2016 District 29-5A Football Preview

2016 District 29-5A

High School Pigskin Preview

Mavericks picked 3^rd in 29-5A

By: Conrado Perez, Jr. – Eagle Pass Sports Central

“Your best and only source for local sports news in Eagle Pass”

The much anticipated opening kickoff to the 2016 Texas High School football season is just around the corner.  Teams in all classifications around the great State of Texas have commenced their respective inaugural workouts in preparation for the new upcoming season with each team having hopes of winning the district championship and or earning a post season berth.

The competitive District 29-5A was restructured this past February with the announcement of the new UIL Realignment which will bring new challenges with the Floresville Tigers, Harlandale Indians, McCollum Cowboys, Southside Cardinals, Uvalde Coyotes and C.C. Winn Mavericks looking forward to battling against each other this season for the District 29-5A football title in a season that promises to be highly competitive and exciting.  According to the pre-season football prognosticators the C.C. Winn Mavericks are picked to finish third in the district gridiron race in 2016.

Every team in this district is quite capable of knocking off each other on any given Friday night.  The race for the district title could very well be decided until the final week of the season with the Southside Cardinals hosting the Floresville Tigers, the McCollum Cowboys entertaining the Harlandale Indians in their longtime traditional famed Frontier Bowl and the C.C. Winn Mavericks hosting the Uvalde Coyotes in what is termed as Rivalry Week.

Although the season has not officially kicked of yet the abundant local Saturday morning coffee shop quarterback clubs as well as the all knowing and ever growing “Club de Las Viboras” are already in mid-season form with their so called expert opinions as to what the C.C. Winn Mavericks will need to do offensively and defensively and who should be starting this season.

But no matter what all present and former coaches as well as those few fortunate who have actually played the game of high school football and have experienced both the thrill of victory and agony of defeat having shed blood, sweat and tears on the hallowed gridiron turf know firsthand is that the games will never be won in the coffee shops, the bleachers and most certainly not the post game arm chair quarterback clubs, nor on paper so come out on Friday Nights to witness the thrilling action first hand and support the mighty Mavericks. GO MAVERICKS!

The 2016 C.C. Winn Mavericks will give their loyal Mavericks Nation a preview of coming attractions with two scheduled scrimmages the first of which will be held on Friday, August 12, 2016 when Mavericks journey to Laredo, Texas to tangle with the Laredo Nixon Mustangs in a 7:00 PM scrimmage followed by another scrimmage on Thursday, August 18, 2016 against the Laredo United South Panthers at 7:00 P at the United ISD Student Activity Center.  The proud Mavericks will then kickoff their season on Friday, August 26, 2916 with a road trip to Crystal City, Texas to square off against the Crystal City Javlinas in a 7:00 PM season opening non-district gridiron encounter.

Eagle Pass Sports Central sports editor and local sports historian Conrado Perez, Jr. will be celebrating his 33^rd year this upcoming season of covering local high school sports in Eagle Pass, Texas and as a special correspondent to the San Antonio Express-News brining you the only complete game report as well as the only complete game and individual stats for the C.C. Winn Mavericks varsity football team. Eagle Pass Sports Central invites the entire community of Eagle Pass, Texas as well as the surrounding area to come out and support the mighty C.C. Winn Mavericks in their quest for the District 29-5A football crown.

DISTRICT 29-5A TEAM PREVIEW

FLORESVILLE TIGERS – New Head Coach Andrew Rohrs takes over the reins of the Tigers program after a highly successful stint as an assistant coach at San Antonio Reagan High School.  Coach Rohrs will have the services of 4 offensive and 4 defensive starters back from a squad that finished with an overall season record of 2-8. Offensively the Tigers will feature quarterback Brent Moy and a pair of wide receivers in Colton Pane and Luke Pierce with Jacob Thomas anchoring the offensive line and Francisco Lozano handling the place kicking duties.

The Tigers are expected to live and die by the success of the defensive unit featuring defensive linemen George Lockamy and T.J. Gunter along with linebackers Stephen Sanchez and Davis Goans with Colton Payne patrolling the secondary.  The Tigers are predicted to finish fifth in the district race.  Last Year’s Result: Did Not Play each other.

HARLANDALE INDIANS – Veteran head football coach Isaac Martinez starting his 30^th year at the helm of the Indians program returns the services of 5 offensive and 4 defensive starters back from a bi-district finalist that culminated last season with an overall record of 6-5.

Offensively the Indians will be spearheaded by running back Christian Villarreal the team leading rusher with 691 yards last season running behind standout offensive lineman Danny Garza (6’ 3”, 250 lbs.) The Indians main concern will be to a find a starting quarterback to able to get the ball to a pair of solid receivers in Shawn Tober and Rene Palomino along with tight end Jesse Sandoval.

Defensively the Indians will showcase a pair of experienced linebackers in Christopher Laque and Robert Palomino who each recorded nearly 70 tackles apiece.  The Indians are pegged to come in second in the district race this season. Last Year’s Result: Did not play each other.

McCOLLUM COWBOYS – Head Coach Greg Felux returns the services of 5 offensive and six defensive starters back from a bi-district finalist squad that had a district record of 5-3.  Offensively the Cowboys will be led by quarterback Jordan Ortega who had nearly 1300 yards passing and 10 TD passes to go along with 1200 yards rushing and 10 rushing TD’s last year.  Joining him in the backfield will be running back Jonathan Hardy and wide receiver Joseph Casares being the favorite target I the Cowboys passing scheme. Jesse Rebolloso will fortify the offensive line for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys will be known for their defensive unit this coming season with Sean Salinas and Rudy Anthony anchoring the D-Line and supported by linebackers Chris Oviedo and Daniel Alcorta.  The Cowboys secondary will showcase Demarques Brannon, and Steven Retana.  Cowboys are picked to finish sixth I the district race.  Last Year’s Result: Did not play each other.

SOUTHSIDE CARDINALS – Coach Ricky Lock returns the services of 7 offensive and 9 defensive starters back from a squad that finished with an overall season record of 3-7. Offensively the Cardinals will certainly feature one of the top running backs in South Texas I the likes of standout Matthew Collier who rushed for 1800 yards last season and tallied a whopping 23 rushing TD’s. Joining him in the backfield will be quarterback John Herrera and fullback Derrion Sendejo. Erik Luna will be featured wide receiver in their passing game.

Defensively the Cardinals will count o defensive tackle Mario Aranda and Brandon Sandoval with linebackers Andre Martin and Derrion Sendejo bolstering the defensive line. Chris Garcia and Angel Garza will man the secondary.  The Cardinals are predicted to come in fifth in the district race this year.  Last Year’s Result: C.C. Winn 27 Southside 16

UVALDE COYOTES – Coyotes head football coach Gary Griffin will have 3 offensive and 7 defensive starters back from a bi-district finalist squad that finished the season with an overall season record of 6-5.  Offensively the Coyotes will have Michael Mata or Domingo Davila handling the signal calling duties this year with Chris Castillo and Diego Castillo seeing plenty of duty at the running back position.  Christian Chapoy and Jose Martinez will be the two experienced players on the all important offensive line with Xavier Vasquez, Manuel De La Garza and Daniel Mendoza handling the wide receiver duties for the Coyotes.

On defense the Coyotes perennially year in and year out feature a very aggressive unit and this year should be no exception with Matthew Williams and Ryan Ortiz anchoring the D-Line and supported by a trio of quick footed hard tackling linebackers in Jose Martinez, Diego Castillo and Leo Rodriguez. Manuel De La Garza, Daniel Mendoza, and Efrain Gutierrez will patrol the secondary.  The Coyotes are the consensus pre-season favorite to capture the 2016 District 29-5A football title this year.  Last Year’s Result: Uvalde 42 C.C. Winn 14.

C.C. WINN MAVERICKS Coach Eric Villasenor will enjoy the luxury of having services of 8 offensive and 8 defensive starters returning from last year’s squad that culminated the season with an overall season record of 4-6.  The Pride of Southern Maverick County supported by the famed Maverick Nation will try a better last year’s record setting rushing game with the likes of Daniel Rios, Gustavo Cabrera and Fernando Zapata battling to take over the featured running back slot in the Mavericks running game.  Wide Receivers Julio C. Ruiz and Mariano Hernandez along with veteran tight end Jose Rodriguez should play a vital role in the Mavericks passing attack while Luz Garcia. Jaime Fuentes and Mario Elizondo will fortify the all important offensive line.

On the defensive side of the ball the perennially famed aggressive and quick swarming Mavericks defense will feature safety Rene Auces the District 29-5A defensive Newcomer o the year that registered 4 interceptions and is predicted to be the 2016 Defensive MVP this coming season.  Defensive tackles Carlos Tijerina and Enrique Garza are solid and excellent pass rushers.  The Mavericks will showcase a pair of stellar linebackers in Albert Duran and Ernesto Villasenor with Alex De Jesus contributing in the secondary. The Mavericks are predicted to come in third in the district race but do not be surprised if the district championship is not decided until the final game of the regular season when the Mavericks host the Uvalde Coyotes which should produce a real hardnosed barn burner with a standing room only crowd expected to attend and witness this much anticipated high school gridiron battle.

Season Opening matchups:

Thursday, August 25, 2016:

SOUTH SAN @ McCOLLUM 7:00

Friday, August 26, 2016:

C.C. WINN @ CRYSTAL CITY 7:30

S.A. MEMORIAL @ SOUTHSIDE 7:30

LUBBOCK MONTEREY @ UVALDE 7:30

Saturday, August 27, 2016:

FLORESVILLE @ S.A. HIGHLANDS 7:30