Harlingen Cardinals' success on gridiron top VMS's top stories of 2011

It was another special year in local sports. There were plenty of milestones and banner seasons. As we welcome in 2012, the Valley Morning Star takes a quick look at the year that was in local sports with the Top 10 stories.

Cards make history on gridiron

From the beginning it was fourth round or bust for the Harlingen Cardinals.

And the 2011 season was one for the record books for Big Red. From winning 13 games to scoring 713 points and advancing past the third round of the playoffs for only the second time in school history, the Harlingen Cardinals were the Valley Morning Star’s top sports story of 2011.

A big 53-28 win against San Antonio Warren in the third round of the playoffs, propelled the Cards to the elusive fourth round or state quarterfinals.

Harlingen’s season ended there but not before the 2011 Cardinals etched their names in Valley history.

The Cards were only the fourth Valley 5A club to reach the fourth round of the postseason. Edinburg did it last in 1999 and Mission in 1990.

The 1989 Harlingen Cardinals did it for the first time in Valley history.

Harlingen also ended its 14-game campaign as the highest scoring team in Valley history and the only squad to score more than 700 points in one season.

The Cardinals ended up with 713 points scored (50.9 points per game). Last year Harlingen became the first Valley team to hit the 600-point mark when it scored exactly 600 points in 13 games.

Other highlights this season included a big non-district win against Abilene during Week Three.

It was also a big year for Gomez, who won his 50th career game with a 56-0 victory against PSJA in Week Nine and ran his overall record to 54-10, including 37-3 the last three years.

Harlingen completed its third straight undefeated regular season and is currently riding a regular season game winning streak of 31 games.

San Benito softball reaches Elite 8

It came as no surprise the first Valley softball club ever to surpass the Sweet 16 and reach the state’s final eight Class 5A teams would be the San Benito Lady ‘Hounds. One of the area’s perennial softball powers, San Benito was spurred by freshman and All-Valley MVP Amber Jasso. The phenom was dazzling in the circle while also a feared speedster at the top of the order. The talented Lady ‘Hounds team reclaimed the 32-5A title from rival Brownsville Porter and then went on a magical playoff run, ousting Harlingen, Eagle Pass Winn and Edinburg North to reach the Sweet 16. San Benito made history when it ousted San Antonio Southwest in the fourth round to become the first program to reach a regional final (Elite 8). Coach Elias Martinez (All-Valley Coach) led his club to a school-record 33 wins in addition to setting a new standard in Valley softball.

South legend Steve Lunsford retires

After a 12-year career, Harilngen South volleyball coach Steve Lunsford anounced he was retiring. In 12 years as head coach, Lunsford tallied an amazing 320-77 overall record. He averaged 27 wins per year. Under Lunsford, Lady Hawks volleyball won eight district titles, 10 bi-district titles, seven area championships, seven regional quarterfinal titles and made reached the Sweet 16 five times. In 2003, Harlingen South did what no other volleyball team had accomplished then or has accomplished even now. The Lady Hawks reached the Class 4A Final Four losing a tough match to Dallas Highland Park in the state semifinals.

Turbulent times for South football

Harlingen South is in search of its sixth head football coach in the school’s 19-year history. Winners of only three games in the last three seasons, the South Hawks have endured a long stretch of futlity. South is 3-27 since 2009. Former head coach Gilbert Leal was placed on administrative leave at midseason for off the field issues and was reassigned at the end of the season. A new head coach is expected to be in place later this month.

Regional soccer tourney comes to RGV

After a long and arduous fight by Valley coaches and ADs, the Valley finally hosted a regional soccer tournament. In the spring, Brownsville Sports Park was home to the Region IV-5A boys and girls soccer tournaments. On the boys side, Brownwsville Porter and Lopez advanced to the Regional title game with Porter scoring an upset win and advancing to the Class 5A State Tournament for the second time in five years. Throngs of Valley fans attended.

Bermea shines on track in spring

Harlingen hurdler Randy Bermea broke two long standing hurdles records in the 110s and 300s. Bermea won a silver in the 110s at state and a bronze in the 300s in Austin as well. The previous 300 record belonged to his head coach Harvey Noyola. In June, Bermea ran at a national track meet and took third place in the 400 hurdles, his first time running that race.

Lions hire third coach in three seasons

La Feria had its third coach in a calendar year when it hired Oscar Salinas to replace Bo Camacho. Camacho resigned after just a season with the Lions after replacing the successful Elifonso Esquivel. The ever-resilient Lions responded under Salinas, the former Edinburg Economedes coach. La Feria began the year 6-0 and appeared on track to the playoffs with a talented group. But injuries and a three-game district streak proved costly and the Lions just missed the playoffs with a 7-3 record.

Greyhounds, Redskins celebrate anniversary of 1961

In 1961, the Valley was riding high in the high school football world. In Class 3A, the San Benito Greyhounds reached the state semifinals and in Class 2A, the Donna Redskins won the state title with a win against Quannah. It’s been 50 years and no two teams have accomplished that same feat in the same season for the Valley. Both teams were honored during the season for the 50th anniversary of their accomplishments.

Ford returns to Valley with Pirates

After a two-year absence from a Valley sideline, former Los Fresnos head football coach Scott Ford returned to the RGV when the Hidalgo ISD hired im as the new Hidalgo Pirates head coach for an estimated six-figure salary. Ford returned after a couple of subpar seasons at 4A Nacogdoches. But it’s what he did at Los Fresnos that made him a commodity amongst Valley schools.

San Benito volleyball

Continuing the good times for the girls’ program in the calendar year, the Lady ‘Hounds volleyball program had a banner season. San Benito finished second in 32-5A and got back to the postseason. But the special part came when the Lady ‘Hounds captured their first-ever playoff match by defeating Edinburg in a five-set thriller at San Benito High School. The Lady ‘Hounds finished 24-9 on the year and got plenty of accolades including VMS all-area nods for Kassandra Sanchez (MVP) and Ruby Medina (Coach of the Year).