GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
Although Weslaco High racked up 35 points without passing for a single yard last week, losing starting quarterback Desi Rodriguez to injury still hurts.
Rodriguez will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a broken collarbone last week when a defender fell on him as he attempted to block during a running play. He ranks as District 31-6A’s fifth-leading passer, having completed 18 of 44 attempts for 396 yards and five touchdowns with four interceptions.
“Any time you lose a starting quarterback, it has to impact your offense,” coach Tony Villarreal said.
In his place, the Panthers will start senior pocket passer Paul Rodriguez, who has been used in limited action this season.
He has yet to complete a pass, going 0 for 5 with an interception, but he has at least gained some experience running the offense late in games as Weslaco built large leads during its current three-game win streak.
“He’s gotten a lot of quality reps,” Villarreal said. “Although we lost our No. 1, I think we’re going to be OK. In fact, I know we’re going to be OK.”
Weslaco’s offense had been on a roll in recent weeks, averaging 501.3 yards per game over the past three after picking up just 210.2 yards per game prior to that point.
Most of that success has come on the ground. Last week, backs Eric Gonzalez, Aaron Sanchez, Jonathan Martinez and Brian Guerra all eclipsed 100 yards rushing — the first time Villarreal has ever seen a team boast four 100-yard rushers in the same game during his 24-year coaching career.
RETURNING TO FORM
Mission High’s struggling offense has finally started to show some signs of life, putting together its best output of the season with 348 yards in a 34-29 loss to McAllen Rowe last week.
The loss of quarterback Jesus Cuellar to a strained ACL during Week 1 was a crippling blow. Cuellar returned against Edinburg High in Week 4, but he needed time to round back into form.
“He came back a little, kind of shaky,” Mission High coach Mario Peña said. “He’s gotten a little better the past couple of weeks.”
Mission threw for 294 yards last week after also eclipsing 200 in Week 8 against La Joya High.
Although Cuellar is a senior who had been out of football for three years prior to rejoining the team this season, he’s proven to be far and away the Eagles’ most potent passing threat.
“He’s the guy that can throw the ball for us,” Peña.
With the Eagles out of contention at 1-7 and 0-4 in district play, Peña has taken the opportunity to build for next season by giving some younger players more time. Mission will return nine offensive starters in 2015.
PROMISING SIGNS
Although La Joya Juarez-Lincoln remains winless, last week’s 24-19 loss to La Joya Palmview was the Huskies’ best result to date.
Palmview coach Margarito Requenez said on Sunday that he thought Juarez-Lincoln played better than it had all year up to that point. Before losing by just 5 points to the Lobos, the Huskies average margin of defeat had been 28 points.
Senior wideout Carlos Barrera has been one of the players who has come on strong of late, hauling in 15 passes for 204 yards in Juarez-Lincoln’s past four games after catching just one pass for 6 yards in the first four.