BY DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
Because of a tight competition between junior Andrew Segura and sophomore Marco Aguinaga, Edcouch-Elsa coach Joe Marichalar pushed back his decision to Wednesday for who will start at quarterback at McAllen Rowe on Friday.
The decision was to be made last weekend. The delay awarded Marichalar a couple extra days of practice to evaluate. Though Segura is No. 1 on the depth chart, Marichalar said Monday that Aguinaga has the edge.
Aguinaga stood out in last week’s scrimmage, showing off his dual-threat ability and scoring the team’s only TD on a 46-yard scamper.
“He has the playmaking ability,” Marichalar said of his precocious underclassman. “When you put yourself in situations and you have to do something on your own, he can do that. He’s poised beyond his years.
“He’s just so comfortable in tough situations.”
Marichalar commended Segura for “getting the job done and being productive” in the scrimmage. Aguinaga’s play, however, has made him difficult to overlook.
CHANGES UNDER CENTER
Donna learned Monday that junior starting quarterback Amonte Bowen, who suffered a broken collarbone in last week’s scrimmage against Brownsville Rivera, will not need surgery right now.
Bowen will be re-evaluated again next week. The earliest he could return is eight weeks.
“We’re all taking it as if he’s out for the season, and if he comes back it will be a plus.” Donna coach Ramiro Leal said. “We prepare for the worst.”
In the meantime, Leal found someone to back up new starter Edward Dougherty. The Redskins will look to senior Joe Perez, who quarterbacked the JV team his sophomore year before moving to safety last season.
Dougherty, a junior, is more of a slasher/runner, while Perez can throw as well as he can run.
Schematically, the Redskins, whose offense was opening more into a two-back I formation than a traditional I look, will likely go back to the straight I formation.
With a new quarterback, Leal said it likely puts a heavier workload on running backs Paul Guerra (a strong, downhill type) and Michael Tamez (a crafty, shifty type).
“It comes down to ball control, clock management and game management,” Leal said. “It’s crucial we control clock, control tempo and move the chains bit by bit.”
THE TOP CHIEF
Donna North coach Tommy Sauceda has picked 6-foot-1, 175-pound sophomore Manny Ramirez as his starting quarterback with the Chiefs heading into their first year of varsity football play.
Ramirez won the spot over 5-9, 180-pound senior Oscar Colon.
“Manny’s the guy this week, and we’ll go from there,” Sauceda said. “He’s the prototypical spread quarterback. He’s tall, he’s got a good arm and he’s only going to get better. He’s got a lot of ability.”
Ramirez will have the benefit of playing behind a rapidly improving offensive line, led by sophomores Juan Martinez and Luis Castillo, junior Jose Molina and senior Freddy Coronado.
Now that the QB decision is settled, the Chiefs look forward to their first ever varsity game at La Feria on Friday.
“Our kids have been looking forward to this moment for a long time,” said Sauceda, whose team played a JV schedule last season. “We’re excited. We have to be ready. I tell our kids if we work hard, good things will happen.
“Everybody looks forward to the start of the football season, and it sets the tempo for everything else.”