BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
WESLACO — The Weslaco High Panthers have a simple formula for success under coach Tony Villarreal: a punishing ground game and a pulverizing defense.
But as the team readies for the 2015 season and the quest for a fourth District 31-6A title in six years, questions abound where there was once certainty. Eric Gonzalez, who rushed for 1,028 regular season yards and 13 touchdowns, graduated. A defensive squad that allowed a district-low 17.5 points a game saw several senior standouts exit as well, including defensive end Rene Perez and district defensive MVP, linebacker Michael Torres.
“We’ve been number one on defense in our district the last three years,” Villarreal said. “So there’s a little bit of a tradition here now. We’re going to have to replace a lot of those guys now.”
One player who’s looking to help fill the void is linebacker Jordan Nichols, who was named first-team all district as a sophomore last year. Villarreal describes Nichols’ preparation as cerebral and calls him a student of the game for his knack for watching game film.
“I hate losing,” Nichols said. “I feel like the more I know my opponent, the more I can predict what’s going to happen. I can put myself and my teammates in the right plays.”
Aside from breaking down film, Nichols spent part of his summer attending three camps throughout the state to prepare for his increased roll on a defensive unit in search of leaders.
“I’ve really been working on my footwork, because last year I didn’t work on it at all,” Nichols said. “I kept getting broken by the other team’s running backs. It was really frustrating and I didn’t like it.”
Other would-be standouts who join Nichols on the defensive side of the ball include junior free saftey Diego Rodriguez, senior linebacker Anthony Garza and senior cornerback Ethan De Luna. Senior Alfonso Cerda is the only remaining starter from last year’s defensive line.
Despite the heavy turnover, Villarreal is unfazed and expects his defense to continue getting stops.
“I just think we have an overall great defense,” he said. “No great standout, just good players. I don’t think there’s a group (of players) that stands out. I think we all come together as a group.”
LONG MAY YOU RUN
Last year as a junior, running back Brian Guerra was referred to by Villarreal as ‘The X Factor,’ and saw the field as a situational player. Guerra enters 2015 as the Panthers’ go-to back, and spent the offseason bulking up in the gym in anticipation of his increased role.
“I’ve got the confidence to do it,” Guerra said. “This is what I’ve been waiting for.”
Though he played behind Gonzalez last year, Guerra used his stints on the sideline as a learning experience. The first-team all-district player says watching Gonzalez helped him on his cutbacks and decision making.
“He knows he’s the guy,” Villarreal said. “Brian is the fastest kid on the field.”
Though Guerra will receive the bulk of the carries, senior fullback Jonathan Martinez will compliment Guerra’s speed with his physicality.
“We have three or four guys we can hand the ball to on any given play,” Villarreal said. “If you key-in on one guy, and try to stop him, we’ve got someone else who can score. We got a lot of kids that can really scoot.”
SENIOR TALENT
While the Panthers’ defense looks to fill the void left from bygone senior talent, the offensive side of the ball is steeped in upperclassmen, including Desi Rodriguez (quarterback), Roy Cantu (center) and Erik Gonzalez (receiver).
“The last two or three years, the defense has kept us in the game, and I think now (the offense) has to keep us in the game,” Villarreal said. “(The defense) is a little bit of a rebuilding project, but they’re very good, very fast and fly to the football.”
CERTIFIED
This season marks the first for Weslaco’s newly installed safety protocols, wherein coaches must go through a certification course concerning head injuries and concussions.
“There’s a lot of things now with the NFL, how we tackle, how we block and taking the head out of the game. We’ve been doing that the last three years. If you’re a position coach, you have to watch video, do the drills and demonstrate to us that you know what you’re doing.”