Grulla High's Hector Villarreal Named First Team All-State Player

Grulla High School’s Hector “Tiger” Villarreal has been selected as Class 32-3A All-State High School Football Player.  Villarreal is currently a senior who has recently concluded his remarkable football career at Grulla High School.    During this season, Hector’s defensive statistics were simply implausible!  Standing at 5’8 and weighing 140 lbs., Villarreal led the Gators with 135 tackles, 95 solo tackles, 8 interceptions (one for a touchdown), 6 Quarterback sacks, 6 forced fumbles, and 3 recovered fumbles.  His remarkable performance assisted the Gators to a heaping 7-4 record and the program’s first playoff appearance.  Along with partaking in the remarkable Gator first ever playoff appearance, Hector was named District 32-3A Defensive Player of the Year.  He was also a 1st Team All-District selection as a junior in 2010.  Villarreal is not only an outstanding team player; he is also a dedicated and committed student who is self-disciplined and driven.  Hector aspires to graduate in May and pursue his post-secondary education at Lindenwood University.  We would like to congratulate Hector and his Football Coach Abel Gonzalez III for an awesome football season!  Go Gators Go!

Grulla Coach Abel Gonzalez III Named All-Valley Coach of the Year

Grulla High School’s Head Football Coach Abel Gonzalez III has always possessed the passion for football.  He is also no stranger to accolades.  He is a 1999 graduate from Rio Grande City High School where he was named All Valley Offensive Player of the Year after quarterbacking the RGC Rattlers to a 7-6 mark including a third-round 5A playoff run.  He went on to attend Texas A & M Kingsville where he also set several passing marks.  Surpassing minimal expectations and seeking higher aspirations, Gonzalez played for the RGV Dorados arena league team before pursuing his lifelong goal-coaching and molding young players.  He began his coaching career in the PSJA School District in 2004 before heading down west to his hometown of Rio Grande City and taking on a coaching position as the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Rio Grande City High School in 2006.  With the opening of a new high school in the R.G.C.C.I.S.D., it was only befitting to designate Gonzalez as the head football coach at the newly established Grulla High School in 2010.