ALICE — Landon Guerra tried not to put too much thought into scoring the first touchdown at Alice’s new stadium.
Then Friday night came and the Alice senior found himself in the end zone as the first player to score at the Coyotes' $38 million state-of-the-art stadium.
“It was incredible,” Guerra said. “When they were building the stadium and stuff, everybody was excited about who was going to get the big touchdown. I didn’t really like thinking too much of it because whoever got it, they got it. But it’s really exciting when I scored. The crowd, everybody was real excited. It was incredible.”
As excited as Guerra and the rest of his teammates were, so were the fans who filled the home side of the stadium.
Alice rolled to a 28-7 win against La Joya
Palmview to give the Coyotes their first 3-0 start since 2019. Guerra and Ryder Salaiz accounted for all four of Alice's touchdowns.
“It’s a feeling like no other,” Guerra said. “Growing up in Alice, you just want to be on the Friday night lights and be on the field.”
Guerra and his teammates weren't the only ones who understood what Friday night meant.
Herman Arellano, who played quarterback for Alice from 1988-91 and has been on the Alice ISD school board for 17 years, was also at Memorial Stadium watching the next generation of Alice athletes make memories.
“I’ve seen all these kids come through our old stadium,” Arellano said. “Now having this built just for them, our band, our strutters and the community is exciting.”
Arellano's son, Aaron, graduated from Alice in 2020, and his nephew, Justin Arellano, is a former Alice football player and current track athlete at Texas A&M-Kingsville.
“It’s exciting to see them step onto this field and have the feel that we’ve always wanted,” Arellano said. “Look how big it is, our press box, the turf. It’s awesome to be out here today.”
The Coyotes played all of their home games in San Diego during construction of the new Memorial Stadium.
The wait lasted longer than expected this season after Alice's opening of the stadium was delayed.
Alice was scheduled to open the stadium Aug. 28, but the game was moved to Beeville after the district learned Aug. 26 that the facility would not be ready. The final railings were not expected to be completed in time for the season opener.
Alice coach JR Castellano said playing 12 road games brought its own physical and mental challenges, especially after the team had to wait another two weeks after the original home opener was postponed.
“Our kids were scheduled to play in here, and then had to go through that mental part of having to go on the road again,” Castellano said. "I’m super blessed to be in a position like this to represent Alice football and with all the rich tradition that’s been here through the 60s, 70s, 80s and ’90s. Being able to represent that and be a small part of that, I’m super blessed.”
The stadium project began May 1, 2025, and includes new locker rooms, restrooms, concessions, bleachers, a press box and parking facilities.
But for the players, the most important part was finally getting to play under the new lights.
Salaiz, who scored three touchdowns in the victory, said the crowd gave the Coyotes energy and something to play for.
“The community knows how to show out,” Salaiz said. “We really got to pay them back, and I think that’s where we did a really good job of paying back the community.”
Salaiz knows the team has come a long way since last season, when the Coyotes finished 1-9.
Now, Alice is one of the few remaining unbeaten teams in the Coastal Bend.
After three games, the Coyotes' defense has also impressed by allowing 21 points during that stretch.
“Going 1-9 is something nobody wants to go through,” Salaiz said. “But it’s adversity and it happens in life. You just have to pick yourself back up and turn your way back to the top. Our entire coaching staff is doing a great job out here and they have set us up for success."
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: 'A feeling like no other': Alice football begins next chapter at new stadium
