GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
With offense hard to come by in the wake of an injury to starting quarterback Jesus Cuellar, Mission High coach Mario Peña decided to move running back David Flores into a rotation with backup quarterback William Arias.
The results haven’t been spectacular, but the Eagles offense has started to make improvements. Mission gained only 9 yards in the first half it played without Cuellar — the final 24 minutes of a loss to Mission Veterans in Week 1.
The next week, Mission gained 257 yards and scored 14 points against Brownsville Hanna. In Week 3, Mission scored 23 points before halftime against Donna North, eventually amassing 199 yards in a rain-shortened game.
“I was pleased that we secured the ball,” Peña said. “We’ve still got a lot of improvements to do, and we’re still looking at personnel trying to find that perfect fit on offense.”
The answer for the Eagles has been a more run-first approach. Mission has averaged 195.5 yards per game on the ground the past two weeks after putting up just 28 in Week 1.
Flores played a major role in that, rushing 20 times for 116 yards against Donna North.
“That’s what we had to do,” Peña said. “We really needed to focus more on running the ball.”
The passing game is also coming along. Peña said Arias has shown more poise and confidence with better decision-making as he’s gotten more reps, and that “he’s got what it takes to become a good quarterback for us.”
Although Flores is moving over from running back, he played quarterback as a freshman, and he can produce as a passer if needed.
“Definitely he can throw the short-range passes,” Peña said. “If you’re thinking that he can’t hurt you by throwing short or intermediate passes, he will.”
SECOND DIMENSION
When opponents sell out to stop the run against Edinburg Economedes’ slot-T, the Jaguars have shown the ability to take advantage through the air.
Quarterback David Garcia has completed just nine passes this season, but those nine passes have gone for 274 yards — an average of 30.4 yards per completion.
“David has been around us for four years, and he’s primed and ready for the opportunity, when it comes, to throw the ball,” coach Gabe Peña said. “We’re not a passing or throw-first offense, but he has good command of our total offense. … I guess you could say the passing game is a little bit more gravy on that mashed potatoes, and he’s having fun doing it.”
Garcia was expected to give Economedes a more mobile threat at quarterback, but so far this year he’s lost yardage on the ground. Instead, he’s found his success throwing, and left the running to as many as 10 backs and receivers who might get carries in a given game. Peña said Garcia’s strengths are his communication with his receivers and his ability to stay calm and cool under pressure.
“We’re very fortunate this year with David taking over at quarterback, he has command of what needs to be done back there, and he has the leadership skills to proceed with our offense,” Peña said. “Right now, we feel like the passing game is going to be a good part of our offense.”
STABLE OF BACKS
Weslaco East’s Lupe Moron is far and away District 31-6A’s leading rusher, but he didn’t even start in Week 3. Not because of any sort of disciplinary issue, coach Mike Burget said, but simply because of how many talented backs the Wildcats have at their disposal.
“A lot of people think he got in trouble or whatever. There was no trouble,” Burget said. “It was a coach’s decision. I started another kid. We’ve got six running backs. I don’t know who we’re going to start this week.”
With a stable of backs and a mobile quarterback in Darren Rivas, East has racked up 1,219 rushing yards this season, almost double anyone else in the district. Edinburg Economedes is second with 624.
One of the Wildcats’ dynamic backs is Alexis Cervantes, last year’s No. 2. Cervantes missed East’s first game while recovering from a knee injury suffered during the team’s first scrimmage. In two games since returning, he’s carried 20 times for 177 yards and two touchdowns.
“He’s very elusive. He’s fast,” Burget said. “If you don’t get your hands on him, he’s going to be in that end zone. He’s everything we expected out of him this year. As soon as he gets healthy, we’re going to expect a little bit more out of him.”