ANDREW CRUM | Staff Writer
The center position is one of the most important positions on the offensive side of the ball.
And Lopez coach Jason Starkey didn’t mix words when he spoke of the importance of Richard Flores, his senior center, as a player and as a leader for the Lobos.
“I’ve coached him since his freshman year,” Starkey said. “Richie Flores is the epitome of why I got into high school football.”
At the end of the school year, Flores will become the first in his family and his neighborhood to receive a high school diploma.
Starkey was proud to share the admiration he had for one of his top players. Flores is the son to migrant working parents and he spent his summer in Florida doing very hard work.
Flores maintains a B-average and, aside from being the first in his family to graduate, he hopes to compete at the college level.
Starkey mentioned the interest he’s already received from a few college coaches on Flores, particularly from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, where former teammate Mando Castillo plays, after making his intentions official this past spring to play for the Javelinas.
“It makes me so proud that the coaches have focused on me. I look up to Mando, he got a scholarship, and if he can do it I can, too,” Flores said. “We competed together, we’re best friends. Hopefully I can play with him again. I want to be next to my brother, next to my family.
“I really want to go and play (somewhere).”
Starkey feels blessed to coach a player like Flores who sets the example for his teammates.
“I came (to Lopez) for the kids like Richard,” he said. “I think I am surround by coaches that coach for kids like Richard. I think we have a team of kids like Richard. He epitomizes what it is to be a Lopez student-athlete, he’s here every single day, does everything that’s asked of him, and as a result he’s going to graduate and get a chance play in college.”
Flores is a player that the Lobos look to on and off the field.
“Richie is the leader of our offensive line, he’s the captain,” Starkey said. “They look to him for a positive example.”
Starkey knows his four junior offensive linemen are in good hands with Flores at the helm.
As for playing Porter this week in the latest version of the Battle of Southmost, Flores was ready to go. After all, he’s yet to lose to Porter during his high school career.
“I’ve never lost against Porter, so we’ll see. I don’t want to start now,” he said. “It means the same (even without being in the same district). I’m usually playing offense, but I’ll play both ways. Whatever helps the team, I’ll do it.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.