DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
As the season has developed, Mercedes has benefited from players getting more comfortable in bigger roles.
One of those players is junior receiver Joe Garcia.
“What I really like is his knack to block,” Tigers coach Roger Adame Jr. said. “He wears out those (cornerbacks). That’s what initially caught my eye; he does a great job mixing it up. He’s slowly made some headlines here in Mercedes.”
Garcia caught five passes for 95 yards and a touchdown the last two games. Adame said Garcia’s route-running has provided space for inside receivers Brandon Gutierrez and Daniel Martinez.
“Anything you throw him, he’ll catch,” Adame said. “He knows the importance of going up for every ball. (Quarterback) Zach (Gomez) is getting real comfortable with him and we’re looking for him more.”
Garcia is one of many Tigers playing better as the season goes on. Others include defensive linemen Rolando Rincon, Isaias Vasquez and Marcos Mendoza, and offensive linemen Ernan Borrego, Martin Cano, Danny Melendez, Frank Sierra and Jesus Barrientes.
“This team has come a long way,” Adame said. “We weren’t supposed to be doing this well this early. But we have the team to go in and compete and play with anybody.”
REBIRTH FOR ’JACKETS
Edcouch-Elsa could be getting healthier at the right time.
Running back Tey Valdez is day-to-day after missing the last four games with an injury. And starting quarterback Marco Aguinaga is a possibility, albeit slim one, to play Friday’s bi-district playoff game versus Roma after missing the last seven games because of a finger injury.
“We won’t get any news on Marco until Thursday,” E-E coach Joe Marichalar said. “It doesn’t look like it will happen, but I guess anything can happen from now until then. The finger looks good, seems fine. I don’t know what the hold-up is, it’s just a matter of someone saying he can go.”
Valdez and Aguinaga are two vital cogs to a Yellowjacket offense that has been abysmal the last four games, averaging 14.8 points.
At relatively full health earlier this season, E-E boasted arguably the top offense in District 32-5A. But injuries and a lack of discipline have contributed to its downfall lately.
“What matters is the effort and execution. That’s what makes it go,” Marichalar said. “You go out there and encourage and motivate and try and get everything out of them, but when they’re on that field it’s them in a one-on-one situation. They have to be up for that. A season of ups and downs, you’re going to have moments where that effort isn’t where it’s supposed to be.”
This week, Marichalar has stressed to his players that the playoffs offer a rebirth. E-E’s three-game losing streak to end the regular season? Irrelevant.
“The Lord gave us another opportunity to start a new season,” Marichalar said. “The playoffs are 0-0. We can still show people who we are.”
FINALLY GOOD NEWS FOR BEARS
PSJA High avoided a winless 2015 season by beating Donna North 27-9 in its finale last week.
With just three returning starters from last season, the campaign was a trying one for the Bears.
“Perseverance is what helped us,” coach Steve Marroquin said. “Our kids have stuck it out all year long and they’ve worked. They never put their heads down and never quit on themselves or each other. We knew we were going to get better by the end of the season and we did that.”
The Bears established a new quarterback, freshman Trey Guajardo III, and running back, sophomore Joachim Almaguer, moving forward. Both showed promising flashes of talent, particularly Almaguer, who rushed for 554 yards and three touchdowns.
Marroquin also credited the improved play of an offensive line that consisted of three juniors and two sophomores: Nathaniel Vela, Orlando Huerta, Nick Salazar, Jacob Gonzalez and Michael Portillo.
PSJA High will return 25 kids next season.