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By Frank Cardenas

Football is back in the area and instead of getting things started on a Friday night, the lights at Javelina Stadium will be lit up on a Thursday for the season opener for the H.M. King Brahmas.

The Bulls will take on the Robstown Cotton Pickers in their season opener, searching for a win to break a losing streak that dates back to November 2019, when they beat Grulla 28-21.

Despite a winless season last year - in part due to restrictions set on by the COVID-19 pandemic - Head Coach Michael Davila can’t wait for game one to kickoff.

“Well, I think this is a day that we've all been waiting for,” Davila said. “Besides the COVID increase and all those distractions going on, you know this is a first week of school for us. We've had a successful week, and the kids are coming off a great summer strength and conditioning period.”

With 13 starters returning for this season, and plenty of time to prepare since the Spring, Davila said this year’s team is poised to make some noise in District 16 4A Division I.

“We've got experience on our side, all of our seniors have more than 10 games under their belt so they're excited to get out there. You know, we've called this unfinished business because it's time to put the Brahmas back on the map and get this thing rolling,” Davila said. “I think the seniors have taken the role of ‘Coach, I'm going to do whatever it takes for the team to be successful,’ so they've taken on different roles. They've had to play both sides of the ball, and they're up for the challenge because again, it is unfinished business. And again, they want to leave their legacy as seniors once they're gone.”

On the field, it’ll be the same defense, but a slower paced offense behind a new offensive coordinator that will utilize a ground-and-pound style of play.

“We're still gonna hang our hat on our running game and try to pound the ball behind our big offensive guard/tackle Justin De Leon - who is a Baylor verbal commit right now - so you know, that's gonna be our bread and butter,” Davila said. “It is pounding the rock and making sure that we manage the game and get first downs. And defense will hold the line and do the rest.”

As for the rest of the season, no matter the outcome of game one, Davila said his squad is taking it week-by-week in search of a playoff spot for the first time in four years.

“We're going to take it one week at a time until we get to district, and hopefully we're hitting a high in district play and we're peaking and playing our best football by that time, to make the playoffs,” Davila said.

Tonight they face the Cotton Pickers of Robstown high school at home, with a game-time of 7 p.m.