WESLACO — The Weslaco East Wildcats enter the 2021 season with a challenge they’ve faced the past two seasons — replacing members of their coaching staff.
Last year, the Wildcats lost offensive coordinator Mike Gonzales, who accepted a head coaching position at Donna High.
This season, head coach Mike Burget is tasked with replacing another pair of assistants, losing assistant head coach Rene Guzman and co-defensive coordinator Joe Marichalar to head coaching jobs at Edinburg High and Santa Rosa, respectively.
“As we lose coaches, I’m hoping to replace them some day,” Burget said. “It’s very hard when we don’t have a full coaching staff out here and we’re trying to get ready for very competitive, hard-hitting football. We’re at the end of Week 1 and I’m still waiting and hoping we can replace those guys.”
Despite the lack of continuity, Burget has established the Wildcats as one of the Valley’s most dominant programs, winning the last two-district titles and tallying a 61-29 record.
He has made nine consecutive playoff appearances during that run, extending the school’s streak to 14.
Burget said road to success has not been easy, having to work with a diminished staff the past two years after losing three coaches to head coaching jobs elsewhere in the Valley.
Still, Burget is ready to go to battle with the staff he has available to him, giving them credit for another successful year.
“Our job as coaches, no matter what the situation is, is to make the best of it,” he said. “I got some of the best coaches in Texas. These guys came last year knowing that we didn’t have a non-district (schedule). We won every district game, we won a bi-district championship, a district title and we continued our streak of 14 straight in the playoffs.”
On the field, Burget faces another battle, returning only eight starters as the Wildcats prepare to defend their district title.
The offensive line is among the most experienced of the group, returning three veterans, including center Julian Gonzalez and left tackle David Treviño, who Burget said does “brutal” things to his opponents on the field.
Gonzalez and Treviño will be tasked with opening holes for new starting quarterback Javi Garza and running back Jay Vasquez.
Garza steps into the starting role after splitting duties last year, recording 297 total yards and four total touchdowns in six appearances.
Vasquez, who stands 5-foot-2, is a force on the field despite his stature, tallying 371 all-purpose yards on 32 touches a year ago.
“It’s hard to get a clear shot on him. He’s got ‘it.’ He’s got shake. We love it when someone tries to tackle him in the open field. We sort of laugh on the sideline because he’ll make you miss,” Burget said of Vazquez.
The Wildcats return an experienced front four on defense, led by senior defensive linemen Josue Moralez, Noe Castillo and Rodrigo Puentes, who combined for 62 tackles last season. Junior cornerback Jesse James Garcia will lead a young secondary as the only returning starter of the group.
“Our defensive line is back and that’s key,” Burget said. “Our defensive line is big, strong and fast. We got a couple new secondary guys. They’re young, but they’re talented and they fly.”
Weslaco East opens the season with the Tinaco Bowl, taking on intracity rival Weslaco High on Aug. 27 at Bobby Lackey Stadium in Weslaco. The Wildcats open District 16-5A DI play one week later, hosting Donna High on Sept. 3.
“We know we got 20 days to get ready for Weslaco High,” Burget said. “Our kids are counting it down. They want to play Weslaco High. They always do.
“I really believe that if we get into that first game, if we win that first game, we’re going to take off. This team is going to take off. They might be young, but they are hungry.”