KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — Junior quarterback David Torres has accomplished something that hadn’t been done since 2013 and that’s lead the Hawks to the playoffs.
The last QB to lead South into the postseason was Sean Montemayor. Since then the Hawks have been absent from post season contention.
“It is exciting to be in the playoffs,” Torres said. “Not many teams get this opportunity to play an extra week. I feel like I have grown since last year and I’m confident in myself, in my coaches and in my team, we have all put in the work and we are ready.”
Heading into his sophomore season, Torres was listed as the backup QB to senior Dylan Carreon.
South was off to a 1-2 start and the offense needed a jolt heading into their match up against Harlingen.
The bye week came and that is when Torres got the news he was going to be the starting QB for the Hawks.
“I was shocked, I hadn’t played in the preseason games and the coaches told me I would be the starter, my stomach dropped and everything, I just knew I had to step up and prepare.”
While the Hawks lost their next seven games, the progress and development of Torres was showing each week. Each game Torres gained confidence and a stronger grasp of the play book.
“What (David) does well is he watches film more than anyone I have seen,” said Hawks coach Brian Ricci. “He is a true student of the game. He loves learning and watching defenses and studying them on what they are trying to do and he is a leader, he is the first one here and the last one out and I think the kids feed off of that.”
As a junior, Torres entered as the starting QB and has shown the growth and has become one of the top dual threat QB’s in the district.
“It gives me confidence and we all worked together over the offseason,” Torres said. “I feel secure and it gives me that extra push to get better.”
Torres who has now started 17 career games will make his playoff debut on Friday. Torres and company will have an opportunity to take on the top ranked Edinburg Vela Sabercats in Edinburg at 7:30 p.m.