NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
LA JOYA — The drought is over. Thanks to a strong push late last season, the La Joya Coyotes were back in the playoffs for the first time since 2014 and only the second time since the La Joya ISD split in 2007.
The Coyotes gave up 20 or more points on only four occasions last year and were owners of a 6-5 record (3-3 in District 30-6A).
Middle linebacker Trey Perez knows his team’s defense was key to unlocking the postseason door, and he said he is proud to be a part of the tackling core that will try to replicate and improve on that result.
“Defense has always been good for La Joya. We’re just keeping the tradition going,” Perez said. “It’s been an honor to be playing defense, especially as a captain.”
Last season, he accounted for 39 tackles. His lone interception came in a crucial win over La Joya ISD rival La Joya Juarez-Lincoln.
“It wasn’t really much of confidence (we built), it was more team chemistry. We got really close,” Perez said. “Over the time, we got mad. Well, not mad, but really determined to keep winning. During the practices, we would go as hard as we can. Anything possible to make each other individually better. And at the end of the day, we made the playoffs.”
Third-year La Joya head coach Reuben Farias said that his defense learned to play hard within its scheme. He knows they should remain competitive if they play with the same intensity.
“We played hard and relentless, and we’re trying to make them aggressive,” Farias said. “I tell them, ‘Win or lose, if you give me everything on the field, then we got beat by a better ballclub, with better athletes. When you don’t give me effort and you don’t play hard, then you start questioning yourself.’”
Farias said the culture of La Joya could be turning a corner after a few subpar seasons gave way to last year’s playoff berth.
“It’s always good to have a good returning nucleus, because they know the expectations, plus they know what it takes to get to where we were at and the success that we had,” Farias said. “It makes it a lot easier for the younger guys to look up to them. These guys (the returners) can address certain issues if things aren’t happening, instead of the coaches always harping on them.”
ON THE LEGS OF EDDIE V
Last season, one of the most surprising names near the top of RGV rushing lists was Coyotes sophomore Eddie Villarreal. In 10 games, the powerful back kept his lower body moving to the tune of 1,360 yards on 261 carries.
He said that he didn’t completely expect the level of success he had as a sophomore but knew that being the focal point of the offense would take work.
“I was working my ass off every time. Every day, I was working hard,” Villarreal said about how he adjusted to the workload. “I had to get used to the contact, and I did. I worked out a lot in the summer, because I knew I was going to be a big part of the offense.”
He carried the ball 35 times or more in a game twice in 2017, including a 38-carry, 219-yard performance in La Joya’s upset win over McAllen Rowe.
“We have a new system that is going to be more option-oriented. It’s going to create more opportunities for other boys,” Farias said. “So other teams are not going to just be able to say, ‘We’re going to stop Eddie.’”
The quarterback tabbed to lead from under center will be J.R. Rodriguez, who played as a receiver on last year’s squad and was the program’s junior varsity quarterback the year before that.
Villarreal’s impact spreads to the defense. Perez said facing him in practice explains why the Coyotes had the district’s best defense a year ago.
“I knew we’d be good at it, because we have the best running back right now in the Valley,” Perez said. “And we go zone, which is 5 yards deep to the end zone. They try to score, and we try to stop them.”
THE PALMVIEW GAME
UIL district realignment in February shook up 30-6A and the La Joya ISD rivalries that had existed as district battles the past few years. With La Joya Palmview honoring the enrollment cutoff rather than appealing to stay in the 6A classification with its sister schools, the threat of losing the matchup was a real concern during scheduling.
Farias and Palmview coach Margarito Requenez managed to keep a Week 1 non-district tilt.
“The community, they want to see two teams that used to be together,” Villarreal said. “We’re fighting to see whose original and stuff like that.”
“Playing our sister schools, one, there’s a rivalry, but I always told our boys it’s not, ‘We need to beat Palmview. We need to beat Juarez.’ We need to beat everybody in the district. We take each game the same,” Farias said. “But, it’s good, because it allows the community — I know it’s one of the bigger games gate wise. A lot of the community comes out to support.”
La Joya High also faces Roma and Sharyland High before starting district play.
KEYS TO THE SEASON
La Joya High’s season will depend on its ability to play a smashmouth, stingy defense yet again. The front seven will need to replace the strength of Danny Villarreal. On offense, if Eddie Villarreal can stay consistent, the Coyotes can win games in similar ways to 2017: low-scoring, possession football. A more balanced offense would go a long way.
2017 record: 6-5
Returning starters O/D: 5/6, 3-3
COACH’S TENURE
Coach: Reuben Farias
Year at school: Third
Record at school: 9-12