ALICE, Texas — The Alice Coyotes are coming off their best season in years, but now they look to build off that run as they move up a class.
The Coyotes reached the third round in Class 4A Div. I, but they'll compete in 5A Div. I and they're doing it with a largely new look roster. Alice graduated 28 seniors and returns just two starters on offense, but one of them is junior quarterback Lucian Cruz, who was one of the biggest standouts in the Coastal Bend last year.
Coach J.R. Castellano hopes Cruz and his new offense can get on the same page early as they also rely on the defense to carry some heavier weight.
"Our expectations are for them to fill in and pick up where we left off last year," Castellano said of his eight new starters on offense. "They're seasoned kids, they just haven't played a whole lot. But we'll get them ready to go by August 30th."
"We want to win," Cruz said. "We hate to lose here. It's not our tradition."
Alice moves down South into a Valley-heavy district that includes Mission Veterans Memorial, Sharyland, Sharyland Pioneer and Roma. The Coyotes will still face several Coastal Bend programs in non-district play, including rival Calallen.