In 2009 injuries which kept United's starting quarterback Tony Salas and #2 receiver Sergio Ramos out of the lineup for the end of the season were enough to keep the Longhorns out of the playoffs. This year, Ramos and Salas are back and joined by the young electrifying tailback Billie Williams to form one of the most potent offensive attacks in Laredo. The Longhorns traditionally have one of the more reliable defenses in town and the combination of great offense and strong defense make the sky the limit for the Longhorns this year.
BEST CASE SCENARIO
The hardest contest of the season comes up front and center for the United Longhorns when Smithson Valley comes to town. The Smithson Valley Rangers are one of the top ten 4A teams in the state, and United head football coach David Sanchez said they would easily still be in the top 25 if they were classified as a 5A school. The Rangers are making the more than three-hour drive to Laredo for the game, and boast a defense which shut out Permian in week zero. Despite the low scoring nature of the Rangers win over Permian (6-0), Sanchez said he hopes for a shootout at the SAC to deliver the win. United has the weapons on offense to make it happen and if they can execute flawlessly a win IS possible and would happen to mark the start of a dream season with a 1-0 record.
The rest of United's schedule plays out well, without any prolonged stretches of tough opponents. Week two will feature a game against the Martin Tigers, and in a dream season scenario, United would win this one in a blowout to advance to 2-0.
Week three witnesses United squaring off against their South side cousins at United South. The Panthers will put up some points on United, but not enough to challenge the Longhorns. 3-0.
Week four sends United on the road for a game against Eagle Pass. This road trip is probably the single hardest district game for the Longhorns, but after being tested by Smithson Valley in week one, Eagle Pass should make for a challenging, but winnable, contest. Longhorns win a tough one for a 4-0 record.
The Longhorns return home in week five to face one of 29-5A's top teams from a season ago. Del Rio will be looking to put the hurt on the Horns, but a dream season would feature a big win in the SAC for United in week five to put United at 5-0.
After Del Rio the Longhorns face a very winnable month of October but would be entering it with a big target on their back. Nixon, Cigarroa, Eagle Pass Winn (on the road), and LBJ will all give United their best showing at a chance for glory. One of two of these opponents may rise to the occasion and keep the game close, but the dream would stay alive if United swept them all to put the Longhorn's record at 9-0.
Sitting at 9-0 going into rivalry week against the Alexander Bulldogs will make for one heck of a season finale. No dream season is complete, however, without a win over the bulldogs.
United's dream season would be one where the defense improved upon its 2009 numbers (when it gave up only 20 points a game) and delivered the kinds of performances which would cement it as the elite of 29-5A. If the offensive monster lives up to its potential, United could be one of the most complete football teams Laredo has seen in years. A perfect 10-0 season is a possibility, and the real question then would be how far the Horns could make it into the playoffs.
WORST CASE SCENARIO
The worst case scenario would be a repeat of 2009. Injuries to key players derailing an otherwise promising season, losses to the bigger teams fromout-of-town, it's not an ugly picture but one's memory doesn’t need to go far back to remember what a distinct possibility it is.
The nightmare season would begin with a blowout loss to Smithson Valley at the start of the year and a 0-1 record.
Even if crushed by the Rangers, United should still be able to earn a win over the Martin Tigers in week two. Week three's match up with United South, however, is one of several games which could potentially take a turn for the worst and end as a loss in a worst case scenario.
Weeks four and five against Eagle Pass and Del Rio would both be losses in a nightmare season to put the Horns at either 1-3 or 0-4.
Of the next four game stretch both Nixon and LBJ are teams who, like United South, might nip the Horns in a worst case scenario. Eagle Pass Winn comes on the road, and could join those teams as well. Cigarroa is a big bodied strong team, but it probably lacks the scoring power to keep up with United in even a worst case scenario.
The nightmare would be complete with a season ending loss to rival Alexander for the second year in a row.
This worst case scenario would witness the Longhorns going 5-5. Losses to Smithson Valley, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, and LBJ. The horns would also have gone 3-1 against United South, Nixon, Eagle Pass Winn, and LBJ but will have won against Martin and Cigarroa.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
Coach Sanchez is a traditional winner at almost every stop he makes. I think that last years 5-5 mark, missing the playoffs by a single game, is a fluke that won't be repeated. I think the Horns will lose to Smithson Valley, but will gain valuable knowledge from the experience which will help them go 2-1 against the three biggest threats, Del Rio, Eagle Pass and United. I'm predicting the Longhorns go 8-2 on the season and finish no worse than second in district before launching into the playoffs.
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