By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
A tough non-district schedule is designed to make the games that count a little easier.
Del Rio will get the chance to put that theory to the test when the Rams open the 2024-25 season tonight under the friendly lights of Walter Levermann Ram Stadium against the Kerrville Tivy Antlers.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Tivy is coming off a 6-4 season, but the Antlers failed to reach the postseason after going 2-4 in district play. It was the third time in the past four seasons that Tivy failed to advance to the playoffs.
The Antlers will open the season with at least one new quarterback under center. Senior Peyton Bailey may have the inside track to be the starter though he didn’t take a snap last season according to stats posted on MaxPreps.
If Bailey struggles, expect Tivy’s coaches to turn to sophomore Seth Shuler. Despite his youth, Shuler may be the more prototypical quarterback, standing 6’ 2” and possessing a strong arm according to Kerrville’s Daily Times.
No matter who is under center, they’ll benefit from an offensive line that returns four starters from last season.
The Antlers are expected to roll out a more high tempo offense that relies on quick calls on the field and near perfect execution to keep opposing defenses gassed and opposing offenses off the field. It’s hard for a defense to make substitutions when an offense is lined up and ready to go, and that’s part of Kerrville’s strategy.
Other offensive weapons to look out for Tivy are running backs Domynik Vasquez (49 carries, 222 yards, 5 TDs) and Aidan Zavala and wide receivers Guy Flores (31 catches, 314 yards, 5 TDs), Carson Jones (29 catches, 322 yards) and Cade Jones (24 catches, 280 yards, 2 TDs).
Defensively, the Antlers return only two starters from last year’s team. Expect Tivy to field plenty of seniors who should be ready to step up in their final year of high school football. According to the Daily Times, this group of seniors was 9-1 as freshmen, meaning they’ve experienced success as a unit before and will look to do the same this season.
The two returners aren’t slouches.
Junior defensive tackle Anthony Sanchez was the district’s unanimous defensive newcomer of the year after registering a sack, an interception and two forced fumbles.
Senior safety River Risinger had five tackles for loss, an interception and recovered a pair of fumbles.
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine projects the Antlers to finish fifth in their district. Aside from the players already mentioned, the publication also said offensive lineman Jonathan Stevenson (6’ 5”, 260 pounds) and wide receiver/defensive back Colin Rose (5’ 10”, 170 pounds, 4.4 40) are players to watch on the Tivy roster.
Del Rio returns 32 players from last year’s squad including 25 lettermen. That team finished 2-8 and failed to reach the playoffs for the first time in three years.
Head coach Fiacro Ramirez returns for his second season at the helm. A product of legendary Rams head coach Claude Fest’s teams from the 1980’s, Ramirez has tossed out the spread offense of Rams teams of the past and installed a more grounded triple option offense that is designed to control the clock versus put up big points in a hurry. He also brought in coach Logan McGill to help guide the offense and tweak things for maximum success.
Ramirez has also moved players around, putting the more athletic standouts in positions in which they would best help the team. That has included moving defensive linemen George Avalos and Luke Miner offense, shifting backup quarterback Hassem Mussi to wide receiver and installing Ethan Dobbins in the second alongside veterans Richard Camposano and Jacob Ortiz.
Ramirez does get some weapons back including the experienced running back duo of Zane Hughes and Fermin Rodriguez.
Hughes is probably the best athlete on the team. A versatile athlete with three straight appearances on the 30-6A all-district teams, Hughes will look to turn any opening into a chance to show off his record-breaking speed. He owns two school records in track including the 200 meters.
Rodriguez is the more bruising back whose shiftiness compliments his size. His ability to take the pressure off Hughes may be the 1-2 punch the Rams needed to return to the program’s winning ways after seven straight losing seasons.
Junior quarterback Jayden Mendoza appeared in five games for the Rams last season. This year, he’s the man in charge in the backfield. A workhorse off the field, Mendoza has already shown his toughness on the field this year after he took a tough shot from a San Angelo Central defender in Del Rio’s only scrimmage. He will learn to preserve himself through sliding or stepping out of bounds, but his willingness to take a hard hit for extra yards for the team is the kind of leadership that can motivate a team.
Defensively the Rams have a lot of holes to fill, but defensive coordinator Eloy Gloria has a lot of talent to choose from. Moses Fernandez should be a key asset and Kai Gee and EJ Smith should be contributors in their first year on varsity.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
