MISSION — Since taking over in 2009, Mission Veterans football has established itself as one of the premier programs across the Rio Grande Valley under head coach David Gilpin.
The Patriots have qualified for the postseason in 11 out of 13 years and won five district championships, including winning four out of the last five district titles.
“We’re about winning championships. I don’t care if you go 9-1 and don’t win a championship, don’t win a playoff game, that’s a good year, that’s an average year, but you don’t have a championship,” Gilpin said. “You can go 6-4, not win the district championship but go out and win a bi-district or area round playoff game, you’ve had a great year. We believe in gold balls, championships — that’s the standard for us.”
Mission Veterans kicks off the RGVSports.com top 10 Class 5A-6A rankings as the No. 10 team in the Rio Grande Valley. The remaining top 10 Class 5A-6A and top four sub-5A teams will continue to be released leading up to Week 1 of the high school football season on Aug. 24.
Nothing changes entering Year 14 under Gilpin. The Patriots return eight starters, four on each side of the ball, from last season’s tri-district championship team that finished 8-4 overall with a bi-district playoff win over Medina Valley.
The biggest difference for the Patriots will be a new face behind center in junior quarterback Vince Abrego. Mission Veterans’ new signal-caller spent his freshman season as a backup quarterback and his sophomore campaign as a starter at receiver.
Now, Gilpin has handed Abrego “the keys to the Cadillac” to lead the entire offense. He follows a long line of athletes who have taken over and excelled at quarterback for Mission Veterans. He hopes the varsity experience gained as a receiver can help smooth the move back to his natural position as a dual-threat passer and runner.
“It’s definitely a lot of work to get back into the groove, to get back into the quarterback position after playing receiver for a year, but it’s a challenge and a transition I’m looking forward to,” Abrego said.
| Mission Veterans quarterback Vince Abrego completes a pass during practice at Mission Veterans Memorial High School on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Mission. (Joel Martinez | [email protected]) Joel Martinez |
Mission Veterans’ defense will be led by its experienced senior linebacker duo of two-time Texas Sports Writers Association all-state selection Luis De Hoyos and Cody Von Wald. Patrolling the secondary is cornerback Isaac Ayala and safety Eduardo Ordaz, a pair of defensive backs with good size who are unafraid to step up and deliver big hits defending the run.
The Patriots open the year with a stacked non-district schedule, but they’re not intimidated in the least. It’s all part of the plan to play the best of the best in preparation for a shot at a district title and playoff run.
“We’re grateful, grateful for our preseason matchups because when we go into our real season (district), we’re going to be battle-tested, definitely,” Ayala said. “We want to just come out here and battle against the best every single chance that we get.”
| Mission Veterans’ Isaac Ayala waits for the snap during practice at Mission Veterans Memorial High School on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Mission. (Joel Martinez | [email protected]) Joel Martinez |
Mission Veterans starts the season against crosstown rival Mission High in the annual “Battle of Conway on Aug. 26 at Tom Landry Stadium in Mission. Then, it’s McAllen Memorial, a third-round playoff team from a season ago, followed by three more Class 6A powers in Harlingen High, San Benito and Brownsville Hanna before opening district play Oct. 7 against Sharyland Pioneer.
“Anybody, anywhere, any time — that’s our mindset. Let’s line up and let’s play,” Gilpin said.
“If we can fit it in the schedule, we’re not going to turn it down. Bigger schools, we’re going to look to challenge ourselves with the best programs. We scheduled the best we can find and that’s the way we’re always going to do it. By the time we finish that non-district schedule and we get into our district schedule and get into the playoffs, that’s going to be a battle-tested team right there that will be a tough out.”