MISSION – Team chemistry seems to be the buzzword in the Sharyland Rattlers camp this season that has the squad energized and looking for some vindication after last year’s first-round elimination in the playoffs.

With the 2012 high school football season about to kick off, the Rattlers have been busy improving their team chemistry and correcting the “little mistakes” that did them in last year. 

After racking up a 9-2 overall record in 2011, 7-1 in District 30-5A, Sharyland was ousted from the playoffs in the first round by Laredo United.

Read more: Team chemistry, new coach motivate Sharyland Rattlers

David Gilpin is returning for his 4th year as the Patriots’ head football coach and his 23rd year of coaching in Mission. Progress Times photo by Luciano GuerraAt 6’4” tall and 240 pounds, Coach David Gilpin is quite an imposing figure as he paces back and forth along the sidelines at Veterans Memorial High School (VMHS) football games and calls out instructions to his players – or offers a ref some constructive criticism for a questionable call. His size, his Hulk Hogan-like horseshoe mustache and his boisterous nature may make Gilpin seem a bit intimidating to some, but it is his unabated enthusiasm for the game of football and not his size that makes him stand out among his peers.

As a 22-year veteran of teaching and coaching, all at Mission schools, Gilpin has touched the lives of thousands of young people. Entering his fourth year as the athletic coordinator and head football coach at VMHS, Gilpin is a strong believer in turning small lessons into life lessons.

Read more: Coach David Gilpin: Building more than just football players

Juarez Lincoln Huskies (L-R) Israel Garza (DB), Francisco Contreras (C), Martin Diaz (RB), Kevin Ruiz (LB), Ramiro Garza (QB) and Jose Jasso (DL) are some of the Huskies starters hoping to bring home more wins this season. Progress Times photo by Luciano GuerraIn the four years that La Joya Juarez-Lincoln High School (LJJL) has been in existence, their varsity football program has had its ups and downs. Unfortunately for Huskies fans, players and former Head Coach Aaron Garcia, the downs consistently outnumbered the ups. As a result, Coach Aaron Garcia is out and Coach Tomas Garcia is in.

In his first ever head coaching opportunity, Tomas Garcia knows that his work is cut out for him. He’s more than ready, however, to take on the challenge of turning around a program that has never won more than four games in any one season.

“The first year the Huskies had four victories. The second year they had three and the past two years they were 2-8 both years,” said Garcia.

Read more: Huskies: New district, new coach and new attitude

Mission Eagles football players Alberto Roque, Erick Flores, George Gonzalez, Ray Osoris, Nick Garza (back row) and Sergio Guerrero, Juan Rios, Jose Serrato and Randy De La Garza (front row) are ready to fly high in 2012. Progress Times photo by Luciano GuerraLast year, the Mission Eagles opened their season with impressive victories over San Antonio Holy Cross and their cross-town rivals, Veterans Memorial High School. Sadly for Eagles fans, those turned out to be their only two victories of the season as they ended the 2011 football season with a 2 -8 record.

Fortunately for Eagles fans, players and coaches what happened in 2011 stays in 2011. So why should 2012 be any different? One reason is as a result of the UIL’s recent realignment, the Mission Eagles are now back in 4A after a two-year stint as a barely 5A school.

Read more: Eagles ready to soar

Edinburg, Texas — The bats were busy at Edinburg Baseball Stadium on Wednesday night, and when the dust cleared the McAllen Thunder (25-40) outlasted with a 10-9 win over the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings (35-29).

The two teams combined for 20 hits in the game and the teams traded runs for most of the contest, leading to seven lead changes in the game.

Read more: Thunder outlast the Wings

ABILENE, Texas— The Edinburg Roadrunners rallied after trailing by four runs to beat the Abilene Prairie Dogs 8-5 Wednesday night at Walt Driggers Field snapping their three-game losing streak.

The Prairie Dogs (24-39) jumped out to the quick lead in the bottom of the second on a three-run homerun by Chris Graves. Bryan Fogle then walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. Danny Gonzalez then followed with an RBI single scoring Fogle extending the Abilene lead 4-0.

Read more: Roadrunners rally to defeat Prairie Dogs