EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Our next 9 Overtime high school football preseason preview takes us to the reservation as we check in with the Ysleta Indians.
Ysleta is led by head coach Joe Martinez, who is entering his ninth year as the school’s head football coach.
This season, Ysleta will play in District 1-4A Division I instead of playing in District 1-5A Division I like it has the past few years. The reclassification from 5A to 4A came this year with the most recent UIL realignment changes.
The drop down to 4A, along with Ysleta returning eight starters on both sides of the ball, and the addition of some talent from Ysleta’s junior varsity squad that went 8-2 in 2023, has Ysleta feeling they can challenge for the district title this year.
“This team would do great in any conference but dropping to 4A, the numbers are more evenly matched as far as depth goes,” Ysleta High School football head coach Joe Martinez said. “So that gives us more confidence knowing that the playing field is even.”
“A lot of dudes that are seniors have been playing together since their underclassmen years so there’s a lot of experience and a lot of chemistry between all of us,” Ysleta High School football senior QB/FS Evan Martinez said. “These dudes that came up from JV, I am really excited about them. They have all impressed me with their skills, so I am excited to see them play.”
Ysleta is coming off a season where it finished with a 4-6 overall record and 2-3 record in District 1-5A Division I play. The Indians missed out on the playoffs last season and are looking to make it back this year, but this time in a different district.
Impact players to watch out for: QB/FS Evan Martinez, RB Martin Castro, WR/FS Alonso Rodriguez, WR Rudy Gomez, and SS Ricky Najera.
Ysleta begins its season with a game at Parkland on Friday, Aug. 30.
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