By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
HIDALGO — Though Hidalgo has five returning starters on each side of the ball, coach David Duty can say with confidence that his defense is ahead of the offense at this point during two-a-days.
That’s because the Pirates didn’t graduate any one of their linebackers from Duty’s first season at the helm, in which they finished second in district in yards allowed.
“That’s huge,” Duty said. “The rest of the defense, we’re filling it out by getting some guys that fell out of the program. We went out, hit the hallways and recruited. They don’t have the experience, but they’re big kids and they could move.”
When he took over last season, Duty became the third coach in four years at Hidalgo. Tasked with trying to turn around a program that went 5-16 in the previous two years, Duty went 2-7 overall, including 0-4 in district, in setting a new foundation.
Duty installed a pistol formation on offense, and a 4-3 alignment on defense. Now in their second year, players are finding comfort with that familiarity.
“Nothing’s changed,” said Michael Valle, a senior linebacker and running back. “Just the intensity and the leadership.”
A three-year letterman, Valle finds himself having to carry a significant load this year on both sides of the ball. Despite returning five starters, the Pirates will have a new look on the line, especially with two injuries.
Valle leads a linebacker unit that features Isaac Aleman and Andy Hernandez. They have Carlos Betanzos at defensive tackle, and Bryan Nunez at cornerback. On the offensive side, the Pirates have a quick receiving corps with Marco Bella and Ernie Solis. Bella returns after qualifying for regionals in the triple jump, and Solis has proven himself a faster runner in the open field.
Bella, who will also play safety, is looking to play a bigger role, after filling in for Eliud Castillo following a midseason injury.
“I’m already used to (the starting role) from last year, so I feel prepared,” Bella said.
Bella was among the candidates considered for the starting quarterback spot, replacing Peter Quiroz, who ran and pass for more than 1,000 yards his senior year. But Duty opted to go with the younger Bryan Aleman, who sat out as a freshman last season with a broken collarbone.
During Friday’s scrimmage, Aleman impressed the coaching staff with a 70-yard run in which he broke and scored before it was called back.
“He’s going to make plays for us,” Duty said. “If he’s really good, we’re going to be really good. I don’t want to put all the pressure on him, but he’s shown a lot of good things. He’s understanding what we need to do, and we’re bringing him along smoothly.”
BIGGER TURNOUT
Numbers have been an issue in recent history at Hidalgo, though Duty said he was encouraged by the 60 players who showed up to practice the day before their first scrimmage. Part of that, he said, could be attributed to their new schedule.
Rather than start early in the morning, Duty chose to have practices from 7 to 9 p.m. during their second week as a result of in-service. That turnout, he said, has forced him to consider having all of two-a-days in the evening next year.
“Some of the kids that had to work in the mornings that were not able to be here are now here,” Duty said. “We come from a community where the parents teach them to work, and you have to respect that.”
GRUELING TEST
Hidalgo takes on two Class 6A programs (La Joya Palmview, PSJA Southwest) in scrimmages before the season.
Though that’s two classifications higher than his Pirates, Duty said his players are embracing the challenge.
“We’re facing big-time teams because in our district we have big-time teams,” Duty said. “We have a mountain in front of us, and we have to attack it in incremental steps.”
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HIDALGO’S PROGNOSIS
Hidalgo faces an uphill battle in trying to qualify for the postseason with plenty of new skill players in place.
Projected record: 3-7
COACH’S TENURE
Coach: David Duty
Year at school: Second
Career record: 2-7