E-E starts the season at No. 1

EDCOUCH - Joe Solis wasn't too thrilled when he heard his team's ranking. Politely, he had asked for any spot other than No. 1. Anything but the top spot, he explained, would give his players extra motivation to improve.

Sorry Coach Solis, but when you have 18 starters returning from a district championship team, top rankings usually come with. And to start the 2008 season, Solis and the Edcouch-Elsa Yellowjackets are the top-ranked team in the Rio Grande Valley, edging out Harlingen High for the No. 1 spot.

"Now we've got to tell them. We have to defend it now," Solis said. "Tradition, and what we've done in the past and all that, I can understand where it's coming from. We'll take it, don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to be selfish or anything. We'll take it."

Maybe the ‘Jackets tradition has something to do with their top ranking, but other programs in the Valley have a football history. Few, however, have the quantity and quality of returning players Edcouch-Elsa does.

On defense, the ‘Jackets have 10 starters returning from a group that, after allowing 74 points over the first two regular season games, never gave up more than 21 until the postseason. Middle linebacker Tony Sanchez (6-foot-1, 235 pounds) returns for his third season of varsity football to lead the defense.

Offensively, the ‘Jackets "only" return eight starters from a unit that averaged 345.6 yards per game in 2007. Along with senior QB Erik Nino, the ‘Jackets have running back Roger Garcia and tight end Aaron Tanguma back from last season, plus with three members of the offensive line.

Nino said the expectations around this year's team are no different than any other at Edcouch-Elsa, despite all of the talent returning.

"It's big every year. With the community and tradition, that's how it is, with the tradition," Nino said.

Tanguma, who at 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds is one of the biggest targets in the Valley, was reeling off all of the talent returning. He understood that's why the ‘Jackets are ranked where they are, and that the level of returning talent they have is impressive.

"To protect that ranking, obviously we've got to win," Tanguma said. "We've got to run our plays with a lot of execution. We've got to not be overconfident. We've got to continue our tradition of winning."

Brian Sandalow covers District 32-4A for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436 or via email at bsandalow@themonitor.com.

2008 Edcouch-Elsa Yellowjackets at a glance

Coach: , sixth season

2007 season: 10-2, area round

Top Returners: When a team has 18 returning starters, it's hard to pick out who the top returners are. Defensively, Edcouch-Elsa will be led by MLB Tony Sanchez. Offensively, the ‘Jackets return star quarterback , running back and tight end , among others.

Of Note: Though E-E's 37-game regular-season winning streak was snapped by Weslaco, the ‘Jackets are still on two impressive runs. The ‘Jackets have won 32 consecutive district games and five district titles in a row. 

2008 Schedule

Aug. 29   at Calallen                                  7:30 p.m.

Sept. 5    at Harlingen HIgh                        7:30 p.m.

Sept. 12  vs. Port Isabel                            7:30 p.m.

Sept. 26  at Weslaco East                        7:30 p.m.

Oct. 3      vs. Valley View                          7:30 p.m.

Oct. 10    at Mercedes                               7:30 p.m.

Oct. 17    vs. Mission High                         7:30 p.m.

Oct. 24    at Mission Veterans                    7:30 p.m.

Oct. 31    at Juarez-Lincoln                         7:30 p.m.

Nov. 7     vs. Roma                                     7:30 p.m.