PALMVIEW - La Joya area football has yet to recover from a recent split that took the talent of one high school and divided it into three.  Palmview's Lobos have had trouble finding an answer to the hard knocks of 5A football.  As the CHANNEL 5 cameras made the Two-A-Day tour stop in Palmview, the question was if this pack of Lobos can be the first ever to make the post-season.

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ELSA - With the defending 32-4A champion moved to the 5A ranks, the door is open for a new trophy winner.  Edcouch-Elsa knows what it's like to bring home the title.  The Yellow Jackets had a recent stretch of six straight district championships.  Coaches and players know what it takes to win.  The Two-A-Day tour stop was a chance to get an attitude check from head coach Joe Solis and his team.

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PROGRESO - The school with the colorful nickname is back in another attempt to buck the odds and claim a 32-3A playoff slot.  Progreso went winless in 2011.  For the Red Ants to play more than ten games this season, they'll have to find a way to win, at least, two of the four district games played against Hidalgo, La Feria, Port Isabel and Rio Hondo.  CHANNEL 5's Two-A-Day tour stop looks at just how realistic that goal might be.

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McALLEN - It was a near miss in 2011 for the Nikki Rowe Warriors' football team.  The team couldn't close the deal on a 30-5A playoff spot.  Now, with ten starters back, many on the O-line, the Warriors look to improve on last year's 5-and-5 season.

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EDINBURG - We are entering the final days of this year's Two-A-Day tour.  During the month of August, the CHANNEL 5 SPORTS team has visited every school playing varsity football in the Rio Grande Valley.  At Edinburg North, the Cougars have nine starters back with plans to improve on last year's 3-and-7 record.

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HARLINGEN - The home of the Hawks has been open since 1993, but success for the football program has come and gone. In recent years, Harlingen South has been hampered by coaching changes and a host of inexperience on the varsity roster. Coach Lanny Wilson has been brought in to revive a team that's fallen on hard times. The Hawks' new leader has taken a hands-on approach to get the team moving in the right direction. Wilson tells CHANNEL 5 SPORTS, one of the keys will be instilling a winning attitude.

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BROWNSVILLE - Experience counts and that's something St. Joseph will rely on this season in TAPPS play. The Bloodhounds went 5-6 a year ago, clinching a playoff berth with a fairly young team. With 18 of their 22 starters back, Coach Christian Putegnat is confident that his team should compete for a post-season spot again. Before the Bloodhounds begin their district slate, they'll toughen up with tests against Lyford, Progreso, La Villa, Port Isabel, and Pharr Oratory.

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LA JOYA - To say 2012 will be a year of change for the La Joya Coyotes football team would be an understatement.  New year, new head coach--and that means completely new offensive and defensive systems for the Coyotes to learn.  La Joya returns 8-starters--four on each side of the ball--from a 2-8 season in 2011, a season that cost former head Ray Trdla his job.  Enter George Espinosa--the new man at the Coyotes helm.  Espinosa told CHANNEL 5 SPORTS the offense will now sports several spread formation looks as opposed to the run-oriented offenses of the Coyotes' past.  Espinosa also said the La Joya defense will be multiple looks as well. 

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RIO GRANDE CITY - Call it "Rattler Friday" for the Two-A-Day tour stops just one week from the first Friday of the 2012 season.  After visiting Sharyland earlier on CHANNEL 5 NEWS at six, the cameras move to Starr County and Rio Grande City.  The Rattlers hope for last year and more with another visit to the 4A state playoffs high on the list of season goals.

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MISSION - A new era always begins for a high school football program when the whistle changes hands from the former head coach to a new man in charge.  At Sharyland, new head coach Ron Adame doesn't want too much to change after a long and current run of success for the Rattlers.  Our Two-A-Day Tour stop, on this visit, focused on what, if any, changes are in store for this year's team.

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MISSION - City and district bragging rights will be on the line again this fall when Mission Veterans Memorial challenges Mission high school in football.  But, the Patriots have more on their minds than just competing against a cross-town rival.  They would like to rebound from a disappointing 2-and-8 season in 2011 that kept them far from a slot in the post-season.

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SANTA MARIA - The Santa Maria Cougars will be one of four teams fighting for three playoff spots out of football district 16-A.  CHANNEL 5's Two-A-Day tour stop at Santa Maria showed a renewal of enthusiasm for varsity football after an absence of two years.  Senior players are anxious to move on from a sub-varsity experience to the full spectrum of the Friday night lights.

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WESLACO - After two years of success as a Valley 4A football power, realignment and reclassification has pushed Weslaco East to the state's biggest level of competition.  The new competition in 31-5A will include a first-ever meeting with city rival Weslaco.  Two-A-Day tour time gave CHANNEL 5 cameras a closer look at what's in store this season on the east side of town.

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LOS FRESNOS - Only one Valley 5A high school still plays football on the green, green grass of home.  They'll still need lawn mowers at Los Fresnos this season.  Bucking the trend to play on turf, the Falcons face new competition from the pair of Harlingen schools in a rebuilt district 32-5A.  This Two-A-Day tour stop provides an early look at what the Los Fresnos football fortunes might be.

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PHARR - The longer a person coaches, the more likely he is to stay with what works.  That's the plan at PSJA North as veteran coach Bruce Bush sticks to a game plan that emphasizes the running game on offense and a hard-hitting defense.  In this Two-A-Day tour stop, the Raiders showcase 12 returning starters and a hunt for a new starting quarterback.

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SANTA ROSA - Santa Rosa has a total enrollment, boys and girls, of just 340 students and 15 of the boys are returning starters for the Warriors' football team.  Nine of the returnees are on defense, giving the Warriors a solid foundation for 16-2A play.  In this Two-A-Day tour stop, CHANNEL 5 SPORTS also learns about another important starter with varsity experience.

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SAN BENITO - Realignment has sent the San Benito Greyhounds into a new district where six of the other eight teams were playoff qualifiers a year ago.  31-5A looks equally competitive for the coming season.  CHANNEL 5's Joel Villanueva looks at this year's prospects for the Greyhounds in this Two-A-Day tour stop.

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HARLINGEN - The Harlingen Cardinals finally conquered a hurdle for Valley 5A teams by reaching the state quarter-finals of the UIL football playoffs in 2011.  Many fans are wondering if this year's edition can equal or better the achievements of last year's squad.  CHANNEL 5's Two-A-Day tour stop on Monday tried to find an answer to that question. 

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DONNA - A total of 10 returning starters, five on each side of the ball, gives the Donna Redskins a running head start into the 2012 season.  The question of where the other starters will come from is answered on today's Two-A-Day tour stop in the form of a challenge from head coach Manny Moreno.  He believes there is plenty of talent for the Redskins to enjoy an appearance in the post-season this year.

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EDINBURG - If Economedes wins just once this season, they'll improve on last year's record. Under new coach Gabe Pena, the Jaguars went 0-10 in 2011. A year later, Economedes returns a bevy of experience with eight starters back on offense and eight on defense. A seasoned offensive line will lead the Jags' Wing-T attack with junior Hugo Reyes Paz serving as the signal caller. Coach Pena says senior safety Andy Duarte will be one one of team's defensive leaders.

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