RGVSPORTS.COM
There’s a familiar face at the top of RGVSports.com’s Top 10 high school football poll heading into Week 1.
In an unanimous vote, Harlingen High has been voted upon by RGVSports.com as the Valley’s top team. The eight voters are writers who cover RGV high school football for AIM Media’s three newspapers (the Monitor, Valley Morning Star and Brownsville Herald).
The Cardinals earned 80 total votes, 20 ahead of second-place Edinburg Vela. Harlingen High has nine starters back from last year’s 10-3 Class 6A regional semifinalist. The Cardinals return top-tier playmakers in running back Leo Tienda and quarterback Jesse Castro. Together last season, they accounted for more than 3,700 total yards and 38 touchdowns.
Vela returns 10 starters, including power running back Robert Guerra, from last year’s Class 5A regional semifinalist. The SaberCats are making the move up to Class 6A.
In third place is San Benito, another Class 6A regional semifinalist from last season. The Greyhounds only return five starters, but the defense remains tough and there are capable young playmakers like Rene Garcia and Marceino Morales ready to step up.
Mercedes comes into Week 1 ranked fourth. The Tigers, who had the Valley’s top defense last season, return 15 starters from last year’s 7-4 team and are favored to win their second District 32-5A title in three years.
The post-Trevor Speights era begins for McAllen Memorial, ranked fifth, but the Mustangs have talent in store for 2016. Running back Jojo Williams and Campbell Speights, Trevor’s younger brother, factor heavily into Memorial’s plans. Defensively, the Mustangs will be potent behind safety Joey Delgado and linebacker Jaryd Lara.
Edcouch-Elsa, Mercedes‘ top rival, is ranked sixth after an inspiring run to the Class 5A regional semifinals last season. The Yellowjackets return 12 starters, including dual-threat QB Marco Aguinaga and his top two receivers J.J. Flores and A.J. Rodriguez.
Weslaco High is seventh. The Panthers return eight starters from last year’s 9-3 team. Only one offensive starter is back, but seven are staying on defense.
Los Fresnos is under a new head coach in Patrick Brown, who comes over from San Antonio Sam Houston, but his transition should be relatively easy as eight starters return from last year’s 9-2 team.
Roma is looking to make its third consecutive playoff appearance and is ranked ninth. The Gladiators return 16 starters, including the top returning rusher in senior Ramon Espinoza. Roma is a favorite in an intense District 31-5A.
Mission Veterans Memorial only returns five starters, but its dynamic talent at the skill positions is what has it ranked 10th. The Patriots return a top quarterback in Diego Hernandez along with speedy athletes in Landry Gilpin, Ramon De Leon and Jacob Guerrero. Mission Vets may be young, but it is not without a wealth of talent.
Other teams receiving votes in this introductory top 10 poll are McAllen High, Brownsville St. Joseph, Brownsville Veterans Memorial, Sharyland High and Edinburg Economedes.
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RGVSPORTS.COM TOP 10 POLL
The following are the teams in RGVSports.com’s Top 10 poll, with first-place votes in parentheses and total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through 1 point for a 10th-place vote. The eight voters are writers who cover RGV high school football for AIM Media’s three newspapers (the Monitor, Valley Morning Star and Brownsville Herald).
Team – Points
1. Harlingen High (8) 80
2. Edinburg Vela, 60
3. San Benito, 48
4. Mercedes, 46
5. McAllen Memorial, 44
6. Edcouch-Elsa, 37
7. Weslaco High, 34
8. Los Fresnos, 24
9. Roma, 22
10. Mission Veterans Memorial, 16
Other teams receiving votes: McAllen High (13), Brownsville St. Joseph (7), Brownsville Veterans Memorial (2), Sharyland High (1), Edinburg Economedes (1).