MISSION — Sharyland Pioneer returned to the win column with a 49-6 rolling of Valley View last Friday, and one of its seniors made program history in the process.
Senior defensive back Emily Garcia became the first girl to play varsity football for the Diamondbacks (3-1) after entering the game during the second half of the non-district win.
“I was just really nervous because this was my first time and I didn’t know if I was going to mess up or something,” she said.
Garcia, who is also on the Diamondbacks’ girls soccer team, never played football before her freshman year. For her, the prospect of getting to play a new sport and hit some people in the process was too good to pass up.
“I really wanted to get out of my comfort zone. I just thought football would be something I like because you get to hit people,” she said. “It was so hard because I didn’t know anything about anything. They hit hard. I wasn’t used to being hit like that, but I got used to it.”
On game nights, she wears No. 17. At practice this week, she wore a black jersey with the words “Hit ‘em hard” on the front, recognizing her milestone moment and performance during Friday’s win over Valley View.
“I didn’t think they’d be as supportive as they were. I thought I’d be an outcast a little bit, but everybody was just really welcoming,” Garcia said about her journey from a freshman football player to senior varsity member.
Pioneer head coach Eddie Galindo, who has two daughters, said the team has supported Garcia just like he does his own.
“We embrace them, we support them in whatever endeavor they choose in life and all we can do is tell them to give it all they have and work hard to achieve whatever goal or dream they have. She came in here, worked hard for four years,” he said. “She came in her freshman year, never blamed, never complained, has done everything we’ve asked for, gone through offseasons and boot camps.”
Garcia has one message to those who may be shy about beginning something new, like when she took a leap of faith and joined the football program.
“Honestly, just do it. There’s nothing bad that can happen. All you get from it is new experiences and learn a lot,” she said.
The Diamondbacks are slated to host Laredo Alexander at 7 p.m. Friday at Richard Thompson Stadium in Mission.
WINNING BIG
PSJA Memorial continues to take steps forward in its turnaround operation under second-year head coach Will Littleton.
The Wolverines (2-2) surpassed their win total from last season by picking up a Week 4 victory over Donna North.
The 35-point win over the Chiefs is the program’s largest margin of victory dating back to Sept. 9, 2011, when the Wolverines walloped Brownsville Lopez 62-7.
The Wolverines have one final non-district tuneup game against Valley View (0-4) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at PSJA ISD Stadium.
STARR RUNNING BACKS
Four of the top 10 leading rushers across the Rio Grande Valley entering Week 5 are from of Starr County.
Rio Grande City has two runners among rushing yardage leaders in Alexis Chapa (68 carries, 634 yards, four touchdowns) and Victor Cardenas (56 carries, 603 yards, eight touchdowns). The duo ranks No. 5 and 8 in ground yards and has helped the Rattlers start 3-1 overall and 1-0 in District 15-5A DI.
Grulla’s Jason Vega sits at No. 4 in rushing yards with 654 and seven touchdowns on 70 carries. The Gators’ offense is averaging 31 points per game with Vega and quarterback Andrew Sanchez running wild against opposing defenses.
Roma’s Isaac Lozano is right on their heels at No. 6 with 633 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 71 attempts. Since dropping a 40-34 overtime loss against La Joya Palmview in Week 2, the Gladiators have won back-to-back games to improve to 2-2 on the year.
