The Aldine Mustangs football team has made significant progress toward becoming the best in the district since Coach Cirilo Ojeda took over in 2022. The first freshman class under his leadership is now entering its senior year. The Aldine community has become familiar with the program, and the student-athletes are fully committed to its success. For Coach Ojeda, building the program is an impressive achievement, but the primary objective for 2025 is to align this growth with victories.
The Mustangs’ strength lies in their offensive line, which Coach Ojeda describes as the “foundation of the team.” This group consists of Christian Medina, Christian Howard, Jaylen Peterson, Nathan Ojeda, and Francisco Calidonio. Their performance will be crucial for the running backs, Tariq Gary and Jayden Williams, whom Coach Ojeda identifies as key players to watch, referring to them as “X-Factors.”
Senior guard Christian Howard emphasizes the importance of unity within the team, stating that “personal goals and team goals” align for the Mustangs.
Senior guard, Christian Howard
“We want to build on last year and aim to win every rep,” Howard said. “It’s everyone’s goal to play at the next level, and we know we have to perform to reach that point. We are excited about this year.”
To enhance the team’s performance, Aldine has made adjustments this year to better accommodate the needs of their student-athletes, ensuring that there is ample time for practice.
“The biggest change we made was switching sack camp from the mornings to the afternoons,” Coach Ojeda said. “Many of our community members have responsibilities that prevent them from spending time here, as they often have to support their families. By holding sack camp from 5 to 7 p.m., the kids responded positively. Our core group has been working hard and improving all summer, which has been a great advantage for us.”
Howard commends the coaching staff for their hard work in getting the team ready for the season. He states, “Our coaches really hold us accountable for being on time.They emphasize the importance of showing up to practice every day and getting repetitions to learn our roles. Our position groups have come together to support each other.”
Coach Ojeda’s message to the community is clear: pride has returned to the program. “It’s always been there, but these kids have truly embraced a blue-collar mentality,” he says. “Being the boys in blue, upholding the tradition and pride, and recognizing that there is no ‘I’ in team—this is where we always support and rock the ‘A.’”
Aldine’s first home game will be against North Forest on Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. at Thorne Stadium. 
