There will be a few new names making big plays for the Lyford Bulldogs and Raymondville Bearkats this season.
The Bulldogs return five starters on both sides of the ball and graduated some key defenders along with the top-scoring quarterback and wide receiver duo. They’ll also be under new direction with Gerardo Jauregui returning to the sidelines after a few years in administration to lead the team.
“It’s been exciting. The transition’s been great. I’m so glad to be out here on the field, out here around the ’Dogs, around the coaches and back in the camaraderie and all that. You can’t get more exciting than Texas high school football,” Jauregui said.
Jauregui credited the strength and conditioning and sport-specific training the UIL allowed throughout the summer with helping get Lyford up to speed quickly. Execution, mental toughness and finishing practice strong have been the main points of emphasis during Week 1.
“The terminology, we’re not teaching it right now. The kids already know the terminology and what’s expected of them, so we hit the ground running, which is what we wanted,” Jauregui said. “They’re excited to be here. They love being around their friends, their coaches, being around everything. That’s what I love, just seeing the smiles on their faces and getting that opportunity to play football.”
Lyford will be going no-huddle and using “a plethora of receivers” on rotation to move the ball in its spread offense. Jauregui said the offensive line and receiving corps have been impressive so far, and both have a good mix of returners and promising new faces making an impact.
Raymondville returns just three starters on offense and four on defense. While the experience might be limited, the talent and potential sure isn’t for coach Frank Cantu. He said participation has been good throughout the summer and in the first week of practice, and he believes the spots up for grabs create positive opportunities for the Bearkats.
“We’re really excited,” Cantu said. “We’re glad with the numbers we’re getting, slowly, every day we seem to be getting a few more, and it’s starting to look a lot more like football again. That’s a really, really good feeling.
“Some of our defenders will have to go and play offense, too,” he added. “It leaves opportunities for others to come up and fill in some of those spots for those guys that are expected to go both ways. All you can ask for in life is an opportunity, so when that opportunity comes up, be ready. It’s a chance for you to earn a job and get some really good playing time.”
The first week has been centered around conditioning and “starting to learn football again.” Cantu said the Bearkats are ahead of schedule thanks to a strong summer, and they’re ready to take advantage of having a full slate of games after a rollercoaster 2020 season. Raymondville played one non-district game then waited five weeks before heading straight into the playoffs without a single district contest.
“The summer workouts really helped. It made a difference as far as knowing assignments and learning plays and how to call it,” Cantu said. “The attitude, the hungriness and want to play is there. We feel like we missed out last year. It was, ‘What if we had a full season, could we have done more?’ The guys that were there want to advance further, so there’s a hungriness to have all 10 games and then see where we’re at.”
One of the non-district games already circled by Willacy County residents is the “Cotton Bowl” that pits the rival Bulldogs and Bearkats against each other. The game was not held last season but is scheduled this season for Sept. 10 in Lyford.
“Some of these guys’ cousins and relatives are in Lyford, and vice versa, so it’s about bragging rights. It’s something we want to put a check by, and then we go hunting for bigger games up ahead. We definitely make sure we play our best when that game comes around,” Cantu said.
Added Jauregui: “The Cotton Bowl has a lot of history, and we’re excited to be playing it here in Lyford. I know the kids get riled up. That week we don’t need any motivational speeches, they’re just ready to go, so we’re looking forward to that game.”
