HARLINGEN — Harlingen High’s Izaiah Bell and Aiden Sandoval have grown up on the gridiron together. The Cardinals’ duo played side-by-side during their time with the Texas Youth Football Association before going to separate campuses in middle school.
Still, their paths collided during that time, with Bell and Sandoval’s teams, Vela Middle School and Gutierrez Middle School, clashing on multiple occasions.
Bell and Sandoval reunited in high school, playing together once again at Cano Freshman Academy in Harlingen before joining Harlingen High’s varsity team as sophomores.
After emerging as a pair of offensive weapons for Harlingen High last season, Bell and Sandoval, now seniors, return to spearhead the Cardinals’ offense this year.
“It was a battle. Seventh grade his team came at us and beat us,” Sandoval said. “The next year we had to get them back and we beat them. Freshman year, we had kids from everywhere that came. It was crazy. Now, having that chemistry helps us complement each other. We’ve been playing with each other since we were six, so we know each other.”
Bell and Sandoval gave the Cardinals a dynamic one-two punch on offense last season, helping Harlingen High advance to the second round of the postseason, finishing 8-4 overall.
Bell served as the Cardinals’ workhorse in the backfield last season, rushing for 718 yards and 15 touchdowns in seven appearances last year. Sandoval added 622 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
“It’s crazy. Teams have to pick their poison,” Bell said. “We have a lot of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball but also on the defensive side of the ball. We work together as a family and come together as one. When we do that, I don’t think there is anybody out there that can stop us.”
The duo each brings a different skillset to the table for the Cardinals’ offense. Bell’s speed and strength allows him to make plays out of nothing, Sandoval said.
“You give him the ball four yards behind the line and somehow, he gets out it,” he added. “Next thing I know he’s running alongside me for the touchdown.”
Meanwhile, Sandoval’s route running ability and glue-like hands make him a playmaker in the passing game for Harlingen High, Bell said.
“You throw him the ball, he’s going to come down with it regardless,” Bell added. “I think that’s his best attribute.”
Both players are quick to credit their teammates for their individual success on Friday nights, praising their offensive line, quarterback and other skill position players.
“Our O-line is full of dawgs with all of them coming back. All our running backs can make plays. If Bell is having a bad day, Kian (Torres) can take over. We have a ton of receivers. Paul Price, he can take over a game in a heartbeat. We just have guys going down a list that can step in and make big plays,” Sandoval said.
“We wouldn’t be able to do this without the quarterback or without the line,” Bell added. “We all come together and work as a family. When one person gets credit, we give credit to all of them.”
Heading into their final year together, Bell and Sandoval are primed for another big season, hoping to continue Harlingen High’s tradition of excellence.
“We didn’t really know what this style of football was until the coaches ignited that fire into us,” Bell said. “They brought all the energy out of us. They got out everything we had. They made us pour our heart into this. We’ve taken care of what we needed to take care of and that’s made us better athletes.”
