EDINBURG — Edinburg Vela players and coaches have used a variety of words to describe their mission this season — development, growth, progress. It all centers around one common goal: making the playoffs.
The Sabercats have yet to do that in their first two seasons, going from 0-10 in 2012 to 5-5 last year. Considering that upward trajectory and slew of players set to return, though, Vela has its sights set on competing for a postseason spot this year.
“Last season, we learned that we could complete with all these great teams that we have,” defensive lineman Joe Gonzalez said. “And this season, we know we will.”
The confidence, Gonzalez said, comes from their leadership. The Sabercats have about 30 returning lettermen, including a half-dozen starters on each side of the ball, back after narrowly missing the playoffs last year with a 4-4 district record. In fact, two of those losses (Edinburg Economedes, Donna High) were decided by less than a touchdown.
Experience, coach Michael Salinas said, will be the deciding factor. On the opening week of practice Salinas focused on simulating game-like, pressure situations with pads.
“Everyone’s in,” quarterback Ebher Lopez said. “Yeah, we have some young guys, but we’re moving along and we’re confident in the plan. So we’re pretty excited for the season.”
“We just don’t want to be satisfied,” he added. “We want to be great. We want to be the team that everyone notices.”
The dual-threat quarterback will have an array of weapons at his disposal, including a wide receiver corps featuring Michael Arguelles and Johnny Davila, along with Anthony Arredondo in the backfield.
“We’re excited,” Salinas said. “We’re anxious about the opportunities there.”
CHANGING THE PERCEPTION
Salinas said he didn’t think it would take long before the Sabercats became a competitive team. But that’s not the idea Lopez had initially when he transferred from Edinburg High in 2013.
“To be honest, when I got here, I thought it would take a while,” the senior quarterback said. “But as coach talked and talked, we all bought in. Now we believe in each other. We’re 100 percent sure.”
Despite not making the playoffs, Lopez made a name for himself as the top offensive newcomer in district, throwing for more than 1,400 yards and rushing for more than 500 yards as a junior last year.
OFFSEASON TUTELAGE
Several players took part in offseason workouts, whether as a team or individually. Arguelles, who was named to the second-team all-district team as a sophomore last year, competed in the Football University “Top Gun” Showcase in Dublin, Ohio.
The three-day camp featured former NFL All-Pro receiver Billy Johnson and former NFL receivers coach Charlie Collins. Arguelles earned the invitation based on his performance at the FBU camp in Arlington.
RECOVERING
At the beginning of the summer, Gonzalez said he and his teammates got together and “went hard” during strength and conditioning workouts. That’s when the first-team all-district honoree sustained a back injury.
Months removed from that, Gonzalez said he’s just barely beginning to “feel better.“
“Almost there,” he said.