King of the Red Ant hill

PROGRESO - The number of words Juan Vega speaks can usually be counted on one hand.
The same surely cannot be said for the number of Vega's rushing yards.
The Progreso running back rumbled for a school-record 347 yards and five touchdowns on 33 totes in the Red Ants' 41-19 win over 4A Valley View last week.
For his amazing game, Vega is the Valley Morning Star's Player of the Week for Week Zero.
"I was excited," the reserved senior said. "I didn't think I could do that much (in the game)."
Progreso head coach Elvis Hernandez was in awe himself.
"It was awesome to watch him (Vega)," Hernandez said. "When you watch him run, it looks like he's not going full speed. But he runs low to the ground and he's hard to tackle."
The total set a single-game high mark for Progreso, eclipsing the previous mark of 301 set by Mark Guerrier in 1994.
And it was another win over a Class 4A team to start the season. The Red Ants beat Mission last year in Week Zero.
"Our game plan was to go right at them (Valley View) and see if they could stop us," Hernandez said. "We were just in a great rhythm offensively. We wanted to move the chains and that's exactly what we did."
The Progreso offensive line was in high gear against the Tigers, helping the unit total 425 yards on the ground.
The team of Gabriel Silva, Ramon Flores, Andy Alvarez, Jonathan Infante and Jacob Moreno were each instrumental in Vega's big game. Tight end Jay Garcia was also in on the action.
"A lot of credit goes to them," Vega said.
"Our offensive line did an excellent job," Hernandez added.
Vega, who rushed for about 1,300 yards a year ago as a junior, had high hopes for 2008. He's off to a grand start.
"I want to have a great senior season," he said. "We want to make the playoffs."
Among the five touchdowns, the last, approximately a 60-yarder, got the best of him. He also had runs three scores from four yards out.
"I was a little tired after that last one," Vega said. "But we got our first win and started off (the season) good."

Armando Garza covers sub-4A high school football for Valley Freedom Newspapers. He can be reached at armandog@valleystar.com.