By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
Robert Guerra was one of four Edinburg Vela football players arraigned Tuesday at Edinburg Municipal Court, accused of vandalizing Edinburg High School property, according to media reports.
Guerra, the District 31-5A MVP in 2015, along with teammates Daniel Elizondo, Samuel Valenzuela and Ryan Javier Rios are accused of having spray painted the Edinburg High football practice field with “RV” and “Robert Vela” early Tuesday morning, according to ValleyCentral.com. The four are being charged with criminal mischief (a state jail felony), according to the site.
The rival schools are scheduled to play each other Friday.
Edinburg Vela football coach and athletics coordinator Michael Salinas did not return calls seeking comment. Edinburg CISD director of athletics Rogelio R. Garza could not be reached before business closed Wednesday.
“They are suspended through Friday, so, which means that, I imagine, by default they would not be playing Friday,” Robert Flores, an attorney for three of the players, told reporters outside the courtroom Wednesday.
Their status with the school and the football team remains unclear going forward. Edinburg CISD told ValleyCentral.com it could not comment on any disciplinary action, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
Guerra entered this year with plenty of promise after coming off a junior season in which he captured the District 31-5A MVP. He rushed for 1,321 yards and 20 touchdowns in the regular season, earning a spot on The Monitor’s All-Area Football second team. In the process, Edinburg Vela advanced to the third round of the playoffs.
The senior running back opened the 2016 campaign scoring nine touchdowns in a 63-62 double-overtime win over Victoria East on Aug. 26. That broke the Valley’s single-game scoring record, while putting him in an eight-way tie for third all-time in Texas high school football history. Only Pilot Point’s Jiggs Ray (11 TDs, 1937) and Spur’s Jim Hahn (10 TDs, 1930) have totaled more touchdowns in a single game.
Guerra finished that night with seven rushing touchdowns (359, yards, 33 carries) and two more receiving (three catches, 70 carries). His rushing yardage, in fact, was the fifth-most ever recorded by a Valley player.
His scoring output broke the previous Valley single-game record set by Rio Grande City’s Bernie Anzaldua, who scored seven touchdowns in a game against La Joya High in 1989.
For his performance, Guerra was named Mr. Football Player of the Week.
In three games this year, Guerra totaled 825 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He also hauled in 96 yards and two receiving TDs.
Edinburg Vela holds a 3-1 overall record, including 1-0 in district play after beating Edinburg North last week.
The SaberCats, who are ranked No. 3 in the latest RGVSports.com top 10 poll, take on Edinburg High at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Richard R. Flores Stadium. It marks the second district game of the season for both teams.
