(Mission, Tx)- Two years ago, the Sharyland Pioneer Diamondbacks lost to Boerne Champion in overtime 45-38 in the UIL State 5A Division II Regional Championships at the Alamodome in San Antonio under head coach Tom Lee. One year later, under the worst pandemic to hit South Texas, COVID-19, the Diamondbacks advanced one step further, before losing to the Liberty Hill Panthers 56-53 in the 5A DII Quarterfinals. It would be Lee’s last high school football game on the sidelines. He was named the assistant athletic director for Sharyland ISD.
Eddie Galindo takes over as the new head football coach in his first year on the sidelines. “The expectations are high at Pioneer. Our team knows our expectations. Our fans expect us to win,” says Galindo. It will be a challenge for Galindo after losing 42 seniors to graduation. The D’Backs returns just two starters on both sides of the field, after losing UTSA commit QB Eddie Lee Marburger (6’3 190lbs), who ended his career with with 8,906 yards passing and 103 touchdown passes. He also rushed for 2,379 yards with 44 scores.
DE Trevor Huddleston (6’3 240lbs), OL Shawn Halbritter (6’2 245lbs), WR Joseph Graham (1,075 yards), WR Christian Drozek (6’1 165lbs), WR Cipriano Martinez (6’1 185lbs), QB Cole Woydziak (6’3 185lbs), and LB Caleb Fuentes (5’11 220lbs) all return.
Pioneer opens their season with two home games against PSJA on Aug. 26th and Harlingen South on Sept. 3rd in non-district action. The Diamondbacks will begin District 16-5A DII play at PSJA Memorial Sept. 17th.