By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — A year removed from the best season in the program’s short history, Edinburg Vela will undergo a bit of a makeover.
The SaberCats lost an All-Valley quarterback — along with standouts at tight end, right guard, safety and defensive end — from a team that went 9-1 in the regular season and advanced to the second round of the playoffs.
With 24 seniors gone, Vela is tasked with finding replacements among the 27 returners and 28 newcomers, while trying to acclimate to some of the changes on its staff.
“The biggest thing for us right now is, we’re not at the same point that we were a year ago,” coach Michael Salinas said. “I think our pieces were a little more intact. This year, we have a little more maneuvering to do; we have guys jockeying for positions. So each and every practice is important to see where we’ll end up Aug. 29 (in the season opener) against (Brownsville) Pace.”
The SaberCats bring back six starters on offense, five on defense. And they expect to carry 31 seniors, the most the program has ever had, as the school enters its fourth year.
With Ebher Lopez gone, Vela has a vacancy at quarterback. Lopez, an All-Valley second team QB, threw for a district-high 22 touchdowns and ran for four. Salinas is looking for the same type of dual threat in his successor, which will either be Fabian Pedraza, a senior transfer from McAllen Memorial, or sophomore Nate Garcia.
Pedraza has a strong arm and experience, having started 10 games last year. Garcia, at 135 pounds, has demonstrated an ability to get rid of the ball quickly.
They’re looking to lead an offense that boasts experience with a returning running back, three wide receivers and two tackles back in the fold. Having rushed for 830 yards and 15 touchdowns last year, Robert Guerra figures to get most of the carries again.
In losing their second- and third-most productive backs, the SaberCats will try to make up the difference with Johnny Davila, a cornerback, and Michael Arguelles, the team’s leader in receptions (29) a year ago.
“We had a lot of good talent last year, but a lot of the upcoming people are working hard and we’re pushing each other to become a better team,” Guerra said.
A four-year starter, Arguelles steps into a leadership role with a formidable receiving corps, armed with Elijah Reyna, Eddie Luna and Davila. The senior spent his offseason attending camps at TCU and Texas, focusing on route-running and adding bulk to his 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame.
Arguelles returns after hauling in 390 yards last year, second behind Luna, who finished with 437 on 24 receptions.
“We’re still strong,” Arguelles said. “We’re very united.”
OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT
Salinas has devoted a chunk of two-a-days to special teams. Given their playmaking and blocking abilities last year, the SaberCats regularly found themselves in favorable field position.
So going into this season, they will try to replicate that with Arguelles, Guerra and Reyna, in addition to Davila, who missed eight games in 2014 with a high ankle sprain.
“We made it a point of emphasis that these guys understood that last year field position was a big plus for us,” Salinas said. “We were able to pin some guys and then we were able to get the ball past the 30(-yard line) to help our offense.
“We feel that early in the year that can make a big difference in the outcome of games.”
STAFF CHANGES
With defensive coordinator Todd Wallace leaving to take the same position at Denison, Salinas has filled that vacancy with Haskel Buff.
Buff, who was the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M Kingsville while Salinas was the secondary coach from 2002-2004, comes from San Benito. Taking over as the running back coach is Moses Cantu, also from San Benito.
Patrick Shelby, the SaberCats’ wide receivers coach last year, moves up to offensive coordinator.
FINDING A REPLACEMENT
Graduating a three-year letterman in Rafael Perez, the SaberCats will be looking for a new kicker/punter.
For now, that role could come down to two players. Sophomore Austin Garza kicks, while senior Edgar Tejada punts and kicks. Vela is expected to audition both of them, when it scrimmages against McAllen Rowe on Friday.
EDINBURG VELA’S PROGNOSIS
With half the players returning on each side of the ball, Vela should have enough pieces in place to build on last year’s record season.
2015 Record: 11-1
TENURE
Coach: Michael Salinas
Year at school: 4th
Record at Edinburg Vela: 15-17
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