BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — Edinburg North remains stacked with talent, despite all of the departures and graduations.
They have a bona fide star in senior receiver Roel de Leon.
Despite dealing with an injury and playing behind a talented crop of receivers last year, de Leon found the end zone three times, a number that is sure to grow in his senior year.
The 6-foot-2 speedster has natural ability combined with veteran savvy, and he hopes that will be a deadly combo for senior quarterback Max Aguilar to utilize in the passing game.
“Max looks really good,” de Leon said. “We have been running routes over and over again to get the timing down. He’s gotten it. We’ve all gotten it. We started off a little bit rusty, but we are all starting to get it down now. All the receivers are getting used to it.”
Of the nine receivers who caught a pass for North last year, only two return. The group surrounding de Leon is young, but they have head-turning potential.
“We have speed and height on the perimeter,” North’s new coach Damian Gonzalez said. “Roel is 6-2, Ivan Garza is 6-1, our tight end Brandon Vacera is 6-1, 6-2. We have some good kids with height.”
De Leon said the group has more than raw size.
“A lot of the new sophomores, they have hands, and some of them are really fast,” he said. “They just have to work on their routes. That is usually the thing I am working on with them.”
De Leon remembers joining the team during his freshman year.
“When I was a little freshman, since I was tall, they liked to mess with me,” de Leon said, smiling as he remembered the fond experiences he shared with those seniors. “They would teach me, too. They helped me, so I am going to help the younger ones.”
De Leon remembers Cougars like Justin Guerra, Juan Palacios and Adrian Rivera welcoming him to what would become his new family during the next four years.
“They used to help me a lot. They were always there running routes and running the workouts,” he recalled. “Everyone was pushing each other.”
De Leon is trying to recreate that atmosphere this year.
“They look to me for leadership,” de Leon said. “I always try to teach them the routes. If they get a little thing wrong, I have to correct them on it. I mean, I don’t mind. I like it, just helping the team out for next year.”
GROUND AND POUND
Gonzalez hopes to keep the offense fairly well-balanced, but the Cougars are expected to run the ball, run it hard and run it right at defenses.
“We have plenty of running backs to choose from,” Gonzalez said. “I am very excited about the ground game. We have a good unit up front. Reminds me of a lot of the units that we were running when I was coaching them.”
Gonzalez was a line coach at North before becoming an offensive coordinator under current ECISD athletic director Roy Garza. He then transitioned to head baseball coach — a position he held until he got the job as the head football coach earlier this year.
Senior Armando Ramirez is the first of several backs the Cougars will use this year. Ramirez brings a consistency that is key. He was on the JV unit last year and joins several of that team’s offensive linemen on varsity this year.
“They are hungry, and they look ready,” Ramirez said. “A lot of them have slimmed down, lost weight and gotten a lot quicker.”
Gonzalez’s familiarity with the offensive line has helped the unit reach top form. The linemen bought in immediately and have worked over the summer to reach the level of physical fitness Gonzalez demands, while also learning the new system and understanding how they can take over a game by blocking correctly for the talented backs and Aguilar.
Junior Jacob Peralez is a back who has dazzled Gonzalez in practice.
“Jacob Peralez is a junior who reminds me a lot of Matt Whitesides, not just on the field, but off,” Gonzalez said. “He’s full of energy.”
Whitesides, one of the best backs to go through North in recent years, put up 2,860 yards and 24 TDs in 23 games between 2013-15.
Peralez has the chance to do something special this year, and Gonzalez believes he will.
The last two backs who may factor in are both sophomores who will have to earn every snap. Moises Maldonado and Miguel Contreras are both spark plugs of energy for the Cougars.
“They are going to be in the backfield. They will be split out in the slot,” Gonzalez said. “We are going to find ways to use them.”
SUPER MAX
Last year, Max Aguilar played in six games, completing 24 passes for 278 yards and five TDs.
His season was a whirlwind, as the two QBs in front of him on the depth chart both suffered injuries at differing points in the year. Aguilar had to stay ready, because he never knew when he would be called upon.
This year, things are different. Aguilar was named the starting quarterback for this year before spring ball started.
He got time to grow into the role, and now he is prepared to take District 31-6A by storm.
“I feel ready for this opportunity,” Aguilar said. “I have been waiting for this chance for the longest time. I’m ready to help this team become a lot better.”
Aguilar has put in many hours with offensive coaches Max Habecker and Marty Hammond, trying to learn everything he needs to know to lead his team in and out of the huddle on Friday nights.
“I worked a lot on my footwork and the timing with the offense,” Aguilar said.
Aguilar also had to study the playbook.
“Although the offense is somewhat similar, we did make some changes offensively,” Gonzalez said. “Those changes are in the different schemes, and reads and things we do. Max has done a tremendous job of learning.”
Aguilar is confident. His teammates are confident in him. The Cougars have started to buy in to Gonzalez and the staff, leading to optimism on North Closner Boulevard.
“This team is going to lead the district in passing yards, rushing yards, passing touchdowns, rushing touchdowns, the whole works,” Aguilar said. “Everybody is ready to contribute. Everyone is excited, and we all want the opportunities.”
EDINBURG NORTH’S KEY TO THE SEASON
The pieces are in place for the Cougars to have a great year. The offense has talent and a strong line in front of them, and the defense is fast and physical. The question is: Will the inexperience on the team show, or will new stars be born at North this year?
2017 record: 5-6
Returning starters O/D: 7/6
COACH’S TENURE
Coach: Damian Gonzalez
Year at the school: 1st
Record at Edinburg North: 0-0