GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
WESLACO — When Weslaco East center David Decanini was preparing to make his first varsity start last season, a text message from his older brother, Jerry, melted away all of his nerves.
“My words were just, ‘Have fun, and remember what Dad taught us when we were little,’” said Jerry, now in his sophomore year as a walk-on at Sul Ross. “And the last thing I told him was about our cousin. Saying, ‘If Sam was here, Sam would be proud of you. He would be laughing with me and you right now. Just do it for Sam.’ That’s all I said.”
Now in his senior year as the starting center at Weslaco East, David is carrying on the nearly 15-year tradition of interior offensive linemen in his family. His cousins Joe, Cat and Sam Salazar all played for East, and his brother was a standout at center before his graduation in 2014.
David said he’s been especially motivated by the memory of Sam, who died just before the start of last football season when he fell from a Brownsville water tower while performing routine maintenance on an antenna for Orbit Broadband. He was 21 years old.
“That was a very tough day, when I got that call from my dad telling me Sam had passed away,” David said. “Immediately, I walked out of class and started tearing up, knowing he was like a brother to me.”
“After practice, I went home, and everyone was crying,” David continued. “Everyone was all down. And his mom, she told me, ‘Don’t worry about us. You keep on playing football and keep on doing your thing.’ And that’s what I did.’”
Sam, who played his senior season in 2011, took a critical role in teaching the Decanini brothers the center position. Jerry said Sam used to drive him to and from middle school. When Jerry’s practice was finished, he would walk over to watch Sam’s practice at Weslaco East.
Once Jerry reached the high school level, Sam showed him how to snap.
“In middle school, I couldn’t shotgun snap to save my life,” Jerry said. “Sam just taught me ways. He said it was just like throwing a football. Throw it back there, no matter what. Make your forearm hit your hip, and that will give you the perfect form. And ever since then, that helped me.”
David has been playing interior offensive line since he was about 7 years old, in peewee or TYFA. He remembers Sam would always come to his games and, like with Jerry, show him how to snap the ball.
David watched closely as Sam and Jerry played their high school careers, attending nearly every game, even if it meant a drive to San Antonio. He can rattle off the records of each team from memory, and he said he is pushed by their success.
As a freshman at Weslaco East, David served as a ball boy on varsity game nights. He said he was always trying to peek in on the team’s huddle, or at least keep a close eye on Jerry. He also practiced alongside his brother as a sophomore, during Jerry’s senior season. “I noticed he wouldn’t back down from any big guy at all, even if they’re 300 pounds or 280 pounds, 6-foot-5 through 6-flat,” David said. “He’d always just play his game. He’d be low, he’d keep his feet moving, and he’d bring the intensity.”
As a teammate, Jerry taught David the ins and outs of the offensive system. Now, he communicates with David by text message. Jerry said he got a message when East beat McAllen Memorial, then another when the team lost to Edinburg Economedes, warning him not to watch the game.
“I just responded saying, ‘It looks like you need help with your o-line,’” Jerry said. “’You guys are there, but you don’t trust each other yet.’ And he responded saying, ‘What do you want me to do so we can get along more?’ I told him what we did, is we would just hang out more. We made practice fun.”
Weslaco East’s offensive line has been up and down so far this season, with David as one of the few holdovers on the unit. He stands only about 5-foot-9 and weighs around 200 pounds, which East coach Mike Burget said is the norm for the family. Each was undersized but brought a hard-nosed attitude and embraced East’s powerlifting program to become a force in the trenches.
“They’re all made in one mold: they give everything they’ve got,” Burget said. “I haven’t had one Decanini or Salazar that loafed on the football field. All great leaders. Quiet. Led by example. … I wish the Salazars and Decaninis would have eight or nine more brothers. Then, I’d be OK. It’s been a great family history.”
David said he tries to overcome a size disadvantage by harkening back to traditional fables, like David vs. Goliath. He’ll face another huge test in that regard at 7 p.m. tonight, when East squares off against Weslaco High in the The Monitor’s Game of the Week at Bobby Lackey Stadium in Weslaco.
Before the game begins, he will likely recite the prayer he and his brother have adopted since last season.
“Dear Lord, please help us in the field of battle,” Jerry said. “We’d like to thank you for another opportunity in the sport we love to play. Please let our grandma know that we’re here fighting, and we ask you to call for our cousin Sam, to watch us play the beautiful game he taught us.”