|
When Two Laredo High School
Win In UIL’s Football Playoffs
Heads Turn
By Nuno Sciaraffa
For Lrd Sports Wire News
Network
UIL District 29 5A high school
football has two teams from
Laredo in the playoffs. Both
schools are rivals with each other
and in all due purposes. They
fought a playoff game as always
in their last regular district game
when they met last weekend.
While the outcome was a
shocker to many it was a clear
sign where the elements of high
school amateur football is in
Laredo,Texas. You just do not
know where the next game will
take your emotions and your
senses along with the outcomes.
In the final regular season ending
rival game the Longhorns of
United and the Bulldogs of
Alexander played for the
championship of UIL District 29
5A. While the Longhorns of
United eliminated the chances
the Bulldogs of Alexander sharing
in a District tile by shall we say
convincingly won 45 – 0.
The game itself created solid
evidence that the Longhorns of
United were truly the champions
of the district. They went
undefeated in the district race
and without a over stating it
proved they were the best team
when it counted. It is that part of
when it counted that shocked
everyone.
That game, that aspect of
showing who the best team is
when it counted was more a
statement that was issued
tonight as the Longhorns of
United proved one major thing to
themselves as Longhorns. They
are a truly a championship team.
They were faced with a tough task
of facing a fourth place team out
of the Texas valley that had
everything to gain and nothing to
lose.
Mc High had started the district
season with no victories and
poured it on the second of the
season. They lost by less than a
touchdown in their last game
against power house Mission
Sharyland.
Something noticed and talked
about in the press room as we
waited for the game to start.
This night the Longhorns of
United did two things that a
championship team does to
distinguish themselves. They
won obviously, but they also
played defense in the second half
when it counted. The Longhorns
of United as their coach told them
after the game in their final team
huddle before heading back to
Longhorn country. Coach
Sanchez said “the second half we
came out and got a 20-3 effort”.
Clearly that was the game itself.
The Longhorns of Untied
struggled in the first half not
because they were overwhelmed
so much by McAllen High but they
were suffocating their efforts as
some of the coaches said after
wards “flat”. The press room saw
that early on, ok right away as Mc
High had won the toss and had
elected to defer to start the
second half. Something not lost
in the press room. Quickly every
media rep took as if Mc High
wanted to send a statement.
Even the quick seen it all media
(supposedly ) never in their
minds thought Mc High would
open the game kicking off and do
an onside kick that worked and
gave the Mc High Bulldogs life for
the first half against the best
team in UIL District 29 5A .
What we would have given to be
in the locker room at half time
wearing a Longhorn of United
jersey. Something clicked at half
time and that is something I have
been harping on for three years
and few understood what I
wanted to say in those articles
about second half teams and
second half adjustments by
Laredo high school football
teams in the playoffs.
Finally not they were not trying the
last three years to make second
half adjustments at half time in
the playoff games those high
school teams were in. This time
around McAllen High took it on
the chin because the second half
adjustments by the Longhorns of
Untied were to die for.
The quick solution was to win the
game as quickly as possible.
That was not going to happen in
the second half with Mc High
sensing they had the best team
in District 29 5A on the ropes or
close to using the rope on them.
So the Longhorns of Untied did
what few Laredo teams have
done in the playoffs the last
several years. They adjusted
correctly and the players came
out and did something about it.
The end result was that the best
quarterback Laredo has seen the
last several years came out
shooting his golden arm better
the second half and while the
missed receivers were now
getting the football thrown to them
within reasons and on the correct
side of or shoulder if you want to
look at it that way. That spells
trouble.
Several times the last several
weeks while looking or peeking
ahead at the first match ups
against the valley high school
football playoff teams. The look
at what they would have to face
when they dealt with the
Longhorns of United with their
new running game and passing
game came to pass.
Few understood when it was
mentioned that if you stop the
running game of the Longhorns
of United you will be picked apart
by the passing of Sr. Tony Salas
golden arm. Tonight both
occurred. While running back
sensation Jr. Billy “The Blur”
Williams III managed to obtain on
his own powers 99 yards rushing
the Mc High team stopped him
from getting his normal 179 yards
per game or mind you a 200+
rushing night. So that left one
thing to happen the Bulldogs of
Mc High never thought would
come to pass. They were picked
apart in the second half by Sr.
Tony Salas golden arm to the
tune of 257 total offensive yards
in the second half. That’s more
than half of the total yards
allowed by MC High of 439 total
yards.
Afterwards as Tony Salas was
hanging around the traditional
Laredo Style around the west
gate. Salas did something that
brought it home real quick as the
celebration of winning a Bi-
District Championship was being
played out by Longhorns fanatics,
player family members, coaches
and their families and most of all
the players.
Salas quickly asked to wait
before taking a picture. Salas
quickly rounded up his linemen
and asked for the picture to be of
him and his linemen. Clearly this
was a team effort. The size of the
defensive linemen for Mc Allen
High was all over 285 averages
and the height was averaging
around 6 feet. A feat few will write
about but this game was won in
the trenches again for the
Longhorns of United. Tony Salas
knew that felt that and most of all
sent a message to that line that
protects him game in and game
that they were the stars of the
game . They were the stars that
won the game on the offensive
side. Because the defense did
not score then the offensive side
scored the points. They were
clearly shown respect by Sr Tony
Salas that they counted as much
as anything else in this game.
The offensive line as they were
lining up to take the picture were
all smiles were #53 Carlos
Valadez, #56 Rick Martinez, #65
Jose Alfredo Perez Jr.,# 75 Roel
Martinez Jr. and #67 which we are
stilling trying to figure his name.
These men were showcased by
the local media on the sports
front page by the daily
newspaper. Clearly they were
singled out by Mc High as well.
Yet, this group of men did the
impossible. They stopped the
furious 3-4 defense the Bulldogs
of Mc High had all night long.
They were out weight out sized
and at times out quicken at the
line of scrimmage and in the end
the Longhorn offensive line held
their ground time and time
again. The QB for the Longhorns
of Untied knew it and when he got
his chance he gathered his men
around him for a picture to be
taken while everyone else
celebrated around them on their
Bi-District Championship.
This is not the end of the story.
There is more that needs to be
said about what happened to
McAllen High Football team that
cause the defeat for them. It is
simply this. They got to face one
of the best defenses in the state
and when it counted the most the
Longhorns of United defensive
second half adjustments made
the deference in winning the Bi-
District Championship. They
played defense period.
The Longhorns of Untied trailed
Mc High until the middle of the
third quarter. Yet, in the second
half with the adjustments by the
Longhorn coaching staff and the
efforts made the players held the
Mc High offense to three points
only and that gave the victory to
the Longhorns of United.
Mc High only scored three points
in the second half. Say it again,
McHigh only scored three points
in the second half. That allowed
for the offense of the Longhorns
of United to eat the clock for one
and second it kept giving a
chance for the offense to get
better field position the second
half something that the
Longhorns did not earn in the first
half.
Championships are won by
defenses and this Bi-District
Championship on the field was
won by the defense by the
Longhorns of Untied. Clearly they
did not score a defensive TD but
clearly they gave their offense
field position and most of all they
kept giving the chance for the
offense to get on the field and
score. Something Mc Allen High
could not allow to happen and it
did because the Longhorns of
United scored time and time
again in the second half because
the Longhorn defense did their
championship thing they stopped
their foe dead on its tracks series
after series.
Then there is the Longhorns of
United coaching staff that Coach
Sanchez has. This is a group of
young coaches mixed with
season silver foxes sitting in the
coach’s boxes high in the
stadium doing one thing that
made a difference. Well, several
things that made a difference.
They made the correct
adjustments at half time that
worked.
Speaking with defensive co-
coordinators Coach Salinas and
Coach Esparza as the game
concluded. Both were in
agreement with their brief
statement after they were
congratulated in a great game.
They said they were a bit flat the
first half but the second half was
different.
Speaking with Coach Sanchez as
the celebration was occurring
and as he was moving over after
getting congratulations by Athletic
Director Bobby Cruz , the hand
shake Coach Sanchez had was
firm this time around as he
walked by and was offered
congratulations. This time he
made eye contact this was a big
win a big Bi-District
Championship and he knew it.
The coaches took turns talking to
the players in the final huddle
before they left the stadium. That
was a bit different seeing that
take place. Most head coaches
across Texas really do not allow
anyone else to talk to the team as
such. That is reserved mainly for
them. That was a sign that this
was a coaching method that has
produced a victory in the playoffs
for the Longhorns of United in
some time. Coach Sanchez
came up to the huddle and
explained to the players the
appreciation of their hard work
and how it paid off. Coach
Sanchez next statement to the
huddled players was that they
were Bi-District Champions.
They had a great week of practice
and it paid off. His next statement
was interesting at least from a
sports analyst view of things (we
are not sports reporters), Coach
Sanchez said next “we will play a
team that is much better and we
will work hard this coming week.”
Meaning they will face a higher
ranked team than what they just
played.
The coaching at Laredo United is
on top of it and having won a
playoff game in 2010 brings it full
circle. Laredo United with the
right coaching staff and the right
mix of players came from not
being in the playoffs the year
before or having won a playoff
game in the last several years. To
being 2010 UIL District 29 5A
Champions and they just added
2010 UIL Region IV Bi-District
Champions with a playoff victory.
The Longhorns of United are not
done and it appears they may
have an understanding what they
face next week they are ready to
play football Longhorn Style.
That style is if you stop Jr. Billy
“The Blur” Williams you will be
picked apart by Sr. Tony Salas
golden arm. Stop Sr. Tony Salas
passing and the receiver’s great
catches. Are you ready then to
take 200 plus rushing yards by
Williams? You will be reminded
by the Longhorns of United
defense why they are ranked as
one of the best defenses around
to make things interesting.
The best The Texas Valley has in
UIL Texas High School football
will be waiting next week as the
Harlingen Cardinals the number
ranked team in the valley will
have to earn their ranking facing
the Upper Rio Grande Valley best
team and District and Bi-District
champions the Longhorns of
Untied.
While the game will have a
tremendous anticipation few will
miss the chance in the valley to
see two great teams play. Among
the Cardinals will be a Laredo
connection. The best receiver the
Cardinals have is the son of a
Laredo Coach from LBJ. Sitting
in the stance will Randy Bermea
sister the former Laredo Nixon
basketball standout and
volleyball standout Ari Bermea
who is in her senior year at the
University of Texas Pan Am NCAA
Division One Volleyball program
as a starter.
We wait the one week but this
week at least this weekend
Laredo, Texas celebrates two Bi-
District UIL High School Football
champions
Win In UIL’s Football Playoffs
Heads Turn
By Nuno Sciaraffa
For Lrd Sports Wire News
Network
UIL District 29 5A high school
football has two teams from
Laredo in the playoffs. Both
schools are rivals with each other
and in all due purposes. They
fought a playoff game as always
in their last regular district game
when they met last weekend.
While the outcome was a
shocker to many it was a clear
sign where the elements of high
school amateur football is in
Laredo,Texas. You just do not
know where the next game will
take your emotions and your
senses along with the outcomes.
In the final regular season ending
rival game the Longhorns of
United and the Bulldogs of
Alexander played for the
championship of UIL District 29
5A. While the Longhorns of
United eliminated the chances
the Bulldogs of Alexander sharing
in a District tile by shall we say
convincingly won 45 – 0.
The game itself created solid
evidence that the Longhorns of
United were truly the champions
of the district. They went
undefeated in the district race
and without a over stating it
proved they were the best team
when it counted. It is that part of
when it counted that shocked
everyone.
That game, that aspect of
showing who the best team is
when it counted was more a
statement that was issued
tonight as the Longhorns of
United proved one major thing to
themselves as Longhorns. They
are a truly a championship team.
They were faced with a tough task
of facing a fourth place team out
of the Texas valley that had
everything to gain and nothing to
lose.
Mc High had started the district
season with no victories and
poured it on the second of the
season. They lost by less than a
touchdown in their last game
against power house Mission
Sharyland.
Something noticed and talked
about in the press room as we
waited for the game to start.
This night the Longhorns of
United did two things that a
championship team does to
distinguish themselves. They
won obviously, but they also
played defense in the second half
when it counted. The Longhorns
of United as their coach told them
after the game in their final team
huddle before heading back to
Longhorn country. Coach
Sanchez said “the second half we
came out and got a 20-3 effort”.
Clearly that was the game itself.
The Longhorns of Untied
struggled in the first half not
because they were overwhelmed
so much by McAllen High but they
were suffocating their efforts as
some of the coaches said after
wards “flat”. The press room saw
that early on, ok right away as Mc
High had won the toss and had
elected to defer to start the
second half. Something not lost
in the press room. Quickly every
media rep took as if Mc High
wanted to send a statement.
Even the quick seen it all media
(supposedly ) never in their
minds thought Mc High would
open the game kicking off and do
an onside kick that worked and
gave the Mc High Bulldogs life for
the first half against the best
team in UIL District 29 5A .
What we would have given to be
in the locker room at half time
wearing a Longhorn of United
jersey. Something clicked at half
time and that is something I have
been harping on for three years
and few understood what I
wanted to say in those articles
about second half teams and
second half adjustments by
Laredo high school football
teams in the playoffs.
Finally not they were not trying the
last three years to make second
half adjustments at half time in
the playoff games those high
school teams were in. This time
around McAllen High took it on
the chin because the second half
adjustments by the Longhorns of
Untied were to die for.
The quick solution was to win the
game as quickly as possible.
That was not going to happen in
the second half with Mc High
sensing they had the best team
in District 29 5A on the ropes or
close to using the rope on them.
So the Longhorns of Untied did
what few Laredo teams have
done in the playoffs the last
several years. They adjusted
correctly and the players came
out and did something about it.
The end result was that the best
quarterback Laredo has seen the
last several years came out
shooting his golden arm better
the second half and while the
missed receivers were now
getting the football thrown to them
within reasons and on the correct
side of or shoulder if you want to
look at it that way. That spells
trouble.
Several times the last several
weeks while looking or peeking
ahead at the first match ups
against the valley high school
football playoff teams. The look
at what they would have to face
when they dealt with the
Longhorns of United with their
new running game and passing
game came to pass.
Few understood when it was
mentioned that if you stop the
running game of the Longhorns
of United you will be picked apart
by the passing of Sr. Tony Salas
golden arm. Tonight both
occurred. While running back
sensation Jr. Billy “The Blur”
Williams III managed to obtain on
his own powers 99 yards rushing
the Mc High team stopped him
from getting his normal 179 yards
per game or mind you a 200+
rushing night. So that left one
thing to happen the Bulldogs of
Mc High never thought would
come to pass. They were picked
apart in the second half by Sr.
Tony Salas golden arm to the
tune of 257 total offensive yards
in the second half. That’s more
than half of the total yards
allowed by MC High of 439 total
yards.
Afterwards as Tony Salas was
hanging around the traditional
Laredo Style around the west
gate. Salas did something that
brought it home real quick as the
celebration of winning a Bi-
District Championship was being
played out by Longhorns fanatics,
player family members, coaches
and their families and most of all
the players.
Salas quickly asked to wait
before taking a picture. Salas
quickly rounded up his linemen
and asked for the picture to be of
him and his linemen. Clearly this
was a team effort. The size of the
defensive linemen for Mc Allen
High was all over 285 averages
and the height was averaging
around 6 feet. A feat few will write
about but this game was won in
the trenches again for the
Longhorns of United. Tony Salas
knew that felt that and most of all
sent a message to that line that
protects him game in and game
that they were the stars of the
game . They were the stars that
won the game on the offensive
side. Because the defense did
not score then the offensive side
scored the points. They were
clearly shown respect by Sr Tony
Salas that they counted as much
as anything else in this game.
The offensive line as they were
lining up to take the picture were
all smiles were #53 Carlos
Valadez, #56 Rick Martinez, #65
Jose Alfredo Perez Jr.,# 75 Roel
Martinez Jr. and #67 which we are
stilling trying to figure his name.
These men were showcased by
the local media on the sports
front page by the daily
newspaper. Clearly they were
singled out by Mc High as well.
Yet, this group of men did the
impossible. They stopped the
furious 3-4 defense the Bulldogs
of Mc High had all night long.
They were out weight out sized
and at times out quicken at the
line of scrimmage and in the end
the Longhorn offensive line held
their ground time and time
again. The QB for the Longhorns
of Untied knew it and when he got
his chance he gathered his men
around him for a picture to be
taken while everyone else
celebrated around them on their
Bi-District Championship.
This is not the end of the story.
There is more that needs to be
said about what happened to
McAllen High Football team that
cause the defeat for them. It is
simply this. They got to face one
of the best defenses in the state
and when it counted the most the
Longhorns of United defensive
second half adjustments made
the deference in winning the Bi-
District Championship. They
played defense period.
The Longhorns of Untied trailed
Mc High until the middle of the
third quarter. Yet, in the second
half with the adjustments by the
Longhorn coaching staff and the
efforts made the players held the
Mc High offense to three points
only and that gave the victory to
the Longhorns of United.
Mc High only scored three points
in the second half. Say it again,
McHigh only scored three points
in the second half. That allowed
for the offense of the Longhorns
of United to eat the clock for one
and second it kept giving a
chance for the offense to get
better field position the second
half something that the
Longhorns did not earn in the first
half.
Championships are won by
defenses and this Bi-District
Championship on the field was
won by the defense by the
Longhorns of Untied. Clearly they
did not score a defensive TD but
clearly they gave their offense
field position and most of all they
kept giving the chance for the
offense to get on the field and
score. Something Mc Allen High
could not allow to happen and it
did because the Longhorns of
United scored time and time
again in the second half because
the Longhorn defense did their
championship thing they stopped
their foe dead on its tracks series
after series.
Then there is the Longhorns of
United coaching staff that Coach
Sanchez has. This is a group of
young coaches mixed with
season silver foxes sitting in the
coach’s boxes high in the
stadium doing one thing that
made a difference. Well, several
things that made a difference.
They made the correct
adjustments at half time that
worked.
Speaking with defensive co-
coordinators Coach Salinas and
Coach Esparza as the game
concluded. Both were in
agreement with their brief
statement after they were
congratulated in a great game.
They said they were a bit flat the
first half but the second half was
different.
Speaking with Coach Sanchez as
the celebration was occurring
and as he was moving over after
getting congratulations by Athletic
Director Bobby Cruz , the hand
shake Coach Sanchez had was
firm this time around as he
walked by and was offered
congratulations. This time he
made eye contact this was a big
win a big Bi-District
Championship and he knew it.
The coaches took turns talking to
the players in the final huddle
before they left the stadium. That
was a bit different seeing that
take place. Most head coaches
across Texas really do not allow
anyone else to talk to the team as
such. That is reserved mainly for
them. That was a sign that this
was a coaching method that has
produced a victory in the playoffs
for the Longhorns of United in
some time. Coach Sanchez
came up to the huddle and
explained to the players the
appreciation of their hard work
and how it paid off. Coach
Sanchez next statement to the
huddled players was that they
were Bi-District Champions.
They had a great week of practice
and it paid off. His next statement
was interesting at least from a
sports analyst view of things (we
are not sports reporters), Coach
Sanchez said next “we will play a
team that is much better and we
will work hard this coming week.”
Meaning they will face a higher
ranked team than what they just
played.
The coaching at Laredo United is
on top of it and having won a
playoff game in 2010 brings it full
circle. Laredo United with the
right coaching staff and the right
mix of players came from not
being in the playoffs the year
before or having won a playoff
game in the last several years. To
being 2010 UIL District 29 5A
Champions and they just added
2010 UIL Region IV Bi-District
Champions with a playoff victory.
The Longhorns of United are not
done and it appears they may
have an understanding what they
face next week they are ready to
play football Longhorn Style.
That style is if you stop Jr. Billy
“The Blur” Williams you will be
picked apart by Sr. Tony Salas
golden arm. Stop Sr. Tony Salas
passing and the receiver’s great
catches. Are you ready then to
take 200 plus rushing yards by
Williams? You will be reminded
by the Longhorns of United
defense why they are ranked as
one of the best defenses around
to make things interesting.
The best The Texas Valley has in
UIL Texas High School football
will be waiting next week as the
Harlingen Cardinals the number
ranked team in the valley will
have to earn their ranking facing
the Upper Rio Grande Valley best
team and District and Bi-District
champions the Longhorns of
Untied.
While the game will have a
tremendous anticipation few will
miss the chance in the valley to
see two great teams play. Among
the Cardinals will be a Laredo
connection. The best receiver the
Cardinals have is the son of a
Laredo Coach from LBJ. Sitting
in the stance will Randy Bermea
sister the former Laredo Nixon
basketball standout and
volleyball standout Ari Bermea
who is in her senior year at the
University of Texas Pan Am NCAA
Division One Volleyball program
as a starter.
We wait the one week but this
week at least this weekend
Laredo, Texas celebrates two Bi-
District UIL High School Football
champions
November 19, 2010
By Nuno Sciaraffa with Linda Wilson, Susan Garcia,Mark
Santago. & Meme Ferenandez contributed to this article.
Stadium Sports Analyst field reports by Cindy Sanchez,
Mark Rodriguez and Cesar Martinez. Update TECH Geek
provided by Sandy Ortiz and her staff.
Lrd Sports Wire News Network
"The Amazing 2010 Laredo United Longhorns"
“We will win district” was the statement Head Football
Coach David Sanchez said in early one hot August
afternoon to KGNS PRO 8 Sports. It will always be
remembered by sports analyst as being the statement
that propelled the Laredo United Longhorns to a most
remarkable year in UIL high school football.
It shall also go down as the quote of the year based on
what was anticipated by the sports analyst in South
Texas from the Longhorns in 2010 and most of all from
three teams expecting to win district now that Southwest
had gone its way back to the mix in San Antonio districts.
In the dust were those three teams no matter what you
may say, how you may cut it, what you wish it to be it
when it counted for the title in UIL District 29 5A in 2010
only one team came out on top and it was the Longhorns
that beat all three pretenders for the district title.
Deep in the second round among the rivals of Laredo in
high school early rounds of the playoffs the Longhorns
of United came with a purpose to make it into the
mystical third round that few Laredo teams have reached
in high school football.
Laredo Cigarroa in 1999 was the first followed by the
three teams Laredo Nixon took it to the third round.
Laredo United has been there twice and as the final
seconds ticked off against the Harlingen Cardinals the
final score board said it all as the fans of the Cardinals
celebrated the coaching staff of the Red Ones of
Harlingen took a deep breath and whimpered a cry
barely heard over the celebration noise. They pulled one
out but it could have gone against the Cardinals.
From a sports analyst view this was closer than the beat
sports reporters understood what happened in a game
that the Cardinals faced the toughest yet in the playoffs.
The 2010 Laredo United Longhorns brought a game not
seen out of Laredo high school football teams ever.
That is saying a lot since Laredo United has sent two
teams to the third round within the Coach Sanchez era.
There is still one team playing from Laredo in the 2010
playoffs that could be the first ever to reach the fourth
round.
Even those United Longhorn football teams were not
close as a whole to compare. There were some great
individual players that went on to play collegian football
at the next level from those teams but those teams were
not as good as this 2010 team. Granted they did not
reached the third round but as a team in 2010 they were
just better and they faced the best team in a long time
from the Valley that has the chance to reach the fourth
round. The Cardinals are that good.
What is not being talked about is the end of a brilliant
career for the Longhorns three year starter at
quarterback Tony Salas.
Perhaps Tony Salas has the biggest broad shoulders as
a Longhorn ever. Rebuilding after not making the
playoffs the year before to reaching the second round of
the playoffs after winning and going undefeated in
district play in 2010 will go down as the best year a
player could have being a quarterback. There is no room
for the coaches not to pick him MVP after the season
concludes.
Rarely do sports analysts depend on stats or sports
analysts are not stat sports reporters. That is not our
bag but what is our responsibility as sports analyst is to
notice the game as it is played by high school athletes in
football.
That is what we noticed with Tony Salas. He could play
among the giants that ever played the game of high
school football in Laredo. His leadership qualities are
his most sought after services at the next level. Which
collegian athletic program he may enlist is still up to the
Salas family? Where ever he plays at the next level he
will take a trade learned at home on the practice fields
and the qua-zillion camps he attended the last several
years.
The game against the Cardinals showed the score board
lighting up 49-28 in favor of Harlingen. What is not
noticed is that the defense that the United Longhorns
had even with 49 points painted was much better than
the Cardinals faithful expected.
There were several key turn over’s at key moments on
the field that gave the Cardinals prime field position and
the Cardinals took advantage of the turn over’s and
scored quickly.
Could have been, should have been, wishful thinking
does not play well in a football game no matter at what
level they are playing. The Cardinals won big against a
tough team the Longhorns of United brought to the
valley to face them. They knew it, they sensed they were
more than capable of working things out at half time with
the adjustments and keep the Longhorns at arm length
the rest of the final two quarters.
Being ahead in a football game gives you that wiggle
room to fight off a tough foe like United. Having a three
interception night by your defense spells trouble for any
team and that is what happened to Laredo United.
The much talked about defense the Cardinals had
shown all year long came through at key moments.
Those picks were not because United’s Tony Salas threw
silly interceptions. They were done in distress as the
Cardinal defense on those plays had pressure on Salas
to release the ball or get sacked which they did several
times at key moments as well.
The Cardinal defense came up big when it had too and
was instrumental in getting great field position for their
offense at key moments in the first half and the later in
the second half.
Trailing in the game after the Longhorns had gone 70
yards on a super Longhorn style drive and went 7-0
early in the first quarter. The Longhorns had to play
catch up and when it counted the Cardinals matched the
scoring by the Longhorns and when you have the score
board in your favor it won’t matter all you are doing is
playing to get the clock down to zero.
Which the Cardinals did in the fourth quarter as they
kept the Longhorns just long enough on offense and
forced them to have several fourth down plays that
resulted in United turning the ball over on downs at key
moments in the fourth quarter.
This morning we wake up to reading the local newspaper
slapping the Longhorns with their headline “Longhorns
done for good” and when we read the article we are left
with such disapproving taste in our minds.
Beyond the obvious there was no attempt to bring the
game to light in their story. From their prospective they
did not have the stats they are so famous in writing
about in Laredo. Seems the reporter went to sleep on
the game and only managed to put down a few things
about the game with no key figures as they always write
about.
Where were the stats if they were there in the upper
press box? They had some of the few stats they used in
the story wrong as well. The Cardinals only had three
interceptions something we verified with the Cardinal
coaching staff after the game.
Perhaps that would have given them a taste of what
happened on the game as the sports analyst sitting
around the stadium were. Sitting with collegian scouts
on the Cardinal side you get a different prospective on
the element of the level of talent playing in a game.
While the outcome is important for the high school teams
to move on in the playoffs UIL has set forth. The scouts
are looking at things never imagine by club sports
reporters.
The resolve the Longhorn defense had was remarkable
considering they had to return much sooner than
expected off the interceptions forced by the Cardinals.
In all of them the scouts pointed out the break down on
the line on those four plays only.
They were amazed at the high level of play the offensive
line the Longhorns had all game long considering the
physical make up of the line compared to the Cardinal
size they brought to this game. That has no stat that has
coaching and ability by linemen that when asked
delivered a great game against a super team from
Harlingen.
What was interesting about the article in the local
newspaper in Laredo, Texas this morning was the total
misread of the game itself and of course they did not
keep good stats during the game or they would have
plastered them on their story as their main story as
always.
If they were there they missed the point they missed why
they were there. Their number one football writer was in
Laredo covering a defeat by the Laredo Bucks in action
in the CHL. Go figure!
The biggest game a Laredo high school team had this
year facing the # 1 team in the valley and perhaps
Harlingen will match the Donna Redskins as reaching the
title game or at best reach UIL’s Regional final and they
send their least experienced reporter to cover the game.
We will miss dearly their football reporter’s Ken Ryan’s
superb adjective covering football. He was not there how
interesting that was.
What was missed was that the Cardinals are now 12-0 as
in undefeated! A remarkable job so far by the Harlingen
Cardinals considering it also marked according to valley
sources the school histories 600th victory as our sports
analyst for Lrd Sports Wire News Network from the Valley
rubbed it in last night while enjoying a late night dinner
with them.
The Longhorns only held the Cardinals to 356 total
yards a remarkable achievement by United’s defense
against the best offense in the valley. The same
Longhorn defense that had to work hard to keep the
game within reasonable respect considering the short
field that the Cardinals played most of the game.
Tony Salas concludes his brilliant high school football
career without ever going to the third round as his former
United Longhorn quarterbacks have in the past. Then
again what Salas accomplished this year will go down in
Laredo sports history when he took a rebuilding young
team into the second round of UIL’s HS football playoffs.
The coaching staff of the Longhorns in this game against
the Harlingen Cardinals did the right adjustments on both
sides of the balls but when you have to travel the catch
up game against the top team in your area as the
Cardinals proved it last night makes it hard to get a “W”.
There is one thing that brings that to mind. The
Harlingen Cardinals were forced to punt by the Longhorn
defense several times. That is something most teams in
the valley and the first game of the playoffs never could
do against the Cardinals.
This was the right United Longhorn team to face the
Cardinals in a Area Championship. What the Harlingen
Cardinals got out of the game besides the obvious
winning the game was the ability to match up against a
great offense and a great defense in the Area
Championship.
Something as sports analyst we feel will help the
Cardinals jump over that last hurdle the Valley as well
have not making it into the fourth round. The Longhorns
of United in 2010 will have their stamp on the game next
week the Cardinals will have and when they win they can
say they learned a lot about how they can play when
they faced the 2010 Longhorns of Untied.
The 2010 United Longhorns will go down in Laredo high
school history going from out of the playoffs a year
before to being District and Bi District champions the
next year.
The coaching involved in this process will have to be
remembered and will always be compared from this point
on. The coaching staff that head football coach David
Sanchez should be remembered for their great job.
The head coach at Harlingen best said it when he was
quoted after the game saying “it is about making
adjustments and perseverance”.
Indeed something we been asking for from everyone to
do in Laredo high school football for some time and this
time the 2010 United Longhorn football team did make
the adjustments and the 2010 United Longhorn football
did prevail they out lasted everyone in Laredo , Del Rio
and Eagle Pass when no one gave them a chance. That
is Perseverance Longhorn style.
* Stats verified through on field stats taken by Lrd Sports
Wire News Network sports analyst contributing to this
article.
* Meme Fernandez contributed game scores from UIL
Region IV from the San Antonio games.
* Attendance was not official verified as the game ended.
Speaking with stadium personal the estimate of 12,000
was used based on the eight people Lrd Sports Wire
News Network spoke with.
*The 600 victory for Harlingen was verified through
media sources at the game and in the valley.
*There were three sports analyst in the home side of the
field and two on the visitor side. For goodness sake the
press room would have been filed with Lrd Sports Wire
News Network staff alone. There were two sports
analyst in Laredo, TX making sure the server was
running (inside joke).
*Transportation for Lrd SPorts Wire News Network staff
members while in the valley were provided by Logistic
Travel.
By Nuno Sciaraffa with Linda Wilson, Susan Garcia,Mark
Santago. & Meme Ferenandez contributed to this article.
Stadium Sports Analyst field reports by Cindy Sanchez,
Mark Rodriguez and Cesar Martinez. Update TECH Geek
provided by Sandy Ortiz and her staff.
Lrd Sports Wire News Network
"The Amazing 2010 Laredo United Longhorns"
“We will win district” was the statement Head Football
Coach David Sanchez said in early one hot August
afternoon to KGNS PRO 8 Sports. It will always be
remembered by sports analyst as being the statement
that propelled the Laredo United Longhorns to a most
remarkable year in UIL high school football.
It shall also go down as the quote of the year based on
what was anticipated by the sports analyst in South
Texas from the Longhorns in 2010 and most of all from
three teams expecting to win district now that Southwest
had gone its way back to the mix in San Antonio districts.
In the dust were those three teams no matter what you
may say, how you may cut it, what you wish it to be it
when it counted for the title in UIL District 29 5A in 2010
only one team came out on top and it was the Longhorns
that beat all three pretenders for the district title.
Deep in the second round among the rivals of Laredo in
high school early rounds of the playoffs the Longhorns
of United came with a purpose to make it into the
mystical third round that few Laredo teams have reached
in high school football.
Laredo Cigarroa in 1999 was the first followed by the
three teams Laredo Nixon took it to the third round.
Laredo United has been there twice and as the final
seconds ticked off against the Harlingen Cardinals the
final score board said it all as the fans of the Cardinals
celebrated the coaching staff of the Red Ones of
Harlingen took a deep breath and whimpered a cry
barely heard over the celebration noise. They pulled one
out but it could have gone against the Cardinals.
From a sports analyst view this was closer than the beat
sports reporters understood what happened in a game
that the Cardinals faced the toughest yet in the playoffs.
The 2010 Laredo United Longhorns brought a game not
seen out of Laredo high school football teams ever.
That is saying a lot since Laredo United has sent two
teams to the third round within the Coach Sanchez era.
There is still one team playing from Laredo in the 2010
playoffs that could be the first ever to reach the fourth
round.
Even those United Longhorn football teams were not
close as a whole to compare. There were some great
individual players that went on to play collegian football
at the next level from those teams but those teams were
not as good as this 2010 team. Granted they did not
reached the third round but as a team in 2010 they were
just better and they faced the best team in a long time
from the Valley that has the chance to reach the fourth
round. The Cardinals are that good.
What is not being talked about is the end of a brilliant
career for the Longhorns three year starter at
quarterback Tony Salas.
Perhaps Tony Salas has the biggest broad shoulders as
a Longhorn ever. Rebuilding after not making the
playoffs the year before to reaching the second round of
the playoffs after winning and going undefeated in
district play in 2010 will go down as the best year a
player could have being a quarterback. There is no room
for the coaches not to pick him MVP after the season
concludes.
Rarely do sports analysts depend on stats or sports
analysts are not stat sports reporters. That is not our
bag but what is our responsibility as sports analyst is to
notice the game as it is played by high school athletes in
football.
That is what we noticed with Tony Salas. He could play
among the giants that ever played the game of high
school football in Laredo. His leadership qualities are
his most sought after services at the next level. Which
collegian athletic program he may enlist is still up to the
Salas family? Where ever he plays at the next level he
will take a trade learned at home on the practice fields
and the qua-zillion camps he attended the last several
years.
The game against the Cardinals showed the score board
lighting up 49-28 in favor of Harlingen. What is not
noticed is that the defense that the United Longhorns
had even with 49 points painted was much better than
the Cardinals faithful expected.
There were several key turn over’s at key moments on
the field that gave the Cardinals prime field position and
the Cardinals took advantage of the turn over’s and
scored quickly.
Could have been, should have been, wishful thinking
does not play well in a football game no matter at what
level they are playing. The Cardinals won big against a
tough team the Longhorns of United brought to the
valley to face them. They knew it, they sensed they were
more than capable of working things out at half time with
the adjustments and keep the Longhorns at arm length
the rest of the final two quarters.
Being ahead in a football game gives you that wiggle
room to fight off a tough foe like United. Having a three
interception night by your defense spells trouble for any
team and that is what happened to Laredo United.
The much talked about defense the Cardinals had
shown all year long came through at key moments.
Those picks were not because United’s Tony Salas threw
silly interceptions. They were done in distress as the
Cardinal defense on those plays had pressure on Salas
to release the ball or get sacked which they did several
times at key moments as well.
The Cardinal defense came up big when it had too and
was instrumental in getting great field position for their
offense at key moments in the first half and the later in
the second half.
Trailing in the game after the Longhorns had gone 70
yards on a super Longhorn style drive and went 7-0
early in the first quarter. The Longhorns had to play
catch up and when it counted the Cardinals matched the
scoring by the Longhorns and when you have the score
board in your favor it won’t matter all you are doing is
playing to get the clock down to zero.
Which the Cardinals did in the fourth quarter as they
kept the Longhorns just long enough on offense and
forced them to have several fourth down plays that
resulted in United turning the ball over on downs at key
moments in the fourth quarter.
This morning we wake up to reading the local newspaper
slapping the Longhorns with their headline “Longhorns
done for good” and when we read the article we are left
with such disapproving taste in our minds.
Beyond the obvious there was no attempt to bring the
game to light in their story. From their prospective they
did not have the stats they are so famous in writing
about in Laredo. Seems the reporter went to sleep on
the game and only managed to put down a few things
about the game with no key figures as they always write
about.
Where were the stats if they were there in the upper
press box? They had some of the few stats they used in
the story wrong as well. The Cardinals only had three
interceptions something we verified with the Cardinal
coaching staff after the game.
Perhaps that would have given them a taste of what
happened on the game as the sports analyst sitting
around the stadium were. Sitting with collegian scouts
on the Cardinal side you get a different prospective on
the element of the level of talent playing in a game.
While the outcome is important for the high school teams
to move on in the playoffs UIL has set forth. The scouts
are looking at things never imagine by club sports
reporters.
The resolve the Longhorn defense had was remarkable
considering they had to return much sooner than
expected off the interceptions forced by the Cardinals.
In all of them the scouts pointed out the break down on
the line on those four plays only.
They were amazed at the high level of play the offensive
line the Longhorns had all game long considering the
physical make up of the line compared to the Cardinal
size they brought to this game. That has no stat that has
coaching and ability by linemen that when asked
delivered a great game against a super team from
Harlingen.
What was interesting about the article in the local
newspaper in Laredo, Texas this morning was the total
misread of the game itself and of course they did not
keep good stats during the game or they would have
plastered them on their story as their main story as
always.
If they were there they missed the point they missed why
they were there. Their number one football writer was in
Laredo covering a defeat by the Laredo Bucks in action
in the CHL. Go figure!
The biggest game a Laredo high school team had this
year facing the # 1 team in the valley and perhaps
Harlingen will match the Donna Redskins as reaching the
title game or at best reach UIL’s Regional final and they
send their least experienced reporter to cover the game.
We will miss dearly their football reporter’s Ken Ryan’s
superb adjective covering football. He was not there how
interesting that was.
What was missed was that the Cardinals are now 12-0 as
in undefeated! A remarkable job so far by the Harlingen
Cardinals considering it also marked according to valley
sources the school histories 600th victory as our sports
analyst for Lrd Sports Wire News Network from the Valley
rubbed it in last night while enjoying a late night dinner
with them.
The Longhorns only held the Cardinals to 356 total
yards a remarkable achievement by United’s defense
against the best offense in the valley. The same
Longhorn defense that had to work hard to keep the
game within reasonable respect considering the short
field that the Cardinals played most of the game.
Tony Salas concludes his brilliant high school football
career without ever going to the third round as his former
United Longhorn quarterbacks have in the past. Then
again what Salas accomplished this year will go down in
Laredo sports history when he took a rebuilding young
team into the second round of UIL’s HS football playoffs.
The coaching staff of the Longhorns in this game against
the Harlingen Cardinals did the right adjustments on both
sides of the balls but when you have to travel the catch
up game against the top team in your area as the
Cardinals proved it last night makes it hard to get a “W”.
There is one thing that brings that to mind. The
Harlingen Cardinals were forced to punt by the Longhorn
defense several times. That is something most teams in
the valley and the first game of the playoffs never could
do against the Cardinals.
This was the right United Longhorn team to face the
Cardinals in a Area Championship. What the Harlingen
Cardinals got out of the game besides the obvious
winning the game was the ability to match up against a
great offense and a great defense in the Area
Championship.
Something as sports analyst we feel will help the
Cardinals jump over that last hurdle the Valley as well
have not making it into the fourth round. The Longhorns
of United in 2010 will have their stamp on the game next
week the Cardinals will have and when they win they can
say they learned a lot about how they can play when
they faced the 2010 Longhorns of Untied.
The 2010 United Longhorns will go down in Laredo high
school history going from out of the playoffs a year
before to being District and Bi District champions the
next year.
The coaching involved in this process will have to be
remembered and will always be compared from this point
on. The coaching staff that head football coach David
Sanchez should be remembered for their great job.
The head coach at Harlingen best said it when he was
quoted after the game saying “it is about making
adjustments and perseverance”.
Indeed something we been asking for from everyone to
do in Laredo high school football for some time and this
time the 2010 United Longhorn football team did make
the adjustments and the 2010 United Longhorn football
did prevail they out lasted everyone in Laredo , Del Rio
and Eagle Pass when no one gave them a chance. That
is Perseverance Longhorn style.
* Stats verified through on field stats taken by Lrd Sports
Wire News Network sports analyst contributing to this
article.
* Meme Fernandez contributed game scores from UIL
Region IV from the San Antonio games.
* Attendance was not official verified as the game ended.
Speaking with stadium personal the estimate of 12,000
was used based on the eight people Lrd Sports Wire
News Network spoke with.
*The 600 victory for Harlingen was verified through
media sources at the game and in the valley.
*There were three sports analyst in the home side of the
field and two on the visitor side. For goodness sake the
press room would have been filed with Lrd Sports Wire
News Network staff alone. There were two sports
analyst in Laredo, TX making sure the server was
running (inside joke).
*Transportation for Lrd SPorts Wire News Network staff
members while in the valley were provided by Logistic
Travel.
