PHARR — Now entering his third season in coach Jesus Reyes’ Wing-T offense, PSJA Southwest running back Hector Ortega said he can practically run the ball with his eyes closed.
The Javelinas’ offense has a main package of about 12 plays, and Ortega, fullback Jesus Acosta and quarterback Carlos Portales know them well.
“It’s just automatic after four years of running it over and over,” Portales said. “It just sticks to your head and you know what to do and where to go.”
Even as Southwest slid to a 1-9 record in 2013, the team’s powerful ground game averaged more than 240 yards. The Javelinas eclipsed the 30-point mark four times.
With most of the key skill position players back, Southwest is hoping to ride that rushing attack to a more successful season, including the first district win in the three-year history of the program.
“It would definitely be a challenge, but we know we can do it,” Portales said. “For us, our first win is definitely going to be the hardest one, because we haven’t won in a long time. We’re looking forward to that.”
The Javelinas believe they can get not just one league win, but enough to earn a playoff berth.
The 20-man senior class has been through two seasons with only three victories, including an 0-14 mark in district play. Dealing with that adversity in trying to get a new program off the ground has strengthened the team’s bond.
“These two years were hard,” Ortega said. “We stuck together, we stick together, and we’re going to work hard.”
Ortega said the team’s mentality is different this year: The Javelinas actually believe they can win. Defensive back Jorge Cantu said last season the Javelinas would hang their heads when an opponent would score. Every loss would make the team think, “Here we go again.”
Southwest heads in with a different approach this year, something the players credited to the leadership of the senior group.
“Last year, we didn’t have any leadership,” defensive lineman Jorge Sanchez said. “Our few seniors that we had that we lost didn’t have any leadership. This year, for sure, we’ve been working really hard, and our leadership has really been excelling from last year.”
Reyes can see and feel the difference in practice. The players are responding better to coaching, and they’re showing up more often and working harder in terms of weightlifting and conditioning.
Together with the team’s leadership and a strong running game, Reyes is hoping that strength will help Southwest shake the memories of 0-14.
“In the back of our mind, we know that,” Reyes said. “We have to get that first ‘W’ under our belt, and go from there. Our goal is to make the playoffs.”
SPEED ON DEFENSE
PSJA Southwest will be looking to make massive improvements on the defensive side after giving up 34.4 points per game in 2013.
What the unit lacks in size, it makes up for in speed, specifically in the linebacker trio of Rene Villarreal, Joe Angel Garcia and Carlos Martinez.
“Our linebackers are fast,” Reyes said. “On defense, they should be a strong point. Our defensive linemen are quick. Our strength should be our linebackers and our secondary.”
Cantu should be the standout in the secondary, while Sanchez will embody what Southwest is on the line. Despite being just 5-foot-7 and 180 pounds, Sanchez is one of Southwest’s key players in the trenches.
“We’re going to rely on our speed,” Sanchez said.
MORE DEPTH
A big factor in helping that defense hold up will be increased depth. Although Southwest will carry only about 35-40 players, Reyes feels he has 15 or 16 players he can comfortably go to on both sides of the ball.
“We just got manhandled towards the end of the fourth quarter and we just ran out of gas,” Reyes said. “We have better depth. We have better numbers. And we expect more from these kids.”
SENIOR QUARTERBACK
Not only is Portales entering his third year as the starting quarterback, but he’s in line to be valedictorian of his class, and Reyes said he is the strongest player on the team.
Portales power cleans 250 pounds — a weight usually reserved for linemen — and would’ve gone higher if Reyes didn’t express concern he might hurt himself.
Portales has also made strides as a passer throughout his career, and Reyes expects that to continue. Southwest had 360 yards passing two years ago and 609 last year. In the team’s first scrimmage, on Friday against Valley View, Reyes said Portales threw for about 100 yards. For the season, Reyes would like to see Portales crack 1,000.
“I’ve learned to read coverages better,” Portales said. “I improved a whole lot, and my ball placement has gotten even better.”
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PROGNOSIS
PSJA Southwest has high hopes heading into 2014, and with Pace and Porter in the district, the team could win a few games. But the Javelinas aren’t ready for a playoff run just yet.
2014 Record: 3-7
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TENURE
Coach: Jesus Reyes
Years at school: 3
Record at PSJA Southwest: 3-17