2016 District 29-6A High School Pigskin Preview Eagle picked 7th in 29-6A By: Conrado Perez, Jr. – Eagle Pass Sports Central “Your best and only sour
2016 District 29-6A
High School Pigskin Preview
Eagle picked 7th in 29-6A
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 29-6A was restructured this past February with the announcement of the new UIL Realignment which will bring new challenges as well as one former foe from the 1960’s to the gridiron battles with the Del Rio Rams, Laredo Alexander Bulldogs, Laredo LBJ Wolves, Laredo United Longhorns, Laredo United South Panthers, Southwest Dragons, South San Bobcats and Eagle Pass Eagles looking forward to battling against each other this season for the District 29-6A football title in a season that promises to be highly competitive and exciting. According to the pre-season football prognosticators the Eagle Pass Eagles are picked to finish seventh 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 Eagle Pass Eagles entertaining their longtime nemesis the Del Rio Rams, Laredo United Longhorns hosting the Laredo Alexander Bulldogs, Laredo United South Panthers entertaining the Laredo LBJ Wolves and the South San Bobcats hosting the Southwest Dragons in what is termed as Rivalry Week.
Although the season has not officially kicked off 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 Eagle Pass Eagles 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 Eagles. GO EAGLES!
Eagle Pass Sports Central sports editor and local sports historian Conrado Perez, Jr. will be celebrating his 33rd 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 Eagle Pass Eagles 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 Eagle Pass Eagles in their quest for the District 29-6A football crown.
DISTRICT 29-6A TEAM PREVIEW
DEL RIO RAMS – Coach Frenchy McCrea has 6 offensive and 6 defensive starters back from a regional finalist squad that finished with an overall season record of 9-4. Offensively the rams will feature a predominately new backfield with Greg Torres expected to handle the signal calling duties and Azell Dimery handling the running back duties in the Rams; ground attack. The Rams aerial attack will feature stellar wide receiver Gaston Flores who hauled in 78 receptions for 1200 yards and 12 TD pass receptions last season. Fellow wide receiver Albert Vasquez and tight end Shane Creamer are also expected to contribute heavily to the Rams passing game. Abe Hernandez will be the mainstay in the offensive line.
On the defensive side of the ball year in and year out the Rams defense has perennially produced several of the premier hard hitting linebackers most recently in the likes of Cesar Escajeda, Marcus Braswell, Rick Rivera and Cory James who was just selected in the sixth round by the Oakland Raiders this year will be no exception with the likes of Manny Arguijo and Anthony Hurley. The defensive front line will have Joshua Garza and Jaime Rico battling in the trenches with the energetic Jacob Keaton being the leader of the Rams secondary unit. Del Rio is predicted to finish third in the district race in 2016 but it certainly would not be a surprise if they finish higher than that. Last Year’s Result: Del Rio 28 Eagle Pass 8
LAREDO ALEXANDER BULLDOGS – Bulldogs head coach Joel Lopez returns 8 offensive and 3 defensive starters from an area finalist squad that finished with an overall record of 5-7. Spearheading the Bulldogs offense will be stellar quarterback Ezekiel Crozz who had over 3000 yards passing with 29 TD passes last year. Jesus Guzman is expected to be their featured running back with wide receivers Beto Galvan and Peter Brewster entrusted to be the targets in the passing attack. Juan Carlos Vidales will handle the place kicking duties.
Defensive back Austin Allen, Defensive lineman Omar Galan and linebacker Mauricio Vasquez will be the mainstays of the depleted Bulldogs defensive unit. Bulldogs are picked to come in fourth in the district race. Last Year’s Result: Laredo Alexander 58 Eagle Pass 28
LAREDO LBJ WOLVES – Veteran Wolves head football coach Oscar “Oki” Villasenor returns the services of 5 offensive and 3 defensive starters from a squad that culminated last season with an overall season record of 7-3. Offensively the Wolves will be quite thin in the skills positions but will have a standout pair of offensive linemen in Juan Vieyra and Albert Herrera. The running back duties could be handled by Dominic Rodriguez and Ricky Galvan with Danny Uribe filling in the tight end slot.
The Wolves well known aggressive unit will feature standout Julian Gonzalez and Enrique Ramirez manning the defensive end positions. Linebackers Leo Benavidez and Raul Lira will handle the linebacker slots and Sergio Guel patrolling in the secondary. The Wolves are pegged to finish sixth in the district race but rest assure the wise old veteran Oki Villasenor will somehow manage to have the Wolves fighting for a possible playoff berth. Last Year’s Result: Laredo LBJ 55 Eagle Pass 13
LAREDO UNITED LONGHORNS – Head Coach David Sanchez will have the services of 7 offensive and 7 defensive starters back from a regional semifinalist team that culminated with an overall season record of 10-3. The famed Longhorns prolific aerial show is simply one of the premier passing attacks in the entire country who can lineup and play against anybody and manage to light up the scoreboard with big numbers. This season te Longhorns will have to decide who will be entrusted with the starting signal calling duties between David Sanchez II who also happens to be their main threat in their passing game with 78 receptions for nearly 1300 yards and 25 TD’s last year or young talented Kevin Esparza who also has seen duty as a wide receiver. Jordi Lopez, Carlos Sepulveda, Max Villareal and Denilson Hinojosa will fortify their all important offensive line. Chris Salinas and Daniel Ruiz will see plenty of action as wide receivers.
The stingy Longhorns defense will once again be quite a force to be reckoned with in 2016 with Benny Casarez anchoring the front line and a solid secondary unit of Chris ine, J.J. Morales, J.J. Salas and standout Michael Castillo manning the defensive secondary for the Longhorns. The Longhorns are the consensus preseason favorites to capture the District 29-6A football title this season. Last Year’s Result: Laredo United 49 Eagle Pass 7
LAREDO UNITED SOUTH PANTHERS – Panthers head football coach Sergio Salinas wil have 5 offensive and 7 defensive starters back from a bi-district finalist squad that finished with an overall record of 6-5. The ever improving Panthers will have Israel Castillo handing the quarterback duties this coming season and District Co-MVP Jesus Posada taking care of the running back duties. Isaac De La Fuente will be the prime target in their passing game along with fellow wide receivers Juan Castro and Edgardo Hernandez. Marco Briones will lineup at fullback. Gustavo Rodriguez will be th leader of the offensive line.
On defense the Panthers will feature hardnosed linebackers Allan Martinez and Robert Sandoval. Hector Ferrayro anchors the defensive line and Marck Reyna, Lorenzo Soliz patrol the secondary. The Panthers have been picked to finish second in the district race but with a little luck cold stun the experts and take the title. Last Year’s Result: United South 41 Eagle Pass 6
SOUTHWEST DRAGONS – Head Coach Matt Elliot returns 4 offensive and 7 defensive starters from a bi-district finalist team that finished with an overall season record of 4-7. Running backs John Blaz and John Garcia will carry the mail with tight end Symon Alvarez and Roger Lara expected to be the leaders in the offensive line.
On defense the Dragons linebackers Bostin Crisp and John Garcia along with defensive end Robert Fuentes will be the leaders. The Dragons are picked to finish fifth in the district race. Last Year’s Result: Southwest 28 Eagle Pass 21 (Overtime)
SOUTH SAN BOBCATS – Coach Robert Kretz inherits a squad that finished with an overall season record of 2-9 and will find themselves in a rebuilding year. Quarterback Isaiah Gutierrez, rung back James Valencia and wide receiver Darius Prescott will lead the Bobcats offense.
Defensively the Bobcats will suit up an entirely new group. The Bobcats have been picked to finish eighth in the newly realigned 8 team district. Last year’s Result: Did not play each other.
EAGLE PASS EAGLES – Head Coach Tom Gonzalez returns the services of 9 offensive starters and 8 defensive starters and is looking for a turnaround year after the Eagles finished with an overall season record of 1-9 last season. Offensively the Eagles will feature the speedster Mark Venegas at tailback slot who rushed for 1200 yards last year with 8 rushing touchdowns. At Quarterback Ricky Medina takes over the reins of the spread offensive attack. The Eagles passing game will feature very capable receivers in Ricky Reyes Jose Riojas and prospect Isaac Perales. But the bread and butter for the Eagles offense should be their experienced offensive line featuring center Cody Esquivel, standout tackle Jovan Garza, Adrian Rodriguez and Isaac Castillo.
Defensively the Eagles return a solid corps of experienced players starting in the all important defensive line where the Eagles will feature a pair of talented pass rushing defensive ends in Kaleb Garcia and Angel Miranda along with fellow veteran defensive lineman Jesus Fernandez. Manning the linebacker slots will be Brandon Garza and David Ramos. Kevin Garcia is expected to be the leader of the secondary unit who for the most part will be relatively young/
Season Opening matchups:
Thursday, August 25, 2016:
SOUTH SAN @ McCOLLUM 7:00
SAN BENITO @ LAREDO UNITED 7:00
Friday, August 26, 2016:
MEDINA VALLEY @ EAGLE PASS 7:30
LAREDO ALEXANDER @ ALICE 7:30
JOHN MARSHALL @ LAREDO LBJ 7:30
UNITED SOUTH @ S.A. WAGNER 7:00
VICTORIA WEST @ SOUTHWEST 7:30
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