By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
The school year may be over, but Hanna’s college signings for graduating senior athletes are not.
Christopher Cardenas and Matthew Garcia, two top players from Hanna’s 7-4 playoff team of last fall, signed scholarship agreements Wednesday at the school auditorium to continue playing their sport at the next level.
Garcia, who was The Brownsville Herald’s All-Metro Football Defensive Player of the Year at free safety and a three-year starter for the Golden Eagles, signed with Central Methodist University, an NAIA school in Fayette, Missouri.
Cardenas, a speedy record-setting kickoff returner and two-year starter at wide receiver, signed with Vermilion Community College, a National Junior College Athletic Association school in Ely, Minnesota.
Mark Guess, Hanna’s athletic coordinator and head football coach, said both players have benefited from strong family support and have learned how to conduct themselves as athletes and students.
“These guys are true, true gentlemen on and off the field,” Guess said. “The way they carry themselves speaks a lot about how they were brought up.
“They’ve been a big part of the team during the two years that I’ve been here (as head coach),” Guess added. “It’s been fun to coach them and we’re going to miss them.”
Guess said each of the two players made an important impact on the team.
“Losing these two guys is certainly going to hurt us,” the Hanna coach said. “Chris, with his speed on offense, was a tremendous weapon. We could give him the ball on a ‘fly’ sweep or throw the ball downfield to him. Once he got the ball, he could make things happen. Also, he was always dangerous as a return guy. He just needed one block or one move and he could break one at any time.
“Then, of course, there was Matthew,” Guess added. “We used him on defense, offense and special teams. I think his presence is the biggest thing we’re going to miss. He was all over the field and led us in tackles two years in a row. I would say his presence in the secondary made the other guys on defense play better.”
The standout free safety finished the 2017 season with 104 tackles, including 19 for a loss. He had five sacks and made three interceptions. Two of Garcia’s pickoffs were returned for touchdowns. He also had a punt return for a TD.
Garcia said he has been thinking about signing to play football in college since seventh grade, so Wednesday was an eventful day in his life.
“I’ve been waking up and thinking I wanted to play college football, and now it’s come true,” he said. “I expect to help my new team win, obviously, but most of all, I’ll be getting my (college) education. I’ll fulfill my dreams that I had planned.”
Garcia said he plans to pursue a degree in criminal justice. Cardenas is undecided on his major at this point.
Cardenas grew up playing a variety of sports and really blossomed in football his final two years at Hanna after overcoming a knee injury as a sophomore. He also played basketball and ran track in high school and is a first degree black belt in Taekwondo and a state and national champion as a chess player.
Guess said he was told Cardenas’ 102-yard kickoff return against Weslaco East in the final game of the regular season last Nov. 10 is believed to be a Sams Memorial Stadium record. Cardenas scored 20 points for the Eagles in that game, but it was not enough to prevent East from capturing a 42-35 win as both teams went on to the playoffs.
“It was amazing playing for this (Hanna) team,” Cardenas said. “We knew we had a lot of talent and we knew we could make a name for ourselves. We showed it out on the field. It was a really great (2017) season and really exciting. Of course, I’m motivated (to play in college). A season like we had just makes you want to work twice as hard (in the future).
“This day (of signing) has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid,” Cardenas added. “My dad and I have always watched college football, and now that I’m signing, it’s a dream come true and it’s been my main goal since I was young.
“I’m excited about the chance to play in snow (in Minnesota).”
At the end of Wednesday’s event, Garcia shared some advice for all those who have high aspirations.
“For the ones out there dreaming, if you put your mind to it, you can do anything you want,” Garcia said.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess