MARK MOLINA | Staff Writer
For the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers, getting motivated for their highly anticipated District 16-5A Division I matchup with Mission Veterans Memorial is easy as they hope to avenge last year’s 45-24 loss.
Prior to Tuesday’s practice, morale was high in the Chargers’ locker room as they prepared to hit the field, but observers would be hard-pressed to find anybody who was more anxious to try and right last year’s wrong than defensive tackle Alex Villarreal and middle linebacker Jason Ambriz.
Both want the win for the team, but they also realize that they have unfinished personal business to tend to Thursday night at Sams Stadium.
For Ambriz, finishing with a win and at 100 percent would go a long way for his psyche.
“At first, the game started well, but then I hurt my ankle that game,” Ambriz recalled. “I sprained it really nasty, so I played the rest of the game with a sprained ankle. My potential was about 85 to 90 percent; the injury was holding me back from playing an even better game. I was bummed out because I would’ve played better.”
Villarreal’s main issue was about fixing a single blemish.
“This game means a lot,” Villarreal said. “(Mission Veterans) is the only team I lost to last year. I ended my season early with an injury. I tore a ligament in my foot and my last game was against Donna High. (Mission Veterans) was the only team to beat me — that’s my grudge.”
In last year’s matchup, the duo combined for nine tackles. Villarreal racked up a tackle for loss and a sack, and Ambriz also got to quarterback Landry Gilpin once and recorded two tackles for loss.
Their efforts kept the Chargers in the game, trailing just 14-10 at the half to what was a potent Patriots offense under Gilpin.
Mission Veterans outscored Brownsville Veterans 31-14 in the second half due in large part to three Chargers fumbles, and cruised to victory and, eventually, an undefeated district crown.
“We had (Mission Veterans) on the ropes in the first half,” Villarreal said. “We had some turnovers that eventually let them pull away.”
The sense of unfinished business for the senior pair has been parlayed into solid practices early in the week for the entire defense, and the coaching staff has taken notice.
With Ambriz and Villarreal extra motivated to go and get the win back, Chargers coach David Cantu feels good about his defense heading into arguably the season’s biggest test.
“It’s a good feeling when the leaders of your team have that sense of urgency,” Cantu said. “It is a big moment, and it’s a big game for us. We have a sour taste in our mouths after the loss last year.
“It’s a good feeling knowing we have kids like Jason and Alex on the field, knowing how much they care and knowing that they’re such great students of the game. They take such great pride in understanding the offenses, and once they get to game day they have a really good feel for them.”