(McAllen, Texas)-Head coach Robert Flores is looking forward to the 2021 football season after dealing with the COVID19 season in 2020. “That was challenging for coaches throughout the Rio Grande Valley. We had to find ways to keep our teams together,” says Flores.
The McAllen Nikki Rowe Warriors finished in fourth place in District 16-5A Division I in 2020 and advanced to the Class 5A DI Bi-District Championshis before falling to Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial 47-14. Veterans (13-1) advanced to the semifinals, losing to Cedar Park 61-28.
The “jet-sweep” offense will feature QB Mateo Llanas, who likes to run and pass. His targets will be TE Marco Cisneros (6’4) and Jorge Diaz (11 catches 202 yards). Other players to watch are DE Isaak Alaniz, DT Bruno Campos, DE Mikhail Mata, and DE Jacob Torres. Victor Vega (6’0 210lbs) linebacker had three quarterback sacks last season.
The Warriors sit at No.6 in the pre-season predictions by HSSM. If Flores expects to make the playoffs in 2021, the key will be Mateo leading his offense on Friday nights. “It’s a long season,” says Flores. “We will take one game at a time.”
In 2019, the Warriors gave Flores his first Class 6A Division II Bi-District Championship title. The Warriors will kickoff their season against San Benito on August 27th at 7:00 p.m. at Bobby Morrow Stadium.