La Villa 7-on-7 team sets sights on College Station

LA VILLA — The La Villa Cardinals may hail from a small town, but they’ve certainly got big goals.

The Cards are back in the 7-on-7 football state tournament and will trek today to College Station, where the tourney will be played at Texas A&M University.

La Villa is one of four Valley teams playing in the state tourney, which begins Thursday. Edinburg and PSJA Memorial qualified for the Division-I tourney while Hidalgo joins the Cards in Division-II.

After missing out last year, La Villa is back in its third state tourney in four years. The Cardinals also qualified in 2007 and 2008.

"They’re pretty hyped up about it," La Villa coach Robert Perez said of his squad. "We also have three kids that went up to state as sophomores, so they're excited to go back. Plus, they provide good leadership for the younger kids."

Along with Perez, Noe Castillo Sr. and Carlos Garza volunteered to coach the squad, which is not school-sponsored.

Members of the team, which make up almost all of La Villa’s varsity roster, include Brandon Alaniz, Rico Garcia, Roger Perez, Zeferino Guerrero, Kevin Ramirez, Bobby Silguero, Noe Castillo, George Gonzalez, Ricky Cantu, Tommy Pinales, A.J. Garza, Jacob Garza, Isaias Martinez, Daniel Ybarra, Estaqio Vallejo and Alex Galvez.

Most saw time on the La Villa varsity, including Cantu, a second-team All-Valley pick at defensive back, and A.J. Garza, who saw plenty of time at quarterback in the Cards’ spread attack.

To get back to College Station, La Villa won its pool at its own state qualifying tourney, but fell to eventual champion Hidalgo, as both teams advanced. Since early May, the Cards have racked up a 46-5 record while playing in tourneys in Hidalgo, Riviera, Tuloso-Midway, Mission and Weslaco.

The tourney has grown in size and popularity over the years. While not sanctioned by the UIL, 7-on-7 has become an offseason ritual and is seen by many as a chance to stay sharp before two-a-day workouts begin next month.

"Personally, I believe it helps. It helps the quarterback and receivers get their timing down, especially for passing teams," Perez said. "And La Villa has been a good passing team the past couple years. Receivers can find their spots and the quarterback gets to read defenses, so I think it helps."

In Thursday’s pool play, La Villa will try to emerge from a group including Whitney, Lovejoy and Seminole.

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"To be honest, our kids take a lot of pride in being able to represent the Valley," Perez said. "We’re a 1A school, but we play 1As to 5As and we do fairly well.

Hopefully we can take care of business, go to state, and win everything."