Harlingen South Hawks start at No. 9 in preseason 5A/6A poll

2 months ago 62

HARLINGEN — Harlingen South starts the season ranked No. 9 in the RGVSports.com 5A-6A Top 10 Poll after breaking through with playoff success to end its 2023 campaign.

The Hawks finished last season 8-4 overall with a bi-district playoff victory over McAllen Memorial, the program’s first postseason win in 11 years. Now, the Hawks are hungry for more entering 2024.

“We’re just excited to get on the field with a new roster and see what we can do this year,” senior running back Alvin Edwards said.

The Hawks return 12 starters, with seven on offense and five on defense, giving fourth-year head coach Israel Gonzalez a good group to work with.

The South offense will revolve around its lead back, Alvin Edwards, a senior rusher who ran for 576 yards and seven touchdowns on 86 carries in 2023. He shared the load last season but is ready to handle the majority of the touches out of the South backfield.

“It’s a big moment for me because I’m finally stepping up and being the main running back,” he said. “It’s a lot of pressure, but after your first Bird Bowl, all the pressure is off you. We got some new up and comers that I’m excited about, too.”

The Hawks also return two options at quarterback with senior Dylan Anaya (436 passing yards, five touchdowns; 610 rushing yards, seven touchdowns) and junior Austen Shroyer (546 passing yards, seven touchdowns; 161 rushing yards), both of whom have shown they can move the ball through the air and on the ground.

Junior linebacker Marcus Garza (102 total tackles, two interceptions) will man the middle of the South defense, and senior defensive backs Luis Orozco (29 tackles, one interception) and Joaquin Romero (46 tackles, one interception) patrol the secondary.

South will be in a tougher district in 2024 thanks to the latest UIL realignment, however. The Hawks have their work cut out for them with 15-5A DI matchups against Corpus Christi Flour Bluff, Corpus Christi Veterans, Donna High, PSJA Memorial, PSJA North and Weslaco East — all playoff teams from a season ago.

“I think a team can only get better by playing tougher teams,” Edwards said. “I’m excited to play against those teams that people consider harder teams. I think it’s going to be different because now we’re going in as underdogs and I think it’s going to change their perspective in how they try to play us, but I think we can stick with them either way.”

South is slated to open the regular season Aug. 29 at McAllen Rowe before playing host to crosstown rival Harlingen High in the Bird Bowl on Sept. 6. The Hawks then kick off District 15-5A DI action in Week 3 on the road against Flour Bluff.