BROWNSVILLE VETERANS
MEMORIAL CHARGERS
ENROLLMENT: 2,238.5 ( 7)
2013 RECORD: 5-5
THE COACH: David Cantu
THE PLAYERS: Derrik Rodriguez (Sr., ATH), Cristian Vargas
(Sr., LB), Gage Rivas (Sr., OL), Marcus Castillo (Jr., QB), Joe
Ibarra (Jr., LB), Morgan Borland (Sr., LB), Mario Gomez (Sr.,
OL), Victor Aguilar (Jr., DB), Jesus Guzman (Sr., DL), Kevin
Fischer (Jr., ATH), Fred Villarreal (Jr., ATH), Alfonso Vela (Jr.,
WR), Jorge Montelongo (Jr., OL), Bryan Lawrence (Sr., OL),
Felipe Flores (Sr., CB), Rey Garza (Jr., WR)
THE WORD: For the past two seasons, the Chargers have played
at the 5A level, qualifying for the playoffs in their inaugural
season and narrowly missing it last year, once tiebreakers were
factored in, despite graduating a large chunk of their roster.
Now, they’re not only primed to make another run for the post-season — this time in 6A — but also garner one of the top spots
in district. They will do it by drawing inspiration from Nathan
Garcia, who was diagnosed with Leukemia late last year. The
5-foot- 3, 140-pound junior LB played on JV last season. The
Chargers are dedicating the season to him while he undergoes
treatment in a Houston hospital. “I’m going to keep reminding
the kids how he played the game in regards to being unselfish
and being a team player and having fun out there,” Brownsville
Veterans coach David Cantu said. “He always had a lot of fun
out there, and that’s what we’re going to focus on doing. Doing
it and doing it the right way. The way he did.” Leading the way
this season will be the team’s primary offensive threats from
last year in RB Derrik Rodriguez, who also filled in as a backup
QB, and Marcus Castillo, who returns once again as a signal
caller. Cantu’s run-first offense has produced some of the district’s top ground threats and this combination is no exception.
Rodriguez rushed for nine TDs and more than 1,000 yards last
season. Castillo, a dual threat, totaled more than 600 rushing
yards and 950 throwing, despite sitting out more than a game
and a half due to injury, while earning recognition as one of the
more promising players in district. Veterans has quickly established itself as on of the top programs in the city of Brownsville
and now they have their eyes set on becoming among the elites
in all of the Valley.
LOS FRESNOS FALCONS
ENROLLMENT: 3,016 ( 1)
2013 RECORD: 8-4 5A Div. I Area Finalist
THE COACH: Clint Finley
THE PLAYERS: Eli Cruz (Sr., ATH), Michael Mendez (Sr., OL),
J.C. Garcia (Sr., DL), Jordan Rojas (Sr., OL), Fabian Rodriguez
(Jr., DB), Alex Simien (Jr., OL), Chris Cancino (Sr., DL), Isaac
Moreno (Jr., RB), Pierce Ruiz (Sr., QB), Carlos Galvan (Sr., OL),
Jake Sales (Sr., TE), Azul Barrientos (Sr., WR)
THE WORD: The Falcons are coming off their first area-round appearance under coach Clint Finley — this with only six returners
from the previous year. Now in his fifth year, Finely welcomes
back more players, including Eli Cruz, the district’s newcomer
of the year. Again, the Falcons will have to search for another
starting QB, after graduating Javier Cruz (no relation), the district’s MVP. So far, there’s no front runner for the opening, so
expect a lot of competition for the job during the spring. But if
last year proved anything, it’s that Los Fresnos, one of the more
populated schools in the Rio Grande Valley, can develop talent.
Michael Mendez, a 6-foot- 5, 285-pound outside guard clocks
in at 4. 9 seconds in the 40 and is drawing some FBS interest.
His efforts along with the rest of the offensive line will be key
in the Falcons’ quest for another postseason berth. Junior free
safety Fabian Rodriguez might also be counted on to step in for
the graduating Nick Alegria, one of the better two-way players
in district. The Falcons will also look to fill the gap left by Brandon Colon, a 6-foot- 5 WR who committed to Navy.
HARLINGEN SOUTH HAWKS
ENROLLMENT: 2,302 ( 5)
2013 RECORD: 10-2 5A Div. II Area Finalist
THE COACH: Lanny Wilson
THE PLAYERS: Jimmy Morton (Jr., QB), James Carpio (Sr., DB),
Steven Rodriguez (So., LB), Alec Garza (Jr., WR), James Martinez (Sr., OL), Jared Sheneman (Sr., RB), Daniel Rivera (Sr.,
LB), Justin Alvarado (Sr. OL), Abram Gutierrez (Sr., LB), Bobby
Castro (Sr., WR), Johnathon Gutierrez (Jr., K)
THE WORD: The Hawks were undefeated last season until
their annual “Bird Bowl” game against the Harlingen High
Cardinals. Still, the Hawks advanced to the second round of
the postseason, in part due to their defense efforts all year.
Trying to soar to similar heights this season could prove challenging, with only two starters returning on each side of the
ball. Coach Lanny Wilson graduated his top threats. The team
also lost Jaedon Taylor, the district’s top rusher last year. The
senior-to-be transferred to rival Harlingen High at the end of
last season, though he was ruled ineligible to play after the
UIL determined the move was for athletic purposes. He has
since moved out of state. Replacing Taylor’s production will be
vital to the Hawks maintaining their recent string of success.
Jimmy Morton, a 6-foot- 4, 200-pound junior who is coming off
a broken foot injury, is a strong candidate to start at QB. James
Carpio, a starting defensive back, returns after having totaled
84 tackles, one INT, four fumble recovering and one sack. The
potential rebuilding projects falls into the hands of Wilson, who
owns a 19-5 record in t wo seasons at the helm.
BROWNSVILLE RIVERA RAIDERS
ENROLLMENT: 2,278 ( 6)
2013 RECORD: 5-7 5A Div. II Area Finalist
THE COACH: Tom Chavez
THE PLAYERS: Danny Elizondo (Sr., QB), Edward Rubio (Sr.,
TE), Jair Guevara (Sr., RB), Chris Godoy (Sr., LB), Angel Es-
pinoza (Sr., LB), Edward Vasquez (SR., DB), Chelin Martinez
(Sr., K), Christian Martinez (Sr., LB), Mario Mendez (Sr., RB),
John Azanon (Sr., OL)
THE WORD: The Raiders look to build on the momentum
they established late last season, when they bounced back
from an 0-4 start to win five of seven games en route to a
playoff berth and opening-round upset win over District 31-
5A champion McAllen High. They’ll be tasked, however, with
replacing the second-leading rusher in District 32-5A last
season in Jacquil Evans. The elusive back totaled more than
1,000 rushing yards and was a primary reason why the Raiders advanced to the Class 5A area round. They’ll also look to
fill in gaps on the offensive line and at wide receiver. Danny
Elizondo, who has experience as a starting QB, returns,
along with fellow letterman, tight end Edward Rubio, who
hauled in five TDs and more than 600 receiving yards last
season. They’ll look to pick up the pieces from last season,
when they qualified for the postseason for the first time in
more than a decade, in what was coach Tom Chavez’s return
to the Rivera sideline. For that, they’ll turn to an experienced
secondary and linebackers.
SAN BENITO GREYHOUNDS
ENROLLMENT: 2,854 ( 3)
2013 RECORD: 3-7
THE COACH: Daniel Gomez
THE PLAYERS: Christian Sierra (Sr., RB), Javier Ortiz (Sr.,
ATH), Gabriel Vazquez (Sr., RB/DB), Victor Gaitan (Sr., ATH),
Armando Medrano (Jr., WR), Pedro Coronado (Sr., DL), Chris
Padilla (Sr., DL), Alvaro Vargas (Jr., DB), Leo Garza (Jr., LB),
Joseph Partida (Jr., OL)
THE WORD: Former Lytle HC Dan Gomez comes to the Valley
looking to get the Greyhounds going after a subpar 2013. Prior
to last year San Benito had posted winning seasons in eight
of the past nine years, and the Greyhounds made the playoffs
every year from 2004 to 2011. There’s some talent back on
the offensive side of the ball, but the big challenge will be settling on a signal caller. Returning at the skill spots is dynamic
RB Vazquez who is a two way all-district player, he’s joined in
the backfield by blocking back Sierra and versatile Ortiz and
Gaitan who both can play RB or WR. Medrano had a strong
sophomore season and is the top target out wide for SBHS.
The Greyhounds should be solid along the defensive line with
Coronado and Padilla returning after earning all-district honors
a year ago. The linebackers and secondary will be young and
their progress will be key in determining if San Benito can get
back into the playoff race. The new district alignment sends
San Benito east where traditionally they’ve had more success,
so a playoff spot is not out of the question.
BROWNSVILLE HANNA GOLDEN
EAGLES
ENROLLMENT: 2,742 ( 4)
2013 RECORD: 4-5
THE COACH: Rene Medrano
THE PLAYERS: Andy Lopez (Jr., QB), Lucas Olivares (Sr., WR/
QB), Brandon Barreda (Sr., RB), Javier Ochoa (Sr., DB), Omar
Leal (Sr., G), Armando Izaguirre (Jr., DB), Fernando Mendez
(Sr., RB), Freddy Mercado (Sr., DB), Jorge Flores (Sr., DB),
Javier Ochoa (Sr., DB)
THE WORD: Some uncertainty surrounds the Golden Eagles,
which missed out on an opportunity clinch a playoff berth
outright. Instead, by losing their regular-season finale, fourth
and final playoff spot in 32-5A was decided by tiebreaker, leaving the Eagles out of the mix. Coach Rene Medrano returns
for his third year, presumably with a better idea of who might
start at quarterback. After a three-way battle for the starting
job, Andy Lopez earned signal-calling duties. The junior returns
with a full year under his belt, after the Eagles showed promise
by opening district with three consecutive wins. Hanna was
a middle-of-the-pack offensive team last year and a below-average defensive squad, though the returning pieces should
help elevate their play. Lucas Olivares offers Lopez a reliable
scoring target. Brandon Barreda, who split the carrying load
with the graduating Travis Griener, could inherit an expanded
role this season. Though the district is competitive with the
departure of Brownsville Pace and Brownsville Porter, Hanna
could struggle to vie for one of the four postseason tickets, with
San Benito joining the mix.
BROWNSVILLE LOPEZ LOBOS
ENROLLMENT: 2, 112. 5 ( 8)
2013 RECORD: 4-6
THE COACH: Jason Starkey
THE PLAYERS: Michael Vasquez (Sr., QB), Saul Mendoza
(Jr., DB), Richard Flores (Sr., OL), Nicholas De La Garza (Sr.,
LB), Bogar Garza (Sr., RB), Darren Gonzalez (Jr., WR), Julio
Jimenez (So., WR), Edgar Amaro (Jr., TE)
THE WORD: After a relatively promising start, winning both
its non-district games, the Lobos hit a slump, finishing 2-6
in district amid an injury to starting quarterback Michael
Vasquez. The signal caller, however, is back for senior
year, hoping to harness the offensive explosion the excited
fans going into district. Second-year coach Jason Starkey
returns key pieces, but by and large it will graduate nearly
35 seniors and bring up nine juniors for their senior season.
Playmaker Horacio Salinas graduates, creating an opening
for any number of promising players. Darren Gonzalez, a
first-year football player coming from the basketball team,
carries promise. The 6-foot- 4 junior possesses the tools
to be a natural fit at wide receiver and a primary target for
Vasquez, a dual threat QB. Junior cornerback Saul Mendoza
returns in what will likely be his third year starting. Richard
Flores, a senior tackle, will also start for a third time. He’s an
anchor on the offensive line, with the ability to play at guard.
Flexibility will be the key for this story, as the Lobos look to
find the right combination for the upcoming season
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