Coach of the Year: JC Ramirez, Brownsville Veterans

It was a crazy first season as a head coach for Brownsville Veterans Memorial’s JC Ramirez, and an extremely memorable one.

Even though it was his first year, he made it look like it was his 10th as he guided Brownsville Veterans to a 12-3 season in which the Chargers captured a district, area and regional titles in Class 5A DI.

Like his players, Ramirez was extremely humble during the run and about the team’s success, always thankful for his staff and the Brownsville community that helped power the Chargers to Rio Grande Valley history.

Ramirez made sure the school’s newly developed brand of physical football continued when he was hired.

It did, and with a defense that flew to the ball and an offense that wore down opponents to win 12 games.

“My job was to take that and use that to my advantage, being a first-year head coach,” Ramirez said. “I wasn’t going to come and change a lot of stuff. I think I was the perfect hire because I was already here, so we hit the ground running.”

Ramirez expected that his team would do well with key players returning.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the work (of) our kids and staff, as well as the results we were able to get,” Ramirez said.

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Sharyland Pioneer running back Dylan Tijerina made an instant impact for the Diamondbacks as the sophomore totaled 101 yards on 16 touches with one touchdown in his varsity debut, a 28-21 non-district victory over McAllen Rowe in the 2023 opener.

That was just a sign of things to come for Pioneer’s powerful runner as Tijerina is The Monitor’s All-Area Newcomer of the Year for the 2023 season.

Tijerina finished his first year of varsity football with 1,388 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns on 175 carries, also adding five receptions for 77 yards.

He got stronger as the season went on, too, with five consecutive 100-plus-yard games late in the year. That five-game run included rushing for 197 yards against crosstown rival Sharyland High, 209 against PSJA Memorial and 220 during the bi-district round of the playoffs against Edcouch-Elsa.

Tijerina also hit paydirt in 10 of 12 games, helping Pioneer finish the season 10-2 overall and 4-1 in district for a share of the District 16-5A DII championship.

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Sharyland Pioneer running back Dylan Tijerina made an instant impact for the Diamondbacks as the sophomore totaled 101 yards on 16 touches with one touchdown in his varsity debut, a 28-21 non-district victory over McAllen Rowe in the 2023 opener.

That was just a sign of things to come for Pioneer’s powerful runner as Tijerina is The Monitor’s All-Area Newcomer of the Year for the 2023 season.

Tijerina finished his first year of varsity football with 1,388 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns on 175 carries, also adding five receptions for 77 yards.

He got stronger as the season went on, too, with five consecutive 100-plus-yard games late in the year. That five-game run included rushing for 197 yards against crosstown rival Sharyland High, 209 against PSJA Memorial and 220 during the bi-district round of the playoffs against Edcouch-Elsa.

Tijerina also hit paydirt in 10 of 12 games, helping Pioneer finish the season 10-2 overall and 4-1 in district for a share of the District 16-5A DII championship.

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Lineman of the Year: OL Matthew Pinion, Brownsville Veterans

Besides the big boys at PSJA North, there is no better offensive lineman in the Valley than Matthew Pinion.

Pinion is listed at 6-2 270, but moves like he is 215 as he turned corners for downfield blocks. The Chargers’ offense ran behind its strong side at will with Pinion leading the way as the strong-side guard.

The Chargers gashed teams behind Pinion. Simple but extremely effective fullback handoffs that usually go for a few yards would be 10-yard-plus gains because of the 270-pound guard.

Pinion is headed to Eastern New Mexico University next week with Trillo and another standout blocker, tight end Nick Tovar.

Pinion alo was the All-Metro lineman of the Year in 2022, as well as an All-Valley selection in 2022.

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Lineman of the Year: OL Matthew Pinion, Brownsville Veterans

Besides the big boys at PSJA North, there is no better offensive lineman in the Valley than Matthew Pinion.

Pinion is listed at 6-2 270, but moves like he is 215 as he turned corners for downfield blocks. The Chargers’ offense ran behind its strong side at will with Pinion leading the way as the strong-side guard.

The Chargers gashed teams behind Pinion. Simple but extremely effective fullback handoffs that usually go for a few yards would be 10-yard-plus gains because of the 270-pound guard.

Pinion is headed to Eastern New Mexico University next week with Trillo and another standout blocker, tight end Nick Tovar.

Pinion alo was the All-Metro lineman of the Year in 2022, as well as an All-Valley selection in 2022.

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Playing football at the sub-5A level almost always ensures some players will play both sides of the ball.

Port Isabel’s Tristan Garcia and Rio Hondo’s Keyan Lopez didn’t just play both sides of the ball for their teams. They dominated.

Garcia and Lopez are The Brownsville Herald/Valley Morning Star Co-Utility Players of the Year.

Port Isabel head coach Tony Villarreal said one of the reasons his team had so much success the past two seasons was because of Garcia, his do-it-all fullback and linebacker.

Garcia rushed for 728 yards on 126 carries and found the back of the end zone 12 times, including two touchdowns in the area title game, a loss against a very physical Navarro team.

The District 16-4A DII MVP on defense had 65 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles, and on special teams Garcia had 200 return yards and also was the long snapper. He also threw a touchdown pass.

Garcia respected his role on the team and was a silent leader-type, a leader that sets the example, and he did as the Tarpons captured a district title and a bi-district win in a nine-win season.

Garcia said that he was always willing to do whatever his coaches needed him to do on the field, and he had no problem taking up all of the roles that he had on the field.

“I just enjoy being on the football and doing whatever to help the team to win,” Garcia said. 

“I had a good year, but I hoped as a team we got a little bit further, but injuries happen,” Garcia added.

Lopez spent a lot of his time on the field tracking the ball for the Bobcats, starring as a wide receiver and linebacker for his team.

As a wideout, Lopez was among the RGV’s best, finishing sixth among all reported receivers in the area during the regular season with 47 catches for 829 yards and 13 touchdowns.

One of his biggest performances came during a 57-38 shootout loss to Ingleside, erupting for 278 yards and three scores on 10 catches.

He was equally, if not more, dominant as a linebacker, living around the football on nearly every play. The two-way athlete tallied 151 total tackles in just 10 appearances, including a 21-tackle performance against San Diego.

Lopez also displayed game-breaking ability on the defensive side, racking 15 tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions and four defensive touchdowns en route to District 16-3A DI defensive player of the year honors.

Lopez said he “stepped it up” at wide receiver this season, but still favors the defensive side of the ball.

“I helped my team however I could,” Lopez said. “I made some big plays for them, and what I could out there every game.”

“On defense I have only grown since freshman year and I think I am going to continue doing better on defense because that is the side of the ball that I like more,” Lopez added.

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Playing football at the sub-5A level almost always ensures some players will play both sides of the ball.

Port Isabel’s Tristan Garcia and Rio Hondo’s Keyan Lopez didn’t just play both sides of the ball for their teams. They dominated.

Garcia and Lopez are The Brownsville Herald/Valley Morning Star Co-Utility Players of the Year.

Port Isabel head coach Tony Villarreal said one of the reasons his team had so much success the past two seasons was because of Garcia, his do-it-all fullback and linebacker.

Garcia rushed for 728 yards on 126 carries and found the back of the end zone 12 times, including two touchdowns in the area title game, a loss against a very physical Navarro team.

The District 16-4A DII MVP on defense had 65 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles, and on special teams Garcia had 200 return yards and also was the long snapper. He also threw a touchdown pass.

Garcia respected his role on the team and was a silent leader-type, a leader that sets the example, and he did as the Tarpons captured a district title and a bi-district win in a nine-win season.

Garcia said that he was always willing to do whatever his coaches needed him to do on the field, and he had no problem taking up all of the roles that he had on the field.

“I just enjoy being on the football and doing whatever to help the team to win,” Garcia said. 

“I had a good year, but I hoped as a team we got a little bit further, but injuries happen,” Garcia added.

Lopez spent a lot of his time on the field tracking the ball for the Bobcats, starring as a wide receiver and linebacker for his team.

As a wideout, Lopez was among the RGV’s best, finishing sixth among all reported receivers in the area during the regular season with 47 catches for 829 yards and 13 touchdowns.

One of his biggest performances came during a 57-38 shootout loss to Ingleside, erupting for 278 yards and three scores on 10 catches.

He was equally, if not more, dominant as a linebacker, living around the football on nearly every play. The two-way athlete tallied 151 total tackles in just 10 appearances, including a 21-tackle performance against San Diego.

Lopez also displayed game-breaking ability on the defensive side, racking 15 tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions and four defensive touchdowns en route to District 16-3A DI defensive player of the year honors.

Lopez said he “stepped it up” at wide receiver this season, but still favors the defensive side of the ball.

“I helped my team however I could,” Lopez said. “I made some big plays for them, and what I could out there every game.”

“On defense I have only grown since freshman year and I think I am going to continue doing better on defense because that is the side of the ball that I like more,” Lopez added.

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PSJA North senior Leroy Palacios primarily played safety during his senior season, but that didn’t stop him from leaving his imprint on the game in all three phases as a consistent contributor on both offense and special teams, too.

Palacios, The Monitor’s All-Area Utility Player of the Year, tallied 52 tackles, three for a loss and was a ballhawk in the Raiders’ secondary. He finished with five interceptions, two passes deflected and two fumble recoveries. He also added 370 all-purpose yards with 107 total yards and one touchdown on seven touches on offense, 101 punt return yards, 57 kickoff return yards and 105 yards on interception returns.

Palacios, a four-year letterman, even lined up at punter during PSJA North’s biggest regular season game of the year against Edinburg Vela.

“I’ve been doing this for four years, I know the atmosphere, so I just went out there and played ball,” Palacios said.

He finished his career with 11 interceptions and played a key role in PSJA North capturing back-to-back district championships in 2022 and 2023, and winning eight playoff games during his four years suiting up for the “Blackshirt Defense.”

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PSJA North’s offensive success relied on the line to set the tone of the game with a fast, ferocious and physical style of play that allowed the Raiders’ playmakers to run wild.

Senior center Joe Derek Vecchio, The Monitor’s 2023 Football All-Area Lineman of the Year, was right in the middle of it as the leader on the offensive line for the Raiders.

“I’m just really grateful for it. I remember being a little kid watching the Raiders. I couldn’t wait to be a part of it and play for this community,” he said.

Vecchio ranked second on the team with 81 pancake blocks and utilized quick feet and strong hands to demolish opposing defenders in the trenches or reach linebackers on the second level of the defense. He started all four years for the Raiders and totaled 65 pancake blocks as a junior in 2022.

PSJA North recorded 4,397 rushing yards in 13 games with Vecchio and company paving the way to a 12-1 overall record and second consecutive District 15-5A DI championship.

Vecchio, who signed to play college football at UTRGV earlier this week, was also voted District 15-5A DI’s Offensive Lineman of the Year.

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Lyford quarterback Aidan Olivas-Romo spent his first two varsity seasons at safety, amassing 90 total tackles and two interceptions.

This past offseason, however, Olivas-Romo was asked to move to the offensive side of the ball and take over the starting quarterback duties.

Though hesitant at first, Olivas-Romo thrived during his lone season as the Bulldogs’ QB1, finishing fourth overall in the RGV in passing yards while leading Lyford to a 9-2 overall record.

Olivas-Romo is The Brownsville Herald/Valley Morning Star Sub-5A Player of the Year.

“Kind of going back to the beginning of the year where I said I didn’t really want to play quarterback and then having the year that I had … it really is just thanks to my coaches, the fans and my fellow brothers – especially the receivers,” Olivas-Romo said.

The transition from safety to quarterback was almost seamless for Olivas-Romo, who threw for 306 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 136 yards and one score during a Week 1 win over Port Isabel.

He continued to build off the early season success, surpassing the 1,000-yard passing mark just four games into the regular season.

Olivas-Romo finished with a 62.6 completion percentage en route to 3,228 passing yards and 21 passing touchdowns in 11 games played.

Olivas-Romo’s arm wasn’t the only weapon he deployed. The 5-foot-10, 160-pound quarterback displayed the same speed he did as a safety from behind center, slashing his way through defenses for 854 yards and eight touchdowns on 138 carries.

The dual-threat athlete ended the year with 4,094 total yards and 29 total touchdowns, helping the Bulldogs to a second-place finish in District 16-3A DI and a bi-district playoff appearance.

Olivas-Romo praised offensive coordinator Douglas Ames and the offensive staff for making sure he was prepared to have a terrific season. 

“They molded our offense to fit the players we had and I think it worked out really well,” he said.

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