BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR
PHARR — Last year, PSJA North’s secondary was made up of seniors, and then-junior Brandon Gonzalez was the young one in that group.
This year, Gonzalez, now a senior, is the only returning starter on the entire defense. As one of a few seniors on the Raiders’ varsity squad, Gonzalez is welcoming his leadership role.
“I’m trying to embrace that role a lot, because it’s my last year, and I want to go all out,” Gonzalez said. “I’m going to try to be the best I can. I have to come back out here and show the younger group how to do it and be the voice on the field.”
Gonzalez is a hard-nosed corner, and he is a nightmare for whoever he is going against.
“He’s actually already got two or three picks in the five days of practice,” North coach Marcus Kaufmann said. “So he’s doing a great job of messing with us a little bit. He’s giving my quarterbacks fits. He disguises his coverage very well. He’s got a couple of picks just off the disguises.”
Football comes naturally for Gonzalez. He started playing the game at the age of 4. He knew he wanted to play football right away.
“I saw my dad and my past generation doing it, so I wanted to keep it going,” Gonzalez said. “It’s fun. I like playing this game.”
Brandon Gonzalez’s dad, Eli, played corner at Weslaco. Eli is part of the reason Brandon got into playing the position.
“That was one reason,” Brandon Gonzalez said. “Another is I’ve seen NFL players like Richard Sherman, Patrick Peterson, all those guys, I have seen them playing DB, and it looks like a lot of fun.”
Gonzalez works on every part of the position. He often watches game film on Hudl on his phone. He studies the opposing team’s routes, so he knows how to react when he sees them in a game.
He also excels at the mental portion of the position.
“Sometimes I like to trash talk a little bit,” Gonzalez said. “When they talk, I will talk, too. If not, then I will talk to get in their head and mess them up.”
He likes to provoke, but he knows how to benefit the team without hurting it. During a game last season, Gonzalez was really riding an opposing receiver. The receiver had already picked up a couple of flags, costing his team. The receiver was talking back and frustrating Gonzalez, as well. They got into a scuffle, and it would have been easy for Gonzalez to get a little bit of retribution, but Gonzalez walked away.
“I pulled back, because I didn’t want to get a flag,” Gonzalez said. “I didn’t want to hurt the team.”
Gonzalez is part of a very young secondary, but his leadership could be the difference maker. As of now, the secondary is already in the running to be the top group on the defense.
“I absolutely think it’s going to be strong,” Kaufmann said. “Coach (Will) Littleton would probably tell you it’s the front, but I really like what I am seeing out of the secondary. They are flying to the ball. It looks like Week 6 or 7 of last year out here, the way they are flying to the ball. They are all young. They don’t have a ton of experience. We have a whole bunch of sophomores and some juniors at that spot, but it’s going to be a pretty solid group.”
GRINDING LINE
Only one Raider on this year’s offensive line got snaps with the group last year. Despite the lack of experience at that position, the line in place has clicked right away, and they are becoming an asset to the team.
“I think we are going to be better on the O-line,” Kaufmann said. “We are bigger, stronger and faster. The kids have been in it longer, because they got to do some in the spring, and we came back and knew who was going to be where right away. Our adjustments are second nature. Last year, it was a little more work during ball games trying to get adjusted. I think now we can say a few words and they happen the way they need to. I’m pretty excited about their progression.”
Strong leadership has played a big part in the development of the line. Last year, Carlos Arcibar was a second-string defensive tackle. This year, the senior moved to center.
“I absolutely love it, because I get to play with my new brothers,” Arcibar said. “I get to lead them in a different way, because on defense I had experience, yes. But here on the offense, I am able to be a part of something even better.”
Arcibar was working in the weight room and on the field all summer. That inspired his linemates to join him. Even with practice starting, Arcibar has been putting in extra work. He shows up before practice and hits the weight room. After practice, he stays late, doing drills. His hard work continues to push his teammates to try to keep up.
“First of all, we had a really good example last year,” Arcibar said. “Therefore this year, we can be as good leaders as they were last year. I believe we have been doing our best at that. I have seen them come with me in the mornings. So I believe they have been following the good example that I have given them.”
MR. EVERYTHING
On MaxPreps, junior Arturo Beltran has three positions by his name, but the site may not have the bandwidth to accurately describe all the things Beltran can do.
Last year, he was used mostly as a receiver, which will again be his primary position this season. But he also took a few snaps at running back. That number could grow this year, according to Kaufmann.
Quarterback Randy Reyna is a senior, so Beltran has been taking snaps at quarterback this fall. He is not only the backup this year, but he is also the likely starter next year, once Reyna graduates.
“(Beltran) is looking good at quarterback,” Reyna said. “I’m helping him. Maybe he will be the quarterback next year, so I’m coaching him up.”
Kaufmann mentioned even using Beltran at quarterback for a few plays this year.
He will also be playing a decent bit at defensive back.
“It means a lot knowing that the coach trusts me to play both ways,” Beltran said. “I’m just not going to disappoint him. I’m going to give my all, 100 percent and just go all out.”
That’s not where it ends for Beltran, though.
“He will be our kick returner,” Kaufmann said. “He might be our punter, too. He’s working at that spot now. He’s doing a lot of stuff.”
PSJA NORTH’S PROGNOSIS
North is going to be the youngest team in the district, but if the younger players can step up, the talent is in place to earn redemption for last year’s disappointing finish.
2016 record: 7-3
Returning starters O/D: 2/1
COACH’S TENURE
Coach: Marcus Kaufmann
Years at school: 2nd
Record at school: 7-3