GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — When running back Joel Piña was playing on La Joya Palmview’s junior varsity team two years ago, coach Margarito Requenez never thought about calling him up.
The coaches figured Piña would be a useful varsity player as a junior in 2015, but they didn’t expect him to post quite the breakout season he did: 198 carries for 1,691 yards and 20 touchdowns.
“He kind of exceeded what I thought he was going to do,” Requenez said. “He kind of shocked us in the scrimmages, and then the first three games he had breakout games and set the tempo for the rest of the team.”
With most of Palmview’s offensive weapons from 2015 graduated, the Lobos will “rely heavily” on Piña once again this season, Requenez said.
Piña is expected to come into this year faster, stronger and healthier after missing the majority of four games last season with a hamstring injury.
Entering 2016 at 5-foot-9 and around 190 pounds with about a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, Piña hopes to offer a blend of speed, power and quickness he didn’t quite have in 2015.
“Last year, he was more of trying to make you miss, but could still run you over,” Requenez said. “This year, he’s going to be both. He’s a lot bigger. He’s a lot faster.”
Piña was dominant during the season’s first five games last year, averaging 222.6 yards and 3.6 touchdowns per game as the Lobos jumped out to a 3-2 start.
Then, Piña suffered a hamstring injury on a horse-collar tackle, Requenez said. During the next four games, he was limited to 120 yards without a score as Palmview went 1-3.
“That was the worst,” Piña said of the injury. “First you have to just stretch. That’s what you have to do. If you don’t stretch good, it can come back.”
Piña returned to form with huge showings in Palmview’s final two games, but the soft-spoken senior remains quick to deflect praise.
“It was the team,” Piña said. “We just have to get everybody going. When we get that, everything starts clicking.”
His goals for 2016 are 200 yards per game and 25 touchdowns, but Requenez acknowledged that Piña‘s production will hinge on the offensive line in front of him.
Last year, a group of six seniors helped Palmview bulldoze its way to the second-most productive offense in District 30-6A (414 yards per game) and a playoff berth.
Requenez said his new group of linemen has size and at least some varsity experience, but nothing that compares to last year’s bunch.
“Until they get the full grasp of what it means to play on Friday nights,” Requenez said, “that’s when we’re really going to see how good the offensive line is going to be.”
BACK IN THE FOLD
After playing his sophomore season at La Joya Palmview, Tristan Myende transferred to Katy Taylor for 2015. There, he lined up against undefeated state champion Katy, which rolled to a 16-0 record and won its playoff games by an average margin of 44.2 points.
Myende is returning to Palmview for his senior season this year, ready to utilize what he’s learned against some of the state’s best.
“It takes away all of your nerves playing against DI prospects and stuff like that,” Myende said. “When you come back down, you get a little more confidence coming down playing against, and with, my own players that I grew up with. It feels really good.”
Although he was only a second-string defensive back at Katy Taylor, Myende says he is returning to the Valley with more knowledge, experience and confidence.
He aims to do a little bit of everything for the Lobos, lining up at free safety, running back and receiver. He hopes to pick up at least 400 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns.
“He’s one of those go-to guys. If you need something, you go to Tristan,” Requenez said. “He’s one of those players you have to take advantage of his skills. Those guys come once in a while, and when you do have one, you have to showcase him.”
CHANGING IT UP
Requenez was reluctant to divulge many of the details, but linebacker Miguel De Hoyos said Palmview will be changing things up on defense, bringing in a new system under a new coordinator.
De Hoyos should be one of the key players in the middle, working behind a stout defensive line highlighted by ends Max Garcia and Rolando Andrade and tackle Rogelio Garza.
“I think we’ll be a lot better than last year in the sense that I think we’re faster,” Requenez said. “We’re a lot bigger and stronger than we were last year. The only thing with last year’s group was the experience.”
Palmview’s defense lost a majority of its starters from a unit that allowed 397.4 yards per game last season, but Requenez said the new starters are bigger and faster. De Hoyos said the newcomers and returners alike were adapting to the new system.
“At first it was a little difficult,” De Hoyos said, “but as the days go by, we pick it up and it gets easier.”
“I feel we can be way better than last year. A lot better.”
PROGNOSIS
Palmview brings back its most productive offensive player but will have to prove it has the pieces to form a valuable offensive line and the talent to make a new-look defense thrive.
Projected 2016 Record: 5-5
TENURE
Coach: Margarito Requenez
Year at school: Third
Record at school: 12-16-1
Palmview’s Piña returning for 2016 healthy, improved
BY GREG LUCA
STAFF WRITER
MISSION — When running back Joel Piña was playing on La Joya Palmview’s junior varsity team two years ago, coach Margarito Requenez never thought about calling him up.
The coaches figured Piña would be a useful varsity player as a junior in 2015, but they didn’t expect him to post quite the breakout season he did: 198 carries for 1,691 yards and 20 touchdowns.
“He kind of exceeded what I thought he was going to do,” Requenez said. “He kind of shocked us in the scrimmages, and then the first three games he had breakout games and set the tempo for the rest of the team.”
With most of Palmview’s offensive weapons from 2015 graduated, the Lobos will “rely heavily” on Piña once again this season, Requenez said.
Piña is expected to come into this year faster, stronger and healthier after missing the majority of four games last season with a hamstring injury.
Entering 2016 at 5-foot-9 and around 190 pounds with about a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, Piña hopes to offer a blend of speed, power and quickness he didn’t quite have in 2015.
“Last year, he was more of trying to make you miss, but could still run you over,” Requenez said. “This year, he’s going to be both. He’s a lot bigger. He’s a lot faster.”
Piña was dominant during the season’s first five games last year, averaging 222.6 yards and 3.6 touchdowns per game as the Lobos jumped out to a 3-2 start.
Then, Piña suffered a hamstring injury on a horse-collar tackle, Requenez said. During the next four games, he was limited to 120 yards without a score as Palmview went 1-3.
“That was the worst,” Piña said of the injury. “First you have to just stretch. That’s what you have to do. If you don’t stretch good, it can come back.”
Piña returned to form with huge showings in Palmview’s final two games, but the soft-spoken senior remains quick to deflect praise.
“It was the team,” Piña said. “We just have to get everybody going. When we get that, everything starts clicking.”
His goals for 2016 are 200 yards per game and 25 touchdowns, but Requenez acknowledged that Piña‘s production will hinge on the offensive line in front of him.
Last year, a group of six seniors helped Palmview bulldoze its way to the second-most productive offense in District 30-6A (414 yards per game) and a playoff berth.
Requenez said his new group of linemen has size and at least some varsity experience, but nothing that compares to last year’s bunch.
“Until they get the full grasp of what it means to play on Friday nights,” Requenez said, “that’s when we’re really going to see how good the offensive line is going to be.”
BACK IN THE FOLD
After playing his sophomore season at La Joya Palmview, Tristan Myende transferred to Katy Taylor for 2015. There, he lined up against undefeated state champion Katy, which rolled to a 16-0 record and won its playoff games by an average margin of 44.2 points.
Myende is returning to Palmview for his senior season this year, ready to utilize what he’s learned against some of the state’s best.
“It takes away all of your nerves playing against DI prospects and stuff like that,” Myende said. “When you come back down, you get a little more confidence coming down playing against, and with, my own players that I grew up with. It feels really good.”
Although he was only a second-string defensive back at Katy Taylor, Myende says he is returning to the Valley with more knowledge, experience and confidence.
He aims to do a little bit of everything for the Lobos, lining up at free safety, running back and receiver. He hopes to pick up at least 400 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns.
“He’s one of those go-to guys. If you need something, you go to Tristan,” Requenez said. “He’s one of those players you have to take advantage of his skills. Those guys come once in a while, and when you do have one, you have to showcase him.”
CHANGING IT UP
Requenez was reluctant to divulge many of the details, but linebacker Miguel De Hoyos said Palmview will be changing things up on defense, bringing in a new system under a new coordinator.
De Hoyos should be one of the key players in the middle, working behind a stout defensive line highlighted by ends Max Garcia and Rolando Andrade and tackle Rogelio Garza.
“I think we’ll be a lot better than last year in the sense that I think we’re faster,” Requenez said. “We’re a lot bigger and stronger than we were last year. The only thing with last year’s group was the experience.”
Palmview’s defense lost a majority of its starters from a unit that allowed 397.4 yards per game last season, but Requenez said the new starters are bigger and faster. De Hoyos said the newcomers and returners alike were adapting to the new system.
“At first it was a little difficult,” De Hoyos said, “but as the days go by, we pick it up and it gets easier.”
“I feel we can be way better than last year. A lot better.”
PROGNOSIS
Palmview brings back its most productive offensive player but will have to prove it has the pieces to form a valuable offensive line and the talent to make a new-look defense thrive.
Projected 2016 Record: 5-5
TENURE
Coach: Margarito Requenez
Year at school: Third
Record at school: 12-16-1