BY NATE KOTISSO | STAFF WRITER
ALAMO — On Nov. 4, 2016, it was mercifully over. A young PSJA Memorial team dropped its regular season finale to PSJA Southwest. The Wolverines allowed the Javelinas to score a season-high 47 points and lost by 33.
Nov. 4, 2016, was the end of an 0-10 season — the Wolverines’ worst in what was then its 19th year as a program. It was a forgettable effort in a forgettable game during a forgettable season.
“We got to see what happens when you don’t play to the best of your ability and potential,” PSJA Memorial senior defensive end Gabriel Perez said about the 2016 season. “That was a real learning experience for us, because we couldn’t hit rock bottom any more than that. Being winless is not something you want to be known for.”
The Wolverines aren’t that team anymore. They’ve done quite a bit of growing up since 2016. In fact, had PSJA Memorial won its final two games last season, the Wolverines would have been in the playoffs.
“I’ve seen the changes in all of us thanks to our coaching staff,” Perez said. “To go from 0-10 to one game shy of the playoffs is a big step and serves as extra motivation for this year.”
If the Wolverines are to take the next step into the postseason, the defense will have to tighten up after allowing 287 points as a team in 2017, the second-highest total in the district.
Perez is expected to be one of their leaders on defense after recording 71 total tackles (25 solo), eight tackles for a loss and four sacks last season.
“We’re counting on Gabriel and the rest of the D-line to put pressure on the quarterback and let the linebackers run,” PSJA Memorial coach Michael Uribe said. “I told him to download some Von Miller highlight videos this offseason. I wanted him to watch Von’s demeanor, how fast he gets off the line and how he completes a play. Gabriel can use his speed to his advantage like Von Miller does. He might not have a 250-pound frame, but he plays like someone who does.”
Perez has plenty on his plate away from the football field. He is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the National Honor Society and serves as the president of the PSJA Memorial Student Council.
Perez also spent this summer in Washington, D.C., as an intern for congressman Vicente Gonzalez, who represents the 15th district of Texas.
“I was in D.C. for seven weeks, and they wanted me to work for an additional two weeks,” Perez said. “The problem was, two more weeks would interfere with the start of football practice. I had already missed a good amount of time in the weight room and conditioning, as well. Now, I’m starting to get back into the routine.”
Perez’s internship in Washington offered him a perspective of what life will look like after football.
“Believe or not, a lot of athletes might not think that football correlates with real life,” Perez said. “Coach Uribe has stressed to us that what we do here is going to carry over when it’s time to find our career. You have to be consistent. You might have to wake up at 6 in the morning, make a 30-minute drive to the office and have papers ready for the congressman that day. It’s the same thing for football practice. You have to arrive early to get any training or additional help to make yourself a better player.”
SIBLING RIVALRY
Sal Ramirez’s mother wanted him to play football when he was 6 years old, but he didn’t necessarily need her blessing. He was football crazy all on his own.
Before donning Wolverines green, Sal had two older brothers, Dustin and Christian, who were varsity players for Memorial in the not-too-distant past.
“Dustin was a cornerback, played all four years and even made the playoffs in 2004,” Ramirez said. “Christian was more of a basketball player, but he played football his senior year in 2012. They say Dustin was a big hitter, like I am.”
Sal Ramirez, who enters this season as a three-year starter, more than proved his mettle last season with 88 tackles, two sacks and an interception. He was a first-team all-district selection as an inside linebacker.
“We did decent last year, but now that we’re in a tougher and bigger district, we’ll have to work even harder,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez has the benefit of one more season to add to an already decorated individual career at PSJA Memorial. The more he can accomplish, the less Sal’s brothers can argue with his résumé.
“They both like to trash talk,” Ramirez said. “Christian likes to say he was pretty good during his senior year, but I always tell him, ‘Well, I think I did better my junior year than you did during your senior year.’ Same goes for Dustin. He made second team all-district his senior year, but he did make it on the all-star team. Hopefully, I can do better than that during my last year.”
CARRYING THE ROCK
Wolverines running back Joaquin Sanchez experienced a major jump in touches last season. After running the ball 77 times as a sophomore, Sanchez toted the ball 200 times as a junior, racking up 1,014 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.
Going into last season, Sanchez knew that he had to take on a bigger role.
“A lot of people left (after the 2016 season), and I felt I had to step it up,” Sanchez said. “It wasn’t just me who felt that, because a lot of us did. We knew we had to do something. With our O-line and our QB, we were able to make that year happen. Now, it’s all right there for us to take. We’ll have to push forward together. Then, we’ll be successful.”
Sanchez was the third-leading rusher in District 31-6A last season. Thanks to UIL realignment taking effect this fall, Sanchez will be in the same district as another 1,000-yard returner: Landry Gilpin of Mission Veterans.
“Joaquin is where he is because he’s a leader by his actions,” Uribe said. “He’s exceeded expectations with his work ethic. He’s here every day, even during volunteer workouts. He’s put on some 15 pounds of muscle this summer. We have to monitor him and keep him healthy, because we don’t want to get too excited about him and give him the ball 40 or 50 times.”
However many times Sanchez carries the ball, he wants to get more out of each carry.
“I don’t want to be satisfied, because I know I can do more,” Sanchez said. “Our O-line is young, but I already feel we will be better. We’re not going to be complacent.”
PSJA MEMORIAL’S KEYS TO THE SEASON
The Wolverines appear to have senior leadership on their side to crack into the playoffs after falling a game short in 2017. After competing in an eight-team district, however, PSJA Memorial will have a slimmer margin of error in the brand new 10-team District 16-5A Division I. The Wolverines will meet three 2017 playoff teams in their four September district games, which include matchups against district champions Mission Veterans and Brownsville Veterans. If they find a way to finish September 2-2 in district, they’ll have a shot at mid-November football.
2017 record: 3-7
Returning starters O/D: 8/7
COACH’S TENURE
Coach: Michael Uribe
Year at school: 4th
Record at school: 5-24