econ players have always had to play multiple positions.

Rolando will be playing some linebacker and some cornerback this year, according to Peña. But his responsibilities may not end there.

“He’ll be playing some slot receiver and some slot back for us, because he has really thickened out,” Peña said. “He’s primarily a defensive guy, but our job right now is to rep him and get him ready for the times that we do need him. It would have been very easy for him to say no. He’s a team player, and he said, ‘Coach, whatever the team needs.’ So he bought into it real quick.”

The Econ offense lost its top receiver and its top three running backs, so Rolando will provide some experience for the youthful group.

“I’m ready for it,” Rolando said. “I have been training since freshman year. I have been put into many different situations since my freshman year, and I have developed more and more.”

Rolando is at home lining up across from the opponent’s No. 1 receiver.

“I’m a little bit of everything,” Rolando said. “I feel like I play like Kam Chancellor. He’s a big hitter, he can cover, he’s fast on the ball, and he can do everything.

“I’ve noticed that no one can line up against me, because they are shorter than me or skinnier than me. I almost always have the height and strength advantage.”

AIR ECON?

Last year, Economedes passed for 1,387 yards and ran for 1,235.

Running the slot-t offense, the Jaguars often impose their will in the ground game. But Peña has specialized in mixing in the spread just enough to exploit teams who key in on the run too much.

Senior quarterback Albert Guerra played a big part in that last year, passing for 1,315 yards and 10 TDs.

He was also helped by a pair of talented receivers in Pete Segura and Roger Barrientos, who have both since graduated.

“We are still trying to work out who we like at the receiver position,” Peña said. “We have a young group, without much experience. But they are really fast, and they are coachable.”

The good news for Econ is that in a seven-team district, the Jaguars will have four non-district games to get the depth chart sorted out.

“That is a big advantage of four non-district games,” Peña said. “And we have some tough teams scheduled. Laredo LBJ and (Corpus Christi) Moody, which will allow us to travel and see some out-of-area competition.”

STABLE OF HORSES

Last year, Econ shuffled through running backs, allowing each to excel at different points in the season. The three backs spelled each other when one needed a rest, and as the Jaguars moved deeper into what was an injury-plagued season, they replaced the injured backs’ production.

Lee Maldonado carried for 400 yards, Gabriel Ornelas totaled 276 and Sonny Castillo added 192. All three have graduated.

“Our philosophy is we want a stable of backs,” Peña said. “We have PJ Soto and Jeremy (Fernandez) coming back from last year. Andrew Zuniga is coming up from JV, and he will be our fullback.”

The new-look backfield is already starting to churn out yardage in practice. Peña said he was pleased with the progress his backfield has made. The group’s production will make Guerra’s job easier and buy time for the receivers to emerge and grow into their roles.

Underestimating the Economedes backs will be a danger for every team in District 31-6A.

“They are tiny, but they are going to be able to hide and make the right reads, use those angles to create space,” Peña said. “They all ran track for us, and we had a very successful team last year.”

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EDINBURG ECONOMEDES’ KEY TO THE SEASON

The powerful Econ defense will have to be the strength of the team while the new offensive pieces fit into place around senior QB Albert Guerra.

2017 record: 4-6

Returning starters O/D: 6/6

COACH’S TENURE

Caoch: Gabe Peña

Year at the school: 8th

Record at Edinburg Economedes: 32-42

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

Frankie Zuniga will be able to play his senior year at Edinburg Vela. Jacob Rosales will not.

Zuniga’s appeal was overturned at the state executive committee meeting Tuesday in Pflugerville, according to Zuniga’s father, Francisco Zuniga. Rosales’ appeal was denied.

“I wish they would have done a better job reviewing the evidence at the meeting here in Weslaco,” Francisco Zuniga said, referencing the district executive committee meeting last month. “It was a relief that this is over already. Now, Frankie can concentrate on his school and his senior year. … I’m just excited he will be able to play at all this year.”

Rosales intended to transfer from Sharyland Pioneer to Edinburg Vela. The quarterback and pitcher’s case was heard by District 31-6A’s executive committee on July 30, and the committee ruled that he would be ineligible to compete in athletics at Vela this year, because the committee deemed he was transferring for athletic reasons.

Zuniga intended to transfer from Edinburg North to Edinburg Vela.

Zuniga’s case was denied by the DEC on the same basis at the same meeting. However, the SEC overturned the DEC’s ruling in his case Tuesday.

“They had to prove that he transferred for athletic reasons, but there was no proof of that,” the elder Zuniga said. “They can’t just deny him because of a feeling or a rumor. They really didn’t even know what our circumstances were.”

Francisco Zuniga said he was frustrated because this ordeal has taken a toll on the family. He and Frankie Zuniga’s mother each had to take days off of work for both hearings. They had to spend time collecting every record they had, just to prove their innocence. Frankie has not been able to practice with his team, so through no fault of his own, Francisco said, he will be behind the rest of the team by a few days.

“They were even asking: ‘Why did he get denied over there?’” Francisco said. “‘Why is it being heard over here?’”

Rosales will be ineligible to compete in athletics at Vela this year. According to UIL rules, Rosales will still have eligibility at Pioneer.

“A student who has established varsity eligibility under this section at a member school but who subsequently enrolls in another member school and is found to have changed schools for athletic purposes remains eligible at the school, where eligibility was first established,” the UIL constitution and contest rules state.

Calls to the Rosales family were not returned by the time of publication.

[email protected]

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — Edinburg High senior linebacker Raymond Quintanilla looks like he was crafted in a factory to play linebacker.

His muscular physique combined with his speed makes him a nightmare for opposing offenses.

That wasn’t always the case, however.

“I was never a standout player growing up,” Quintanilla said.

He started off at quarterback, but he soon discovered he was meant for defense. When he started playing in third or fourth grade, he quickly navigated to the defensive line, where he felt most comfortable on the field.

In sixth grade, he moved to linebacker for the first time, and the position fit him like a glove.

Even as he grew and learned more of the game, he still didn’t believe he was anything special on the field.

On Friday nights now, Quintanilla lines up in his Bobcats uniform next to senior linebacker Athen Villanueva.

“When I was younger, we always competed for the spot,” Quintanilla said of he and Villanueva. “I have been playing with him since middle school, and he always beat me for the spot.”

Now the two are inseparable, and they compliment each other well on the field.

“I trust my middle linebacker, my buddy Athen,” Quintanilla said. “We are real close. He showed me that he can play last year. He did what he had to do. … He’s always pushing the guys, motivating them. He is always helping everyone out, calling the huddle, calling the plays correctly, very few errors.”

Freshman year was when things started to shift for Quintanilla. He was moved back to line for the season, and it wasn’t the ideal spot for him. But then, in spring ball, coach J.J. Leija took over the program and immediately spotted Quintanilla. Leija moved him back to linebacker, and the move sparked Quintanilla to hit the next level.

Quintanilla is known among his teammates for his regimented summer weightlifting sessions.

“In the weight room, he is hard on us,” senior quarterback Matt Cruz said. “He leads it. Tells us what weight and what we should do.”

During Quintanilla’s freshman year, he was able to power clean (his favorite lift) about 175 pounds. Today, he is teetering on the edge of lifting 300 pounds. He can squat 460-475.

Those numbers are a direct result of the work he has put in over the last three years. He credits his father for pushing him to greater heights.

Quintanilla was crafted, but not by magic or technology. He was crafted by hard work and Bobcats pride.

Heading into his senior year, almost any Bobcat will tell you he is the heart and soul of the team. He is the type of player that every coach wishes he had.

“I have nothing but high praise for that man, because he is a truly remarkable person, on and off the field,” Leija said.

Quintanilla is so committed to the team, he even took up punting.

“It started my sophomore year when they called specialties,” Quintanilla recalled. “I had nowhere to go, so I stuck with the punters, and it kind of took off from there.”

Quintanilla knew he had a strong leg, but he just didn’t think it would translate to the motion of punting a football. It did, and he assumed the primary punting role for the Bobcats.

“It was a surprise to me. I knew I had a leg, but I never thought I could punt like that. I just never knew I could kick a football that far. Not even that far, right,” Quintanilla paused to chuckle, “but far enough.”

TWO-HEADED MONSTER

Last season, running back Hearlin Benavides set the Edinburg High single-season record for rushing yards with 1,678. It was a breakout year for Benavides, but it was a long road getting there.

“My sophomore year, during spring ball, it was an inside play,” Benavides said. “I tried busting a cut, and I got tackled by my leg, and that is when my foot broke.”

Benavides was devastated. He wanted so badly to get back out on the field. He spent every second he could trying to get his foot back to full health.

“I tried rushing it a little bit because I really wanted to play my sophomore season. I rushed it,” Benavides repeated, the regret apparent in his eyes. “I came back to practice, and I did the same cut move, and it messed me up all over again.”

Benavides missed his entire sophomore season, setting up his comeback. Now, heading into his senior year, the expectations are sky-high.

“Hearlin has big shoes to fill, to become one of the best backs to come out of Edinburg High School,” Leija said. “He already has the season record for most yards in Edinburg High School history. He’s still pushing himself to be the best. … We are hoping to have some threats there, that can help open him up. We are expecting big things from Hearlin. He has had a great offseason. He’s been dedicated to the team, as always.”

One of the weapons that may open things up for Benavides is junior Erik Cano.

Last year, Cano was, as Cruz described it, “a spark plug for the offense.” He exploded for over 400 yards of offense in a three-game stretch and took a lot of pressure off of the offense in crucial moments.

Cano played quarterback during his freshman year, and he could take some reps there this year.

“We are looking at maybe using him at quarterback, as well, and at the receiver position,” Leija said. “He is a guy that has to be on the field. He can’t be on the sideline. He had a good year last year. He had a good offseason in track, and we are expecting big things from him.”

Leija was clear that in no way is there competition. Cruz is his starter. Cano is a weapon they can use in multiple ways to help Cruz, Benavides and the rest of the offense.

FAMILIAR FACE

Leija made just one move on his coaching staff, and it was an easy call to make. Stevan Guerrero was moved up to receivers coach.

Guerrero was a quarterback at Edinburg until he graduated in 2010. He went on to play at the collegiate level. After he graduated, he came back to Edinburg High to begin his coaching career.

Guerrero is also an assistant on the basketball team.

“A lot of my coaches are dual-sport coaches,” Leija said. “My offensive coordinator is the head track coach. My defensive coordinator is the head baseball coach. My defensive tackle coach is the head powerlifting coach. … It’s about Edinburg High School, not about just one sport.”

Guerrero has a connection with many players who play both sports.

“Our relationship is very strong. I see those guys all year,” Guerrero said. “I see them more than I see anybody in my family. I am around them for eight months out of the year.”

Cruz, who plays point guard on the basketball team, was glad to see Guerrero in the new role.

“It’s pretty cool to have him out here,” Cruz said. “He is a little hard on us sometimes, but he is a great coach.”

Cruz and Guerrero have a strong relationship, bonding over the shared experience at the quarterback position.

“I think I have a unique relationship with Matt,” Guerrero said. “He is a kid that you can really speak to. He is probably a little bit more mature than your average kid. He can handle a lot of different things. He has a great mind for football and basketball. He is a great kid to coach. It has been amazing to watch him grow over the last three years.”

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BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

WESLACO — When Weslaco East senior linebacker Freddy Cardenas first started playing football, he was shifty and good at avoiding contact.

His dad, Alfredo Cardenas Jr., taught Freddy how to play football when Freddy was 7 and knew his son needed a different approach.

“He was like, ‘No, just go smash them in the mouth,’” Freddy recalled. “That is what I brought here today. I have to thank my dad for that.”

East coach Michael Burget expressed a lot of gratitude for that lesson, as well. That instinct Freddy learned is what Burget says East football is all about.

“I guess every coach has that one player that you would want your team to be molded after. For me, it’d be him,” Burget said of Freddy. “He’s fully bought in to the program. He does exactly what we ask him to. He’s not a selfish player. He cares about the team more than his stats. He’s been heavily recruited by colleges. He’s just one of those kids that you don’t want to get hit by.”

Nowadays, Freddy won’t hesitate to tell you his favorite part of the game is hitting people. His knack for finding contact and winning exchanges has helped him develop into one of the best linebackers Burget said he has ever seen in the Valley.

Alfredo Jr. played for Weslaco High. He was a center and he wore jersey No. 55. Father had to swallow his pride when son enrolled with his school’s biggest rival.

“He didn’t really like it, but he has changed his mind since then,” Freddy said with a chuckle. “He’s my biggest supporter, and I have mad love for that guy.”

During the offseasons, Freddy and his father take some time to bond.

“I like to shoot guns with my dad,” Freddy said. “I normally just spend time with my family.”

Freddy has two younger siblings — Aaron, 12, and Alessandra, 10.

He has long been a standout on the football field. He forced his way into the starting lineup during his sophomore season, when Burget said he expected Freddy to spend time on the bench. He has been in the lineup ever since.

He was named an honorable mention all-state linebacker in back-to-back seasons, and last year, he was The Monitor’s All-Area Defensive Player of the Year. He finished the season with 174 total tackles, three forced fumbles and one interception.

Cardenas is on top of his game now, but he was special from the beginning.

“I didn’t (see it right away), but our middle linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator Mike Gonzales did,” Burget said. “He said this kid is going to be really special, and Freddy put in a lot of work. You are talking about a guy that weighs 200 pounds, but he benches 360. He power cleans 300. You don’t see that very much. And then he goes sideline to sideline, so he’s got some speed. You might even see Freddy on offense a little bit, too. You never know. He scored two touchdowns last year.”

This year, he will be the leader of the most important group for the Wildcats — their defense.

Weslaco East’s “Big Three” was pretty well known to Wildcats faithful last season.

Running back Roy Pedraza, receiver J.C. Vargas and quarterback Richard LeFevre all graduated last year, but not before capping their stellar careers with a second consecutive trip to the third round of the playoffs. The Wildcats have made it to at least the second round of the playoffs in each of the last four years. If they intend to do so again, they will have to do it without the Big Three.

While it wasn’t ideal, East got a sneak peak of what to expect when all three were injured during consecutive weeks last season.

“It kind of took a toll on our coach. Everybody was down,” Cardenas said. “A lot of people had to step up. I was one of them. Jacob Banda was one of them. We had to mature, and that is what we did. It made us better for this year.”

“That’s how we looked at it last year. This is preparation for next year, when they won’t be here,” Banda said. “We are already ready. We knew we would be ready.”

With Cardenas, along with honorable mention all-state defensive lineman Banda and the rest of the defense, East can expect to shut down opposing offenses.

“That guy (Banda) has been working hard to secure that starting spot since seventh grade,” Cardenas said. “He’s just grown, made himself a monster. He has that attitude that he needs to be here. He needs to work hard. He is the hardest worker. He really outworks me sometimes. We are in there competing. He’s a great leader, and it is great playing with him.”

The secondary will be helmed by perhaps East’s best athlete, junior Ramsey Vasquez.

“The crew is pretty tight,” Vasquez said. “We have a lot of guys coming back who were on varsity last year. We still have that same chemistry.”

One of those returning DBs is Hector Muniz, the safety who lines up alongside Vasquez. The two are thick as thieves, and their connection on the field is vital to shutting down opposing aerial threats.

“The secondary is looking good,” Banda said. “This is the best secondary we have had in the four years I have been here.”

The defense will not have to do everything for East. But with so many fresh faces on offense, the defense is ready to pick up the slack.

“Our defense always plays with a chip on our shoulder,” Cardenas said. “We are always angry, always hungry. Nothing is really going to change, but we are going to play tougher this year. We do need to help out the offense, but it goes both ways. They got our backs, and we have theirs.”

POSITION: ATHLETE

Vasquez will be a full-time defender this year, playing every snap at free safety, but that won’t be his only assignment on Friday nights.

“If I could play him every play, I would,” Burget said. “But, we are going to be a little bit smarter. He’s going to play defense full time. He will be a receiver, running back, quarterback, wherever we put him on offense, too.”

Senior Antonio Cedeño will be stepping in to play quarterback this year, but he has big shoes to fill, and Vasquez could help relieve some of that burden.

Burget played it close to the vest with regard to how many snaps Vazquez could take under center, but he said he believes Vasquez could be a valuable weapon. Last year, Vazquez put up 708 all-purpose yards. Expect that total to grow this year.

NEW QB

LeFevre was a standout for East over the past three years. His career totals were eye-popping: 3,053 passing yards, 35 passing TDs, 1,601 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns.

This year, he will be playing for the University of the Incarnate Word.

Cedeño, the 6-foot native of Monterrey, Mexico, will be taking over at quarterback this year.

“He is one of the toughest, hardest working kids I have seen,” Burget said. “The kid is outstanding. He has bought in to the system. He was our JV starter last year. He has been here for a full year. He knows what to expect. He has gotten a lot stronger since he got here. He can throw the ball pretty good, and he’s a smart young man.”

After some early struggles, Cedeño helped get the JV team get back on track and led the group to a 6-4 record.

The team welcomed him when he arrived at East last year.

“He actually fit right in,” Banda said. “We brought him in like our own. He gets the job done.”

Cedeño is excited about the team he has around him.

“We have a lot of good players, and they all play very well together,” Cedeño said in Spanish. “They know what is expected of them, and they get it done. I can’t wait to get started.”

For now, he just can’t wait to get started.

“I am going to give everything I have for this team every week,” Cedeño said in Spanish. “I can’t wait to see what I can accomplish with this team behind me.”

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WESLACO EAST’S KEY TO THE SEASON
East will need the offense to learn and grow on the fly, while the key players on defense will need good health to take the pressure off of a new quarterback.
2017 record: 9-4
Returning starters O/D: 6/7
COACH’S TENURE
Coach: Michael Burget
Year at school: 6th
Record at school: 45-17

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

As the sun rises over football fields across the Rio Grande Valley, coaches are already hard at work preparing for when a horde of football players comes rushing onto the green and white gridiron.

The responsibilities for a football coach go far beyond what fans see on Friday nights, and even beyond what players see at practice every day.

There are hours of film review, the formulation of game plans, the briefing and debriefing of assistant coaches.

The workload is even greater when a coach is coming into his first year at a new school. Just ask new Edcouch-Elsa coach Bradly Chavez.

“I think the biggest thing is I have had one week off since January,” Chavez said. “I’ve been in it, day in and day out, with these kids. I was telling someone earlier today, that this is the first week I was able to see my daughter for a full week, which has been really good. She came to the complex, and she’s been here all week.”

Time with family is carved into the heavy work schedule. Chavez’s daughter still lives outside of the Valley, so seeing her has become more difficult to manage. Time off is a rarity, and a luxury new coaches are not afforded.

Three new coaches have taken positions in the Upper Valley this year — Chavez, Joe Marichalar at Donna North and Damian Gonzalez at Edinburg North.

“As soon as I got hired, it was hit the ground running,” Joe Marichalar said.

Marichalar was reassigned by Edcouch-Elsa after last season, and Chavez was brought in as his replacement. On Jan. 9, Marichalar was hired to be the new football coach and athletic coordinator for Donna North. The coordinator part is par for the course around the Valley, but it was a change for Marichalar. E-E’s school district has an athletic director who handles those responsibilities.

“There were no 101 classes on this or that. You go, and you dive right in,” Marichalar said. “Sink or swim, let’s go. Some of the people already in place, you rely a lot on them. You read up on things, you research things, and you call people you have built relationships with, who are doing it right now. You get in that urgency mode, and you get in there and try to learn.”

During a new coach’s first year, that urgency is make or break. Hiring the right assistants, building the right foundation and setting the right standards are things all three new Upper Valley coaches pointed to as being key to the first few months at a new school.

“The main thing is that if your kids buy in, then your chances of being productive increase,” Marichalar said. “You have to find those signs that show they have bought in. I think that is the main thing for me. I went in there and I told the kids, we have this vision, and this is what we are trying to do. This is where we are trying to get, and these are the steps we need to take in order to get there.”

Marichalar couldn’t be sure his players fully understood what he was saying. Then, as he went to repeat his mission, he began to nod his head with excitement. As he looked around, players started nodding along, one by one. When Marichalar saw that, he said he knew they understood.

“I think that contact is super important, having these one-on-one conversations, building different relationships,” Marichalar said. “We all speak the same language — the language of the game.”

For Chavez, moving in from outside of the Valley made things more difficult. Chavez’s most recent job was at Kingsville Santa Gertrudis.

“When you are dealing with people, everyone has a different background,” Chavez said. “I’ve been blessed to travel a lot and experience a lot of different cultures. I was able to work at a low-income school my first year. My second job was a slightly different demographic, so I have had the best of both worlds.

“Every kid is going to have a different situation, but just letting the kids know you are genuinely there for them, and you are not just there to meet some quota or to just win games, but that you care about them beyond football. I think once they understand that, they start to buy in. And from there, it’s just about starting to get to know each other — what we like and don’t like, and what we will do and what we won’t do.”

Gonzalez’s challenge was learning the finer points. Gonzalez was an offensive coordinator for years and learned under former North coach and current ECISD athletic director Roy Garza.

“He gave me my first job,” Gonzalez said of Garza. “He’s been a big mentor to me. I learned how to do things right and how to run a successful program. I think he has given me the blueprint on things we need to do to be successful.”

However, this is Gonzalez’s first time as a head football coach. Gonzalez was the head baseball coach at Edinburg North before he took the football job. He said he learned a lot of the intricacies of running a team with the baseball team, but there were still some differences.

“The biggest thing for me was having so many coaches to oversee,” Gonzalez said. “Overseeing every aspect of the program was another adjustment. … We are talking about 200 athletes that I am overseeing, and then on top of that you are talking about all of the other sports, as well.”

Another thing all three coaches believed was very important in the first year was creating an identity for the team.

“I said this when I was hired at Donna North, what they are getting is the refined me,” Marichalar said. “I entered the head coaching career at a young age. I think I was 31 at the time. Now I’m 38. What they are inheriting is based on my experience at previous schools. … I want to motivate and encourage and empower our kids, so that they get it done. Because they have been hearing it for so long, you know, ‘Donna North, they don’t have a shot,’ and so on and so forth. I’m not going to believe any of that. I am just going to go out there, and make sure our kids work hard, and that they are prepared.

“Our motto is ‘Roll Tribe, Chief Pride.’ Our theme is, ‘Build your house ONOS.’ ONOS is ‘one nail one swing.’ One step at a time. Enjoy the process. Don’t rush nothing. Take it stride by stride.”

Chavez also stressed the identity of the team.

“We wanted to make sure our kids knew where we were coming from, and to make sure they understood the expectations and standards, not only academically, but also how you handle yourself day in and day out,” he said. “The second thing is getting to know all of our kids. Coming in as outsiders, we wanted to get to know our kids, our families, and their lifestyles, so that was another one of those things we really worked on. … Wins and losses will come. I know the expectations and the standards here. But, I will be much more satisfied with a kid who knows I care about him, and is getting a high school diploma, and he is going on in life to become a successful young man.”

Gonzalez’s team identity pulls from what he knows best: offensive line. That unit, which he coached during his time as a coordinator, and his defensive line will be key for the Cougars in 2018.

“I asked our lines to stand up, and I told them that we are going to be physical up front,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve been on teams that were successful, and I have been on teams that were not. The one common factor has always been that when you are successful, you are strong up front.

“We are going to come out and play hard. We are going to be prepared when we enter the field, and we will not quit no matter what. We will come out every week ready to play. We are going to represent Edinburg North and the city of Edinburg well.”

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BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

The last time McAllen High football advanced to the second round of the playoffs, the Bulldogs clashed with Brownsville Rivera.

The game was close and high scoring. Late-game drama flowed into overtime.

Ruben Gutierrez and Jose De Leon first discovered they were both on the field for that game as they walked through a desert in Afghanistan. They had to discuss all of the details.

“We were just saying, ‘What a game,’ how close it was,” Gutierrez said. “We both have a couple good memories from that game. It was just crazy memories.”

Gutierrez was a junior starting at defensive back for McAllen High for that 2014 clash. De Leon was on the defensive line for Rivera.

The Raiders prevailed 36-29, and Gutierrez and DeLeon both went on to graduate in 2015. Gutierrez closed his high school career without any offers to play at the next level.

“No one really taught me how to make films and talk to coaches, so I just kind of gave up on it,” Gutierrez said. “I knew my parents weren’t able to help financially, so I was like, ‘Maybe football is not my thing.’”

Eventually, Gutierrez settled on the U.S. Army, because he said he knew that path would help him pay for his college education.

Before he knew it, Gutierrez, who had never really been outside of the Valley, was waking up at 4:30 a.m. to go running in subzero temperatures with snow on the ground.

He was stationed in Colorado, which means those runs were made even tougher because of the elevation.

“Basic training was tough, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle,” Gutierrez said. “Being an athletic guy, and having gone through coach Brewer’s practices, I was ready. The physical part wasn’t that tough for me, and I am used to coaches yelling at me, so that part wasn’t difficult.”

While Gutierrez was going through basic training in Missouri, he was unaware that De Leon was also beginning his Army career. The two were stationed together in Colorado, but never crossed paths.

Gutierrez was then sent to Afghanistan, where he is currently stationed. He is a mechanic, specializing in work with hydraulics. De Leon is also a mechanic.

Soon enough, the two were sent out on a mission together. They still didn’t know each other, but Gutierrez had a hunch.

“I heard his accent, so I asked him where he was from,” Gutierrez said. “He said, ‘I am from Mexico, but I moved to Houston and then went to school in Brownsville.’”

Gutierrez: Oh no way, I’m from McAllen.

De Leon: Did you play football?

Gutierrez: Yes, what year did you graduate?

De Leon: 16.

Gutierrez: Same!

And with that, the conversation quickly turned to that second-round matchup in 2014.

Rivera won when its quarterback, Danny Elizondo, rushed the ball into the end zone from a few yards out. He was met at the line by McHi defenders, but he fought through the helmet-to-helmet hit and plunged over the goal line.

Gutierrez and De Leon connected and gave each other a slice of home.

“We didn’t end up meeting until we were in the middle of nowhere on deployment,” Gutierrez wrote in a Facebook post about the incident. “YALL THOUGHT WE LIVE IN A SMALL WORLD….OUR ARMY IS EVEN SMALLER.”

Gutierrez hopes he is not done with football.

“My plan is to go to UTSA and try to walk on,” Gutierrez said. “I have a friend who is there now. He was telling me the coach is tough, and they are always looking for DBs. Sounds like a perfect fit to me.”

In Afghanistan, the temperature can get up to 120 during the day. When Gutierrez, De Leon or any other member of the armed forces leaves the base, they are wearing full gear, including a 45-pound vest, a weapon and a helmet. One method to combat the heat was to wet a sock and put a water bottle in it. The bottle and sock placed in a window sill, then start to cool off just enough to make the water a little more tolerable, otherwise, the water is just hot.

“The guys here tell me I will love Colorado when I get back there, just because at least you can breathe there,” Gutierrez said. “The air doesn’t move here.”

Like all members of the armed forces, Gutierrez had to make sacrifices in service of his country.

“It’s really hard out here, saying goodbye to your loved ones,” Gutierrez said. “Once I started traveling and got out of the Valley, things got easier.”

Gutierrez can’t wait to get back home, see his family and get a fresh order of tacos. Until then, he is focused on his goal of returning to the football field. Gutierrez said he still works out regularly, and he and some of his squad mates hold weekly football games.

“We play every Friday, and we all almost get into a fight every Friday,” Gutierrez said, laughing. “All of these guys think they are athletes, but only some of them really are.”

Since Rivera beat McHi twice, De Leon is one of the few people who has earned bragging rights against Gutierrez.

“He basically trash talks me every time we see each other,” Gutierrez grinned.

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BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

Jaxon Shipley caught 218 passes at the University of Texas, and now he can’t wait to tell Valley athletes how he did it.

The 6-foot, 190-pound receiver from Temple, Texas, played at UT from 2011-14.

“The biggest thing for me in making the transition from high school to college, was I needed to learn how to be a more efficient route runner and to not give any indications or hints to the defensive backs that I am going to make a break now,” Shipley said. “How to set up a defender and how to create separation.”

The Rio Grande Valley passing clinic will be held from 8:30-11:30 a.m. today at Richard R. Flores Stadium in Edinburg.

Quarterbacks and receivers entering grades seven through 12 can register for the event at shipleyperformance.com/book-online.

“For everyone that is at the camp, the biggest thing that they can get is the mindset,” Shipley said. “The mindset going into the next level is what will set you apart. You have to take control of the situation by taking control of your mind first.”

Shipley signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2015. As with the jump from high school to college, he said the jump to the pro level required learning about the mental aspect of the game.

“I had the unique opportunity to play for one of the best wide receivers in NFL history in Larry Fitzgerald,” Shipley said. “I watched Larry Fitzgerald, every day, introduce himself to every person who came into that building. He took the time to pass on the things that he had learned and his knowledge of the game to every new receiver who asked.

“And I respected that a lot. The biggest thing was, it doesn’t matter how big-time you are. It doesn’t matter what achievements you have accomplished. You are never too big-time to give people the time of day. Whether they are an NFL Hall of Famer or a rookie free agent, or just a regular person off the street. We are all human beings, and we need to treat people the right way.”

Shipley has secured the assistance of two good friends to help with the camp: former Texas A&M quarterback Janson Moore, who will work with the quarterbacks, and former Texas State receiver Jack Rhoades, who will help Shipley with the receivers.

“A lot of techniques that we teach are things that we didn’t learn until we were in the later part of our college careers,” Shipley said. “Really what the kids coming to the camp can expect is drills and techniques that they can take and use, even the very next day. And hopefully they can apply those new skills to their toolbox. That’s the main thing that they can expect. Expect a lot of reps, and we will have a lot of footballs in the air.”

Shipley said quarterbacks will learn throwing mechanics, accuracy, footwork in the pocket and how to escape the pocket.

As for the receivers, Shipley said they will work on stance, different types of cuts, route technique and how to get off the line against the press.

A smaller receiver, Shipley said he had to learn how to beat defenders who are better athletes or have a size advantage.

“I think the biggest thing for those guys is learning how to be more efficient in and out of their cuts so that they can create separation against defensive backs,” Shipley said. “You don’t have to be a guy that is a blazer to do that, you just have to understand what you are doing and be able to stop on a dime and be shifty, and then you have to make the catch when the ball is in the air. You have to be a consistent pass catcher.

“Creating separation is the biggest thing at wide receiver.”

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BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

MISSION — Jeremy Duran grew up as a Dallas Cowboys fan, and he has been playing quarterback since he was 4, so when he took his first steps onto the field for a game at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, the moment was breathtaking.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Duran said. “It was such a cool moment. I had goose bumps.”

Duran, who is 5-foot-11 and 164 pounds, has played at the highest levels of youth football, and in 2014 he was part of the first team from the Valley to win the Texas Youth Football Association state championship. The opportunity to play at the Cowboys’ stadium came when he was invited to play for the USA National team in the International Bowl.

Duran has played for the Mission Mustangs since he was 8, and he will be a freshman at Mission High next year.

“I am really excited about my first year at Mission,” Duran said. “I really like the fact that they have a winning tradition, and I want to keep it going.”

Part of that winning tradition comes from current coach Koy Detmer.

Duran has looked up to Detmer for a long time. He attended one of Detmer’s camps in the Valley before Detmer was at Mission. From then on, Detmer and Duran have had a solid relationship.

Duran has always had the mind of a quarterback. He inhaled the Mission High playbook as soon as he saw it. Duran has been watching film from his games for as long as he can remember. He studies the game in a way few do. Detmer saw that in Duran, and the coach has helped fan those flames.

“I talk to coach Detmer a lot, because he has been to the highest level of football,” Duran said. “He gives me a lot of pointers about what is your read, how to make this throw or that throw.”

Much of Duran’s will to learn comes from his dad, Omar Trujillo. Trujillo saw how much Duran loved football right away, and he wanted his son to be able to pursue that passion. He also didn’t want to force anything on Jeremy, so he always let him choose what he wanted to do. Jeremy plays a lot of sports — basketball, baseball and track — but he has always had that love for football.

The family suffered a setback when Duran’s first football team, the RGV Snipers, seemed to be falling apart. Trujillo saw the group’s talent and wanted to preserve its chemistry, so he and Chris Von Wald, the president of the Mission Mustangs, put their heads together and decided to bring the players from that team over to the Mustangs.

Von Wald and Trujillo combined forces and quickly built the most dominant youth football team in the Valley.

Following a few years of development, the Mustangs went 32-0 last year. They have added more teams and coaches in recent years. They were even featured on Esquire Network’s “Friday Night Tykes.”

“Being on TV like that is very difficult,” Trujillo said. “Everyone becomes an expert on how you should coach your team, or raise your family. Still, the experience was great, and the exposure it gave my boys was crucial.”

Jeremy has three brothers: Justin Duran, who is 13, Trystan Trujillo, 10, and Tate Trujillo, 8 months.

Justin is also a Mustang and has played receiver for Jeremy for years.

Jeremy still remembers a key play that he and Justin combined on to help the Mustangs’ run to that first state title.

“It was like a 27 route, a slant in the corner,” Jeremy recounted. “I had some pressure, so I rolled out, and I pump-faked. Justin came in and then went out, because we do that a lot, and we have that connection on the field. And then I lobbed it to him, and he caught it.”

The completion was on a two-point conversion try late in the state quarterfinals, and those two points sealed the win for the Mustangs.

Jeremy embodies a change in attitude for Valley athletes.

“Honestly, I think the Valley has gotten a lot better at football,” Jeremy said. “We just have to go compete. I think we are equally as talented (as bigger-city teams). We just need to get past that mental game. It is all in our head.

“Every other region looks at us like, ‘The Valley can’t play. They aren’t good enough. They play other sports.’ Everybody doubts us, but they don’t know that we are equally talented, and we work harder than anybody else, and that we can beat anybody in the whole state.”

Jeremy talks big, but he has earned that right.

“When we first started with the Mustangs, we would go up to San Antonio or Austin, and you could tell the kids were like, ‘Oh, wow, we are playing Austin or whatever.’ You could see it. There was fear,” Omar Trujillo said. “After so many times of playing these guys, it’s not like that anymore. They have seen it all, and they have played against it all. We beat size, we beat speed, and we beat power.”

Jeremy has played against teams from Dallas and Houston for much of his career. He has been to Division I college camps at Baylor, Texas and UTSA. He has even played on Dallas-area teams with only one Valley teammate.

On the football field, Jeremy is tough as nails, ultracompetitive and a fearless leader for his teammates.

But off the field, he is a warm person who is a joy to be around. Jeremy has a huge heart and an inviting smile. He has always made fast friends with new teammates, and he has fun with his buddies at trampoline parks or just in the backyard tossing the ball around.

Jeremy is grateful for all of the sacrifices his family has made to help him pursue his dream of being a football player. He credits his dad for helping him.

“He’s been my biggest fan, my coach, my biggest mentor,” Jeremy said of Omar. “He has taught me everything I know.
“For years, we would just play catch, throw the ball. He would take us to the park. We would play baseball, or run routes. Play basketball sometimes.”

The two bonded over athletics, and that allowed Omar to earn the trust of his son and help him succeed. Now, Jeremy is closing in on paying it all back by putting on that Eagles jersey with his dad in the stands for a varsity game under the Friday night lights.
Jeremy doesn’t know when that will happen, exactly. Could be this year, or a few from now, but he said he will do whatever it takes to get there.

“Whatever team I am on this year, it will be a great experience for me,” Jeremy said. “I think I will have a good shot at playing JV quarterback. I might have a little chance for varsity, but I don’t know. I am so excited to work hard every day and prove I belong.”

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BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

McALLEN — Chase Campbell hasn’t stepped foot on his high school campus for freshman year, but he has already thrown footballs on Division I campuses across the country.

Growing up, Campbell liked two schools: TCU and LSU. So, when he found himself in front of LSU coach Ed Orgeron earlier this summer, he said he was “shocked.”

“I had never seen a DI head coach in person before,” Campbell said. “I was like, ‘Hello, sir.’ He was like, ‘Hello, nice to meet you.’ And then he said, ‘Are you tearing it up?’ I said, ‘Yes, sir!’”

The 6-foot-1, 170-pound quarterback earned his way onto LSU’s campus. He was invited to a camp there with some of the top recruits across the nation.

“It was really competitive,” Campbell said. “There were some great players there, and I learned a lot.”

Campbell worked with coaches on his footwork and timing, something he said has paid off right away.

LSU hosted just one of the many camps he has been to this year. He has visited schools all across Texas, playing with kids from Dallas and Houston. He has been to Louisiana and Dallas for 7-on-7 tournaments this summer. Campbell is on the frontline of a new generation of Valley football players who are not scared to go north and face those bigger-city schools.

Campbell went to Edinburg’s South Middle School, where he led the team to back-to-back undefeated seasons and a pair of district titles.

This fall, he will play at Edinburg Vela.

“It’s awesome to be going there, because it is a powerhouse school in the Valley, and they go deep in the playoffs,” Campbell said.

Many coaches, teammates and friends have described Campbell as someone who has “a big heart” and is hardworking.

His football career is the exemplification of that.

He grew up loving soccer and playing it well. His family is a soccer family, and his sister, rising sophomore at Vela Taylor Campbell, proved it by earning District 31-6A All-District Player of the Year during her freshman year.

Chase qualified for a state soccer team when he was younger, which qualified him to be a part of the Olympic developmental camp in Alabama.

Chase always loved football — he grew up watching every Sunday and Monday. But it wasn’t until sixth grade that he decided to pursue the sport.

“When I first started, I knew I had to work hard,” Campbell said. “I worked on my arm strength a lot, because I really didn’t have much arm strength yet. So I worked out a lot, and I worked on my speed.”

Chase has practiced with many of the top trainers in and around the Valley over the last few years. Each has had a different impact on his game, and Chase’s understanding of the sport and high football IQ allow him to take the best of what he learns and apply it to what he already knows. He proved how hardworking he is by taking his arm strength from novice to elite in just a few short years.

Chase isn’t jaded by much, because he has been through almost everything imaginable on the football field.

Chase had the opportunity to play at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, home of the Dallas Cowboys. If that wasn’t enough to rattle a teenager, the game was broadcast on live TV. Chase embraced the pressure and had a great performance on a big stage playing for the USA national team, which earned him another invite to the team this summer.

The cool Chase displays under pressure will be key going into his freshman year. Vela has an embarrassment of riches at the quarterback position. Sophomore AJ Sotello earned a lot of trust during his freshman year and was a name that came up a lot during spring football. Then, after spring football, rising senior Jacob Rosales transferred from Sharyland Pioneer and was a part of Vela’s 7-on-7 team. Rising senior Frankie Zuniga played quarterback at Edinburg North last year and has since also transferred to Vela. Rising senior Elijah Trujillo also played QB for Vela’s 7-on-7 team this summer.

Chase is familiar with all of them, and he also got to play on that 7-on-7 team. He said he knows the challenge that awaits him will be tough.

Chase is familiar with tough, though. He has learned how to handle pressure on the field and still deliver.

Chase has led drives in the closing minutes with the game on the line. He has had to complete clutch third- and fourth-down passes to extend drives.

During his retelling of one such occasion, his mind for the game is on full display. His team was down 7-0 with about two and a half minutes left in the game. Chase was down a few of his top receivers because of injuries.

“The first play, I took a dropback, and they were in Cover 2,” he recalled. “I saw the middle was wide open. I audibled to have my X run a skinny post inside. I hit him. He caught it, got hit and dropped it. So I was like, all right. Next play, I threw it long, and another receiver dropped it. And then one of the starting receivers came in. I threw him a perfect ball. It was deep, but right on the mark. He caught it and ran for the touchdown to tie up the game.”

In those moments, it is easy to forget that Chase Campbell is still just a kid. He likes to play video games with his friends. They hang out and go out together, like kids do, with Chase flashing his big grin.

Chase and his father, Mario Campbell, are very close. Because both Chase and Taylor have demanding travel schedules during the summer, mother Veronica Campbell usually drives Taylor to her soccer games, plus practices in San Antonio and all over Texas, while Mario takes Chase to his camps and tournaments. Mario and Chase bond over football, but they also have a lot of fun together away from the sport. Chase said the best part of those long weekends is when the whole family gets to come together at the end and share their travel stories with each other.

When Chase has to, he always thinks about his future in football first, whether that means missing parties for practice or cutting down his Takis consumption.

Chase knows earning the varsity starting job during his first year will be a tall task, but it’s also a dream of his, and he said he will do everything in his power to make it happen.

“There is going to be competition at Vela this year,” Chase said. “I’m not going to give the spot up easily.”

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