PROGRESO — If there’s anything that coach Tom Salazar is trying to instill in his players, it’s a sense of urgency.
Oftentimes last season, Progreso fell behind early and it generally had to labor after halftime to soften the blow.
“It was a big part” of the reason why the Red Ants finished 3-7 overall, 0-4 in district, quarterback Dagoberto Zamora said. “To go back up, it’s difficult to do that. So if we know that in our mind, we need to start from when the referee blows the whistle and never stop.”
That’s the mindset at two-a-days, as Progreso tries to grow from last year’s experiences.
“We learned from our mistakes and how to correct them,” linebacker/fullback Juan Pablo Flores said. “Now, we actually have to do it.”
From here, Flores said, the Red Ants are heeding the “start strong, finish strong” mentality.
“One of our weaknesses, for one reason or another, they have to learn how to win,” Salazar said, referring to last year. “They have to learn how to start a ballgame. Last year, we had great second half, but it was too late. It was hard to catch up.”
The challenge through the first two weeks of practices comes in helping his players realize their potential. Like every team, Progreso has his sights set on the postseason. But Salazar, who enters his second season at the helm, has also set a second tier of goals, such as growing his program — 32 players currently fill out the varsity team — and having perfect attendance.
As of now, the lack of depth requires some players to go both ways. Staying healthy, as much as anything, will be a concern for Progreso. In the meantime, Salazar’s searching for week-to-week improve and fine-tuning for district.
“We’re learning how to stick together as a team, not criticize each other. Being team players,” Salazar said. “I think you’ll see this year we’ve come a long way.”
MAKING STRIDES
Zamora enters his senior year as the starting quarterback. He inherited that role last season on JV before earning a varsity promotion. In such a short time, Zamora has grown to become “an exceptional leader,” Salazar said, and a dependable signal caller who spreads the offense.
“He finished the year great for us,” Salazar said. “We didn’t win a district game but he had a big impact on the game. You could see his improvement week-to-week.”
The dual-threat quarterback enters in better physical shape after taking part in 7-on-7 action, weightlifting and running track.
“We’re practicing hard,” Zamora said. “Since the first day of practice, we’ve seen a lot guys comes in and they’re going hard.”
FAMILIAR FACES
The Red Ants are bringing back a large chunk of their team, including most of the offensive starters. Flores, who plays a multitude of positions, including running back and fullback, believes Progreso has “a good, solid team,” despite the low numbers.
“Offensively, we’re intact,” he said. “We have more players. We got skill players returning. And defensively, our linebacking corp is there. We have good depth, good experience.”
SIMPLIFYING THINGS
Progreso intends to run the I-formation in an effort to run the ball more efficiently. With the Red Ants largely struggling to score, particularly in district, Salazar’s seeking to develop more consistency, especially with an offensive line that should Zamora ample opportunity to start the offense.
“We’re making giants steps and we’re getting there,” Salazar said.
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PROGNOSIS
The Red Ants came up empty in district last season. With a slew of returners back, Progreso should do better — barring health issues —but it still has a long way to go to make the playoffs.
2014 Record: 4-6
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COACH’S TENURE
Coach: Tom Salazar
Years at school: 2
Record at school: 3-7