Ryan Perez is not a believer.
Slated to spend the next school year at the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, N.M., the former New Braunfels quarterback is less concerned with the town’s history as an alleged UFO crash site than he is preparing for a future in college football.
“I’m not too interested in (UFOs), not really,” Perez said. “Some people joke about it. Most people ask, ‘Where is it?’.”
Roswell has a reputation that extends beyond visits from little green men. It’s also where Dallas Cowboys legend Roger Staubach cut his teeth before winning the Heisman Trophy at Navy.
It’s a path Perez, who will participate in the H-E-B High School All-Star Football Game on Saturday at Gustafson Stadium, wouldn’t mind following. If not NFL stardom, then at least a potential career at one of the three service academies, all of which will be monitoring Perez this fall as he plays for NMMI.
Perez, who plans on spending only one year at NMMI, said the school is essentially a junior-college equivalent of the academies, down to the education, training and uniforms. Everything, that is, except the commitment to enter the armed forces upon graduation.
“I just want to see if I like the military environment, or if I want to do something else,” said Perez, whose father has served in the Air Force for 26 years. “This keeps my options open.”
Perez was an Express-News All-Area pick last year after leading the area in total offense with 3,642 yards (1,418 rushing and 2,224 passing) and guiding the Unicorns to the Class 4A Division I state semifinals.
Familiar feel: If the look of this week’s regional-semifinals scene seems really familiar, that’s because it is. With a few variations, this year’s area playoff scene comes close to mirroring that of last year’s postseason.
After beating Taft, Smithson Valley will face La Joya — the same opponent Taft defeated in last year’s Class 5A regional semifinals. In 3A, Medina Valley gets a fourth-round rematch against Yoakum, who the Panthers beat in three games a year ago. On the other side of the 3A bracket, La Vernia gets Sinton, which fell to Marion in last year’s fourth round.
Poth will play Danbury in its return to the regional semis, the same round in which it was bounced by Troy last year. Falls City gets a Class A rematch against Shiner after losing to the Comanches in the same round last season.
Robles honored : Hondo’s Jose Robles, who underwent emergency brain surgery after a game in October, will be honored tonight with the Built Ford Tough/Dallas Cowboys Texas High School Football Player of the Week award during a ceremony at Hondo High School.
The honor recognizes Robles’ effort during a 52-35 victory over Crystal City on Oct. 26, in which he rushed for a school-record 307 yards on 27 carries and three touchdowns, and caught three passes for 99 yards and two more TDs.
Soon after the game, Robles collapsed in the locker room. He was airlifted to University Hospital where doctors removed a blood clot in his brain.
Robles, who was released from the hospital Nov. 12, has been in therapy since and is now back at school.
The ceremony is part of the Hondo sports banquet, which begins at 6 p.m. at the high school.
Photo Day: The Express-News Photo Day is set for 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at Farris Stadium, 8400 N.W. Loop 1604 West.
Coaches should bring no more than eight players, with jerseys, and bring one helmet.
For information, contact Leo Leija at (210) 250-3372, or e-mail lleija@express-news.net.
(All-State players are boldfaced)
Lee: Ryan Menchaca and Yared Temesgen. MacArthur: Daniel Magoon and Gavin Dolph . Smithson Valley: Zach Carpenter.
Coach of the Year: Steve Zimmerman, Churchill.
Reagan: Ashley Lachappelle and Alex Burton. MacArthur: Jessie Pettit, Brenna Smith and Lauren Rickett. Marshall: Courtney Hutchinson, Sammie Mechinus and Tiffany Fryer. Clark: Christi Oswalt and Brianna Tamaro. Smithson Valley: Amanda Mauk. Taft: Kaitlyn Cook.
Coach of the Year: Lisa Mazur, MacArthur.
Boerne: Baylen Smith and Blake Smith. New Braunfels: Matt Abrahamsen, Jordan Rowe, Casey Charlton. New Braunfels Canyon: Marshal Weber, Michael Weatherby, Cristobal Maldonado. Alamo Heights: Andrew Bailey, David Garza, Jim Thompson. Clemens: Travis Poerner, Erik Hunsaker, Josh Spickler.
Steele: Kaylea Ault, Katelyn Fray and Tarah Arrington. New Braunfels Canyon: Nicole Levermann and Brandie DeBacker. Clemens: Whitney Rhodes. Alamo Heights: Aubrey Meyer.
Robert Arredondo, O’Connor tennis : College of Santa Fe
Katie Fleming, Incarnate Word volleyball : Saint Louis University
Sajoyia Griffin, Wagner basketball: South Plains College
Preston Jones, Antonian basketball: St. Mary’s
Cruz Orones, Central Catholic soccer: North Carolina-Greensboro
Myles Walker, Antonian basketball: South Plains College
sports@express-news.net