BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — McAllen Rowe participated in 7-on-7 for the first time last summer, and it didn’t go great.
“Last year, we didn’t do as well. We didn’t qualify for state,” rising senior quarterback Jesus Sanchez said. “But this year, we are doing better. Now that we are closer this year, I feel it’s helping us have better performance on the field.”
The Rowe offense has been clicking, averaging over 40 points per game during a state qualifying tournament at Sharyland Pioneer earlier this month.
The core of the offense is made up of rising seniors. Along with Sanchez at quarterback, Rowe returns its leading rusher Raudel Garcia and four of its top five receivers.
“We are all pretty close,” Garcia said. “I am confident in what we will be able to do this season. This 7-on-7 season is helping us with our timing, our routes, getting closer with each other and our teammates, and having that chemistry for the season.”
Rowe advanced to the state tournament by beating Edcouch-Elsa in the final of the SQT at Pioneer. The Warriors routed the Yellowjackets, 49-19.
That defensive dominance was also a trend throughout the SQT, even though the status of the defense is the opposite of the offense. Rowe returns just two of its top eight tacklers from last season. However, the two who are coming back are vital parts of the defense. Linebacker Erik Puente and linebacker/defensive back Alex Lopez have stepped up to lead the defense in 7-on-7.
“Since I’m like the only senior coming back with all-district mentions, I have to step it up,” Lopez said. “Our defense, we were super proud of each other. We got eight picks in four games at the SQT. Each one of our defensive players got a pick. It was a pretty good experience.”
The 7-on-7 format focuses on the passing game. For Garcia, a running back, the games present an opportunity to catch a lot of passes.
“Raudel is just an athlete overall, so he can catch the ball and do whatever we need him to do,” Sanchez said. “It helps him a lot catching the ball, and getting that feeling of catching the ball, since the running backs usually don’t catch the ball. It’s great for him, and it’s great for all of us.”
Garcia knows the importance of having good hands out of the backfield.
“It is very important for me to be able to catch passes,” Garcia said. “I’m more of a checkdown. I’m the quarterback’s last option. If he doesn’t have anyone to throw to, he just throws it to me.”
Rowe is in Pool A of Division I of the state tournament. The team’s first matchup is against Austin Lake Travis at 1 p.m. today. After that, Rowe faces Coppell at 3 p.m. and Clear Brook at 5 p.m. Lake Travis won the state championship in varsity football last season.
“It’s a great matchup,” Sanchez said. “It’s always a great challenge to go up against them, to see where we are at and where we need to be. But, I think it will be a great experience. It will be a tough game, but we will be ready.”