By FREDDY GONZALEZ
Staff Writer
For the Raymondville Bearkats, this season could have gotten off to a much better start.
Losing starting quarterback Jacob Perez to a broken collar bone during the team’s first scrimmage game was definitely not in the cards for head coach Frank Cantu.
And after last season’s mass exodus the Bearkats were left with almost a skeleton crew to start the season.
Not necessarily from an overall numbers standpoint but more from a varsity experience perspective.
“We have a young offensive line and a young defensive line and they got better after the second scrimmage,” said Cantu. “I feel that they are much improved over the course of the game and I feel that we have people that are going to step up and do the job.”
“Very young” is the perfect phrase to describe Coach Cantu’s squad.
On the offensive line the Bearkats return only one player. And the same goes for the defensive front six who also return one linebacker.
On defense, however, seniors Sergio Gonzalez, David Marroquin, Albert Najara and Josue Garcia will be counted on to anchor the secondary.
Like the defense, key positions on the offensive side of the ball will field much of the same names with six players playing both sides of the ball.
After Perez endured his season-ending injury sophomore Daniel Gutierrez will be asked to take the helm and lead the offensive attack.
“He has a strong arm and that is going to help us,” said Cantu.
However having inexperienced players at important positions is nothing new for Coach Cantu.
As Cantu points out last seasons quarterback and running back who jointly rushed for over 2500 yards had virtually no prior experience at their positions.
“He (Christopher Trevino) was a first time quarterback and didn’t have the experience,” said Cantu. “However due to our offensive coordinator ‘who did a great job’ we were able to find his strengths and play to them.
“So we are going to do the same for Gutierrez and find his strengths and accommodate where he fits the best and get the most out if him.”
Raymondville begins the season at home Friday against a strong St. Joseph Academy offense who will test the defense early and often.