Expect another competitive 31-5A

District 31-5A is home to some of the more historic programs in Valley history.
The eight-team league includes the Harlingen Cardinals, PSJA Bears and Edinburg Bobcats.
Others like PSJA North haven't been around as long but the Raiders have established a nice tradition of winning in Pharr in the past decade or so.
Three of the aforementioned squads made the playoffs in 2008. Harlingen and PSJA North won a co-district championship.
The Bears beat the Raiders and Harlingen squeaked by the Bears.
Edinburg North was the fourth playoff team, which beat PSJA.
So the parity was evident. At least with the top four teams.
And don't expect too much of a difference in 2009. In fact, look for a couple more teams to step up and compete for a playoff spot.
OUTLOOK
HARLINGEN: While the Cardinals graduated several key cogs from last season's 10-3 squad, Harlingen has its share back ready to win the league title.
Led by All-Valley Defensive MVP Mean Mingo Rincon, the Harlingen defense figures to be one of the best around in 2009 again.
Rincon is joined by defensive linemen Tipper Ramirez (second-team All-Valley) and Nick Aviles upfront. Defensive backs Erwin Loya and Tyler Armstrong also return on defense.
On offense, QB John Murphy graduated but the Cards don't expect to miss a step at QB with Mack Sanchez taking over as signal caller. Hard-running running back Pablo Garza also returns along with the team's leading receiver in Anthony Reyna and Luke Lucio.
Look for Harlingen head coach Manny Gomez to make a few adjustments to the Cards' special teams.
DISTRICT: First
PSJA NORTH: The Raiders return one of the top quarterbacks in the Valley in Noe Garcia.
The senior-to-be beautifully executed Bruce Bush's Slot-T offense and should continue the trend in 2009.
On defense, the Raiders return lineman Sam Salgado, the top newcomer in district this season.
North also returns the top newcomer on offense in Gus Trejo. So the Raiders continue to be stacked for 2009.
DISTRICT: Second, but could give Harlingen a run for its money.
PSJA: Never count out the Running Bears.
The Bears got off to a horrendous start in 2008 losing four of its first five games.
But when it counted, Mel Rios' team came to play.
Led by running back Angel Marroquin and QB Trey Ramirez, the Bears finished strong.
And with other running backs like Oswaldo Cantu and may more that come out of that running back factory, the Bears should be among the elite in 31-5A once again,
DISTRICT: Third
PSJA MEMORIAL: This will be the year the Wolverines turn the corner.
Memorial started off hot last year with a 3-0 mark. But a six-game losing streak exposed the team's youth and inexperience.
Memorial finished the regular season with a win and during the season, gave Harlingen one of the toughest times any team did all year.
The talent is there with QB Louie Gonzalez, RB Jonathan Gonzalez ad WR Gilbert Gutierrez returning for only their junior season in 2009.
A fourth-place prediction is safe for this talented bunch. But who knows? A little momentum can go a long way in Alamo next season. Watch out for Gus Cavazos and his Wolverines.
DISTRICT: Fourth
EDINBURG NORTH: The Cougars return quarterbacks Matthew Munoz and Raul Monsevais.
Both will be seniors but expect Munoz to play another position like receiver.
Monsevais was an honorable mention all-district selection this season.
The Cougars played with a lot of youth this season so the Coogs will be a little more experienced in 2009.
And head coach Roy Garza has done a wonderful job in the past few years of establishing a winner.
The Coogs are predicted fifth but don't be surprised to see them end up as high as third.
DISTRICT: Fifth.
HARLINEN SOUTH: Depending on who the Harlingen school district hires to take over for Alan Cherry, this prediction could go up as high as fourth or third (Harlingen and PSJA North are a solid one and two).
It's hard to gauge what the Hawks can do right now without a leader. They can't be too much worse.
There are a lot of good names already on the list of possible replacements.
Some are young, some are older. Some are currently head coaches in the Valley and elsewhere.
We'll find out more in a couple of weeks. And we'll find out more on the Hawks in August 2009.
DISTRICT: Sixth.
EDINBURG, EDINBURG ECONOMEDES: Both teams return top notch athletes.
The Bobcats have tradition on their side.
Both programs are in need of some kind of shake up.
DISTRICT: Seventh and Eighth (in no particular order).

Eladio Jaimez covers District 31-5A for Valley Freedom Newspapers. He can be reached at eladioj@valleystar.com