GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — Mission High quarterback Damian Gomez was introduced to coach Koy Detmer’s multiple offense only about a month before his first varsity start.
Coming in as a freshman under a first-year coach, Gomez didn’t have the luxury of spring practice or offseason repetition. Regardless, when senior quarterback Rudy Trevino was lost to injury in Week 2, the onus was on Gomez to sink or swim in a starting role.
Gomez ultimately did a little bit of both last season, completing 31 of 66 passes for 357 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions.
“I was really proud of myself, but there’s always room for improvement,” Gomez said. “Control the huddle, my feet, my fundamentals, drop backs, reads. Just get everything down and get good at it.”
This month, Gomez is running through his first spring practice. He and the rest of the Eagles are focused on refining their grasp of Detmer’s offense as they look to build from last year’s 3-7 campaign.
Gomez said getting all of the first-team reps is making a huge difference, and Detmer is already seeing signs of improvement.
“This offseason has been awesome,” Detmer said. “He’s worked out awesome in the weights, the running, the training. He’s developed his body from a physical standpoint. In spring ball, he’s taken a very big step just being familiar with the system and the different calls and knowing where people are. He can see it. He’s now taking that step.”
Gomez drew praise from Detmer for his calm and poise from the first time he stepped into a game. Looking back on the year, Gomez said his biggest takeaway was the mental fortitude needed to play quarterback, even if that attribute came naturally to him, to some extent.
“My parents tell me that I’m a really calm kid,” Gomez said. “I can show it, that once we’re out here, I’m focused and ready to grind.”
Still, offense was often hard to come by for Mission High last season, as the team amassed just 253.5 yards per game to rank sixth in District 30-6A.
Detmer, the Valley’s all-time leading passer and a nine-year NFL veteran, likened his first season as a head coach to building the ground floor at a construction site. This spring is a chance to add on a few new levels.
Most importantly, he said, everyone in the program enters the spring feeling like they’re speaking the same language.
“The first season is a challenge just getting systems in place and everything up and running,” Detmer said. “We’re excited about going into this second year, because now we’re having a chance to really coach the details and how to do things.”
STOUT DEFENSE
Mission High’s defense ranked atop District 30-6A last year allowing just 275.7 yards per game.
Detmer expects the unit to be strong again in 2017, citing key returners linebacker Steven De Leon — an All-State honorable mention in 2015— nose tackle Chris Hernandez and outside linebacker Raul Paez.
“They did an excellent job last year and found a way to continue to keep getting it done and giving us a chance to win,” Detmer said. “We didn’t always take advantage of those opportunities, but they kept us in games. And they’re going to be good again this year. We’re excited about that.”
SENIOR STANDOUT
On top of being a defensive leader last year, De Leon ran for a team-best 873 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has been working mostly at defense throughout the spring, but he’s expected to take on a similarly heavy and diverse workload come fall.
The 6-foot, 220-pound senior said he’s hoping to bring even more to the table than he did in 2016.
“I feel like I didn’t do that much. I needed to have more tackles and more touchdowns,” De Leon said. “I’ve been getting here earlier. Been here every practice. Been stepping up to be a leader. Just telling guys where to go and what the plays are.”
UNSUNG HERO
Running through Mission’s returning starters, Detmer made a point of highlighting fullback Luis Valdez. As a junior, Valdez rarely touched the ball, but he was still a valuable piece.
“They don’t know who he is. They probably wouldn’t even know the number,” Detmer said. “Luis was a guy that always was the constant. He did an excellent job at the role he played, where primarily he was blocking and doing different things that you need done to function offensively.”
MISSION HIGH
Returning starters (O/D): 5/4
Returning lettermen: 12
Key Players: RB/LB Steven De Leon, QB Damian Gomez, WR Al Tijerina, WR Sebastian Gonzalez, RB Jose Resendez, DT Chris Hernandez, LB Raul Paez
Coach: Koy Detmer, 2nd year at school
2016 Record: 3-7