BY NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
Who better to guide the best football players in the western RGV than the coach who led Mission Veterans to the fourth round? The memorable playoff push was the longest run for a Valley team since the 2011 Harlingen Cardinals reached that same stage.
David Gilpin and his staff will lead the West all-stars into their final high school football game in the Rio Grande Valley Coaches Association All-star Game at 7:30 Friday evening at Sams Stadium against the stars from the eastern and lower RGV.
Gilpin will have an arsenal of weapons at his side to try and pierce the armor of the East defense. He said he’s had the pleasure of dealing with a great group aside from just the talent.
“The neat thing about it, that I’ve enjoyed, is that they’re not just good football players, and they are, but they’re good kids,” David Gilpin said. “They’re good people. Their attitude has been outstanding. Just the whole atmosphere around these guys has been something I’ve enjoyed.”
The rosters and the depth chart are like a dream team for a coaching staff to utilize. At quarterback, Landry Gilpin, named Mr. Texas Football, and Trey Guajardo, who set the Valley’s 6A yardage record will split time. Not to mention Simon Fernandez of Valley View, Grulla’s Dillen Salinas and PSJA Memorial’s Orlando Munoz who were all integral leaders of their respective offenses.
Wide receivers from Gabriel Tamez (Sharyland High) to Daniel Enriquez (Edinburg Vela) to McAllen Rowe’s Ruben Saenz will be targets and options on the field for those quarterbacks.
The offensive line is no exception with muscle from La Joya High in Damian Tanguma, Alex Jimenez of Donna North, Jayden Borjas from Edinburg Vela, Daniel Domian of McAllen Memorial and the list goes on of capable trench diggers.
Gilpin is in the midst of spring ball for his Patriots, which takes place in the morning. His days have been extending to 14 hours but he says it’s a labor of love.
“I walked into my office around 6 a.m. today, getting ready for our spring practices and we’re getting out of here around 8 o’clock at night most days after all-star practice,” He said. “While it’s a long day, it doesn’t seem like a grind because we’re having so much fun.”
Linebackers Ryan Reyna (PSJA North) and Javo Lopez (Sharyland High) will be teammates, a scary proposition for the opposition.
“We want to try to showcase their abilities,” Gilpin said. “We want them to be able to go out one more time as a high school football player, in front of their family, in front of their friends and showcase what they can do.”
Don’t call the game an exhibition too loudly because the Veterans staff is trying to put the West in position to succeed.
“You say just an exhibition, you say just for fun but hey I don’t do anything … that I don’t want to win,” Gilpin said with a chuckle. “We won back in 2011 when we coached it. We talked to the kids about that all week, we want to win the football game.”