GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
Weslaco High coach Tony Villarreal said very little separates Paul Rodriguez from Desi Rodriguez in the battle to be the starting quarterback, but he’s decided to give the nod to Paul.
While Desi may offer more as a runner and a playmaker, Paul is a senior pocket passer.
“He just runs the offense,” Villarreal said. “He’s older. He’s got more experience as a senior. We’re going to give the senior a chance.”
Villarreal said he’s unsure whether Desi will take any snaps when Weslaco hosts Harlingen South on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
“I don’t know, I need to get a feel for the game,” Villarreal said. “Right now, it’s Paul all the way.”
The Panthers enter Week 1 with questions at left tackle. Returning all-district performer Joe Margo has been recovering from an offseason meniscus tear and wasn’t cleared to return to practice until Tuesday.
Nick Hinojosa is currently slated to start in Margo’s place, and Villarreal said Hinojosa has done a “great job” filling in.
MOVING UP
Throughout the spring, summer and fall, new Edinburg High coach Joaquin Escobar had been planning to keep his young talent on junior varsity, where they can learn and develop. Not many sophomores were likely to make the varsity roster.
Then, injuries hit the offensive line. And, in last week’s scrimmage against Los Fresnos, Escobar decided to try something new at running back.
Now, his offense heads into Week 1 with three sophomores starting on the offensive line. The unit will be blocking for a pair of sophomore running backs in Saul Ramirez and Nathan Marez.
“I was impressed,” Escobar said. “They run hard. They’ve got some ability. … I’m really surprised at the guys that came in.”
Quarterback Angel Diaz, who left the scrimmage with an ankle injury, is still expected to start. Escobar said he was a little worried on Monday and Tuesday, but Wednesday’s practice showed him that Diaz is fully healed.
Diaz and company have had a lot to learn the past few weeks. Edinburg returns just one starter on offense, and the group has been trying to grasp Escobar’s system.
Escobar said the team had all of its base packages installed before the scrimmage, and he’s been able to use the remaining time to work on adding “a few more wrinkles.”
The players are buying into Escobar, his system and the overall mentality. His biggest goal now is continuing to increase the team’s physicality, something he feels will be tested on the road against San Benito on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The game will be Escobar’s first as a head coach after 14 years searching for an opportunity.
“I can’t believe it’s here. It feels like it’s been forever,” Escobar said. “I’m nervous, stressed out. But I’m excited.”
IN THE TRENCHES
La Joya Juarez-Lincoln coach Tommy Garcia predicts that today’s opener against PSJA Memorial will be won or lost on the line of scrimmage.
The Huskies got a little boost there this week, as center Santiago Solis is back in practice and ready to play. Solis had been recovering from a torn ACL, but Garcia said he’s been practicing very well.
What remains to be seen for Juarez-Lincoln is how the rest of the line will hold up around him. The Huskies expect to start four sophomores.
Garcia graded the group’s performance in last week’s scrimmage against Grulla a B-minus, but added that the unit showed promise once it got over some nerves.
“Our expectations here are high, and our expectations aren’t going to change because the kids are young,” Garcia said. “They’re going to make their sophomore mistakes, but we’re willing to go to war with them.”