BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR
HIDALGO — Last year, as a junior, Marco Bella was catching passes for Hidalgo. This season, he will be throwing them.
Coach Monty Stumbaugh, who is beginning his first year at Hidalgo after spending the last 16 at Port Isabel, said that the move exemplifies the athletic prowess of Bella.
“He’s athletic,” Stumbaugh said. “I thought he did a good job in the summer. He moves well, and he throws the ball well on the run. I’ve been impressed with him.”
Last year, Bella wasn’t just catching passes on offense. As a cornerback, he had a knack for getting his hands on passes from opposing quarterbacks, as well.
“If he is out on the field, you know he is going to be making plays,” senior safety Andrew Busby said. “He is our best playmaker.”
That didn’t happen magically overnight for Bella. Stumbaugh had high praise for Bella’s work ethic.
“He was up here working out every day over the summer,” Stumbaugh said. “He comes out here on his own and throws with his teammates.”
Bella said he also spent time in the weight room with his offensive line. The line is a young group with several returning juniors, and Bella said their work in the weight room over the summer will make a big difference in the upcoming season.
“They have been hitting the weight room hard,” Bella said. “I’m looking forward to it, what they can do this year. I trust them completely.”
When Bella found out about his starting spot, he said he was eager to prove he could handle the responsibility.
“It is very cool,” Bella said. “I have been varsity for three years, and every year it is new and exciting. Having a new coach, he can change everything. We are all excited to see what we can do this year.”
POWER FOOTBALL
In his 16 years at Port Isabel, Stumbaugh only missed the playoffs twice. Part of what made his teams so good was his offensive system. The Pirates will employ a multiple I, according to Stumbaugh.
“It’s no secret what my offenses have done in the past,” Stumbaugh said. “We are going to control the ball and play good defense. But we know we can pass the ball too, when we need to. We will see what each game looks like, and we can adapt as needed.”
The biggest determining factor in the success of the system will be the offense’s ability to learn and utilize it, Stumbaugh said, and that process has gone well so far.
“They have been really receptive to learning,” Stumbaugh said. “They are doing what we tell them to do. It’s a different system, a different language. So their attitude has been really good so far. That part has been good.”
Stumbaugh brought in offensive coordinator Israel Gracia to help him implement his system. Gracia was an OC at La Villa last season but spent several years at Rio Hondo while Stumbaugh was at Port Isabel.
“We competed against each other, and I always thought he did a really good job,” Stumbaugh said. “We have been talking for several years. Fortunately, we were able to work it out here this year.”
WORKHORSE
One player who caught Stumbaugh’s eye right away was junior running back and linebacker Victor Alanis.
“He’s a player who the coaches told me about before we started,” Stumbaugh said. “Once we got out here and I got to see him, he did not disappoint.”
Alanis is a back who could see a lot of work in Stumbaugh’s run-heavy offense.
“The offense is very good,” Alanis said in Spanish. “We are going to be able to run the ball effectively and it should help a lot. We are learning the new plays and the system, but he is a good coach. We know him from his time at PI. So we know we can trust him to lead us.”
Bella has known Alanis for a long time, and that connection will help them share the backfield this season.
“I trust him, victor is very powerful,” Bella said. “He is dedicated and he goes all out on every play.”
“Marco is the best quarterback we have and we are going to be very good with him at quarterback,” Alanis added in Spanish. “We grew up together. We are good friends, and we have good communication.”
HIDALGO’S PROGNOSIS
New quarterback Marco Bella and new coach Monty Stumbaugh look to follow the map Stumbaugh made at Port Isabel to the treasure of a playoff run for the Pirates.
2016 record: 1-9
Returning starters O/D: 6/4
COACH’S TENURE
Coach: Monty Stumbaugh
Year at school: 1st
Record at school: 0-0