By Mark Molina | The Brownsville Herald
Following a second consecutive regional semifinal loss to Austin Lake Travis in last year’s playoffs, Los Fresnos head coach Patrick Brown refused to be content.
Despite a 9-4 record and being one of the last playoff teams in the Rio Grande Valley standing once again, Brown believes his squad is capable of much more.
“ For us, we don’t really talk about district championships; we don’t talk about bi-district; we talk about state championships and playing in AT&T Stadium,” Brown said. “We have to let these kids in the Valley know that anything is possible. We may not match up sometimes with some of the kids we see, but the way to overcome that is hard work and discipline.
“ I really believe that a team can make it out of the Valley and possibly make a drive for a state championship and that’s what we talk to our kids about every day.”
The Falcons will face talent from out of the Valley early on with home games against El Paso Montwood, Austin LBJ and a road contest at Odessa Permian.
Such a lineup has been viewed as daunting in the past, but like several schools in the area, Los Fresnos is hoping for it to become a commonplace.
“ It’s important for us, Harlingen and some of those schools to schedule the teams that may be a third or fourth-round type talented team,” Brown said. “So we see them in our pre-district, that way we’re prepared when we do get to that third or fourth round. If we can stay healthy through that pre-district schedule, we’re going to be pretty good.”
The Falcons players accepted the challenge and now have brought that energy to the field as they prepare to host Montwood Week 1.
“ Now that coach put these hard teams on us, it’s going to be a challenge,” senior slot receiver Juan Resendiz said. “When (coach Brown) told us we were going to play the hardest teams, everybody was excited; there were no sad faces. Everybody just started working hard that day and we never stopped. We’ve seen film on Montwood; our whole offense has. We are excited because we know what we can do against them and what we can’t. We’re ready for it and we have a plan.”
Week 1 is still a couple of weeks off, but Los Fresnos is looking solid during workouts.
Through the first week of practice, Brown, now in his third season with Los Fresnos, said his team came in as prepared and well-conditioned as he’s seen, citing heavy participation in 7-on-7 and offseason workouts.
Veteran players also have taken notice, further motivating them to push the intensity in practice.
“ From the three years that I’ve been here, this is probably the first practices that have been really good with tempo and things like that,” senior defensive end Matthew Ortiz said. “We’re kind of sick of getting to the third round. We want to get past that and make more memories with teammates by going hard in practice. Whether it’s beating each other up or laying someone out, that’s how we are.”
There still a few positions Brown needs to get ironed out after losing players to graduation.
After several injuries a year ago forced underclassmen into the lineup, he isn’t worried.
“ Last year, we had had a couple of injuries and had some sophomores step in,” Brown said. “We probably have five or six guys that have played for us for three years, especially a few junior receivers that have played for us since freshman year. We feel pretty good about where we’re at, so if we can find a quarterback that can get the ball to some of our skill kids. I feel like we can be special this year.”