BY NATE KOTISSO | THE MONITOR
DONNA — Take two distinct objects. In this case, two pieces of metal work just fine. In order to physically join the two metals into one, simply add heat from a small torch. But don’t apply too much heat. Only a small part of the metal needs to be melted to allow enough room for a filler rod to occupy space among the melted area.
This is one method of welding, as the process can be a lot more technical and distinctive.
Before attending Donna High, junior middle linebacker Jayp Sandoval never imagined welding as a potential interest of his.
“You got to go where the big bucks are, right?” Sandoval joked. “I didn’t have anybody in my family who welded. Once I got to high school, I heard about this welding program. My mom thought I should check it out.”
While football can serve as most students’ ultimate escape from classes, welding became Sandoval’s escape from school.
“While you’re welding, sometimes your head just goes blank. And you get to think about a lot of things. Sometimes I think about the football field,” Sandoval said.
Sandoval is already on a path to earning a welding certification provided through South Texas College. Once Sandoval goes to college, he plans to major in kinesiology and become a coach if welding doesn’t work out.
Few teenagers have their Plan A’s, or Plan B’s, mapped out years in advance. Sandoval’s support system is a big reason why he has a clear direction.
“My mother backs me up, and my father pushes me to be on top of things,” Sandoval said. “Education always comes first. That’s what they’ve told me since I was small.”
If education comes first for Sandoval, football comes in a close second. Sandoval is a three-year varsity starter for Donna. He is third on the team in tackles (21) and tied for first in tackles for loss (three) despite playing in two of three games this season.
While not a senior himself, Sandoval earned instant credibility with a younger defense because of his varsity experience.
“Sometimes, it’s funny. They’ll just run and — boom — hit someone,” Sandoval said. “But I know I’m there to help them out. I’ll be out on the field with them, so what they see and I see aren’t what the coaches see. That way, I can help them out on a one-on-one basis.”
Sandoval’s leadership role on defense has given him some leeway with calling plays, as well.
“The coaches trust me on audibles and things like that,” Sandoval said. “They’ll ask, ‘What do you think will help us out?’ Or if we should send a certain player or myself on blitzes. It’s pretty fun.”
Through the first three games of the young season, Donna’s defense has led the way with and without Sandoval in the lineup. Sandoval missed the game at PSJA North in Week 2. Even though he didn’t play, Sandoval acted as the filler rod to keep the defense together.
Faced with a 20-0 deficit at halftime, Donna scored 24 second-half points while the defense blanked North in the final 24 minutes to seal a comeback victory.
Sandoval returned to action in time for Donna to host then-undefeated La Joya High in Week 3, and the defensive roll continued. Donna stretched its shutout quarter streak to six in a 16-0 win on Sept. 15.
“His personality, his confidence, and the way he carries himself extends itself to the rest of the team,” Donna coach Ramiro Leal said. “When he played against La Joya, you could just tell that our defense was better. He was putting people in checks, moving people out, and everybody would rally around him.
“That’s what you want. You want someone where you can say, ‘That player is part of our foundation.’ And we hope we can build it from there.”
Donna (2-1) will open up District 32-5A play against Mercedes (2-1) tonight inside the friendly confines of Bennie LaPrade Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
“We’ve got to give it up for our fans. They’re always yelling and cheering, and we want them to be a 12th man on the field,” Sandoval said. “Not only to encourage us, but to make them (Mercedes) a little shaky coming in.”
The schedule won’t get any easier, as Donna will have to contend with Edcouch-Elsa and Brownsville Lopez in Weeks 6 and 7.
“We have a gauntlet. Mercedes, Edcouch-Elsa and (Brownsville) Lopez all made the playoffs last year,” Leal said. “But I’ve always said, ‘If we take care of what we’re supposed to be doing and not focus on them too much, I like our chances.”