RE-PETE

The cohesiveness and chemistry at La feria was better than any two-a-days I have been to. The Lions seem to thrive on their unity and will need it when district starts.

La Feria is a good team but plays in a tough District 32-3A with the two monsters that are Rio Hondo and Port Isabel. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Lions are able to knock off one of those teams.

The seniors on the team have been playing together since the seventh grade, so they know each other well and talk about ending their high school career with a bang.

It shouldn’t be too difficult for coach Alex Leal to pick up his 200th career victory withm the team he has. The Valley’s all-time winningest coach, who has had stops at Harlingen South, McAllen High, Port Isabel and a previous stint at Raymondville in the 1970s has rebuilt the Bearkats program.

Leal, who is only two wins away from 200, likes to say that his accomplishments come from being around high school football for so long, but he has to get credit for finding the best out of his players.

This season’s Raymondville squad lacks the strength and size but are still the favorites to win District 31-3A because Leal will utilize his team’s speed and athleticism to pile up the Bearkats’ victories in ‘07.

Ont the night Leal reaches 200, he will not want his milestone to overshadow his team’s perfotmance but it will be difficult to overlook his legendary career.

This morning I attended Hidalgo football practice and Pirates coach said Rio Hondo has the biggest and most athletic players in the district. I would have to agree.

The Bobcats may have lost a few players from last year but they just reloaded. Good news for Bobcats fans is that QB Jospeh Vela and RB Jacob Martinez are only juniors so they will be back for one more season. With all this talent at Rio Hondo comes expecations.

The history-making seasons RH has had the last two years have only fueled those expectations. Rio Hondo will be tough again this season. RH’s November metting with PI should determine the distirict championship.

No matter who the QB is this season, he is going to be young. The only two with any experience taking snaps are sophomore Johnny Esparza and junior Kevin Thomas. Expect some growing pains with a young leader running a no-huddle, spread offense.

The offense will come around and produce similar numbers to last season when Lyford led Distirct 31-3A in total offense.

On the defensive side of the ball, coach Jaime Infante said he is excited about his defense. I think the defensive line could be a force. Don’t be surprised if the defense is better than the offense this season.

Look for the Bulldogs to make the playoffs again this season.

A new coach and new offense should do nothing to dampen the recent success of the La Villa Cardinals.

First-year LV coach Eugenio Garza has a full grasp of the program and situated the offense to utilize his threats in QB J.D. Cisneros and WR Rocky Rodriguez.

Expect the Cardinals to pass more with the spread offense. LV might not get the rushing yardage it had a season ago but Graza is confident FB Roseman Romero will be potent in the rush.

Defensively, the Cardinals will miss all-district defensive ends Mark Bernal and Johnny Joe Reyna but will have speed and shouldn’t miss too much of a beat in the 4-3 defense Garza is implementing.

Barring injury, there is no reason LV shouldn’t win district for a second straight season. The Cardinals’ will be tested in Game 1 on Aug. 31 at home against Taft but expect another stellar season from LV.