By Ed Muniz-Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill
If you met Kyliee Gonzalez, you might come away thinking she was a nice, soft spoken, smiley-faced young lady.
That would be true. She isn’t loud or outspoken by nature, well, that’s what it appeared to this reporter.
But when the 11-year-old puts on that Red and White uniform of the Harlingen Ruthless Wolfpack football team, YES, FOOTBALL TEAM! She is a powerhouse that runs boys over or drags them along , doling out the punishment on every carry!
Known as “The Icebox” by her teammates, a reference to the female character in the movie “Little Giants” who like Kyliee, was someone you didn’t want to mess with on the football field, her play has spoken for her and takes no seconds to anyone.
She was on full display when she and her teammates, coached by David Gonzalez, took to the field in quest of the Junior Championship of the TYFA ‘Battle at the Border” Spring season Championships in McAllen Texas.
Their opponents were the PSJA Wildcats came into the Championship as the top seed of the Junior division and played like the top seed early on with wins of 31-0 and 40-6.
The second-seed Wolfpack also displayed dominance during their early outings with wins of 35-0 and 29-0.
The matchup was interesting on paper because of each team’s domination on their sides of the bracket but also because of the rivalry on the field. Many of these players know each other. So that in it of itself can create a great game.
One score, a solo touchdown is all that lit up the imaginary scoreboard, with that coming from the Wolfpack and earning them the 7-0, 11U Junior Championship.
Following the Wildcats kickoff, the Wolfpack saw an 11-yard streak by Brian Ornelas. Quarterback Joe Arellano connected with a pass to Kylie Gonzalez that went for 12 before she stepped out.
Two plays later, Gonzalez again took the rock up the middle and scored from 19-yards out, putting her Wolfpack team up 7-0 after converting the extra-point.
“I wanted to be part of a team and make sure I had fun, its why I wanted to be part of the team,” said Kylie. “I think my running is just natural. By working hard in practice that will make me better. I do get mad at times during the game. I think ill keep improving, in my speed.”
As the opening quarter was concluding, the Wildcats were trying to counter with runs by Kenny Llanes, Nathan Rincones and Derek Diez and managed to get inside the Wolfpack 20-yard-line, but stellar defense by Ornelas, Jordan Dolan and Ayden Mendez forced a turnover on downs for the Wildcats.
Entering the second quarter, The Wolfpack offense began at their own 18-yard-line and proceeded to keep control of the ball the entire second quarter but were unable to add to their lead.
They managed to gain several yards via the rushing of Ornelas, Anthony Zuniga, Matt Adams, but penalties also plagued them. Moving back and forth and the tackling of Wildcats’ Kaden Williamson, Rincones, Kaden Williamson, Matt Adams, Israel Villegas Jr., Joseph Anaya, Michael Hawes and Jordan Candelaria limited their ability to make another dent on the score.
The Wolfpacks did have a big pass play connect when Ornelas connected with Zuniga for 30-yards but that wasn’t enough as play came to and end of the first half with the Wolfpack leading 7-0.
The Wildcats took the opening possession of the second half and nearly coughed it up when Matais Mendoza lost control and fumbled but recovered to maintain control.
Rushes by Derek Diez gained next to nothing with tackles by Urijah Lucio and Kylie Gonzalez. A pass attempt by Adams was defended well by Lucio, the Wildcats opening efforts of the second half were done.
Trying to stay just one score down, the Wildcats turned up their defensive pressure, limiting the Wolfpack to small gains. Stops by Diez, Hawes and a sack by Rincones set up Diez who snagged an errant pass for the interception.
Both Defenses were upping their game and it became a battle of attrition. For the Wolfpack, maintaining the lead was vital, while the Wildcats were desperate to tie the score entering the final quarter.
Ayden Mendez led the Wolfpack defensive line play. He was a force that snuffed out anything near him.
“I was a little sore today, but I still think I played pretty good especially on defense,” said the two way lineman. Mendez also felt their run game was outstanding, giving credit to the backfield and his linemates.
“We did good running the ball and on defense, but maybe we could improve blocking and our pass game some. Still, I’m very happy with the win.”
A sack by Jayveon Vidal and a stop by Dolan forced a Wildcats turnover on downs.
The Wildcats gave as much as they got and shortened the Wolfpacks ensuing possession with stops from Ornelas for 10-yards, and consecutive tackles by Rincones and a stop on fourth down by Kenny Ilanes.
The Wild cats went to the air trying to score as time was nearing the end, but just couldn’t connect and when Zeus Bustamante lost the football, the game was sealed for the Wolfpack, earning the tight 7-0 Championship.
The Wolfpack had a field general that was cool as a cucumber even under some pressure by a stout Wildcats defense.
“I got to lead the team, respect every single player and get through this game,” said Quarterback Joe Arellano. “I didn’t feel any pressure being quarterback, I’ve been doing this for years. It’s a team effort, we played great defense and got the win. I think our pass game and executing in general could be better.”
Other Wolfpack members adding to the Championship season were Devin Agguirre, Liam Perez, Irving Acevedo, Myles Gonzalez, Michael Longoria, Ruben Barron, Myles Munoz, Luke Rodriguez, Jelani Guy, Vin Mantalvo, Ayden Mendez, Joe Kevin Martinez, Cristian Velez, Christian Sandoval, Jorge Resendez, Ian Martinez, Jayden Pagan and Rashad Greenwood.
“We knew we had a long weekend ahead of us because we had a tough bracket,” said Head Coach David Gonzalez.
“We knew coming into this game we had to execute at a high level and be on our game and take the field and do our job every single play, I felt we nearly did that and had some miscues, but football is a game of percentages, and we got those percentages today.”
The Wildcats saw great efforts throughout the Championship and the season. Also adding to the team were Dante Puente, Matavis Lopez, Matais Mendoza, Nathan Lee Gonazalez, Sebastian Corona, Iker Morin, Julian Chapa, Felix Rodriguez, Emilio Rios, Zaid Vidal, Brian Rodriguez, Jordan Candelaria, Celestino Pena, Dylan Gonzalez, Elias Loredo, Alekzander Lopez, Jesse Hernandez, Gabriel Garza, Jayden Garzez and Elias Solis.
Coach Isaac Diez’s Wildcat team is loaded with talent and for him it’s a fine line of winning and losing.
“It’s always a close game when we play them, especially towards the end of the game,” said Diez.
“We failed to execute after the long run and get into the endzone, but against a team like that, it’s going to be a battle throughout the whole game. We both have the same type of playing style, we both love to be physical. There is a rivalry between us but that end when we get off the field, the boys know each other and are friendly.”
“We have high expectations from our offense but give them credit, they have a very good defense, we just didn’t execute when we needed to get into the endzone, I guess it was a little of both them and us. We have a great group, and I thought our team played well even in the loss.”
You can be assured, these two will see each other often with the talent laden teams they have.
