By FREDDY GONZALEZ
Staff Writer
LA VILLA — It’s Sugar Bowl time and La Villa’s first-year head coach Shawn Alvarez isn’t letting his team forget how important the annual rivalry against Santa Rosa is.
Not one bit.
The Cardinals enter Friday’s contest 0-3 and following Tuesday’s practice, Alvarez emphasized to his team the long-standing affect the game can have.
“This will be the game you remember years later,” he said.
The message was heard loud and clear by his team, especially the seniors.
While the Cards’ difficult 2015 non-district schedule hasn’t produced any wins, the team has produced plenty of offense with seniors Mac Perez, Ruben Garza, Aaron Salazar and Ramiro Cantu as the catalysts of the team’s run-heavy attack.
“We are so senior heavy that these guys are building themselves into leaders and that’s what I think makes good teams into great teams,” Alvarez said. “They’re understanding their roles and setting the example throughout the program.
“Those four guys in particular (Perez, Garza, Salazar, Cantu) work their butts off in here (weight room) and they set the tone for the young ones everyday.”
Alvarez also stressed the importance of becoming leaders within the community.
NUMBERS DON’T LIE: One of the philosophies Alvarez has implemented this year is that numbers don’t lie. While a grueling early season schedule has yet to yield a victory, it has produced 1,156 rushing yards, with fullback Cantu leading the way. After three games Cantu has rushed for 397 yards on 60 carries and one touchdown, including two 100-plus yard games against Taft and Brownsville St. Joseph.
Just behind him is quarterback Perez who has amassed 335 yards on 52 carries and five touchdowns, while teammate Aaron Salazar has rushed for 323 yards on 37 carries.
The team’s run-heavy approach has produced three 300-yard rushers this season and each week Alvarez gives his player their stats and tells them where they stand.
UNEXPECTED CIRCUMSTANCES:
An unexpected storm damaged the Cardinals’ stadium earlier in the year. In early May, high winds sent the press box into the center of the stadium damaging the bleachers.
Due to the damage, all home games this season will be played at Weslaco East High School’s stadium, including Friday’s showdown against Santa Rosa at 7:30 p.m.