MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
Sharyland Pioneer coach Jason Wheeler wanted to keep his JV team intact, giving it enough time to gel together.
In the past two weeks, however, Wheeler promoted four JV players, moving up two players on the secondary, one receiver and a quarterback to the varsity squad.
“They’re really helping us,” Wheeler said. “They’re bringing more competition to those guys who started the year off on varsity.
“It’s making them more hungry.”
Jonathan Jones, who was the JV signal caller, is giving Alejandro Ramirez, the Pioneer starter, some relief. Wheeler maintains that while Ramirez will continue to take most of the snaps, Jones provides more of a running threat.
Jones, a junior, has been disciplined in his short time on varsity and provides a different dynamic.
It’s different from the free-wheeling Alec Garcia, a backup QB. Garcia, who’s a running and receiving threat, showed his ability to freelance on the field.
Wheeler joked that it “drove us crazy” when Garcia would scramble and “take it to the house for 80 yards.”
Lightening the quarterback load from Garcia should help the sophomore contribute in other ways for the Diamondbacks (3-2, 1-0).
Jones has been steady and shown an ability to read zones. He provides a different threat than Ramirez, who struggled last week completing 3 of 9 passing for 29 yards, throwing two picks in a 28-7 win over Valley View in both teams’ district opener.
Jones completed 3 of 6 attempts for 14 yards with one interception in that game.
Ramirez, however, is the more seasoned QB, having connected on 54.5 percent of his passes.
Heading into Week 5, Ramirez made good on 57.4 percent of his attempts, second-best among district quarterbacks.
Also adjusting to a new role is Gabriel Benavides, who has moved up the depth chart from the No. 3 running back to the go-to ball carrier.
“He gives us a spark,” Wheeler said. “He’s more of a downhill runner, north to south.”
Benavides led Pioneer in rushing last week with 114 yards on 15 carries, scoring once.
FAMILIAR FACES
Rio Grande City has struggled with injuries this season. But the Rattlers were pleased to welcome back starting running back Casimiro Olivarez (knee), starting tight end Bobby Reyes (knee) and starting free safety Ivan Garcia (concussion) into the lineup in a 7-6 district-opening loss to Roma.
“It always makes a difference when you’re able to have guys back,” RGC coach Carlos Longoria said. “It didn’t help us much (on the scoreboard) but it was good to have them back.
“It’s just going to take them a while to readjust to the speed of the game.”
The Rattlers (1-4, 0-1) lost three players for the year in right tackle Juan Guajardo (ankle), Chris Longoria (collarbone) and outside linebacker Juan Toscano (knee).
“The challenge is still to get out there and play football on Friday nights,” Longoria said. “We can’t let the injuries brings us down. We’ve just to keep moving.”
TIME OFF
Valley View (0-5, 0-1) will have a bye this week to regroup following a 28-7 road loss to Sharyland Pioneer in both teams’ district opener.
The Tigers have been outscored 171-47 this season after enduring two shutouts.
The time off should allow Valley View to tinker with its lineups and schemes before taking on a Rio Grande City team that has dealt with its share of obstacles this season, namely injuries.
The Tigers resume play against the Rattlers in Week 7.