DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
Coming off a bye and going 1-1 in non-district play, Sharyland High is still trying to figure out what it is heading into its district opener this week against Valley View.
The Rattlers have a loss to Weslaco East and a win against Edinburg North. The common thread between the two games, coach Ron Adame said, is that the Rattlers played better in the second half than the first half.
“We’d like to think we’ve turned it up in the second half, but we don’t want to be that team slow coming out of the gates,” Adame said. “We’ve got a good nucleus of kids returning, and we’re just trying to get those other kids as much experience as possible. We’re still getting familiar with Friday night lights.”
The Rattlers are not necessarily young, but they are inexperienced. Still, they have shown the ability to make, and execute, halftime adjustments.
Against Weslaco East, Sharyland High trailed 14-0 at halftime before outscoring the Wildcats 14-7 in the second half. At Edinburg North, the game was tied 3-3 at halftime before the Rattlers outscored the Cougars 17-13.
“We’re trying to find the identity of our team,” Adame said. “So the only disadvantage to starting district early is most teams may have not found that identity just yet. It’s still an ongoing process, at least for us, as far as the make-up of this team.
“We’re a team that leans on each other as far as the three phases — offense, defense and special teams. I don’t think we have one that is stronger than the other.”
GUERRERO STARS FOR VETS
No receiver in Class 5A Valley football has had a stronger start to the season than Mission Veterans Memorial’s Jacob Guerrero.
The big, athletic wideout has caught 13 passes for 373 yards and seven touchdowns in three games. He’s averaging 28.7 yards per catch.
On a team with a plethora of dynamic perimeter playmakers, Guerrero has stood out as quarterback Diego Hernandez’s top threat so far.
“I’ve talked to Jake numerous times, and the thing is he has everything,” coach David Gilpin said. “He’s got the size, the work ethic, the athleticism, a great character guy. We just needed to put it all together to where he’s making plays, and he’s doing that now. It’s just his evolution as he continues to grow and grind.”
Gilpin said there was no epiphany moment for Guerrero. Guerrero only caught two passes for 60 yards and a touchdown against Harlingen High in Week 1, but since then he has posted 147 yards and three touchdowns against Mission High and 166 yards and three touchdowns against Laredo Martin last week.
“His confidence is at an all-time high,” Gilpin said. “There’s never been a lack of it, but as he’s become more and more successful and more of a focal point, he’s realizing he’s as good as anybody around. When the ball is in the air, he’s catching everything.”
ZAPATA IMPRESSES
The season has not gone the way Mercedes has liked so far. The Tigers, projected by many to be an elite team this season, are 0-3 heading into the start of district play next week.
But the campaign has not gone without its pleasant surprises. One of them is senior nose guard Ivan Zapata, who has made a position switch and emerged as a steady influence along Mercedes’ defensive line.
“He’s a strong kid,” coach Roger Adame Jr. said. “He’s coming off the ball hard and getting onto that center really quick. He used to be a linebacker, but committed to being a nose guard and put on some weight and got even stronger.
“His overall effort … the play is never over for him until he hears that whistle.”
During the spring, Adame needed someone with size and strength to man that nose guard spot. Fortunately, he found it in Zapata, who had been an outside linebacker.
In the season’s first two games, against Calallen and McAllen Rowe, Zapata registered 7 total tackles (3 for loss), a sack and two quarterback hurries. He also has a fumble recovery and a fumble caused.