By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — In the days leading up to his team’s District 31-5A opener against Sharyland High, Edinburg Vela coach Michael Salinas maintained the SaberCats hadn’t give much thought to their previous head-to-head matchup.
Last year, the district-title winning Rattlers were responsible for Vela’s only regular-season loss. And at the time of that 27-24 defeat, Salinas took solace in the slim margin, saying his third-year team was able to go “blow-for-blow with the best (team) in the Valley.”
Since then, much has changed. McAllen Memorial has overtaken Sharyland High for the top spot in the RGVSports.com top 10 poll. With only two returners on each side of the ball and two losses to start the year, the Rattlers have slipped to No. 9 this week. Meanwhile, Vela, with its high-octane offense and four straight wins to start the season, has sat comfortably at No. 2.
Salinas, however, insists that “this is a new group and a new year,” and that his team has simply “left last year behind.”
For his part, Sharyland High coach Ron Adame says he’s not “over-sensationalizing” the matchup with his group.
“Every game in this district is big because there’s a lot of parody. There’s a lot of good competition,” Adame said. “We’re looking forward to putting it all together and being a better team. And as long as we’re one point better than our opponent, that’s all that matters.”
That the SaberCats (4-0) enter the game as the favorite is no surprise. They’ve improved each season since opening in 2012, advancing to the second round of the playoffs a year ago. More importantly, they return 11 starters, including six on offense that helped Vela generate the second-most yards in district in 2014.
The SaberCats again boost the second-best offense through four weeks, but they’re doing it a little bit differently. In graduating a starting quarterback and a couple capable backs, the SaberCats have opted to throw the ball more. Fabian Pedraza, a transfer from McAllen Memorial, has totaled 555 passing yards and nine TDs, with one of the top receiving corps in district at his disposal.
Returning wideouts Eddie Luna (17 catches, 191 yards, 4 TDs) and Elijah Reyna (16 receptions, 276 yards, 5 TDs) have been his favorite targets. Meanwhile, running back Robert Guerra has added some relief. But where the junior’s contributions are felt most is in the running game. Through three games, he’s accumulated 354 yards, the third-most in district so far, to go with seven touchdowns.
“They’re very explosive offensively,” Adame said. “They’ve shown the ability to go for the big play, and that’s what we’re looking to limit or control. They’ve got a lot of weapons. … And they’ve got some momentum with a 4-0 record.
“That was the case last year, when we faced them coming off our first regular-season loss (to Laredo Alexander).”
Last week, Sharyland (2-2) avenged that loss by beating Alexander 16-14, surviving a missed field goal by the Bulldogs. Gone are 46 seniors who lined up for Sharyland in last year’s opener before advancing to the third round of the playoffs, and in is a group that features 31 newcomers.
Though they have 24 returning lettermen, many of those Rattlers played in reduced roles last year, compared to now. Combine that experience with their non-district slate, and Adame believes his team is going to be “as ready as they’re ever going to be” going up against Vela.
“Our kids have grown up,” Adame said. “It’s been a whirlwind of opponents (with McAllen Memorial, Laredo United, Brownsville Rivera and Alexander), but I’d like to think that facing those opponents has gotten us ready for district.”
Heading into tonight’s matchup, Salinas described Sharyland as being “one of the best district opponents we’re going to face.”
“They still have some experience and they still have good numbers,” Salinas said. “They have athletic kids, and we have to play clean football.”
“At this point, everybody’s 0-0,” he added. “It’s a new season, it’s a new start for everybody. And we’re going to continue to do what we’ve done, and that’s having an 0-0 mentally, and controlling how we prepare and how hard we work.”