PROGRESO — The Progreso Red Ants could be found at the school’s cafeteria sharing a spaghetti dinner to bond as a team during the 2019 season prior to game days.
Spaghetti nights and game days were nowhere to be found in 2020, with the Red Ants opting out of the season due to health and safety concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both are scheduled to make their return, as the Red Ants returned to the field Aug. 2, participating in their first official practice in nearly two years.
“It felt good coming back,” Red Ants halfback Justin Meza said. “I’m just looking forward to being back on campus, interacting with my teammates and having fun. It just feels good to return to some state of normal.”
The return of the Red Ants will also mark the debut of head coach Jose Meza following a one-year delay. Meza took over the reins in 2020, making the jump from special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach.
The biggest challenge thus far has been getting kids on the field, Meza said, with roughly 22 players currently on the roster.
“We are lacking experience,” he said. “We got good core of seniors, but we still need to build up that sophomore and junior group.
“We are a fairly small school, but that’s a good number. It’s just we’re lacking in the sophomore and junior classes. I think we’ll get those kids out when school starts again. I think they’re still kind of weary of what’s going on and are waiting to see what’s going to happen.”
Meza will lean on a group of nine seniors who saw significant playing time as sophomores during the 2019 season to guide the younger players.
Senior running backs Justin Meza and Alex Mascorro will serve as the focal point of the offense, giving the Red Ants a pair of workhorses in the backfield.
Four-year starter David Garcia returns to anchor the offensive and defensive line, serving as the team’s center and defensive tackle.
Mascorro and Meza will also see time on the defensive side of the ball. Mascorro will captain the defense from the middle linebacker position, while Meza patrols the back end as the team’s strong safety.
Despite having nine senior, the Red Ants remain young and inexperience across the board, focusing on re-teaching the basics during the first few weeks of practice.
“A lot of these kids haven’t seen anybody in front of them since seventh grade,” Meza said. “So, we have to focus on little things while still trying to advance them forward. It’s been a challenge, but it’s a good thing.”
For Justin Meza, this season won’t be about wins or losses. Instead, he is focused on setting the foundation for Red Ants of the future.
“There aren’t a whole lot of us out here right now,” he said. “I’m hoping we can set a trend or just an example for future Red Ants to join the program and keep it going. We just want to reset everything after COVID.”
Progreso returns to the field Aug. 27 against La Villa at Cardinal Stadium in La Villa, its first of four non-district contests. The Red Ants kick off District 16-3A DI competition Oct. 1 against the Falfurrias Jerseys at Jersey Bull Stadium in Falfurrias.