KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
RAYMONDVILLE—-Entering the 2019 season, the Raymondville Bearkats motto is simple: ‘We want more.’
The ’Kats broke onto the scene last year and won the District 16-4A Division II crown and bi-district title before their historic season came to an abrupt halt in a 35-27 loss to Navarro in the area round.
The playoff loss left Raymondville eager for more success in 2019.
The Bearkats have some key pieces to replace, but have found their solution.
“We had a big senior group that graduated last year,” said Raymondville coach Frank Cantu. “We were fortunate enough to have another big senior group this year and a big junior group. Those two groups together should fill those holes and we are going to get after it. We don’t want to skip a beat; we just want to keep playing well like we did last year.”
Among the key names Raymondville will have to replace is Jacob Posas, who ran and threw for over 1,000 yards last year. This season, the ’Kats will look to their freshman quarterback in Jared Cavazos.
The 6-foot-1 youngster took the summer 7on7 league as an opportunity to develop chemistry with his offense and find a groove. Cavazos will have arguably one of the best wide receiver duos in the Valley with Justin Cantu and Zaraivion Armendarez.
“We are looking to get out here and get the chemistry going,” Armendarez said. “We lost a lot of seniors last year, so we want to get that chemistry going from 7on7 to now. We have made progress with both our QB’s with Jason Cantu and Jared. We have worked on our routes and we are getting better.”
Both Cantu and Armendarez will have a key hand in the offense with Cantu also looking to take snaps out of the back field and Armendarez being utilized with multiple looks.
“Justin is big and loves the weight room he is big and strong,” Cantu said. “Zaraivion he has been getting after it in the weight room and he has gotten stronger and he is just so shifty. He can get speed and make a cut and Justin can do that as well. Both of them are big play guys are two guys we want to get the football, too.”
On defense, the ’Kats will need to replace their all-state linebacker Noe Zambrano and Cole Cooley, who last year teamed up to be quite the duo at linebacker. Raymondville, however, will be stout along the defensive line as they welcome back sophomore Dylan Ramirez, who led the team in sacks last season.
Derrick Oltivero will complement Ramirez on the opposite side, giving Raymondville a solid defensive end duo. Thomas Zambrano, who is the younger brother of Noe, does return as a senior and will play the linebacker position, but will get moved around some. Along with Ramirez and Oltivero will be incoming senior Jacob Perez anchoring the defensive line for the ’Kats.
Raymondville will open up their season with a bang as they will take on La Feria on August 30th on the road.