BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR
HIDALGO — For new Hidalgo coach Monty Stumbaugh, Week 3 is just another week in the season.
“We have to look at it as game three,” Stumbaugh said. “We need a win. Whoever we play, we want to win.”
Stumbaugh spent the last 16 years as the coach at Port Isabel. That’s why, despite Stumbaugh’s resolution, the Pirates know that their game against Port Isabel at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Bill Pate Stadium in Hidalgo has a little extra meaning to it.
“It’s pretty exciting,” senior linebacker Timothy Busby said. “We don’t have a good history against that ball club, so it will be exciting to go out here and get a win. … Obviously, it’s personal for him. It would mean a lot to him.”
“It would be great to get the win,” senior linebacker and fullback Abram Sifuentes said. “Coach would be really excited.”
Despite starting the season 0-2, the Pirates still remain intrepid about their year. The Pirates weren’t out of either of their first two games. In Week 1, the Pirates faced the Santa Rose Warriors, and a dropped pass on a crucial third down right before the half swung the game from what could have been a tie to a 14-point Santa Rosa lead. The Warriors carried the momentum into the second half and won 42-28
In a similar fashion, Hidalgo trailed Valley View by just three points early in the third quarter of its Week 2 matchup. The Tigers stormed back and scored quickly, overwhelming the Pirates on the way to a 34-10 win.
“We felt like when we executed, we moved the ball,” Stumbaugh said. “When we execute, we can move the ball on people, but we have to execute. … Just like anybody, we can’t have penalties. We can’t be first-and-15, third-and-10, stuff like that.”
One of the biggest reasons for optimism is the emergence of junior running back Bryan Aleman in Stumbaugh’s run heavy system. But, Aleman wasn’t even sure he wanted to be the running back coming into the year.
“He played a little quarterback last year, but they ran the spread,” Stumbaugh said. “I watched a little film on him, and I saw he is pretty good runner. I convinced him he could play J back — that’s what we call it — and not quarterback. We had a nice talk. We had an understanding that he would be the running back for us.”
The 5-foot-10, 172-pounder has carried the ball 50 times this season for 267 yards and 4 touchdowns. He is averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
“He’s still learning where to hit and where to run. He’s doing a good job, and he is getting better every week,” Stumbaugh said. “He’s got some talent, and I’m looking for big things for him. He’s really coming on. When I saw him run, I said, ‘This kid could be a good one.’ I told him before the first game, ‘My backs get 1,000 yards, so you better be ready. Get yourself in shape.’”
Stumbaugh said Aleman has improved more than just his running. In his first two games, combined with Hidalgo’s scrimmages, Aleman has shown increased blocking and faking abilities, according to Stumbaugh.
Aleman’s production, combined with the continued development of quarterback Marco Bella and the offensive line, has brought the offense to a new level.
Stumbaugh has continued to advance his system with the players, as they have become more comfortable with their roles.
“We add like four or five plays, every week, to our playbook,” Sifuentes said. “We are getting better every day.”
Stumbaugh said he adds plays and formations because he wants to get his team comfortable with his entire offense quickly.
“It’s a whole process,” Stumbaugh said. “Once you get the basics, you can add your little wrinkles, like any other offense.”
In that respect, it may end up being a positive that the Pirates have four more games before they hit district play.
“It’s definitely a good thing,” Busby said. “We have come a long way week to week. … Everybody is just learning the new stuff, and hopefully we will be fully comfortable in this system by district.”
For now, Stumbaugh may be insistent that Week 3 is just another week, but he does acknowledge this week will be unusual for him.
“I know people think it’s going to be a huge game because I was at PI and all of that,” Stumbaugh said. “I love those kids over there. I was with them forever. I always will. But this week, I will be in the navy. Being on the opposite sideline will be a new experience. … I’m a Hidalgo Pirate, and we are going to try to beat the Port Isabel Tarpons, because that is our goal. And next week, we will try to beat the Rio Hondo Bobcats. We just want to be 1-0 this week. Besides that, nothing else really matters.“