Pebble Hills looks to build on last season’s success

Pebble Hills has high hopes heading into the 2018 season, but they don’t want to get too excited just yet.

“We’ve got a lot to prove. We’re not last year’s team,” said senior offensive lineman Mario Carmona. “Yeah, a couple of us were part of last year’s team, basically. But, you know, we’re unproven. We’ve got a lot to prove, no matter how high our ranking.”

Last year’s squad won its first eight games, surprising many along the way.

This year’s team, which began official conditioning sessions Monday, is getting a little more respect in the preseason, but still has a long way to go.

“Yeah, we are. I just don’t know how ready we are. I’m always kind of skeptical about those things. But the kids, of course, they work hard, they’re real excited,” said head coach Mark Torres. “There’s a lot of buzz around here, so that’s a good thing.”

Torres said the team is only returning three starters, but he likes the potential shown by some newcomers. The key, he says, is for the team to adopt a “mature” approach right from the start.

“Maturity is the number one thing. And our kids are excited. They’re pretty decent football players in some areas,” he said.

That maturity will be tested immediately. The Spartans open with a brutal four-game stretch that includes games against El Dorado, Midland, Chapin, and San Angelo Central.

That game against San Angelo Central is a rematch of last year’s playoff opener. The Spartans were competitive but ended up falling 35-20 in the end.