(Brownsville, Texas)-Football Friday nights are back at Sams Stadium! “We are excited and ready for 2021,” says Brownsville ISD Athletic Director, Gilbert Leal. “It’s going to be fun.” Six teams from Brownsville ISD will be competing for playoffs spots in Class 5A and Class 6A. Here are the 2021 HSSM Football Previews for all six schools.
District 32-6A
Brownsville Hanna-Head coach Mark Guess
(Brownsville, Texas)-The excitement of winning a District 32-6A Zone title in 2020 puts the Brownsville Hanna High School Eagles as the team to watch with seven returning starters on offense. Head coach Mark Guess led his Eagles from a dismal 3-7 record in 2019 to a 4-1 season. “It was challenging for our football program but we managed to follow COVID19 guidelines to remain healthy throughout the year,” says Guess.
The No.8 Eagles will open their season against No.3 Mercedes at Sams Stadium in Brownsville on August 27th. This will be a great showdown for both teams, especially for Hanna. A win for the Eagles could send a strong message to their 32-6A foes. The Eagles will play host to Sharyland on September 4th at 11:00 a.m.
Players to watch on offense this season are OL Santos Avalos, OL John Avila, OL German Woo, TE Gilbert Morales, and RB Kriz Pena. He amassed 353 yards rushing last season. Defensive players to watch are DL Humberto Garcia, and returning 6A All-State honorable mentioned, DB Anthony Ambriz. Garcia had 54 tackles in five games last year.
Brownsville Rivera Raiders-Head Coach Alberto Leal
(Brownsville, Texas)- In 2019, first-year head coach Alberto Leal led the Brownsville Rivera HS Raiders to a 2-8 record and it only got worst in 2020 as they finished 1-3 in the shorted COVID19 season.
The 32-6A Rivera Raiders will be much improved in 2021 with seven starters back on offense and eight on defense. “We will be much improved,” says Leal. “I’m excited to kickoff this season.”
Players to watch on are
Arnold Rodarte, a 6’3 260lbs OL/DL linemen along with QB Ramsey Rocha. Other players are LB Jose Hernandez, OL Jesus Hernandez, OL Abraham Lozano, DL Juan Cuello, RB JR Hernandez, DL Damian Rubalcava, and OL Xavier Rivas.
District 16-5A Division II
Brownsville Porter-Head Coach Carlos Uresti
(Brownsville, Tx)-For the past two seasons, the Brownsville Porter Cowboys finished 3-3, 5-5 under head coach Carlos Uresti. “I am pleased with our team and I’m ready to kickoff the season,” says Uresti.
The Cowboys will open their season on a Thursday night at home against Grulla HS on August 26th at Sams Stadium and will then start District 16-5A Division I against Brownsville Veterans (9/2), Brownsville Pace (9/10), and travel to play Weslaco East on September 17th. “We just need to take one game at a time,” says Uresti. “It’s a long season in district play.” The Cowboys showed plenty of promise this summer in the 7-on-7 leagues and Uresti is excited with his team’s potential. Players to watch are returning senior DE Arath De La Torre, DB Isai Hernandez, DL Sam Moreno.
On offense, Stevens showed plenty of promise with WR Gunnar Williams, WR Brock Williams, and WR Adolfo Gonzalez this past summer in league play.
Brownsville Veterans Memorial HS-Head Coach Kelley Lee
(Brownsville, Texas)-After missing the playoffs in 2020, the Brownsville Veterans Memorial High School Chargers will begin their chase for the District 16-5A DI title in 2021 under new head coach, Kelley Lee. He comes to the Rio Grande Valley from the NCAA DII Lone Star Conference as the previous head football coach at Eastern New Mexico. He finished his four-year coaching career with an impressive 21-12 record.
The Chargers returns five offenseive players and six defensive players this season. Players to watch are LB Wassen Williams, OL Joe Perez, DE Manny Lerma, sophomore QB Miguel Ortiz (6’0 195lbs).
The Chargers will kickoff its season against Harlingen South in non-district action on August 27th at Boggus Stadium.
“I’m excited to be in South Texas,” says Lee. “Can’t wait to kickoff this season.”
Brownsville Lopez High School-Head Coach Armando Gutierrez
(Brownsville, Tx)- Armando Gutierrez, head football coach at Brownsville Lopez High School will begin his fourth season lookingfor a playoff bid in District 16-5A Division I. His teams have finished 2-8, 2-8, and 1-4 the past three years but, this could be the year that the Lobos could surprise teams in 2021.
Lopez will kick off their season in a newly realigned District 16-5A Division I which includes ten teams from McAllen, McAllen Nikki Rowe, McAllen Memorial, and Weslaco East.
The Lobos will return six starters on offense and nine on defense. Players to watch are returning QB Jacob Cortinas, WR Jonathan Munoz, RB Logan Garcia, and Jonathon Munoz. Other players to watch are OL Carlos Delgado, DL Omar Cervantes, and DB Alex Flores.
The Lobos will open their season against San Antonio Southside on August 26th in non-district action followed by Brownsville Pace on September 3rd in their District 16-5A Division I opener at Sams Stadium. Lopez will travel to play McAllen Nikki Rowe (9/9) and then play host to McAllen Memorial on September 16th.
If the Lobos can get past all three district foes, then things could look brighter in 2021. “We will be much better this year and our players have been working hard this offseason,” says Gutierrez. “It’s a long season with nine district games and anything can happen.”
Brownsville Pace HS-Head Coach Daniel Pardo
(Brownsville, Tx)-The Brownsville Pace Vikings made the State 5A Division I playoffs in 2020 and head football coach Daniel Pardo is looking forward to 2021 with hopes of winning a district title.
The Vikes advanced to the UIL playoffs in 2020 before falling to Flour Bluff 56-27 in the bi-district round. With five starters back on offense and six on defense, the Pace Vikings will be the team to watch as they make a bid for the overall district title.
The Vikings will have to replace Jose Banda at quarterback but Pardo feels confident about his replacements. “Yes, it’s hard to replace a three-year starter but we are fortunate that we have a QB that has been in the program at the varsity level that can take over,” says Pardo.
Tight-end Chase Morales (6’4 245lbs 18 catches 177 yards) could be the guy under center this season along with Brandon Narvaez (5’11 170lbs). Both could see action in 2021.
Players to watch are RB Ivan Gonzalez, DL Kevin Garcia, DE Gabriel Galvan, WR Nathan Herrera, and WR Alexander Agado.
The Vikings will travel to play Sharyland on August 27th followed by three straight District 16-5A DI games at Sams Stadium against Lopez, Porter, and Nikki Rowe.
HSSM picks the Pace Vikings to finish second overall. Their road game against Weslaco East on September 24th will determine who finishes in first place.