Centurions join TAPPS conference

John Paul II High School’s varsity football team approaches its third ever season in school history as a member of Division II-3 of the Texas Association of Parochial and Private Schools. The Centurions played as an independent team in each of their first two seasons.

Head Coach Rudy Gonzalez, who has been at the helm since the Centurions inaugural campaign, said he and his boys had to hit the road quite often during seasons one and two.

”There were a lot of factors involved, not just with us being a new program,” Gonzalez said. ”The first year was extremely challenging because we had to travel long distances to seven or eight of the games. We went to San Antonio twice, to Austin and Lake Jackson and this while we were starting the program from scratch.”

Even as an independent team, the young Centurions went 4-6 last year.

”I think we have progressed quite a bit (since season one) and that we’re on track,” Gonzalez said. ”Last year, as far as records are concerned, we had one more win than the year before but we were also much more competitive in our games. We played San Diego and only lost by one point and there was a stretch there where we lost three games by a combined total of five points.”

One big plus that JP II has on its side this season is twelve starters (six on offense and six on defense) coming back from last year.

”That experience is extremely valuable because experience is what we sometimes are lacking so much of,” Gonzalez said. ”Now we have a good number of kids who will be seniors this season who have played on the field a lot for two years.”

The Centurions are also focused on acclimating their younger players.

”We concentrate not just on our starters but also with the players who are able to get a taste of it since we dress quite a few junior varsity players – during varsity games - because their schedule has never really been set but more tentative,” Gonzalez said. ”They may not have gotten a lot of playing experience but the exposure to it is going to help our younger kids.”

Still, Gonzalez continued, ”John Paul II has plenty of work to do in refining every facet of their game. ”We need to improve in everything because we are still a young program,” Gonzalez said. ”We have to learn how not to make mistakes, to remain calm when the game is on the line and also be able to make it to the fourth quarter and then go from there.”

The Centurions are predicted (by Dave Campbell’s 2010 Texas Football Magazine) to finish fourth out of five teams in Division II-3 this season.

”Actually, I am kind of surprised as I could have seen them expecting us to finish last,” Gonzalez said. ”Those teams that are in our district, if I am not mistaken, three of them were in the playoffs last season and the one team that didn’t make it lost a tie breaker. But the bottom line is that it does not matter what expectations other people have, we have our own and it is all up to us.”

Gonzalez added that the competition in TAPPS leagues can be just as formidable as any other district.

”I will say this, we have several teams that can give you plenty of competition,” Gonzalez said. ”We have played teams like Saint Joseph’s in Victoria and they were extremely tough. So I think the competition in TAPPS leagues is really good especially when you start traveling up north.”

Players to watch this season - according to DCTF - include Nick Vidal (wide receiver), Jose Trevino (quarterback/defensive back), Jonathan Flores (running back), Nick Retta (defensive lineman), P.J. Banuelos (offensive lineman), Blake McKinzie (quarterback), Albert Cansino (running back), Jonathan Martinez (fullback), Jacob Reyes (fullback), Kyle Mungia (tight end), Josh Villalobos (offensive lineman), Jonathan Bosquez (offensive lineman), Michael Garcia (tight end) and Rick Martinez (linebacker).