BY NATHANIEL MATA | THE MONITOR
Goodbye to the dogs days of summer, when coaches like Mercedes’ Roger Adame could only hope his athletes were working out to be in football shape on the first day.
The boys of the gridiron are back, and the coaching staffs can tell who prepared and who needs an extra lap for conditioning. The Tigers got started early, just after 6:30 a.m. for their first portion of two-a-days.
“This is the time we can focus on little things,” Adame said. “We don’t have an opponent this week we have to game plan for. Work on the little things – pointers to give these kids. Our main goal was to make sure we had 100 percent attendance, especially at the varsity level.”
Mercedes will replace key players at middle linebacker and brothers Matthew and Marc Ledesma on the offensive side of the ball.
Incoming senior Israel Algeria is ready to step into the role of starting quarterback for the Tigers. He’s projected to be under center when Mercedes kicks off 2018 with a Saturday date against Edinburg North.
As Marc Ledesma’s understudy last season, Algeria only attempted five passes (two completions), but he did amass 221 rushing yards on 12 carries. Ledesma threw for 1,910 yards, including the postseason.
Algeria feels a trip to the state 7-on-7 tournament with his team could factor into his growth and development.
“It helps you recognize that there’s always more work to be done. There’s always someone better than you, and that should always motivate you to try to get better,” Alegria said. “It’s a faster game, 7-on-7, but it helps you in football become a faster decision maker. Instead of thinking, just reacting.”
Already sounding like a veteran quarterback, Algeria said his thoughts upon being named starter centered around focusing and preparing, but never alone.
“My thoughts are just getting ready for the season, for the challenges ahead of me,” Algeria said. “It’s never easy. There’s always a lot on your shoulders. But you always can compromise, you always know it’s a team sport.”