GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — La Joya Juarez-Lincoln junior Andrew Rodriguez was a freshman the last time quarterback was his primary position. The past two years, Rodriguez worked mostly at cornerback, leading the Huskies with 40 solo tackles in 2015.
As Juarez-Lincoln runs through spring workouts this month, Rodriguez is going back to his roots, hoping to be the team’s primary option under center as the Huskies try to follow up on a record-setting year that produced the first playoff berth in program history.
“Now I’m the starting quarterback for the Huskies, and I’m happy,” Rodriguez said. “It’s all good things coming.”
Coach Tommy Garcia said Rodriguez was the backup to starter Obed Fernandez last season, but Rodriguez only rarely saw the field on offense after suffering an injury during the team’s first district game.
Rodriguez would occasionally switch to offense in practice, but he never needed to have a complete understanding of the formations and play calls. Regardless, Garcia thinks Rodriguez is the correct choice for the job in the wake of Fernandez’s upcoming graduation.
“I’ve always said you want to put your best athlete at quarterback, and I think we have in Andrew,” Garcia said. “That’s why we made the change, and he’s handled it well. At times, he struggles. But I think that’s what spring ball is for.”
Rodriguez said he was happy to take on a leadership role. While learning the complete offense was a slight challenge, he said he was happy with his progress.
Isai Galvan will be pushing Rodriguez for the job in practice, but Rodriguez has the early lead.
“It took me a little bit of time, but I’m getting the hang of it,” Rodriguez said. “At first, it was complicated. But then everything went good.”
Rodriguez says he is comfortable as both a rusher and passer, and Garcia said the Huskies will tailor the offense to his strengths.
In this case, that likely means more rollouts and run-pass options.
“He’s a playmaker,” Garcia said. “We have to do things a little bit different and put him in a position for him to be successful.”
Garcia believes many of the skill players around Rodriguez are poised to have breakout years. Speedy scatback Adonis Barillas is back to full strength after battling injury last season. Eddie Hernandez is reprising his role at fullback, and Livan Pequeño will continue to split time at tight end and running back. CJ Flores and Harley Vargas look like the top options at wideout, and Juarez-Lincoln has three players coming back on the offensive line: junior Ulises Garcia and sophomores Jesus Proa and Julio Monsivalles.
The offense will hinge on Rodriguez’s development, but Ulises is confident in his new signal caller.
“I’ve been playing with him since middle school, so I trust him,” Ulises said. “I feel positive about it.”
BUILDING UP
After notching the first playoff appearance in school history last season, coach Garcia is seeing increased participation in spring ball, up to 80 players. That includes a group of 42 freshmen, even with about 10 not joining during the spring to tend to other responsibilities outside of football.
“Success breeds success,” Garcia said. “We have new kids coming out because of the success that we had getting into the playoffs. That’s helped out.”
Last year’s glimpse into postseason play has also given a boost to some of the returning players, who have set their sights even higher.
“It motivates us more to keep going,” sophomore safety Elias Gutierrez said. “To get three rounds deep, or even state. That’s the ultimate goal right there.”
DEFENSIVE FRONT
Though Garcia believes offense will be the Huskies’ strength, the team also boasts a few significant returners in the defensive front seven. Abram Aguilar and Norberto Lomeili are key on the defensive line, while sophomores Joseph Valdez and Benito Gonzalez are set to return at linebacker.
Another key underclassman, defensive tackle Bryan Lira, will not be back next season after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery last week to repair an injury suffered during the team’s bi-district loss to Laredo United.
Prior to his surgery, Lira had been watching spring practices from the sidelines, despite the likelihood that he will never play again. Garcia said the Huskies are dedicating their season to Lira.
“It’s one of those rare injuries that a doctor told me he has the knee of a 60-year-old,” Garcia said. “So it was bad. We feel for the kid, because he was our heart and hustle.”
LA JOYA JUAREZ-LINCOLN
Returning starters (O/D): 3/3
Returning lettermen: 23
Key Players: S Elias Gutierrez, RB Adonis Barillas, LB Joseph Valdez, LB Benito Gonzalez, FB Eddie Hernandez, OL Julio Monsivalles, TE Livan Pequeno, OL Jesus Proa, OL Ulises Garcia
Biggest Question: With a new quarterback, can Juarez-Lincoln build forward after the first playoff appearance in program history?
2015 Record: 4-7, 3-3