BROWNSVILLE — Chants of “Si se puede” filled Sams Stadium last Friday night as the Brownsville Veterans Chargers pulled off a spectacular comeback against Corpus Christi Miller in the Region IV-5A DI final to join elite company in Rio Grande Valley high school football history. Brownsville Veterans, which began competing at the varsity level under the UIL banner in 2012, became the 16th team in RGV history to reach the state semifinal round of the playoffs and the first since 2003. The Chargers (12-2) have been tested each round on their road to the final four but have passed each test with flying colors, scoring 39.5 points per game and giving up just 15.8 points on the season. Brownsville Veterans ran past McAllen High 55-21 in Round 1 to win its bi-district playoff matchup and advance to the area round. In Round 2, Brownsville Veterans took care of business and bounced defending Region IV-5A DI champion Corpus Christi Veterans from the playoffs with a 17-7 victory in Corpus Christi. In Round 3, the Chargers avenged their 2022 regional semifinal loss against PSJA North by stunning the state-ranked Raiders 45-28 in Pharr. In the Region IV-5A DI final last Friday in Brownsville, the Chargers scored 28 straight fourth-quarter points to defeat Corpus Christi Miller 35-28 for their second consecutive win over a previously undefeated team. Brownsville Veterans now enters the state semifinals for a Round 5 playoff matchup against Smithson Valley on Friday, joining a historic group of Rio Grande Valley greats to reach the final four of the Texas high school football playoffs. ELITE COMPANY 1951 Brownsville High Eagles, Class 3A state semifinalist: Brownsville High, now Hanna High School, went 10-2 under head coach Bob Martin to reach the state semifinal. Brownsville defeated San Antonio Edison 34-7 in Round 1 before losing to Temple 58-6 in the final four. The 1951 Brownsville team averaged 33.8 points per game and gave up 16.8 points per game. 1951 Donna High Redskins, Class 2A state semifinalist: Donna went 11-3 under head coach Joe Hamrick to reach the state semifinal. The Redskins defeated Robstown 13-6 in Round 1, Cuero 52-6 in Round 2 and Rosenberg Lamar 21-13 in Round 3 before losing to Waco La Vega 38-7 in the final four. Donna averaged 29.5 points per game and gave up 12.1 points per game on the year. 1952 McAllen High Bulldogs, Class 3A state semifinalist: McHi went 10-1-1 under head coach Charles “Chuck” Moser to reach the state semifinal. The Bulldogs defeated San Antonio Edison 28-6 in Round 1 before losing to Temple 36-14 in the final four. McHi averaged 37.2 points per game and gave up 10 points per game. 1953 Edinburg High Bobcats, Class 3A state semifinalist: Edinburg went 11-0-1 under head coach Billy Cooper to reach the state semifinals. The Bobcats defeated San Antonio Edison 20-13 in Round 1 before a 7-7 tie against Port Neches-Groves in the final four resulted in Edinburg losing due to a penetration tiebreaker (times penetrated opponent’s 20-yard line). Edinburg averaged 26.7 points per game and gave up 9.7 points per game. 1954 McAllen High Bulldogs, Class 3A state semifinalist: McHi went 10-1-1 under Jack “Red” Rucker to reach the state semifinals for the second time in three years. The Bulldogs defeated Alamo Heights 40-13 in Round 1 before losing to Port Neches-Groves in the final four, 44-14. McHi averaged 28.3 points per game and gave up 12.1 points per game. 1955 Weslaco High Panthers, Class 2A state semifinalist: Weslaco went 13-1 under head coach Martin Stuart to reach the state semifinals. The Panthers defeated Sinton 27-14 in Round 1, Floresville 27-20 in Round 2 and Nederland 41-14 in Round 3 before losing against Hillsboro 20-7 in the final four. Weslaco averaged 29.1 points per game and gave up 11.4 points per game. 1961 San Benito Greyhounds, Class 3A state semifinalist: San Benito went 12-1 under head coach J.W. Helms to reach the state semifinal. The Greyhounds defeated Port Lavaca Calhoun 15-12 in Round 1 and Del Rio 29-8 in Round 2 before losing 22-15 against Nederland in the final four. San Benito averaged 27.9 points per game and gave up 6.3 points per game. 1961 Donna High Redskins, Class 2A state champions: Donna went 13-2 under head coach Earl Scott and remains the only state champion in RGV history. The Redskins defeated Refugio 32-0 in Round 1, Devine 12-7 in Round 2, Sweeny 32-14 in Round 3 and Brady 16-14 in the final four to advance to the state title game. Donna then beat Quanah 28-21 to capture the 1961 Class 2A state championship. Donna averaged 26.5 points per game and gave up 8.8 points per game. 1962 PSJA High Bears, Class 3A state runner-up: PSJA went 11-2-1 under head coach Charlie Williams as the Bears qualified for the state championship game. PSJA defeated South San Antonio 29-22 in Round 1, Austin Johnson 26-0 in Round 2 and Orange 18-0 in Round 3 before losing 14-3 against Dumas in the state championship game. PSJA averaged 16 points per game and gave up 6.5 points per game. 1963 PSJA High Bears, Class 3A state runner-up: PSJA went 10-1-3 under head coach Charlie Williams to qualify for the state championship game for the second consecutive season. The Bears defeated South San Antonio 21-0 in Round 1, Gonzales 20-20 in Round 2 on a first down tiebreaker, and La Marque 9-7 in the final four before losing 7-0 against Corsicana in the state championship game. PSJA averaged 19.2 points per game and gave up 4.4 points per game. 1981 Port Isabel Tarpons, Class 3A state semifinalist: Port Isabel went 13-1 under head coach Tommy Roberts to reach the state semifinal. The Tarpons defeated Hebbronville 33-15 in Round 1, Refugio 36-0 in Round 2 and Hondo 10-0 in Round 3 before losing against Cameron Yoe 25-14 in the final four. The Tarpons averaged 29.8 points per game and gave up 3.8 points per game. 1990 Mission High Eagles, Class 5A state semifinalist: Mission went 12-2 under head coach Sonny Detmer to reach the state semifinals. The Eagles defeated Donna 42-15 in Round 1, Alice 24-14 in Round 2 and San Antonio Madison 59-17 in Round 3 before losing against Houston Aldine 54-21 in the final four. Mission averaged 41.4 points per game and gave up 15.2 points per game. 1994 Port Isabel Tarpons, Class 3A state semifinalist: Port Isabel went 13-1-1 under head coach Tony Villarreal to reach the state semifinals for the second time in program history. The Tarpons defeated Orange Grove 28-7 in Round 1, Carrizo Springs 28-7 in Round 2, Cuero 20-20 in Round 3 on a penetration tiebreaker and Bandera 24-11 in Round 4 before losing against Sealy 34-13 in the final four. The Tarpons averaged 36.9 points per game and gave up 13.5 points per game. 1999 Edinburg High Bobcats, Class 5A state semifinalist: Edinburg went 10-4 under head coach Robert Vela to reach the state semifinal. The Bobcats defeated Brownsville Hanna 36-0 in Round 1, Eagle Pass 43-31 in Round 2 and San Antonio Taft 35-32 in Round 3 before losing 55-14 against Aldine Eisenhower in the final four. Edinburg averaged 24 points per game and gave up 17.8 points per game. 2003 Port Isabel Tarpons, Class 3A State Semifinalist: Port Isabel went 10-4 under head coach Monty Stumbaugh to reach the state semifinals for the third time in program history. The Tarpons defeated Orange Grove 28-0 in Round 1, Hondo 37-20 in Round 2, Liberty Hill 35-27 in Round 3 and Altair Rice 63-61 in quadruple overtime in Round 4 before losing against Marlin 41-10 in the final four. Port Isabel averaged 30.5 points per game and gave up 18.6 points per game. ...

BROWNSVILLE, Texas -- Brownsville Veterans Memorial (11-3) is on a true underdog run on its way to a state-semifinal clash against Smithson Valley (13-1). Nobody embodies the Chargers spirit of overcoming adversity as an underdog quite like Senior Defensive End Miguel Selvera. Click on the video above for more on his journey through the high school football....

Waves of support have swept across the Rio Grande Valley for Brownsville Memorial Early College High School High as it has advanced through the Texas UIL football playoffs. The team won in dramatic fashion at home against Corpus Christi Miller last week, winning 35-28 in the final minutes after trailing 28-7 with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. It’s a big deal in a football-crazy state. Veterans is just the fourth Valley team to advance to the state semifinals and the first since 2003, when the Port Isabel Tarpons reached the same level. We congratulate the Chargers on their success and wish them success against Smithson Valley in the Class 5A DI state semifinal game Friday in Corpus Christi. All tickets to the game that were made available in the Valley were sold within two hours of their release, so the local team can count on strong support in the stands. Their home city already held a victory parade this past weekend to celebrate the team’s success; we hope it won’t be the last. The Chargers’ unexpected march through the playoffs and the Valley-wide excitement it has fostered comes at a great time, when news of war across the globe and political bickering at home that have included the deposition of the House speaker and the outright ouster of another Congress member, and political and legal fights continue regarding border policy. But that’s one of the funny, and wondrous, things about sport — especially the most popular sports such as football and soccer. People rally together — even after a season filled with interschool rivalries — and forget about the troubles of daily life and concerns about alarming news reports, and devote their attention and energies to sending prayers and good vibes toward the local team. You can just bet that a few devotional candles will be lit in this heavily religious region in support of the Brownsville players. It’s a great element of the human spirit, showing that people are able to set aside everyday worries and bickering and delight in the success of a group of young athletes, their coaches and supporting staff, even if they normally are aligned with another school and might not know anybody from Brownsville Memorial. It certainly belies the oft-heard retort that it’s just a game. Devotees know better; they know that sport can provide a forum in which people can play out some of the most enriching parts of life that they might not be able to experience in their daily lives: cheering on champions who are fighting on our behalf; watching the setting and accomplishment of goals, and the often dramatic struggle to accomplish them. In athletic playoffs, they include the celebration of victory before we turn out attention to the next level, and the next foe. And so, to the Brownsville Memorial Chargers we again offer congratulations and hope for continued success, knowing that this hope extends across the Valley. But we also offer thanks. Thanks for a great season — so far — and for giving the people of the Valley a positive story and distraction from our daily struggles. We join people across the region in wishing the team the best fortunes on Friday....

BROWNSVILLE — Brownsville Veterans Memorial has earned the privilege of practicing in December. Not many earn that right, not just in the Rio Grande Valley but in the state of Texas. The Chargers were up early Monday for a 6 a.m. practice, their usual go time, as they begin to prepare for Smithson Valley at 7 p.m. Friday in a Class 5A DI state semifinal at Buccaneer Stadium in Corpus Christi. Brownsville Veterans was all smiles Monday. Only one player needed a stern talking to. It is hard not to smile after picking up a historic 35-28 come-from-behind victory against Corpus Christi Miller on Friday in the Region IV-5A DI final. Even though the Chargers have this positive aura about them — deservedly so, as they were probably viewed as underdogs in many people’s eyes during their past three games — the state semifinalists were all business with Smithson Valley on the horizon. “We are getting ready to play in the second week of December, that is pretty crazy to say,” Brownsville Veterans head coach JC Ramirez said. Ramirez said that every team starts its season with the same goals, doing well in non-district, performing well in district, winning a district championship, making the playoffs and making a good playoff run with the ultimate goal being to win a state championship. “Just to be so close and to have a realistic road to getting to the state championship game, because you decide whether or not you get there based on the outcome of this game, is pretty cool,” Ramirez said. “Just to have the opportunity to play this far in the playoffs is pretty cool.” Ramirez said the staff has done a good job of keeping to the task at hand. The Chargers celebrated Saturday but were back to work Sunday. Ramirez praised defensive coaches Jesse Alaniz, Jaime Castañeda and Jerry Delgado for their service at Brownsville Veterans even before Ramirez arrived as the defensive coordinator last season. “Those three guys are the pillars of our defense,” Ramirez said. “This year, we were able to add Ruben Cortez and Mark Schlatter to help us with the safeties. I have a very seasoned staff on the defensive side of the ball.” Offensive coordinator Mike Evans has received extra help from subvarsity coaches Matt Leffler, Adam Vera and others during the playoff season. Vera is the head coach for the baseball team. “Those extra guys on the staff have been really good,” Evans said. Vera is enjoying being a part of this historic run. “I am just happy to be here and help out in any way I can,” Vera said. “This team has left their mark. Other teams from here until I don’t know how long are going to always look at this team and say, ‘Hey, that Vets that went to fifth round.’ Even though my role is small. I just want to help out in any way I can.” Evans expects to face a disciplined, well-coached, technical and detail-oriented Smithson Valley on Friday night. “We just have to play tough and bring it to them,” Chargers linebacker Jaime Martinez said. “They are going to take us light for sure. They might not expect us like PSJA North did, and we just got to hit them in the mouth.” Brownsville ISD announced on its website the that fifth-round game is sold out. The tickets were only available for two hours after going on sale at 7 a.m. Monday. Ramirez is proud of all the support the team has received from around the Valley, but he is especially happy with the support the team has had from Brownsville. “I am really the happiest for our true fan base, which is our team parents, faculty and school staff. They are tremendous when it comes to supporting our teams. And then our extended families and the people that really bleed Charger red, white and blue,” Ramirez said. “It is a tremendous honor, and I could not be happier for our kids to say we are not only representing our school, Brownsville, but the whole Valley as well. It has been phenomenal, and I expect the same thing to happen this Friday.” There is plenty of hype around the Chargers as they embark this week on the state experience and prepare for their biggest game of the season. Ramirez was congratulated by UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor for his team’s performance. “We enjoyed the win, but we moved on,” Ramirez said....

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Brownsville Veterans football team keeps on making history. The Chargers are the first team from Brownsville ISD to go five rounds deep in the playoffs. They’re the first team from the Valley to reach the state semifinals since Port Isabel in 2003. The Chargers run to the 5A Division I State Semifinals has been spurred by an offensive scheme that’s been hard for opponents to stop. The flexbone offense, which relies on the use of multiple backs who carry the ball, has been effective in their playoff victories. “If we just execute the way we can, there’s nobody that can stop us,” said senior tight end Nick Tovar. “Just good knowing we have different options. We can pitch it. Teams expect us to just throw the ball but we can throw it. More balanced this year. There’s a saying, the flexbone don’t care who you are, we’re just going to keep doing that.” Against PSJA North in the third round, the Chargers used their aerial attack to build a big halftime lead en route to a 45-28 victory. Last week against Corpus Christi Miller, the Chargers offense was unstoppable in the fourth quarter after a sluggish first half. The Chargers scored 28 fourth quarter points en route to a 35-28 win. They’re hoping their offensive scheme can help the team earn a win against Smithson Valley. “I wouldn’t want to play like we did against Corpus Christi Miller in first half,” said junior quarterback Storm Montoya. “We just got to come out like we did against PSJA North and play smash mouth football.” “He really trusts guys blocking for him,” said head coach JC Ramirez about Montoya. “He trusts slots are going to be where they need to be. He trusts our playcaller, Coach Evans, is identifying what defense is giving us.” The Chargers’ game against Smithson Valley will be played on Friday at Buccaneer Stadium in Corpus Christi. Kick-off is set for 7:00 p.m. ...

The Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers will soon be Corpus Christi bound after advancing to the semifinal's championship. Tickets to the game sold out in an hour and a half after they went on sale at 7 a.m. Monday. A total of 5,500 tickets were sold. It's an exciting moment for Texas high school football, not just for the Chargers but for the entire Rio Grande Valley. There has been endless support for the team way before fans filled the bleachers at Sams Memorial Stadium. Red, white and blue fill the hallways of Veterans Memorial Early College High School as the Chargers head to the 5th round of playoffs. "It feels great, with all this support that we're getting, and it keeps us on our toes too cause yes we're getting the support, but we also need to stay humble, stay focused because we got to accomplish what we need to accomplish," Chargers quarterback Storm Montoya said. He says the ride is far from over. "My mentality right now is I'm going to go hard for these guys, I'm not going to give up," Montoya said. The Veterans Memorial Chargers are up against the Smithson Valley Rangers on Friday. Now it's time to get prepared. The team has a couple of days before heading up to Corpus Christi. As the day gets closer, the support only gets stronger. "We believe in you, there has never been a doubt in my mind and in the minds and hearts of the parents, we know that no matter what happens this weekend we've already won," Teacher and football mom, Melissa Barrera-Sosa said. The team says their priority is to stay focused and keep the faith. Brownsville Independent School District will have early dismissal on Friday. The big game will kick off at 7 p.m. at Buccaneer Stadium in Corpus Christi....