BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
WESLACO — As Weslaco East was running through its first practice of the week preparing for its toughest test of the season, coach Mike Burget took a moment to look at the big picture.
Weslaco East faces state-ranked Cibolo Steele at 6 tonight in Corpus Christi’s Buccaneer stadium. Steele is 11-1 and unquestionably one of the state’s top programs. The Knights have advanced to the fourth round of the playoffs every year since 2010, when they won the state title.
They’ve trampled three Valley opponents in this round during that spree, beating McAllen Memorial and Edinburg North (twice) by an average margin of 29.7 points.
Margins of that size have hardly been uncommon for Valley teams in the third round, which for years has proved a nearly impassible roadblock. And, to make matters even more dire, East star running back Lupe Moron is questionable to play because of an ankle injury.
The odds are stacked against East, but Burget looks forward to a day when those roles are reversed. He believes that day will come.
“We’re going to win a state title, sooner or later. People think that’s crazy, but that’s our mentality here at East,” Burget said. “I believe we have just as good a chance as anyone else to win a state title some year. And if it ain’t this year, we’re going to keep doing what East does until it happens.”
Burget’s formula to get to the top is simple: run the ball and play defense. If the Wildcats can control possession on the ground and shorten the game, Burget believes they can keep it close and potentially advance.
That plan would be difficult to execute even on East’s best day, and today does not project to be East’s best day.
Moron, who has run for 2,107 yards and 30 touchdowns this season, is questionable because of an ankle injury. He’s been nursing the injury for a few weeks, playing through it in every game. But he was more limited than ever in a 56-6 area-round win against Palmview, carrying the ball just twice. Moron visited a doctor on Monday, but his status for tonight remains up in the air.
“He was running on it, felt better,” Burget said Thursday. “But still very questionable.”
Regardless of Moron’s status, Steele will be the bigger, faster team. The Knights are coming off a 24-12 win against San Antonio Northside Brennan, the state’s No. 6-ranked team. Their only loss of the year is by 5 points to DeSoto, the state’s No. 8 team.
Four of Steele’s wins have been shutouts. Quarterback L.G. Williams has thrown for 1,551 yards and 16 touchdowns and run for 667 and 10 TDs. Receiver Jaylen Harris has 40 catches for 727 yards and 6 scores.
“This cat can move,” Burget said. “He’s one of the best athletes I’ve seen since I’ve been down here in Texas. … Are they faster? Are they bigger? Some say yes. Some say no. We’re going to find out (today). Our kids are looking forward to the challenge.”
Indeed, they players acknowledge the odds but are ready to fight. Linebacker Ram Mendoza, the leader of the defense, expects Steele’s speed to be a major obstacle.
“They’ve got some quick guys,” Mendoza said. “We just have to slow them down as best we can.”
On offense, East looks to maintain its smash-mouth style. Maybe Steele is bigger and faster, but the Wildcats expect to match the Knights’ strength.
Center Jerry Decanini is trying to approach Steele like any other opponent, just with the added intensity that comes from the playoff stakes.
“It’s going to be one of those tests that people in the Valley are going to see, can Weslaco East’s offensive line hang with this state-ranked team’s d-line?” Decanini said. “Coaches have told us, yes we can. Strength-wise, yes. Speed-wise? That’s going to be another test that we’re going to have to face.”
Although he stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 330 pounds, offensive tackle Sergio Moralez admitted that Steele will generally be “a little bigger” and “a little faster” than East.
Steele junior defensive end Mark Jackson is rated a four-star prospect by ESPN, with reported offers from Baylor, Oklahoma and Texas already.
Just one of the many challenges standing in East’s way tonight.
“I know we’re going to have our hands full,” Moralez said. “But as good as they are, we aren’t going to back down from their team. We’re going to bring it and show them what the Valley’s got.”