(Mission, Texas)- “We lost 42 seniors to graduation,” says new Sharyland Pioneer High School head football coach, Eddie Galindo. “Now, we face the challenge of rebuilding our football programs after COVID-19.”
High School football programs throughout the Rio Grande Valley had to shut down their athletic football facilities, or play less games, late in the season last year after South Texas was struck with the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, ready or not, football season is back. “I don’t know how we are going to make up the loss of athletes,” says head football coach, Elifonso Esquivel from Valley View High School. “We will have to start rebuilding from the junior high and encourage players to come play.”
In a town, where soccer is the dominat sport amongst athletes, Valley View High School will kickoff their football season with hopes of just having football players back on the practice fields.
The Tigers from District 16-5A DII are picked to finish eighth overall while last year’s University Interscholastic League’s State 5A DII Quarterfinalists, Sharyland Pioneer is picked by HSSM to finish as runner-ups from the same district.
In District 32-6A, it’s a toss up. The Harlingen Cardinals (6-1, 4-0) will be the team beat but don’t count out San Benito and Brownsville Hanna.
Moving to 31-6A, the Edinburg Vela Sabercats and head coach John Campbell, again, will be favored to win the title. PSJA North High School and head coach Marcus Kaufmann could challenged the Sabercats for the title in 2021.
District 16-5A Division I will feature ten teams competing for four playoff spots. Last year, both Weslaco East and McAllen Memorial shared the district title while Brownsville Pace and McAllen Nikki Rowe rounded out the final two playoff berths. Look for Weslaco East to return as the top contender as McAllen Memorial enters a new era with Moses Patterson, new interim head football coach. Pace and La Joya Palmview could fill the remaining two playoff spots. Donna and Brownsville Veterans could surprise opponents in 2021. McAllen and Brownsville Lopez will have to figure out how to win on on Friday nights while Brownsville Porter will be the spoiler in 16-5A Division I.