BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR

EDINBURG — After Edinburg Vela coach Michael Salinas left for Weslaco High, junior defensive lineman Sergio Carrizales felt a familiar pain.

“In the beginning, it’s just like going through a breakup,” Carrizales said. “My parents have been divorced, so I know what it’s like having a father figure torn apart from you. That kind of reflected here.”

Carrizales remembers the pain of his parents’ split from when he was 5 years old. But he didn’t show the pain he felt inside. He was strong for his younger siblings. He knew then what is still true to this day. He would have to be the man of the house.

“I have to be a good example for them,” Carrizales said of his siblings. “I feel like everything that happens at the household, ever since I was growing up, being the leader to my siblings, that carries onto the field, too. Humble beginnings.”

With his mother working long hours, Carrizales and the family lived with his grandmother, who looked after the three kids.

Carrizales recently learned his father is “no longer a free man.”

Talking about his father after Vela’s practice on Wednesday, Carrizales showed the same strength that helped him through his parents’ divorce. But the pain was evident. The normally engaging and talkative Carrizales was reserved and pensive when he spoke about his father. A cocktail of emotions swirled inside him as he considered how to answer each question. His voice cracked as he spoke.

For much of his life, Carrizales didn’t know where his dad was. When he found out that his father’s location wouldn’t be changing for a while, he said he felt “let down.”

That just fueled him to work harder, to set an example for his brother and sister and to help his team get better.

“I am going to push myself to the limit,” Carrizales said. “I’m trying to be the district leader in sacks.”

Just like Carrizales felt abandoned by his father, he said he felt a similar feeling when Salinas accepted the head coaching job at Weslaco High in March.

He had worked with Salinas for two years, and the two had become very close. The arrival of coach John Campbell in April began his healing process on the field.

If the split with Salinas was like going through a divorce, then, Carrizales said, “It’s kind of nice to have new love again.”

“I’m beginning to like Coach Campbell and his staff,” he said.

And just like he continued to step up at home, he took his football game to the next level, as well.

His teammates say his pain — from his personal life or the coaching change — never showed. Through it all, he came to practice with a positive attitude. He brought an energy the SaberCats have come to rely on.

Carrizales’ leadership was one of the first things Campbell noticed when he arrived in Edinburg.

“He definitely brings a sense of maturity to the team,” Campbell said. “I have been very impressed, since getting here, with the leadership he shows on a daily basis. Not just the vocal leadership, but more importantly just the day-to-day: showing up and going to work and doing it with a sense of energy and enthusiasm. Without a doubt, he’s got a level of maturity that is not common with a high school kid.”

His attitude and work ethic show up in the box score on Fridays. Last year, as a sophomore, Carrizales played in all 11 games and was second on the team in sacks. Going up against him isn’t easy for anyone, even his teammates.

“He is really good,” senior quarterback Nathan Garcia said. “He’s fast, fast off the edge. I always have to keep an eye on him whenever we are going up against him. He’s going to be really good this year.”

While his speed and power are easy to spot on tape, what’s not so easy to see is his mental game. Carrizales said he watches a lot of film. He studies the game, and he knows not just how he is supposed to play, but also how his teammates are supposed to play.

“He is one of those guys that he is kind of a throwback,” Campbell said. “He just enjoys the game. I don’t care if it’s practice, walk-through or a weightlifting session, he’s a happy guy. He’s a competitive guy. He’s one of those guys that we all know in football, that the game of football was designed around those kinds of guys. Sergio is that guy. He’s a great kid, great motor and a very, very smart football player. I’m definitely glad he’s on our team.”

SHOES TO FILL

Despite only playing in five games, Robert Guerra amassed 1,179 yards and 20 TDs last season before graduating in the spring. Then-sophomore Cristian Flores got the bulk of the carries in the games Guerra missed, putting up 984 yards and 11 TDs. But Flores transferred out of Vela after football season.

“Seventy-five percent of the offense went through one guy last year,” Campbell said. “A very talented kid in Guerra. But, obviously he’s not here, and we have to make sure that we can get that production from somewhere else.”

Vela has a bevy of talented backs. Add to that the mobility of Garcia, who ran for 803 yards and 8 TDs last season, and it’s easy to see why there is optimism surrounding the SaberCats’ offense.

Other than Garcia, though, there isn’t a lot of experience coming back to the ground game. The next leading returner after Garcia is senior Sam Valenzuela. But Valenzuela will be splitting time between offense and defense, so he will need to share the workload.

Another option the SaberCats have is senior Harvey Soliz. Soliz carried the ball five times for 19 yards last year but has been impressive so far this fall.

“He’s super quick,” Garcia said. “He’s explosive and energetic. He gets to the holes and he finds the creases. He’s going to be good for us.”

Vela’s third option is sophomore Kevin McKinney, who has impressed in his first year working with the varsity squad.

“We are kind of doing a three-way on that deal,” Campbell said. “We kind of feel between those three guys, they are all kind of a different style. So we would like to see one of them emerge, but at the same time we are fine with sharing the reps with those guys until we kind of settle in on one.”

TOO TALL

Vela’s roster lists 21 players who are 6-foot or taller. Much of that height is in the wide receivers, defensive backs and along the offensive line. That height is very useful for an offense that looks to pass.

“It helps a lot to have that height,” Garcia said. “As a quarterback, you have to put it in the perfect spot, and having tall receivers just makes that spot a lot bigger.”

“Being tall doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to be a great player, but if you are a good player and you are tall, if definitely helps out,” Campbell added. “That’s not something that is by design, necessarily. We are just fortunate that we have some height on offensive line, we have some height in the secondary and we have some height at receiver. … I’m glad the tall guys are on our team.”

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EDINBURG VELA’S PROGNOSIS

Coach John Campbell’s experience with winning programs should help Vela continue to dominate its district.

2016 record: 9-2

Returning starters O/D: 5/6

COACH’S TENURE

Coach: John Campbell

Year at school: 1st

Record at school: 0-0

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR

SAN JUAN — PSJA High senior defensive end Orlando Huerta doesn’t stop running once he hits the target distance for his position group.

He doubles back around and runs with whoever is near the back of the line.

Huerta wants to make sure everyone finishes.

“Whenever I do stuff like that, it shows them that they can believe in me and they can trust me,” Huerta said. “I think it just bonds everybody together. It’s important on Friday nights that the person next to you can trust you. You need to know that they are always there for you, and it’s the little things like that, that help you accomplish that.”

Last year, Tommy Sauceda was the offensive line coach, and Huerta played left tackle. When PSJA brought in Lupe Rodriguez as its new head coach, Rodriguez moved Sauceda to defensive coordinator, and Sauceda knew he wanted to bring Huerta with him. Huerta has emerged as one of the focal points on the Bears’ defense.

“(Huerta) has done a good job this summer keeping that group together,” Rodriguez said. “He has really been getting on those guys and accepting that role.”

The Bears haven’t been able to boast about their defense for several years, but Huerta is convinced that will change this season. If it does, he will likely play a big part in it.

“I think we have been waiting for a few years now to come out here and make a change,” Huerta said. “I think it will be very exciting to kind of prove some people wrong, that we are not a weak defense anymore.”

One thing that the defense knows for sure will be improved is its conditioning. Huerta had his unit working all summer. They were in the weight room, and they were running twice a day.

“The new offense is fast,” Huerta said. “They are going to score a lot. I’m expecting at least four or five touchdowns per game. You think about them getting down the field quicker, that means less break time for us. We have been stressing conditioning. We will be ready for that.”

LINE ‘EM UP

The key to PSJA’s offense is giving junior quarterback Trey Guajardo enough time to get through his progressions and find the open man.

“I’m very proud of these guys on the line,” Guajardo said. “Considering we lost two big seniors, these guys have put in a lot of hard work, and they know that it is a different atmosphere — the varsity level to the JV level. I told them, ‘I got your back, and just know that anything that goes wrong, I will let you know.’”

That relationship has become reciprocal.

“(Guajardo) is one hell of a player, and I am glad to say that I play with him and block for him,” senior Jacob Gonzalez said. “I would put my life on the line for that guy. That’s how I play for him.”

Questions exist along that line, with some sophomores getting their first work on the varsity squad. That group draws its confidence from strong leadership in the middle.

Senior Jacob Gonzalez is the unquestioned leader of the line at the center position. He is vocal in the huddle, and he pushes his teammates to work in practice.

“It feels pretty amazing to be the leader,” Gonzalez said. “I like to fire them up in the huddle, because you get to see them get all hyped and everything. You get them ready to go kick the other person’s ass.”

The fire he brings was earned in the trenches, but the trust he has from his linemates comes from their bond.

“We are pretty close,” Gonzalez said. “We go to each other’s houses and stuff like that. We chill. It’s a really tight bond.”

When the whole line gets together, look out. Gonzalez said the group can really do some damage at the Peter Piper Pizza buffet.

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

Rodriguez comes in with a solid reputation. He spent eight years as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Mission Veterans, working with the likes of Santos Villarreal and Diego Hernandez, The Monitor’s 2016 All-Area Player of the Year. As a player, Rodriguez holds the Valley’s single-season passing record, racking up 4,179 yards at Mission High in 1987.

“He has a legacy here in the Rio Grande Valley,” Guajardo said. “Having the privilege for him to coach us is amazing.”

Right away, Guajardo has noticed how much of a difference Rodriguez makes in his game.

“It’s crazy with the stuff he knows. How to read the defenses, and the certain routes that we run. It’s just exciting,” Guajardo said. “When he first got here, he was looking at film and what I did. Something that I really didn’t think of that I did last year, is just protecting myself. I took unnecessary hits. Also being smart with the ball. He’s really good at perfecting all the little things.”

With Sauceda, a former head coach, managing much of the defense, Rodriguez has the time to work with the quarterbacks. His style is not like some coaches, but it has been very effective thus far.

“He’s very mellow, but he is there,” Gonzalez said. “He is quiet, but he is still there as a leader. He’s more quiet than our last coach, but he teaches us more than our last coach.”

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PSJA HIGH’S PROGNOSOS

One of the hottest young QB prospects combines with one of the best QB coaches, so sparks could fly in the Bears offense this year. If the defense can keep them in it, the Bears could win the Tri-City Championship for the first time ever.

2016 record: 3-7

Returning starters O/D: 5/5

COACH’S TENURE

Coach: Lupe Rodriguez

Year at school: 1st

Record at school: 0-0

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR

PHARR — Last year, PSJA North’s secondary was made up of seniors, and then-junior Brandon Gonzalez was the young one in that group.

This year, Gonzalez, now a senior, is the only returning starter on the entire defense. As one of a few seniors on the Raiders’ varsity squad, Gonzalez is welcoming his leadership role.

“I’m trying to embrace that role a lot, because it’s my last year, and I want to go all out,” Gonzalez said. “I’m going to try to be the best I can. I have to come back out here and show the younger group how to do it and be the voice on the field.”

Gonzalez is a hard-nosed corner, and he is a nightmare for whoever he is going against.

“He’s actually already got two or three picks in the five days of practice,” North coach Marcus Kaufmann said. “So he’s doing a great job of messing with us a little bit. He’s giving my quarterbacks fits. He disguises his coverage very well. He’s got a couple of picks just off the disguises.”

Football comes naturally for Gonzalez. He started playing the game at the age of 4. He knew he wanted to play football right away.

“I saw my dad and my past generation doing it, so I wanted to keep it going,” Gonzalez said. “It’s fun. I like playing this game.”

Brandon Gonzalez’s dad, Eli, played corner at Weslaco. Eli is part of the reason Brandon got into playing the position.

“That was one reason,” Brandon Gonzalez said. “Another is I’ve seen NFL players like Richard Sherman, Patrick Peterson, all those guys, I have seen them playing DB, and it looks like a lot of fun.”

Gonzalez works on every part of the position. He often watches game film on Hudl on his phone. He studies the opposing team’s routes, so he knows how to react when he sees them in a game.

He also excels at the mental portion of the position.

“Sometimes I like to trash talk a little bit,” Gonzalez said. “When they talk, I will talk, too. If not, then I will talk to get in their head and mess them up.”

He likes to provoke, but he knows how to benefit the team without hurting it. During a game last season, Gonzalez was really riding an opposing receiver. The receiver had already picked up a couple of flags, costing his team. The receiver was talking back and frustrating Gonzalez, as well. They got into a scuffle, and it would have been easy for Gonzalez to get a little bit of retribution, but Gonzalez walked away.

“I pulled back, because I didn’t want to get a flag,” Gonzalez said. “I didn’t want to hurt the team.”

Gonzalez is part of a very young secondary, but his leadership could be the difference maker. As of now, the secondary is already in the running to be the top group on the defense.

“I absolutely think it’s going to be strong,” Kaufmann said. “Coach (Will) Littleton would probably tell you it’s the front, but I really like what I am seeing out of the secondary. They are flying to the ball. It looks like Week 6 or 7 of last year out here, the way they are flying to the ball. They are all young. They don’t have a ton of experience. We have a whole bunch of sophomores and some juniors at that spot, but it’s going to be a pretty solid group.”

GRINDING LINE

Only one Raider on this year’s offensive line got snaps with the group last year. Despite the lack of experience at that position, the line in place has clicked right away, and they are becoming an asset to the team.

“I think we are going to be better on the O-line,” Kaufmann said. “We are bigger, stronger and faster. The kids have been in it longer, because they got to do some in the spring, and we came back and knew who was going to be where right away. Our adjustments are second nature. Last year, it was a little more work during ball games trying to get adjusted. I think now we can say a few words and they happen the way they need to. I’m pretty excited about their progression.”

Strong leadership has played a big part in the development of the line. Last year, Carlos Arcibar was a second-string defensive tackle. This year, the senior moved to center.

“I absolutely love it, because I get to play with my new brothers,” Arcibar said. “I get to lead them in a different way, because on defense I had experience, yes. But here on the offense, I am able to be a part of something even better.”

Arcibar was working in the weight room and on the field all summer. That inspired his linemates to join him. Even with practice starting, Arcibar has been putting in extra work. He shows up before practice and hits the weight room. After practice, he stays late, doing drills. His hard work continues to push his teammates to try to keep up.

“First of all, we had a really good example last year,” Arcibar said. “Therefore this year, we can be as good leaders as they were last year. I believe we have been doing our best at that. I have seen them come with me in the mornings. So I believe they have been following the good example that I have given them.”

MR. EVERYTHING

On MaxPreps, junior Arturo Beltran has three positions by his name, but the site may not have the bandwidth to accurately describe all the things Beltran can do.

Last year, he was used mostly as a receiver, which will again be his primary position this season. But he also took a few snaps at running back. That number could grow this year, according to Kaufmann.

Quarterback Randy Reyna is a senior, so Beltran has been taking snaps at quarterback this fall. He is not only the backup this year, but he is also the likely starter next year, once Reyna graduates.

“(Beltran) is looking good at quarterback,” Reyna said. “I’m helping him. Maybe he will be the quarterback next year, so I’m coaching him up.”

Kaufmann mentioned even using Beltran at quarterback for a few plays this year.

He will also be playing a decent bit at defensive back.

“It means a lot knowing that the coach trusts me to play both ways,” Beltran said. “I’m just not going to disappoint him. I’m going to give my all, 100 percent and just go all out.”

That’s not where it ends for Beltran, though.

“He will be our kick returner,” Kaufmann said. “He might be our punter, too. He’s working at that spot now. He’s doing a lot of stuff.”

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PSJA NORTH’S PROGNOSIS

North is going to be the youngest team in the district, but if the younger players can step up, the talent is in place to earn redemption for last year’s disappointing finish.

2016 record: 7-3

Returning starters O/D: 2/1

COACH’S TENURE

Coach: Marcus Kaufmann

Years at school: 2nd

Record at school: 7-3

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR

PHARR — In 2014, Greg Bostic was taking snaps for McAllen High as a quarterback on the freshman team.

This year, he is the starting varsity quarterback for PSJA Southwest.

Bostic’s journey to this starting spot wasn’t easy, but with only 10-plus games left in his high school career, he is eager to make one last statement.

“It’s amazing to be starting,” Bostic said. “Being able to use this new offense that we are doing is exciting. I want to show everyone what we can do with it.”

First-year coach Michael Evans brought in a new spread offense. Evans used spring ball to evaluate his options at quarterback, and he eventually named Bostic the starter.

“What we have seen is him get better at making smart decisions,” Evans said. “He didn’t have a route, so he threw it out of bounds. The key thing is avoiding negative plays or turning the ball over.”

Bostic’s journey to PSJA Southwest was a circuitous one. After his freshman year, Bostic’s mother received a promotion that took the family to Dallas temporarily. Bostic made it back to McAllen for the end of his sophomore year, but his family moved to Pharr the following summer.

“When we decided to move to Pharr, we were going to see if we could stay at McHi,” Bostic said. “But we couldn’t, because of the school zones. We were just outside of it. So I ended up coming to PSJA Southwest. I am excited to be here now, so it worked out well.”

Bostic arrived at Southwest in 2016, but the process of getting fully transferred prevented him from playing varsity football.

“He was able to play junior varsity last year,” senior running back and linebacker Jose Zamora said. “I believe if they were to sign his papers, he would have had a big impact on our team last year.”

Evans is focused on refining Bostic’s skills as the season approaches. Evans likes what Bostic brings to the table on multiple fronts.

“I think he’s got a little bit of everything,” Evans said of Bostic. “He’s good at going with his reads. If we have some reads that go deep to short, then he is taking his shot. He is not afraid to put it out there. He is also a good leader. He has respect, they listen to him, and he’s a quiet guy, and he leads through his actions.”

Bostic wasn’t into football right away. He didn’t play when he was younger. In fact, he wasn’t playing much of anything.

“I was always very lazy,” Bostic said.

That changed in seventh grade, when Bostic first started playing football. He fell in love with the game, and now he’s always pushing to get better. He spent much of the summer honing in on specific parts of his game that needed work.

“(I worked on) the reads, the drop back and just the way we take our steps with certain plays,” he said.

TIGHT SHIP

Evans came to Southwest looking to push his players to be their best. That includes training them to play both sides of the ball.

“We are doing a smaller-school style practice,” Evans said. “They are all learning offense and defense. The DBs are the backup receivers, and the receivers are the backup DBs. We are trying to create some depth that way, so we can give our JV some attention. It’s important that the JV get going.”

The tone was set during the first couple days of practice this fall. Of course, coming back after the summer break is always rough, but something felt different this season.

“It was very, very tough,” senior cornerback Willie Gordillo said. “It was really hot, and it affects your legs. You feel like you can’t keep going, but you have to. After a few days, you start relaxing, and it starts feeling easier every day.”

VETERAN SAVVY

Offensive coordinator Carlos Longoria and special teams coordinator and offensive line coach David Duty fill out Evans’ staff. Longoria was a head coach at Rio Grande City for five seasons before being reassigned in 2015. Duty was the head coach at Hidalgo for the last two seasons.

As a first-time head coach, Evans said he wanted people around him with experience.

“It’s huge,” Evans said. “I still have a lot to learn. If a head coach tells you he doesn’t have something to learn, he is lying to you. They really have my back and are making it easy for me to do the best job I can.”

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PSJA SOUTHWEST’S PROGNOSIS

Coach Michael Evans brings in an exciting offense. If the team can execute and play good defense, it can make the playoffs for the first time in school history.

2016 record: 4-6

Returning starters O/D: 4/4

COACH’S TENURE

Coach: Michael Evans

Year at school: 1st

Record at school: 0-0

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR

HIDALGO — Last year, as a junior, Marco Bella was catching passes for Hidalgo. This season, he will be throwing them.

Coach Monty Stumbaugh, who is beginning his first year at Hidalgo after spending the last 16 at Port Isabel, said that the move exemplifies the athletic prowess of Bella.

“He’s athletic,” Stumbaugh said. “I thought he did a good job in the summer. He moves well, and he throws the ball well on the run. I’ve been impressed with him.”

Last year, Bella wasn’t just catching passes on offense. As a cornerback, he had a knack for getting his hands on passes from opposing quarterbacks, as well.

“If he is out on the field, you know he is going to be making plays,” senior safety Andrew Busby said. “He is our best playmaker.”

That didn’t happen magically overnight for Bella. Stumbaugh had high praise for Bella’s work ethic.

“He was up here working out every day over the summer,” Stumbaugh said. “He comes out here on his own and throws with his teammates.”

Bella said he also spent time in the weight room with his offensive line. The line is a young group with several returning juniors, and Bella said their work in the weight room over the summer will make a big difference in the upcoming season.

“They have been hitting the weight room hard,” Bella said. “I’m looking forward to it, what they can do this year. I trust them completely.”

When Bella found out about his starting spot, he said he was eager to prove he could handle the responsibility.

“It is very cool,” Bella said. “I have been varsity for three years, and every year it is new and exciting. Having a new coach, he can change everything. We are all excited to see what we can do this year.”

POWER FOOTBALL

In his 16 years at Port Isabel, Stumbaugh only missed the playoffs twice. Part of what made his teams so good was his offensive system. The Pirates will employ a multiple I, according to Stumbaugh.

“It’s no secret what my offenses have done in the past,” Stumbaugh said. “We are going to control the ball and play good defense. But we know we can pass the ball too, when we need to. We will see what each game looks like, and we can adapt as needed.”

The biggest determining factor in the success of the system will be the offense’s ability to learn and utilize it, Stumbaugh said, and that process has gone well so far.

“They have been really receptive to learning,” Stumbaugh said. “They are doing what we tell them to do. It’s a different system, a different language. So their attitude has been really good so far. That part has been good.”

Stumbaugh brought in offensive coordinator Israel Gracia to help him implement his system. Gracia was an OC at La Villa last season but spent several years at Rio Hondo while Stumbaugh was at Port Isabel.

“We competed against each other, and I always thought he did a really good job,” Stumbaugh said. “We have been talking for several years. Fortunately, we were able to work it out here this year.”

WORKHORSE

One player who caught Stumbaugh’s eye right away was junior running back and linebacker Victor Alanis.

“He’s a player who the coaches told me about before we started,” Stumbaugh said. “Once we got out here and I got to see him, he did not disappoint.”

Alanis is a back who could see a lot of work in Stumbaugh’s run-heavy offense.

“The offense is very good,” Alanis said in Spanish. “We are going to be able to run the ball effectively and it should help a lot. We are learning the new plays and the system, but he is a good coach. We know him from his time at PI. So we know we can trust him to lead us.”

Bella has known Alanis for a long time, and that connection will help them share the backfield this season.

“I trust him, victor is very powerful,” Bella said. “He is dedicated and he goes all out on every play.”

“Marco is the best quarterback we have and we are going to be very good with him at quarterback,” Alanis added in Spanish. “We grew up together. We are good friends, and we have good communication.”

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HIDALGO’S PROGNOSIS

New quarterback Marco Bella and new coach Monty Stumbaugh look to follow the map Stumbaugh made at Port Isabel to the treasure of a playoff run for the Pirates.

2016 record: 1-9

Returning starters O/D: 6/4

COACH’S TENURE

Coach: Monty Stumbaugh

Year at school: 1st

Record at school: 0-0

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

GRULLA — Junior Dillen Salinas knew his time would come, but last year he got to watch Fabian Anzaldua work his magic.

“Fabian is a great quarterback,” Salinas said. “I have been his backup since Day 1. I like his play. I look up to him.”

Anzaldua graduated in the spring, and the Gators will head into the season with Salinas under center. Abel Gonzalez III, the third longest tenured coach in the Upper Valley, had the plan in place long before Anzaldua began his senior season.

Die-hard Gators fans learned that early last year, on Sept. 29, when Grulla hosted McAllen Rowe. Anzaldua was banged up and couldn’t play. Gonzalez called on Salinas to start the game against an opponent two classes higher than the Gators.

“For a sophomore, getting in there and playing quarterback against a 6A team, I thought he did pretty good,” Gonzalez said. “He made plays when he had to. He moved the ball up and down the field pretty good. So it was a learning lesson for him going against a pretty good squad. That just gave him experience at that position.”

Salinas is a dual-threat quarterback, as Anzaldua was, but the 5-foot-10-inch, 160-pound Salinas is a different kind of runner. Salinas brings game-breaking speed to the position. He might just be the fastest player on the team.

“That’s a close one,” Gonzalez said. “It’s probably between (Salinas) and Miguel Flores, our slot receiver. But he is probably the quickest guy we have on the team. He’s very elusive, runs very well and can see things before they happen. He has the key qualities to a good runner.”

Flores, a senior, has been watching the development of Salinas so far this fall.

“He’s looking pretty good,” Flores said. “I like the way he plays. Dillen is fast, so we can keep playing the way we have, but just go faster.”

The Gators defenders have been trying to track down Salinas all fall, and they can’t wait to see their opponents try to accomplish that difficult task.

“He’s more versatile,” senior defensive tackle Derek Solis said. “He loves to run around. Fabian was more of a pocket passer, but Dillen, he can run the ball, and he can throw the ball. We count on him a lot.”

Anzaldua’s teammates say he was a loud, confident leader who pushed everyone in the locker room to be better. Salinas said last year he was more of a quiet guy on and off the field. During his time this summer, in the weight room, or out on the practice field, Salinas focused on being more vocal with his teammates.

“I feel good about where I am at with that,” Salinas said. “I mean, there is a lot of leadership in this locker room, but I am becoming the main one. It’s pretty good.”

The offense probably wont change a whole lot under Salinas, which can be filed under the old mantra of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” but Gonzalez said there may be some subtle tweaks.

“I think last year we were run heavy with Anzaldua running the ball a lot,” Gonzalez said. “Last year, I think we were about 65 percent run and 35 pass. Hopefully we can even that out a little bit this year.”

BIG BOYS

The easiest way to welcome a new quarterback to the offense is to gift him a strong line in front of him. Salinas is inheriting just that.

“It’s the best line I have ever had,” Salinas said. “Fabian had that line. Now I get it, too. We are lucky to have this line. Most QBs don’t have a line this good.”

The line is composed of four seniors and a junior. All five starters played together for the final five games of last season, playing almost every snap as a unit.

“Our line is looking really good for this year,” Flores said. “They are strong and ready to open up gaps for the running back. They are trying to make plays.”

Over the summer, all five guys were inseparable. Guards David Carillo and Aldhair Lopez, tackles Jorge de la Rosa and Jaime Rios and the lone junior at center Andrew Lopez said they have become as close as brothers.

“They are like my brothers, all four of them,” Rio said. “We come to school, we hang out outside of school, we are good friends, and on the field we, turn into a group.”

They didn’t just spend the summer bro-ing out, though. The line was hard at work getting better and watching film.

“We have all learned more over the summer,” Rios said. “We are working well as a unit. We put in a lot of hard work together.”

STRONG DEFENSE

Being a star on the defensive side of the ball is difficult. Even fans of the team don’t always know the names of the defensive players.

Grulla has a star in Solis. Last year, he was a unanimous first-team all-district player at defensive tackle.

“I think he’s probably going to be one of the best in the Valley at that position,” Gonzalez said.

The 6-foot, 220-pounder anchors a strong defense that returns a lot of key players.

“The team captains are me and Luis Cabello,” Solis said. “We just try to get everyone together. We push everyone. We don’t put anyone down and we just pick everybody back up.”

The defense is a tight-knit group.

“Everyone plays as one,” Flores, who also plays cornerback, said. “We are all going hard in the weight room and on the field. And we are ready to roll.”

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GRULLA’S PROGNOSIS

Dillen Salinas takes over at quarterback behind a solid line. If he can take hold of the offense right away, the Gators can build on their first district title from a year ago.

2016 record: 7-5

Returning starters O/D: 7/5

COACH’S TENURE

Coach: Abel Gonzalez III

Years at school: 8th

Record at school: 32-43

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

PROGRESO — Progreso junior linebacker Isaiah Valdez doesn’t need anyone to explain what the significance of his team reaching the playoffs this year would be.

The often-referenced stat that Progreso hasn’t reached the playoffs since 1990 is etched in Valdez’s memory. Isaiah’s uncle Salome Valdez was on that team, which went 6-4 and earned a playoff berth.

“It would mean a lot to make the playoffs,” the younger Valdez said. “(My uncle) played linebacker, too.”

Salome has been a big influence on Isaiah’s life since he was young. Isaiah has always counted on his uncle’s support.

“He comes to the games when he can,” Isaiah said. “He is supportive, and he gives me pointers and stuff.”

Salome’s play helped drive Isaiah to the game at an early age. Isaiah started playing so young that it was impossible to play in Progreso at that age. He had to go to Weslaco to play on peewee teams. That’s where he first played with sophomore quarterback Josh San Roman.

“Playing varsity football is a lot easier if you start young, because I know how they play,” San Roman said. “I know what to expect from them. I wish I had that with everyone.”

The nexus between players that was forged on the peewee football fields of Weslaco shows on this year’s team, according to first-year coach Frank Martinez.

“Coming over here, I always felt like they were very big on soccer,” Martinez said. “But one thing about these kids is they love football. They start playing early, which makes me think, ‘How come they haven’t made it to the playoffs?’ Because the talent is there, everybody is here, and everybody gets along with each other because of how small the community is. Everybody knows each other.”

Junior running back and linebacker Jose Medrano referred to his teammates as his “family.” With only 38 kids at practice right now, it’s easy to see how such a deep bond is formed. The team is small enough that the players can all get together socially on the weekends, which only serves to build their unity.

“They are all my brothers,” San Roman said. “I am really close to everyone. For me, honestly, all of us want to break that tradition of losing. Not just for ourselves, but for the younger group, because we want them to follow in our footsteps.”

YOUNG GUN

San Roman played quarterback as a freshman, and it was his relationship with players like Valdez and others, who he has played with for years, that allowed him to take charge in the huddle.

“Josh is a great leader,” Valdez said. “He’s really good. He takes his role seriously, and he wants to win.”

Medrano, who will be a big factor on offense this year, according to Martinez, also has a lot of trust in San Roman.

“Me and Josh, we are really close,” Medrano said. “He is a really good friend of mine. We have learned how to bond together and be united.”

Last year, San Roman ran for four touchdowns and completed 24 of 63 passes for 319 yards and 2 TDs.

One of those touchdowns was incredibly memorable for San Roman. During the team’s Sept. 16 game against Hebbronville, San Roman launched a deep ball that carried more than 40 yards in the air. The pass was right on target to then-junior wide receiver Aldo Martinez.

Aldo Martinez couldn’t quite pull in the ball, but the carom off his hands fell to then-sophomore Edgar Melendez, who pulled it in and ran to the end zone.

“Everyone on the bench was pumped,” San Roman said. “They were all very excited, but not me.”

After the play, San Roman was lying face down, having taken a big hit from his blindside. San Roman said the hit had him smarting, but San Roman showed his toughness by not missing a snap.

YELLOW TINT

Frank Martinez takes on his first head coaching job this year at Progreso. Previously, he was the offensive line coach at Edcouch-Elsa.

“I was always at E-E,” Martinez said. “I played at E-E, graduated from E-E and came back to coach at E-E. This is the first time I am leaving my hometown, but the community has welcomed me, and I am excited about this opportunity.”

Martinez has already added some Yellow Jackets flavor to his new team. His offensive coordinator, Roel Sanchez, and his defensive coordinator, Rene Duque, both previously served on Edcouch-Elsa’s staff.

“All three of us worked together at Edcouch-Elsa for years, so it is a good relationship,” Frank Martinez said. “First of all we try to instill … commitment and consistency. Everybody, including our coaching staff, has to buy in. We are beginning to see it come together. We have high hopes for this season.”

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PROGRESO’S PROGNOSIS

Sophomore quarterback Josh San Roman will need to lead the Red Ants’ offense if the team is going to end a 26-year playoff drought.

2016 record: 2-8

Returning starters O/D: 6/7

COACH’S TENURE

Coach: Frank Martinez

Year at school: 1st

Record at school: 0-0

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

LA VILLA — During the halftime break of La Villa football games, senior Manny Prieto is anything but relaxed.

The defensive end and offensive lineman is always excited to get his helmet and shoulder pads off, but instead of grabbing a breath of fresh air and a Gatorade, Preito gets suited up for the band’s halftime performance. Prieto is the head section drum leader and plays the snare.

“Drumming isn’t as intense as football, but it’s still pretty intense,” Preito said. “I’m really tired after, but you just have to push through.”

As one of only three seniors on La Villa’s football team, Preito is a leader. Not only is he forgoing his break at halftime, but Prieto doesn’t get much in the way of break during the game, either. He plays on offense and defense and is vital to both groups, coach Daniel Perez said. Prieto’s hard work on Friday nights serves as an example for the rest of the team to never quit, Perez said.

Right now, La Villa has about 21 players coming out to practices, although Perez said he expects several more to join once the school year gets going.

“A lot of other schools have more depth,” Prieto said. “Some have three backing up, and right now we only have us two ends as seniors. We only have literally two extra (players on the line). It’s going to be hard, but we have done it before.It’s not imposible”

Prieto has 35-40 students in his grade. With classes that small, everybody knows each other, he said.

“Most of them come out and support on Friday nights,” Prieto said. “A lot of them are cheerleaders, too. We have a good amount of cheerleaders on the squad. Some of them are in band, just like me. So, yes, a lot of people come out.”

STOPPING THE CAROUSEL

In the past four years, La Villa has had four different head coaches. Each change makes it harder for the team to buy in.

“It’s not an excuse,” Prieto said. “I use it as motivation. For some guys it’s harder, because they get used to something and then it just changes. It’s hard to come in with new coaches every year. I went 110 percent with every coach we had. We put our trust in them, because that is what they are there for.”

The trend of change ends now, according to Prieto.

“(Perez), right now, I honestly think he is going to stay here for a while,” he said. “He’s pushing us a lot more than other coaches have before.”

Prieto has seen five coaches come and go since his seventh grade year, so his optimism isn’t easy to earn. But Perez comes in with the kind of experience that makes it easy to understand Preito’s confidence.

Perez coached at La Villa before. During his previous stint with the Cardinals, from 2007-2012, Perez was a defensive coordinator for five years and a head coach for one. Perez has only ever worked for two schools in his 23 years of coaching. He worked at his alma mater of Edcouch- Elsa for 12 years, then was at La Villa for six before spending the past four years back at E-E.

The biggest thing that Perez said he wants to bring from E-E this time at La Villa is the excitement and passion for the program.

“We had it here when I was here back then,” Perez said. “I don’t know what happened, but they lost it here for a while, because of the coaching changes. But, bringing that back would be big for this program. That’s my first step.”

AIR IT OUT

The Cardinals will have a familiar face under center this year, as junior Rey Felix returns to the role.

Last year, Felix completed 81 of his 188 attempts for 985 yards and 9 TDs. Felix says he likes the energy in camp so far.

“It feels good,” he said. “We have been waiting to get out pads. Hopefully our energy will show on Fridays.”

The team is so close that they all get together on the weekends to hang out.

“Last Saturday, we had a cookout,” Prieto said. “We were just hanging out and stuff, watching Hudl. This is a brotherhood. We are out here every day.”

That camaraderie shows on the field, according to Felix, who says he has a close relationship with his wide receivers.

“It’s a good group,” Felix said. “They are going to have to step up and replace those seniors that graduated, so hopefully they will step up and help us this year.”

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LA VILLA’S PROGNOSIS

Coach Daniel Perez is familiar with what it takes to find success at La Villa. In a district where it takes one win to make the playoffs, if La Villa can buy into Perez’s system, the Cardinals can continue a streak of four straight years in the postseason.

2016 record: 1-10

Returning starters O/D: N/A

COACH’S TENURE

Coach: Daniel Perez

Year at school: 1st

Record at school: 0-0

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

MONTE ALTO — Monte Alto sophomore quarterback Joseph Cano remembers watching the Blue Devils play football during their first few years as a varsity program.

“It’s an honor to be on this team,” Cano said. “I used to come to the games all the time.”

The Blue Devils played their first varsity game in 2011, and in the time since, they have never made a playoff appearance. Cano may be the player to change that.

Over the offseason, Cano said he was hard at work trying to get better.

“I wanted to improve more on my throwing,” Cano said. “Being the quarterback this year, we wanted to focus a little bit more on getting the ball down the field. So I am trying to make that more of an option in the offense.”

Cano started a few games at quarterback last season as a freshman.

Being called on that early in his career was challenging, but he learned a lot, he said. That experience is already paying dividends for the Blue Devils, as Cano is showing unprecedented poise as a sophomore.

“He got his feet wet early,” Monte Alto coach Amos Salas said. “What I like about Joseph is that he is our field general out there during the games. That’s not what you would expect from a sophomore, but he has a lot of football savvy.”

Salas is in his first year as a head coach, but last season he was the offensive coordinator at Monte Alto, giving him a lot of familiarity with Cano.

Cano worked hard to learn the playbook as a freshman, and that shows in how he operates at the line of scrimmage. In the team’s spread option offense, Cano has to make quick reads to decide whether to keep the ball or hand it off to a back, Salas said. That’s not the only part of the offense that requires him to make the right decision very quickly.

“In our passing game, if we see something that we didn’t find before, he can check down to an audible,” Salas said. “We have several audibles set for him this year.”

Salas said he can trust Cano with those responsibilities because “he is a very smart kid.”

“He is ranked No. 1 in his class,” Salas said. “He has a lot of football savvy. Having him out there, he sees a lot of things that we might miss from the sidelines.”

Cano credits a lot of his development to his quarterback coach, Steven Bocanegra.

“We talk a lot about form and everything,” Cano said. “He helped me with keeping the ball close to me, up high, getting ready to throw the ball and having a quick release.”

But Cano is not alone. He has the support of his teammates. Even the upperclassmen trust him to lead, Salas said.

“Last year to this year, I feel strong with him,” junior running back Marco Oseguera said. “I have been talking to him more, and I feel a closer connection this season.

“The seniors and the juniors, we have to stick together as a team and help him out, because he is a younger guy.”

THREE WAYS

Many players on offense will also be asked to play a role on the defensive end, a circumstance that is common at the 3A level.

“At a small school, it is kind of expected, and our kids are adapting,” Salas said of players playing offense and defense. “They are trying to change the culture about going both ways, even in the third phase of the game — special teams. So we are going to have some kids that will have to do that, as well. We have always preached to them that we want to be a well-conditioned team, to where they can go both offense and defense.”

Salas said he has been seeing an average of 25-30 players in practice so far, but he is hopeful to get another 10-15 when school starts back up and students return home.

The players he has now have been willing to accept whatever role he needs them to.

“Everybody has a positive attitude. They are willing to learn,” Salas said. “They are willing to make a sacrifice and play a new position that they haven’t played before, because they understand what their role is on the team.”

With the numbers where they are, plus an expected influx, Salas is hopeful that he can bring back an element of the program that has been missing.

“We are trying to — which they haven’t done the past years — have a JV team,” Salas said. “If we can get those numbers and play a few JV games, that helps our younger kids with their confidence.”

Salas said giving younger players a chance to play on the junior varsity team may give them the experience to contribute on the varsity level later in the year, which would give some of his two-way players a chance to rest.

BIG SHOES TO FILL

Last year, one of the leaders on the Blue Devils’ offense was Stephen Baxter. Stephen graduated, but this year, his brother Matthew Baxter, a senior, is looking to follow in his older brother’s footsteps.

“He’s on the right track,” Salas said. “Like a lot of kids on this team, he had a good summer in the 7-on-7.”

Most importantly, Matthew Baxter has developed an alliance with Cano.

“He’s one of my go-to’s,” Cano said. “He’s one of my favorite receivers.”

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MONTE ALTO’S PROGNOSIS

With Cano and a bevy of talented backs, Monte Alto will need to control the ball on offense to find success.

2016 record: 2-7

Returning starters O/D: 4/3

COACH’S TENURE

Coach: Amos Salas

Year at school: 1st

Record at school: 0-0

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — The Edinburg High football team returns only two of its top nine tacklers from a year ago.

The Bobcats have had to lean on several younger players to lead the team because of the large turnover, Edinburg High coach J.J. Leija said.

Junior outside linebacker Raymond Quintanilla is one of those young guys. Both of last year’s starters at the position have since departed from the program, leaving Quintanilla to take over the pivotal role in the defense.

“He has really stepped it up this year,” Leija said. “He’s pretty much the team captain out there for this defense.”

Quintanilla is embracing his role as a leader.

“It feels good to lead these guys,” he said. “We all have special talent. We are all good. It’s a great opportunity.”

Despite the youth movement, the defense has a similar swagger and confidence to years past. The Bobcats missed the playoffs for five straight years before last season. In 2016, they surged to a second-place finish in District 31-6A, landing them a spot in the playoffs. Quintanilla attributes the confident attitude this fall to the playoff appearance a year ago.

“We love the feeling of the playoffs,” Quintanilla said. “It was very fun to have actually made it to the playoffs, but that loss still hurt. We are going to work harder to make it past the first round this year.”

Quintanilla is looking to the two players next to him to help return the Bobcats’ defense to where it was a year ago, when the team ranked second in the district with 247 yards allowed.

“Our middle linebackers, Athen (Villanueva) and Jaime (Zamora), they are both young guys,” Quintanilla said. “It is their first year on varsity, so we are going to see how they step up.”

Quintanilla and safety Mannie Salinas are both key parts of a large junior class for Leija. Leija said that the success of the junior group, on offense and defense, will be a large factor in determining the Bobcats’ outcome this year.

“That’s a strong junior crop that we have there,” Leija said. “Last year, we had four sophomores on defense and four sophomores on offense. We’ve got a talented, young group there.”

Quintanilla, Salinas and the rest of the defense learned a lot last season, and that shows in how much tradition has carried over to the younger players.

“We have a lot of pride in what we do,” Quintanilla said. “We love defense, and we love playing for the Bobcats.”

QB BATTLE

Junior Matthew Cruz and senior Danny Shawnee are currently battling it out to determine who will get the bulk of the playing time at quarterback.

“It’s a tough competition,” Leija said. “They both have great leadership qualities. They are kind of balanced right now. The two scrimmages that we have are going to help us out. … That’ll tell us where we are at with these quarterbacks.”

Shawnee transferred from Edinburg North, and Cruz has taken it upon himself to help Shawnee adapt to the new surroundings.

“Once I saw him on campus, I wanted to teach him things, help him get to know the teachers,” Cruz said. “We are close friends. We have a great battle. Whoever wins the starting spot will help the team a lot.”

For Shawnee, the immediate challenge was to learn the playbook, which is still an ongoing process.

“It’s getting better,” Shawnee said. “At first it was hard, but it’s getting better. I’m getting more reps, getting better at knowing the plays and knowing the players. It’s going good.”

TAKING FLIGHT

Seeing junior wideout Antoine Woodard soar through the air becomes more and more common with each passing day.

Woodard was one of only a handful of Valley basketball players last year to convert more than one in-game dunk.

Leija knew that leaping ability would come in handy. Last season, Woodard played wide receiver and became a big threat in the Bobcats offense.

“Toward the end of the year, some people started covering him with two guys,” Leija said. “We are looking to try to free him up this year.”

Woodard can use his physical abilities to create his own space in certain scenarios.

“Throwing to him is great,” Cruz said. “Throwing fades to him, he can outjump corners because he’s so lanky and tall.”

Both quarterbacks are enjoying having him in the offense.

“That guy, he is really tall, and he is fast,” Shawnee said. “All you have to do is just throw it up there and he will catch it.”

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EDINBURG HIGH’S PROGNOSIS

With seven of its top nine tacklers from last season gone, Edinburg High will need its young defense to fill those shoes. The offense hopes to make the transition easier.

2016 record: 7-4

Returning starters O/D: 5/5

COACH’S TENURE

Coach: J.J. Leija

Year at School: 2nd

Record at school: 7-4