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WEEK 6
2016 Football Preview Thursday, August 25, 2016 3
Moving targets
Rams foes look to knock off champs
BY BRIAN ARGABRIGHT and his squadron of receiv- and impressed the coaches
brian.argabright@ ers can carry them. with his ability to adapt
delrionewsherald.com Torres was the Rams and move the ball downfield
third string quarterback with both his arm and his
A
new season means last season and saw a lim- legs.
new opportunities, ited amount of time on the On the other side of the
new memories and, field. But this summer Tor- ball, the defense resembles
in the case after UIL realign- res committed himself to an almost entirely new unit.
ment, new foes to face on the learning everything there
gridiron. was to learn about being the
Del Rio is coming off a 9-4 top man in the Rams offense See FOES, Page 4
season in which the Rams
not only won a piece of the
District 29-6A champion-
ship but also reached the
third round of the playoffs
for only the third time in the
schools history.
Now the Rams prepare
to begin their title defense
knowing that not only will
they have to go through
familiar faces like Laredo
United, Laredo Alexander
and longtime rival Eagle
Pass, but new faces as well
in Southwest and South San.
How will the Rams fare?
Del Rio is picked by Dave
Campbells Texas Football
Magazine to finish third in
the district, but the Rams
will only go as far as new
quarterback Greg Torres
4 Thursday, August 25, 2016 2016 Football Preview
FOES
From Page 3
Nine starters or major con- After that its back-to-back ish sixth in District 28-6A While the offense is al- a media event, but only be-
tributors to last years Big home games before the team by Dave Campbells Texas most in a rebuilding mode cause it was the first game
Blue Wrecking Crew gradu- alternates home and away Football Magazine. behind all-district senior following a vicious attack
ated including the teams games until the rivalry Coming off a season in running back Hayden by a pair of Jay players on
linebackers and much of its game at Eagle Pass Nov. 4. which the Warriors finished Schreckenbach (more than an on-field official. Del Rio
defensive backfield. So who are the Rams fac- 3-7 overall, the team lost 1,000 all-purpose yards, 16 defeated John Jay, 37-14,
But fear not, fans of de- ing this year? Heres a look. much of its defensive stand- rushing TDs) and return- thanks to 23 unanswered
fense! Returning to lead this outs to graduation. How- ing all-district linemen second half points.
years team are potential
all-district standouts Jaime
WEEK 1 - AUG. 26 ever, senior defensive back
Jacob Vasquez (65 tackles)
Pedro Ceballos and Larry
Blundell, the defense is
Jay finished the season
3-7, but this years team does
Rico and Jacob Keaton as AT SAN was a unanimous all-district stacked with talent. have plenty of experience in
well as host of others who first team selection last year Unanimous all-district a lot of key areas.
earned some quality time on
ANTONIO and hell be back to anchor defensive back Ryan Rob- Leading the defense is se-
the field last season. WARREN the Warriors D. ertson (1oo tackles, 3 INTs) nior Lord Tripp, who was a
The Rams start their sea- Quarterback Vincent leads the Antlers defense. first team all-district selec-
son Friday against the San The War- James, a 6 3 senior, will at- Hell be joined in the sec- tion on the defensive line
Antonio Warren Warriors. riors are projected to fin- tempt to lead the Warriors ondary by second team after he racked up 83 tackles
to the playoffs amid a tough all-district award winner and 13 sacks. Linebacker
Northside district and hell Preston Dimery. The duo Jordan Jackson (63 tack-
lean heavily on wide re- will play behind a tough line les) will also be a player to
ceiver Dennis Houston (449 anchored by defensive end watch.
yards, 3 TDs) and running Benton Clendenen (33 tack- Offensively, the Mustangs
back Leo Williams. les, 4 sacks). will be led by sophomore
quarterback Jacob Zeno and
WEEK 2 SEPT. 2 WEEK 3 SEPT. 9 an offensive line that fea-
tures three three-year start-
VS. KER- VS. SAN ers.
RVILLE ANTONIO
TIVY JOHN WEEK 4 SEPT. 16
ANTLERS JAY AT SAN
MUSTANGS ANTONIO
The Antlers are project-
ed to finish second in Dis-
SOUTH-
trict 26-5A, but thats only
The Mustangs are project-
ed to finish ninth in District
WEST
because they lost so much
talent from last years 11-1
28-6A. DRAGONS
Last years game between
team.
the Rams and Mustangs was The Dragons are project-
ed to finish this season in
fifth place in District 29-6A.
This is the Rams 2016-17
district opener.
Welcome back the Drag-
ons, who called 29-6A home
for two seasons from 2008 to
2010. They now return for
at least another two years.
The last time Southwest and
Del Rio shared a district, the
Dragons won both district
football titles.
However, the Rams are
familiar with this team hav-
ing played them in each of
the past two seasons. Del Rio
got the better of Southwest
last season, shutting them
out, 34-0.
Despite going 4-7 last sea-
HOPKINS
From Page 6
my idol on and off the field, Hop- thing positive. I also know we have
kins said. a really decent offensive line,
Hopkins also said that he knows Hopkins said.
if something goes awry when he at- Hopkins teammates also see
tempts a kick, his teammates are him as something the team can
T
he Rams football team Introduced in 2014 after some of the top players of snug. Its a pretty good hel- Revolution and Ridell 360.
has a mix of veterans years of research, design the Rams. Joshua Garza, a met overall. These include a patented
and new players this and testing by Ridell, the defensive lineman, said that side impact protection and
year, a few new assistant
coaches and renewed goals.
Speedflex was worn last sea-
son by pros like Peyton Man-
these new helmets are much
better than the ones they
Safety design and all-points quick release
face mask that goes to the
Del Rios team will also ning of the Denver Broncos, were wearing last year. chin strap and to the inte-
sport new helmets. Resting The SpeedFlex is the lat-
Chicago Bears Quarterback The older helmets were rior padding.
on the heads of the towns est by Ridell, one of the top
Jay Cutler and Ryan Tanne- uncomfortable, and had Raymond Martinez, an of-
football helmet brands. The
little padding; felt like if I fensive guard for the Rams,
company is based in Rose-
was wearing a rock press- has nothing but praise for
mont, Ill., where it special-
ing down on my head, the SpeedFlex. He raved
izes in sports equipment for
said Garza, after football about it Monday after prac-
football.
tice.
Amazing, he said, while
teammates drank water
from a sports water jug. It
provides us protection.
And protection is what
Rams head coach Frenchey
McCrea Jr. was looking for
when he sought to replace
the old helmets. Still, at first
there was some resistance
from some of the Rams who
were loyal to the old head-
gear.
They were like coach I
kinda like this helmet. No,
youre going to wear this
helmet. But once the team
got in them, they all bought
in, said McCrea Monday.
According to Ridell, the
SpeedFlex showcases The
Flex System, which pro-
vides flexibility into the hel-
mets shell, face and mask. It
Courtesy photo, Riddell
also includes the engineer-
A helmet fit for champions. The Riddell SpeedFlex will grace and protect the
heads of the Del Rio Rams this season. The futuristic helmet designed for ing system into the hinge
maximum protection was selected by the teams coach. clips to help reduce the im-
pact to the athlete.
McCrea is convinced that
the design of the SpeedFlex
helps to distribute the im-
pact against the head even-
ly. The idea is to prevent
concussions, he said.
After some Rams line-
backers tested them last
year, the coach was con-
vinced that the SpeedFlex
HELMETS
From Page 12
Killer looks
The SpeedFlex may be one
of the best helmets in terms
of safety, McCrea said. But
then theres the looks.
The SpeedFlex seems to
have been made for a team
like Del Rio, McCrea said. In
fact, it was.
The helmets have a futur-
istic look (think Mad Max
meets Bladerunner).
Athletic, fast and debo-
nair, the Rams already look
good, observers said. But
with the helmets on, they
look like they mean busi-
ness.
To me its a psychologi-
cal thing, McCrea said.
You walk on the field and
you see a team walking with
the number one helmet test-
ed, it plays on your mind.
16 Thursday, August 25, 2016 2016 Football Preview
D
el Rio Rams head foot- the state. The magazines staff
ball coach Frenchey breaks down every district at
McCrea Jr. knows every level and each year re-
football. leases its predictions as to how
Hes been around the sport each team will do.
since he was a child. He played This year, the Del Rio Rams,
for the Rams in high school, the defending co-champions
played the sport in college, of District 29-6A, are picked to
and had a chance to chase the finish third behind fellow co-
NFL dream before he decided champions Laredo United and
to direct his energy towards the surprising Laredo United
spreading his love of the game South.
through coaching. When asked how he felt
Entering his fourth year as about the slight, McCrea
the leader of the Del Rio Rams grinned and said, Good.
football program, theres not I dont like being picked to
much that rattles McCrea. finish first, McCrea said, ex-
But talk to him long enough plaining that if the Rams are
and youll discover that hes picked to finish third or fourth
more than just another football then other teams will believe
coach. Hes a man doing his the team isnt as good as Mc- Staff photo by Brian Argabright, file
best to foster a group of young Del Rio Rams head football coach Frenchey McCrea Jr. speaks to his varsity and junior varsity players during the
men and turn them into suc- See HOPES, Page 24 first day of practice Aug. 1 at Walter Levermann Ram Stadium.
20 Thursday, August 25, 2016 2016 Football Preview
2016 Football Preview Thursday, August 25, 2016 21
22 Thursday, August 25, 2016 2016 Football Preview
5
Azell Dimery - RB
7
Austin Davis - QB
10
Edwin Quiones - DE
12
Manny Arguijo - LB
13
Ronald Bailey - CB
14
Corey Pottard - CB
18
Larry Galindo - QB
19
Brian Beto - DB
21
Alexander Garza - DB
22
Eduardo Garcia - RB
24
Thomas Placido - S
25
Luis Frausto - TE
2016 Football Preview Thursday, August 25, 2016 23
31
Eric Garcia - CB
34
Ruben Berain - RB
35
Scott Meadows - WR
50
Denny Zamarippa - LB
52
Jesus Gonzalez - DE
53
Jose Rodriguez - G
55
David Garza - C/TE
64
Dizan Rodriguez - G
69
Jesse Barragan - G
74
Erick Battle - T
75
Abee Hinojosa - DT
84
Brian Garza - WR
24 Thursday, August 25, 2016 2016 Football Preview
HOPES
From Page 19
MEET THE Crea knows it is. By the
94 99
offs last year, and giving the
then-top ranked team in the
VARSITY state in Cibolo Steele all
they could handle, McCrea
JUNIORS
said this years team has the
Jose Mendoza - DT Joseph Rodriguez - DT potential to do something
great.
He points to a change in
the backfield as an example.
Last season, the Rams
used Albert Vasquez as
their primary runner out
of the backfield. This year,
Vasquez will split time with
fellow senior Aaron Felix
and junior Azell Dimery.
Vasquez and Felix are pos-
sibly the two fastest play-
ers on the team, depending
which Rams you ask, but
McCrea said theres a meth-
od to the madness.
Weve got one bruising
back and two speedy backs
that we can choose from.
We want to utilize our per-
sonnel in the best way pos-
sible to win. Its that simple,
McCrea said.
In four years as head
coach McCrea has made im-
pressive strides. After miss-
ing the playoffs his first year,
the team rallied to not only
make the playoffs his sec-
ond year, but then reached
the Area round by defeating
a heavily favored McAllen
Memorial team.
Last year, Del Rio entered
the playoffs without a fully
healthy starting quarterback
in Steven Salinas and still
reached the regional semi-
finals.
What will the Rams do
this year? If the pattern
holds, then Del Rio could be
playing for a shot at the state
semifinals come November.
But first comes San An-
tonio Warren on Friday and
then nine more games after
that.
2016 Football Preview Thursday, August 25, 2016 25
DISTRICT
From Page 4
son, the Dragons did reach Blaz. 5-7 mark and an exit in the Galvan, Dante Swain and
the playoffs before bowing Bi-District round of the play- Peter Brewster.
AT LAREDO LBJ
out in the first round in a
WEEK 5 SEPT. 23 offs. Del Rio defeated Alex- Defensively the Bulldogs WOLVES
slugfest with OConnor. ander last season, 24-21, on will rely on unanimous first
While the offense will VS. LAREDO AL- a 41-yard field goal by Tyler team defensive tackle Omar The Wolves
struggle with so many new Hopkins in overtime. Galan (62 tackles, 2 sacks),
faces on that side of the ball,
EXANDER Much of the Bulldogs first team safety Austin Al-
are project-
ed to finish
the defense will keep the BULL- struggles were due to a new len (112 tackles, 4 INTs) and sixth in Dis-
Dragons in many a game quarterback who was still second team linebacker, but
thanks to unanimous all-dis-
DOGS learning the system, but ju- all-state honorable mention,
trict 29-6A.
Before district play began
trict first team defensive end nior Ezekiel Cross finished Mauricio Vasquez (119 tack- last season, the Wolves were
The Bulldogs are project-
Robert Fuentes, first team the season with more than les, 3 sacks). the darlings of Laredo. They
ed to finish this season in
linebacker John Garcia 3,000 yards passing and 29 were unbeaten and talks of a
fourth place in District 29-
and second team linebacker
Jose Bautista, and first team 6A.
TDs and is back to take the
Bulldogs to new heights.
WEEK 6 BYE WEEK second consecutive district
championship echoed in the
Alexander had an off year
safety Florentino Warfield Joining him is a trio of sol- halls of Johnson High.
and second team safety John last season, stumbling to a id receivers including Beto WEEK 7 OCT. 8 But then Alexander hand-
ed the Wolves a 41-6 thrash-
ing, the first of three district
losses, and LBJ was left on
the outside of the playoff pic-
ture looking in despite hold-
ing a 7-3 overall record.
Del Rio outlasted the
Wolves, 17-14, last year in a
come from behind victory.
Gone is bruising run-
ning back Juan Cisneros,
but second team all-district
fullback Dominic Rodriguez
returns to try and pick up
some of the slack.
LBJ does carry most of its
experience on its defense,
a hallmark of the scrappy
Wolves. Returning defen-
sive tackle Julian Gonza-
lez was a second team all-
district selection and hell
be joined by fellow end En-
rique Ramirez.
WEEK 8 OCT. 14
SAN ANTONIO SOUTH
SAN
BOBCATS
The Bob-
cats are
picked to finish eighth in
District 29-6A.
South San joins 29-6A
after spending the previ-
ous few seasons in 28-6A
along with fellow newcomer
Southwest. South San was
1-9 last season.
FOOTBALL
From Page 26
is talent on this South San upset by LBJ in their sec- EAGLES All-District First
Team guard Abel
team. Senior wide receiver ond to last regular season Hernandez (51) re-
Darius Prescott was a first game. United defeated Del The Eagles are picked to turns to help lead
team all-district selection Rio last season, 49-28. The finish seventh in District the Rams.
and junior running back Longhorns finished the 29-6A.
James Valencia was a sec- season 10-3 and were re- Eagle Pass was 1-9 last
ond team choice on offense gional semifinalists. season and finished dis-
and on defense at safety. The good news for Rams trict play with zero wins
fans is that Uniteds all- and five losses. It was a sea-
WEEK 9 OCT. 20 world quarterback Ignazio
Tellez is gone as is shifty
son to forget for the Eagles
faithful. Del Rio put the
AT LAREDO UNITED running back Alexis Vil- Eagles out of their misery
lanueva and sure-handed
SOUTH wide receiver Derek Luna.
last year with a 24-8 win
that also helped the Rams
PAN- The bad news is that the clinch a piece of the district
Longhorns return unani-
THERS mous first team all-district
title.
Eagle Pass does have ex-
wide receiver Alex San- perience on its side, espe-
The Panthers are picked
chez II, first team center cially on offense. All-dis-
to finish second in District
Denilson Hinojosa and trict second teamers Ricky
29-6A.
second team wide receiv- Medina, quarterback, and
South was 6-5 last season
ers Danny Ruiz and Chris Mark Venegas, running
and lost in the Bi-District
Salinas. back, could definitely pro-
round of the playoffs. Del
And those weapons are vide a spark for the Eagles.
Rio defeated the Panthers in
just on offense. The defense Add to that wide receiver
a weather-delayed contest
is fortified with a host of Jose Riojas, also a second
last season, 23-20.
seniors including corner- team all-district returner,
The Panthers are the sexy
back J.J. Salas (90 tackles, and the Eagles could be
pick in 29-6A this season.
3 INTs) and safety Michael ready to fly on offense.
They return the districts
Castillo (75 tackles, 2 INTs). Defensively, its up to
co-Offensive MVP in run-
If the season plays out as all-district linebacker Da-
ning back Jesus Posada and
many predict, this game vid Ramos, defensive end
a staunch defense led by
could decide this years Angel Miranda and defen-
linebacker Allan Martinez,
district champion. sive back Kevin Garcia to
last years newcomer of the
keep Eagle Pass foes from
year. However, the Panthers
will sport a relatively new WEEK 11 grounding the offense early
on.
quarterback and just one
starter from last years of-
NOV. 4
fensive line.
WEEK 10 OCT. 28
VS. LAREDO
UNITED
LONG-
HORNS
The Longhorns are
picked to finish first in Dis-
trict 29-6A.
Ask any Rams player
who is familiar with the
Laredo district and theyll
tell you the same thing
the district championship
always goes through Lar-
edo United.
The Longhorns shared
last years district cham-
GO RAMS GO!