No. 4-ranked SaberCats start season with new look

EDINBURG — It was an offseason of change for the Edinburg Vela football program, but the goals remain the same for the SaberCats: compete for district titles and prepare to win in November.

Vela starts the season off ranked at No. 4 in the RGVSports.com 5A/6A Preseason Poll, as the SaberCats are in shape to contend for gold once again, this time in District 16-5A DI.

“We all got our goals already — we’re going to go after a district title and deep in the playoffs,” senior defensive lineman RJ De Leon said. “We have some pretty good opponents this year but we’re just going to take it week by week and execute each game.”

Edinburg Vela’s defenders Nicolas Guevara, left, and RJ Deleon, right, sack McAllen Rowe’s quarterback, Elijah Garza, below, during a District 15-5A DI contest at Richard R. Flores Stadium on Thursday, November 2, 2023 in Edinburg . (Delcia Lopez | dlopez@themonitor.com)

Head coach Ernie Alonzo is in Year 1 at the helm of Edinburg Vela’s football program and is ready to lead the charge after serving as defensive coordinator at McAllen High. He’s not the only new face with the SaberCats, however.

Senior quarterback Geoffrey LeFevre is set to take the reins of the offense after transferring from Donna High. He started two seasons at Donna and led the Rio Grande Valley in passing yardage last year with 3,324 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Edinburg Vela QB Geoffrey LeFevre.

The SaberCats have had standout passers in the past, but they’ve also leaned heavily on their running game with an imposing offensive line and talented backs behind them. Vela only threw the ball about 170 times last season.

At Donna in 2023, LeFevre attempted 346 passes in one fewer game.

“We’re going to kind of keep the same mold as Edinburg Vela had but we might throw some new stuff in. That’s something for people to wait and see,” LeFevre said.

The SaberCats will have to find a new group of pass-catchers, but they do have some experience at running back as senior Jonathan Flores is Vela’s leading returning rusher after posting 527 yards and seven touchdowns on 44 carries last season. Senior offensive linemen Ronnie Ramirez, Jesus Cedillo and Angel Rios will help clear space in the running game.

Edinburg Vela OL Ronnie Ramirez (left), RB Jonathan Flores (center) and OL Jesus Cedillo (right).

Edinburg Vela’s defense brings back seven starters including three on the defensive line with De Leon (13 tackles in three games), Daniel Duberney (40 tackles, two interceptions, two sacks) and last season’s 15-5A DI defensive newcomer of the year Ethan Delgado.

“We’re just ready. We help each other and motivate each other, push each other,” De Leon said. “I’m just ready. It’s senior year so we’re just ready to go out there and do our thing.”

Edinburg Vela LB Noah Lopez (left), DB Luis Garcia (left center), DL RJ De Leon (right center), DB Derek Rodriguez (right).

The SaberCats are also strong on the back end with 6-foot, 2-inch senior safeties Luis Garcia and Derek Rodriguez patrolling the secondary, while junior linebacker Noah Lopez is the team’s top returning tackler with 74 total stops a season ago.

Vela is slated to open its 2024 campaign with non-district rivalry games against Edinburg North and Edinburg High in Weeks 1 and 2 before colliding against Harlingen High in a marquee matchup Sept. 13 in Harlingen.

The SaberCats are scheduled to open District 16-5A DI competition Sept. 20 on the road against Mission High.

“We’re hungry. They (Vela) ended with a good season last year and we just want to keep that going,” LeFevre said. “It’s tradition at Robert Vela, you know? Just expect a lot of explosive plays. We got some dogs on offense and defense.”

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