BY NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
La Joya — During week one of La Joya High football practice, the emphasis was on making sure the team ate breakfast to avoid practicing early on an empty stomach.
“We got to be hydrating and we got to be very careful with injuries,” linebacker Daniel Villarreal said during the first week of practice. “Just be very careful with everything right now.”
But it’s not just eggs and toast that coach Rueben Farias want his boys to finish. It’s everything.
“We’ve been really stressing and the coaches have really pushed us to finish in everything we do,” third-year quarterback Irving Garcia said. “In the weight rooms, finish our sets. While running, finishing hard in the last few sprints. And we’re practicing hard and finishing to the end.”
After winning their first two district games, against Mission and McAllen High, the Coyotes skidded to a 3-7 overall record, losing their final four district games. It was a stinger to see the season end on that note, but fortunately for 11 of those players, they’ll be back to make amends.
Garcia returns under center for his final season, and he’ll be facilitating a run-heavy system again.
“We’ve been coming out and working out together, hanging out together before and after practice,” Garcia said. “Even during practice, we push ourselves through everything, and we trust ourselves. I trust the line, and I’m sure we’re going to make big things happen this season.”
Even if his role is to primarily hand off the ball and contribute to the running game, the towering quarterback will bring experience to the huddle.
“What we need to do is finish,” Farias said. “We started kind of strong last year, but then in October and November we ran into some injuries, and we didn’t win too many ballgames.”
During the four-game losing streak, La Joya High faced undefeated McAllen Memorial and lost 45-14. After that, the Coyotes were outscored 108-44 during their final three games of 2016.
Improvements on both sides of the ball are necessary, and the offensive line is doing its part to ensure the ball stays on offense more.
Damian Tanguma, projected center, is returning to protect and create chances for a Coyotes team that averaged a dismal 11.5 points per game last season.
“It’s very important to open up holes for the backs, because they’re the ones that score,” Tanguma said. “The way we’re not going to be overlooked is (by) opening holes, holding up the pocket and making sure he gets off those passes every single play.”
Farias said the four returning linemen on offense make up a good nucleus to anchor the group.
La Joya will start the season against Class 5A teams Roma, Rio Grande City and Donna, then travel to PSJA North before starting the district slate with Mission.
Young backs out to prove their worth
Eddie Villarreal will be the top returning back on the Coyotes roster. He played in four varsity games as a freshman lats year and recorded 4.8 yards per rush on 26 carries. Now, he’s going to be a workhorse. Running back Ray Alaniz won’t be playing football this season, instead choosing to focus on his senior baseball season.
That means most reps will be handled by sophomore Villarreal. Farias said juniors Ryan Leanos and Jake Moreno will be called on to handle some of the ground responsibilities, as well.
La Joya amassed only 1,314 yards rushing last season to rank last in the district.
Don’t break
“You’re going to have to try to hopefully (have a) bend but do not break type of mentality defensively,” Farias said. “When it comes to third down, try to make them go three-and-out. Try to avoid giving up that big third-down completion. That’s usually how it happens.”
The Coyotes gave up 3,158 yards in 2016. Only the McHi Bulldogs had more porous numbers in District 30-6A, giving up 3,331 yards.
Returning defensive lineman Villarreal is a bright spot on a defense that needs improvement. He was named an all-district first-team selection as a junior.
“We got to start strong,” Villarreal said. “Be fast, punish them through the line and keep working harder. Speed is going to get us there. Strength, too.”
Collective goal
The last time the Coyotes were in the postseason, the current seniors were new to high school. A few traveled to the team’s 2014 first-round game, but for most of the 15 seniors on the roster, this is their final chance to reach the playoffs. That fact serves as a major motivator.
“It’s real special,” Villarreal said. “Not all of the freshman group that we had back then are with us today, but we still have good athletes from back then.”
The Coyotes will need to go above and beyond their recent finishes to get in, and they are aiming to start that push in August.
“The senior group that we have is a very good core of young men that work hard each day,” Farias said. “They have their personal goals and team goals. One of the team goals for them was to get in the playoffs. So they are trying to keep everyone accountable to meeting those kinds of goals.”