DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

The reigning District 32-5A champs meet up with this year’s 32-5A favorites for The Monitor’s Game of the Week.

Mercedes (3-2, 2-0 32-5A) hosts Donna High (3-2, 2-0) at 7:30 Friday night at Tiger Stadium in a test of two teams expected to contend for the 32-5A crown.

“It’s going to be exciting with them coming in as the favorites,” Mercedes coach Roger Adame Jr. said.

The Tigers breezed their way to a district title last season, but are far from the same team.

While the defense has remained stellar thanks to veteran pieces in linebackers Fabricio Quintanilla and Roger Adame III, and defensive backs Damien Ledesma and Joel Gomez, among others, the offense is working its way to the same standard of play.

Behind sophomore quarterback Zach Gomez (281 rushing yards, five touchdowns) and sophomore running back Fabian Ledesma (503 rushing yards, eight touchdowns), Mercedes has looked better offensively during district play, averaging 47.5 points opposed to 15.7 during non-district competition.

But Donna High was the expected force in the district coming into this season, and the Redskins have not disappointed.

Behind a pick-your-poison backfield trio in seniors Amonte Bowen (13 touchdowns), Paul Guerra (four touchdowns) and Edward Dougherty (six touchdowns), Donna High is averaging 36.2 points, 49 in district play.

The gaudy numbers for each team so far in district play are largely because of the competition. Donna High has faced off against two-win PSJA Southwest and winless Brownsville Pace. Mercedes, meanwhile, has played winless Pace and winless Donna North.

Friday’s game marks the first true test for either team in district play.

“I could sit here and downplay the game, but it’s critical,” Donna High coach Ramiro Leal said. “We know we’re in for a better matchup and we know we’ll expect a tougher game. We’re in for a tough one.

“We just have to keep doing what we’re doing.”

Mercedes has run the ball well this season, and undersized Donna High has had trouble in defending the run. On the other hand, the Tigers are going up against a dominant offensive force that will test their ability to cover the edges as well as up the middle.

Mercedes employs an uptempo, open system, while Donna High wants to control possession and ground-and-pound.

Donna High’s defeats have come to RGVSports.com Top 10 teams Brownsville Veterans Memorial and Weslaco High. The Tigers have fallen to perennial regional power Calallen and McAllen Rowe, the latter in double overtime.

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

MISSION — Sharyland High wanted no part of a 0-2 start to District 31-5A play.

So the recipe for Friday’s 29-27 win over Mission Veterans Memorial was simple: Don’t let it happen.

Trailing 27-23 late in the fourth quarter, the Rattlers got a clutch 88-yard scoring drive, capped by Manny Campos’ 1-yard TD run with 2:17 left, before Jaylen Williams sealed the win with an interception of Patriots quarterback Diego Hernandez on fourth down in Sharyland territory with a little more than a minute remaining at Richard Thompson Stadium.

“I saw the ball in the air and my mind just froze,” said Williams, who intercepted Hernandez twice. “I just caught it. It wasn’t about anything I did, though. This was about the team win.

“If I had just gotten a deflection, I would be just as proud. This was a must-win for us.”

The Rattlers improved to 1-1 in 31-5A, 3-3 overall. The Patriots, meanwhile, dropped to 0-1, 3-2, in losing their district opener.

“It just shows we never give up,” said Campos, who rushed for 106 yards, 91 in the fourth quarter. “That’s what that fourth quarter showed. That was a perfect example of how much we want it.”

Mission Veterans’ final drive, with the Pats down 29-27, was a collection of heartache for its players.

Before Williams’ takeaway, Hernandez found Roman De Leon on a big fourth-down conversion to give the Pats a fresh set of downs just outside the red zone. But officials whistled a hold on the play, setting Mission Vets back 10 more yards and forcing a longer throw for Hernandez, with Williams waiting.

“Roman De Leon made a great play, Diego made a great pass and we get the holding call,” Mission Veterans coach David Gilpin said. “I didn’t see it, but I’m not saying it wasn’t there. But we could’ve been in field goal range at that point, and calls are a part of the game.

“It is what it is, and we can’t make excuses.”

Neither team played clean football. The Patriots had four turnovers and the Rattlers had two. The teams combined for 19 penalties and 147 yards.

Mission Veterans’ offense was more consistent, with Hernandez throwing for 353 yards and four touchdowns, while its defense stopped Sharyland more often than not, forcing four turnovers on downs and a punt, along with the two takeaways. But the Rattlers hung late.

Campos, playing quarterback for the first time of the night while starter Seth Carter moved to receiver, led the game-winning drive with ease, perhaps because Mission Vets was thrown off with the sudden new look.

“There was a lot of pressure on us,” said Carter, who threw for 248 yards and a touchdown, ran for a touchdown, and had a 77-yard kick return for a touchdown. “We know we’re a better team than what we’ve shown. We want to prove to the whole Valley we’re a lot better than what we’ve shown.”

Sharyland had trouble stopping Mission Veterans’ offense, until the game mattered. And its offense had trouble sustaining drives, until the game mattered.

“We knew winning tonight was so important,” Sharyland coach Ron Adame said. “It’s important to stay in contention for the district title. Being 0-2 was not in our thoughts. I’m proud of our boys.

“We found a way.”

PATRIOTS RUN WILD

The outcome marred admirable performances from Patriots players Hernandez, and receivers Bobby Tovar and Jacob Guerrero.

Tovar caught 10 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns, and also collected an interception. Guerrero caught two passes, both for scores, for 30 yards.

“I couldn’t ask any more of our kids from an effort standpoint,” Gilpin said. “I’m disappointed for them, not in them. It was a great effort from our kids tonight. We had an opportunity tonight and we let it slip away.”

WILLIAMS REIGNS

Williams, a senior defensive back, left his coach thrilled with his play Friday night in collecting interceptions Nos. 2 and 3 of the season.

On both interceptions, Williams made the right reads when Hernandez eyed Tovar and threw his way.

“He showed what he’s always been capable of,” Adame said of Williams. “He surfaced in a big key game and we’re hoping his confidence level rises from this. Not just him, but also the entire defense. We’ve lost close games, we’ve won close games and this is another example of our team showing up.”

UP NEXT

Sharyland High has a bye in Week 7. Its next district game is at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16 at Roma.

Mission Veterans Memorial hosts Roma at 7:30 p.m. next Friday.

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

DONNA — Whereas most football aficionados would agree the left tackle is a quarterback’s best friend on the offensive line, that’s a foreign concept to Troy Billman.

All the 6-foot-4, 280-pound senior knows is his position is, arguably, the most prized for Donna High, no matter who’s lining up at quarterback, running back or fullback.

“It’s a big role,” Billman said. “Since middle school, I’ve always been the right tackle. So I’ve grown up in this. It’s just what we do — run off the right tackle.”

Power I formation to the right side. That’s Donna football, and that’s why the Redskins’ offense goes as Billman goes.

“Having a guy like Troy is a luxury,” senior quarterback Edward Dougherty said. “I feel protected in the pocket, even in tight space, because I know he can dominate anyone. He’s got good size and he’s quick.”

Billman, however, wasn’t always a brute, athletic force who caused opponents to reconsider their extracurricular activities. He had to work at it.

“His attitude towards the game has changed,” Dougherty said. “He’s really stepped up and made strides. He wants to be the best at what he does and he’s realized he needs to work like it. He’s put in the work and it shows.”

Billman started by hitting the weights. He also studied film and learned how to read defenses. It was a distinct change for Billman, who’d had no sense of urgency when he cracked the starting rotation as a sophomore.

“I’ll be honest,” Billman said. “My sophomore year, I was like, ‘Eh, I’ve got two more years.’ But I wish I would have slapped myself then. Those two years come really fast. That’s what I’m trying to teach the younger guys. Focus on now.

“Anything is possible, anything can happen. Worry about today.”

One thing Billman never had to work on, coaches and teammates attest, is his competitive energy. It surprises no one that Billman is a team captain.

It’s Billman who picks up everybody and makes sure practices go as they are supposed to.

“He’s a leader,” Donna coach Ramiro Leal said. “His leadership skills are as impressive as his physical ability. He’s made that offense his and he leads by example.”

Over the years, Billman has perfected the craft. A key to a good lineman is their stance and first step, and Billman started repping drills to perfect that the summer before his junior year when he visited combines and was told he had the potential to be a college football prospect.

Billman drilled and drilled and drilled, and then watched NFL linemen on teams that ran the ball a lot like Donna. He paid attention to how they operate.

Billman worked on having an unbalanced stance, putting more weight on his hand to come off the ball at the snap quicker, and other subtle yet integral nuances.

“Whatever step you want to take, your opposite foot that you’re pushing off from you put all your weight on,” Billman said. “I formed myself to where I could do that, and it wouldn’t point which way I’m going.”

Every game, Donna’s offensive line has four goals: 10 pancakes for each lineman, 400-plus total yards of offense, everyone plays, and win. Billman takes those goals to heart, and more often than not the Redskins’ line leaves each contest accomplished.

Donna High is 2-2, with losses to RGVSports.com Top 10 teams Brownsville Veterans Memorial and Weslaco High, and averages 34.8 points on 419 yards thanks to a boatload of athletic talent in the backfield in Dougherty and running backs Amonte Bowen and Paul Guerra.

Billman doesn’t like talking about individual goals. He prefers to keep his eyes on winning a district championship and going far in the playoffs.

But when prodded, he admitted he’s looking forward to life after Donna. UTSA and SMU have shown their interest in Billman protecting future quarterbacks. And Billman doesn’t care where he ends up as long as it takes care of his needs.

“My preference is wherever my school is free,” he said. “I’m not a picky guy. If I can get my college education free, that’s where I’m going.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

Donna North is one play away.

In year two of varsity football, the Chiefs are 0-4, 0-14 including last season. The latest defeat was a heartbreaking 52-44 four-overtime loss to Brownsville Porter last week.

“Our kids keep battling and battling, and we’re one play away from getting that ‘W,’” said Donna North coach Tommy Sauceda, whose team is losing by an average of eight points per game. “Once we make that play — be it offense, defense or special teams — and we get that ‘W,’ the kids will see we need to keep doing what we’re doing.

“As far as effort and play, our kids are doing that. We’re learning how to practice at game-like speed, and that’s the big thing that we’re doing right.”

The Chiefs’ defense has been solid, but the offense has improved considerably. Under sophomore quarterback Alex Saenz and receiver Richard Gomez, Donna North has balanced its production. Donna High had 450 passing yards all of last season. So far, it has 487 this season.

Opponents can no longer just key in on Dominic Ochoa, the third-best running back statistically in District 32-5A. Saenz has been able to make them pay for loading the box by being efficient on bootlegs and screens.

Last week, Saenz completed 16 of 25 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns.

“Once you establish that run, you’re going to have mismatches outside,” Sauceda said. “We ran effectively, so we were able to do some things with our passing game. They go hand in hand, but we’re going to hang our hat on running the football and that will open the game-plan for us.”

SEGURA STEPS UP

Edcouch-Elsa could have been in a serious dilemma with junior quarterback Marco Aguinaga expected to miss the district season.

But they had senior Andrew Segura waiting.

Segura, the Yellowjackets’ No. 1 receiver and No. 2 quarterback, stepped up last week against PSJA High and produced E-E’s best passing game of the season so far. He completed 17 of 25 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns to one interception, and ran for 80 yards and three more touchdowns on 15 carries.

“What stood out to me was his mental toughness,” E-E coach Joe Marichalar said. “Being thrown in that situation, he was poised and confident. You could feel it. You just can’t break this kid.”

Marichalar said Segura did a good job stepping into the pocket, reading the pressure and keeping his eyes downfield.

DIFFERENCE-MAKER

Donna High’s Amonte Bowen put District 32-5A on notice last week.

The senior do-it-all athlete ran for three touchdowns and caught a touchdown in a rout of PSJA Southwest to open district play last week. In four games, Bowen has 805 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 10.5 yards per carry.

“He’s elusive. He’s great,” Southwest coach Jesus Reyes said. “He’s got vision, he’s got speed and he’s a terrific athlete. He’d make us go one way and then go the other.”

Bowen played sparingly during the final two games last year after breaking his collarbone during the preseason. His healthy presence gives coach Ramiro Leal a plethora of options offensively.

Leal used Bowen, Edward Dougherty and Paul Guerra all over the field last week. At one point, Bowen found Dougherty on a 63-yard bomb to set up his 14-yard touchdown run on the next play.

Using a healthy complement of offensive talent for the first time this season, Leal saw his team rack up 522 total yards and 56 points.

“It’s a unique situation,” Leal said. “We have a great offensive line, we have Amonte, we have Edward, now we’ve got Paul back. We put Amonte on the wing, we throw Dougherty a deep pass for big yards and Paul gets them inside and sweeps. It just gives us more options.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

PHARR — Donna High did not have a healthy Amonte Bowen for all but two games last season. It showed, as the Redskins had to scrap and claw for a second-place finish in District 32-5A.

But the big, strong and speedy Bowen is a difference-maker, and he proved that during Donna High’s district-opening 56-9 domination of PSJA Southwest on Thursday at PSJA ISD Stadium. Bowen compiled 176 yards and three touchdowns rushing, 46 yards and a TD receiving, and completed 2 of 4 passes for 72 yards in helping his team rout its 32-5A opener.

“From the first play of the game, I just wanted to make something big out of it,” Bowen said. “Not being able to play last year and having to watch us get beat by this team, it was tough. It was really hard.”

Aside from Bowen, Donna High was fueled by memory. It was Southwest (1-3, 0-1) that was on the winning side when the teams met to open 32-5A in 2014, essentially forcing the Redskins to win out to salvage a good postseason spot.

This time around, Donna High (2-2, 1-0 32-5A) did not mess around. The Redskins scored on all seven of their drives when starters were in and had four different players find the end zone. If it wasn’t Bowen running amok, it was fellow senior Edward Dougherty, who rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns.

“Personally, last year against them left a bitter taste in my mouth,” said Dougherty, who also completed 3 of 4 passes for 66 yards and a touchdown and caught a 63-yard pass from Bowen. “This is a sweet victory. It’s a good win, good statement and we get revenge while we’re at it.”

Neither Bowen nor Dougherty played the fourth quarter.

It took Donna High, which averaged 10.9 yards per play and totaled 522 yards, four plays and 1 minute, 15 seconds to score its first touchdown. And when Donna didn’t have the ball, its much-maligned defense forced punts, three-and-outs and a fumble.

Donna surrendered 301 total yards, 178 coming in the second half after building a 35-3 halftime lead.

“They had been struggling,” Donna coach Ramiro Leal said of his defense. “We had been making young mistakes, and tonight we were aligned right and we made the right adjustments. We covered our gaps and we kept them in front of us.”

Or as Southwest coach Jesus Reyes put it, succinctly: “They overwhelmed us. Good size, good speed. We just didn’t perform tonight.”

ANOTHER WEAPON

Senior running back Paul Guerra made his season debut after being held out the first three games with hamstring and back issues.

An 800-plus yard rusher last season, Guerra carried the ball five times for 31 yards and a TD, and caught one pass for nine yards. His first touch resulted in an 18-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter.

“He looked great,” Leal said. “First carry, touchdown. It can’t get better than that. He’s been really patient. He’s wanted to play, but we’ve been holding him out for precautionary reasons. I’m really happy for him.”

ACOSTA PLAYS

Southwest’s top running back, senior Jesus Acosta, was back on the field Thursday after missing the previous game because of injury.

Acosta, playing with his left hand wrapped up, had 10 carries for 68 yards. But he also fumbled during a return in which he was used conservatively.

Acosta did not get his first carry until the second quarter. By that time, Donna High had a 14-3 lead.

“When he’s in there, you can see the difference,” Reyes said. “He’s got the punch, power, the second effort. He’s determined.”

UP NEXT

Donna High hosts Brownsville Pace at 7:30 next Friday night. Pace fell 54-0 to Mercedes on Thursday night and dropped to 0-4.

PSJA Southwest plays PSJA High next Friday at 7:30 p.m. PSJA High (0-3) is at Edcouch-Elsa tonight to open its district slate.

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

Donna High coach Ramiro Leal is not a fan of Thursday games.

“I’m about done with Thursday games, man,” Leal said, half-kidding and half-serious. “It’s just not a good deal.”

The Redskins play their third Thursday game of the season at 7 when they visit PSJA Southwest for each team’s District 32-5A opener. They are 1-2, with the culprit of their issues coming on misalignments.

Curing such ills comes with reps. Reps don’t come as desired with only two true practice days compared to three when teams play Fridays.

Leal said the Thursday bug is not an excuse. It’s reality in regard to a significant concern. Those misalignments are primarily responsible for an uncharacteristically poor Donna defense, one surrendering 34.7 points on 358.3 yards per game.

The good news is 32-5A had a bye last week, so Donna had more time to work and fix problems heading into this Thursday game.

“It goes back to alignment formation and recognition,” Leal said. “We’re just not in the right place, and when we are we just don’t make a play.”

Leal, however, said offense is partly a suspect as well.

“There has to be a balance,” the third-year coach said. “If our offense is going and working the clock and keeping our defense fresh, I think we’ll be OK. When we start struggling, the offense doesn’t move the ball and the defense is out there for a long time.”

Whatever it is, the Redskins have to shore things up quickly. Like, Thursday.

PSJA Southwest’s offense is predicated upon traps, sweeps and bootlegs, poison for teams that aren’t disciplined in their assignments. Donna High has suffered against the run this season, allowing 259 yards per game, and few teams run as committed as Southwest, which averages 335.3 yards on the ground.

Javelinas senior Jesus Acosta, Southwest’s best running back, is a game-time decision to play Thursday. He missed the last game because of injury. Southwest (1-2) has plenty in stock, though.

Aside from Acosta, quarterback Darren Estrada and tailbacks Justin Corona and Hector Pecina are all capable of reaching the triple-digit mark in rushing yards.

“We’re not a one-man team,” Southwest coach Jesus Reyes said. “Next man up. Everyone wants to play and get on the field, and when somebody is out it’s someone else’s chance to shine.”

Both coaches, especially Leal, understand how important tonight is. Southwest beat Donna last season, and the Redskins had to climb their way back and essentially win out to earn a playoff berth. Reyes said a win to start district play “opens the door for more success.”

Leal has geared his team for this moment. He has held senior running back Paul Guerra, who rushed for more than 800 yards last season, out for precautionary reasons because of hamstring and back issues. Guerra is expected to make his season debut Thursday and will rotate in the backfield alongside Donna’s two do-everything playmakers, Edward Dougherty and Amonte Bowen.

“Winning that first district game is big. It’s huge,” Leal said. “I’d rather go 0-3 and 1-0 in district, than go 3-0 and 0-1 to start district. It’s about setting the tone. I’ve got to look at the bigger picture.

“It’s not where we start, it’s where we finish.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

Though news surfaced Monday that junior quarterback Marco Aguinaga needs surgery on his finger and will miss at least six weeks, Edcouch-Elsa coach Joe Marichalar is not looking at the hindered appendage as a season-ender.

“We’re not saying he’s completely out,” Marichalar said. “What we are saying is he’ll be out this week. We don’t want to look too far ahead. We’re concentrating on what we have right now and what we can control.”

Aguinaga, who has thrown for 513 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for another 149 yards, was supposed to be out only 2-3 weeks after suffering a hairline fracture on his left ring finger during the Week 3 win at Edinburg North. But it was discovered the finger was rotated wrong because of the dislocation and Aguinaga will need surgery, which takes place Thursday. Aguinaga’s mother, Daneilla, confirmed the news in a Facebook post Monday.

In the meantime, Marichalar will go with senior Andrew Segura as a starter for Friday’s district-opener against PSJA High. Segura is No. 2 on the depth chart, but it’s also probable No. 3 Moses Gomez and No. 4 Tey Valdez see time as well.

“We’ll give those guys an opportunity to be successful,” Marichalar said. “The offense won’t change a whole bunch. Those guys have been getting reps since day one. They understand the concept of what we’re trying to do.”

The Yellowjackets are expected to return defensive lineman Julio Contreras to the field this week. Contreras has not played in a game this season because of a knee injury.

SO FAR, SO GOOD

Mercedes is moving along as expected so far. The Tigers (1-2) have a strong, aggressive defense and a conservative, efficient offense that has only turned the ball over once.

“We had to grow up real quick, and I saw them grow up real fast,” Mercedes coach Roger Adame Jr. said of his young team. “The confidence level is big; they’re catching up to the speed of the game. We’re moving the ball consistently and we’re getting off the field on third downs.”

A big reason for the offensive success has been sophomore running back Fabian Ledesma, who has 205 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries and has assumed the role of the No. 1 back.

“He’s a strong runner,” Adame said. “He’s one of these backs that, when he gets the ball, he can score from anywhere on the field. He’s committed himself to being an overall back and really learning the offense.”

The Tigers are playing well as they position themselves to defend their district title.

“We know we’re putting the title on the line,” Adame said. “Whether we like it or not, we’re going to take everybody’s best shot. There’s no doubt teams are coming to get what we have, and our kids understand it.”

BEARS STAYING FOCUSED

PSJA High is 0-3 and has been outscored 158-32. But coach Steve Marroquin, per his positive nature, sees plenty of good.

“I like that our kids are working hard,” he said. “We’re out here trying to put an end to what’s been going on. They have a good attitude, they never quit, and slowly but surely we feel confident where our team is headed.”

Marroquin likes the defense, though it has surrendered 52.6 points and 441.3 yards per game. Replacing 10 starters has been a daunting task, but the Bears have improved as games have progressed, thanks to the coaching staff simplifying schemes and focusing more on making sure kids are in the right position, first and foremost.

“I don’t want to put it all on youth,” Marroquin said. “We’ve played some very good teams, and a lot of it is we’re facing experienced teams. It can be attributed to youth and to not doing things fundamentally right.”

The Bears could get back starting quarterback Andrew Castaneda this week, who got injured during the second quarter of the second game of the season. They have also been without their starting center the last two games. Those are reasons why the offense has produced six points, total, in those contests.

“We just want to make sure we stay focused,” Marroquin said. “This is the second season. It’s seven games that will dictate where we stand.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

McALLEN — When Louie Yebra was invited to the renown Junior Phenom Camp in San Diego in July, he felt like any 13-year-old would.

“I was pretty nervous,” he said. “I was nervous I wouldn’t do well, and when I did good, I felt better. The first night, I was a wreck, but I did OK. I hustled, I rebounded. Defensively, I was able to find a place to stand out.”

That’s no exaggeration. When the four-day camp concluded, Yebra learned soon thereafter he is considered one of the best players in the nation in his age group.

In front of a crowd of scouts and respected entities like Hoop Scoop, SLAM magazine and Rivals, Yebra shined. Entering the 2015-16 season, the camp ranks Yebra as the eighth-best seventh grader in the nation, and second-best at his power forward position.

“It’s unbelievable, really,” Yebra said. “I was thrilled. My parents pulled me into a room and told me and I was just shocked. It’s exciting and it makes me nervous at the same time.

“I know everybody will be going for me. I know I have to do good all the time now.”

BRIGHT FUTURE

Yebra grew up around basketball. His father is Jose Luis Yebra, McAllen Rowe’s boys basketball coach since 1999 who played professionally in Mexico for two years after a standout career at McMurry University in Abilene.

The 6-foot, 145-pound Yebra is a student at De Leon Middle School. But he has refined his game playing the last five years with the South Texas Hoopsters, the Rio Grande Valley’s AAU basketball team coached by Arnold Martinez. Under Martinez, Yebra has developed his shooting and perimeter skills. Those advanced nuances of his game complement his lanky, tall frame.

“The main thing is his IQ and vision,” said Joe Keller, president of Phenom Basketball Inc. and a longtime coach/scout in grassroots basketball. “It was amazing how he understood the game and his concept of seeing the game. He’s 2-3 years ahead of his competition.”

Jose Luis wanted a different basketball path for his son than the one he took.

When he was a high school player at Brownsville Pace, Jose Luis’ coach forced him to play close to the basket because of his significant size (Jose Luis now stands 6-foot-6). But it wasn’t until a friend advised him he needed to develop a perimeter game if he wanted to play beyond high school that Jose Luis started working on every part of his game.

“It helped me when I played college ball; I could play different positions,” said Jose Luis, who played two years at Blinn Junior College before transferring to McMurry. “That’s what I want for Louie. We want him to be a complete player.”

Though Yebra played power forward at Keller’s camp, he will likely end up a small forward or point guard in high school.

“Scoring and vision,” he said. “I want to help others have success on the court, and for my success to come from their success.”

Yebra dreams of becoming a lawyer one day. He likes the idea of playing basketball at UCLA, North Carolina or Duke because of their prestigious law programs. But his bigger dream is playing pro basketball.

“He’s very respectful, very articulate,” Keller said. “He’s a kid who has a bright future in life, whether it’s basketball or aside from basketball.”

STAYING CALM

Keller names Duke Pistokache, father of former Sharyland High standouts Jesse and Joaquin Pistokache, as one of his “scouts.” It was Pistokache who nominated Yebra to Keller as a potential invitee.

The Junior Phenom Camp is 14 years old and hosted 500 kids this year, 120 in the seventh-grade division Yebra participated in. Keller said players from 13 different countries and almost every state attend.

It is considered the top grassroots basketball camp in the nation. Jesse Pistokache, now a freshman guard at the University of Richmond, attended the camp in 2007 and 2008, when Duke and Keller established a relationship.

“(Joe) is really going to help Louie make it,” Duke said. “He is a major conduit in getting kids the access and recognition and getting noticed on the national level.

“I knew Louie could play at that level, but I wasn’t sure he’d be able to handle the environment. It’s much bigger, faster, and stronger and athletic. For him to come out of there ranked, that means one of the top kids in the country is from the RGV.”

The camp has helped produce many current NBA players, including Derrick Favors (Utah Jazz), Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors) and Jordan Clarkson (Los Angeles Lakers). The primary force behind the camp’s rankings is Hoop Scoop’s Clark Francis, the lead analyst for the national ranking agency.

“By Louie being ranked where he is, eighth, that means they think, if you develop, you may be playing in the NBA one day,” Duke said.

Jose Luis knows his son will have a lot of eyes on him now. Yebra is still two years away from high school — “He’ll play for Coach Yebra, I guarantee you that,” Jose Luis exclaimed — but he has amped up his training, working more on ballhandling, pull-up jumpers and finishing through contact.

“I just have to stay calm, stay poised and keep working, even harder. Just like my dad tells me,” Yebra said. “I just have to do what I do.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

RIO GRANDE CITY — The biggest difference in Fabian Anzaldua this season compared to last was evident Week 3.

Having pulled his hamstring early last week, the junior Grulla quarterback did not tell coach Abel Gonzalez III about it until Wednesday, a day before the Gators played at PSJA Southwest. Anzaldua played the first half, then felt a tweak in his hamstring and sat the third quarter. But with the game in reach, Anzaldua essentially put himself back in.

“He said, ‘Coach, I’m good. I’m ready,’” Gonzalez said. “‘Let me take the fourth (quarter).’”

Gonzalez did, and Anzaldua rewarded the coach, scoring two more touchdowns to bring his game total to four in leading Grulla to the win.

“He’s a leader,” Gonzalez said. “The kids follow him, they believe in him. They know, and we know as coaches, he will put us in a good situation.”

Anzaldua has done that. The Gators fell by 12 to Port Isabel and 7 to Raymondville, two opponents each 2-0 heading into this week, before topping PSJA Southwest. Along the way, however, the Gators may have found their next great signal-caller, following in the footsteps of past program stars Jaime Gonzalez and Rey Peñablanca.

Like them, Anzaldua is a dual-threat, the anchor of Gonzalez’s zone read offense. And like them, he’s a demanding leader, pushing others to practice and work as hard as he does.

“Last year, I just saw our captains who weren’t ready to be captains,” Anzaldua said. “At least, not yet. I didn’t get much from last year and from watching guys.

“But I know how to be a captain. Being a leader is something I’ve had in me since I was a kid.”

Anzaldua has thrown for 288 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 298 yards and five TDs. But his most impressive stat: one turnover (an interception) in 11 quarters of play.

“Fabian is smarter out there,” running back Diego Mata said. “Overall, he’s a better quarterback. He knows exactly what to look for from a defense. He’s making good reads, and he’s running and throwing the ball so well.

“He’s just a humble guy who puts in the work, and it’s showing.”

Anzaldua credits his early success to his offseason. If he wasn’t on the field fine-tuning his footwork, he was in the film room studying teams, particularly players and their tendencies.

He’s learned to key in on the free safety as a sign of what a defense will do. That insight eluded him last season, when he played spot duty as a quarterback but was mostly spending time in the defensive backfield.

“I’m more relaxed, I’m more confident,” Anzaldua said. “I’ve just been working. I think the big thing for me is I’m reading defenses a lot better. I’m more comfortable in a lot of areas, and every little bit counts.”

Abel Gonzalez was a standout quarterback at Rio Grande City before playing at Texas A&M-Kingsville. As expected, he pays more attention to the quarterback position than others.

He puts one of his better athletes, often his best one, under center, and it has to be someone who others follow and is the hardest worker. The quarterback of Gonzalez’s choosing is someone who is as tough on the field as he is off it, not exactly an easy task considering the limited numbers for Class 4A programs like Grulla.

What Gonzalez sees in Anzaldua is what he saw in himself, Jaime Gonzalez and Peñablanca. Someone who can run, pass, manage the huddle and take care of the ball.

“He’s never going to throw the ball up for grabs or make a bad play,” Gonzalez said. “He always makes the right reads and he knows what to take. The one thing that says a lot about him is he has only one turnover, and that’s key. He’s just smart with the football, and he’s only going to get better.”

dsilva@themonitor.,com

DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

PSJA Southwest was without senior Jesus Acosta for last week’s non-district finale. And though the Javelinas fell 35-26 to Grulla, one thing was clear: they can compete even without arguably the top running back in District 32-5A.

The Javelinas’ ground game was still dominant and showcased a “next man up” potency without its star playmaker. Running back Justin Corona (140 yards, three TDs), quarterback Darren Estrada (85 yards, TD) and fullback Hector Pecina (60 yards) picked up the slack.

It doesn’t matter who coach Jesus Reyes throws in the backfield, thanks to a mobile athletic offensive line featuring senior center Shawn Gonzalez, David Rodriguez, left tackle Angel Valdez, Joey Castillo, Orlando Trevino and tight end Eli Flores.

“These kids are unselfish. They wanted to be linemen from day one,” Reyes said. “Most kids would rather play any other position. But these kids take pride in what they do. They’re not too big or too strong, but they’re athletes.”

Reyes said Acosta missed last week’s game for “team-related reasons,” but expects him to be ready to play next week’s district opener against Donna High.

NO PAIN, NO GAIN

The injuries keep coming for Edcouch-Elsa.

Just as starting safeties Victor Valdez and Adrian Rodriguez returned to the lineup last week at Edinburg North, the Yellowjackets temporarily lost junior quarterback Marco Aguinaga to a hairline fracture in his left hand.

Aguinaga is expected to be out 2-3 weeks, but coach Joe Marichalar said it’s a possibility his signal-caller is back on the field for next week’s district opener against PSJA High.

“If he gets the green light, he will play,” said Marichalar, who was told Aguinaga was hurt when his finger got caught trying to stiff-arm a defender. “As soon as he’s ready, he’ll go.”

In the meantime, senior Tey Valdez will likely take most of the reps with the starters during practice. In Aguinaga’s absence last week, Valdez starred with 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns in helping put away the Cougars late.

Not bad for a guy who’s No. 4 on the QB depth chart behind Aguinaga, Andrew Segura and Moses Gomez.

“We’ll go day-to-day and see how they look,” Marichalar said. “Tey is gutsy, mentally tough. He’s that guy that believes no guts, no glory. I love that about him. He’s fearless out there.”

Receivers J.J. Flores and Segura are day-to-day in returning from injuries and both are probable for next week’s game against the Bears. Marichalar said defensive lineman Julio Contreras is still awaiting results from his troubled knee. Running back Adrian Cardoza is expected to be ready to return to practice this week.

NORTH’S DEFENSE PERFORMS

Donna North has yet to win a game at the varsity football level, but its defense has been formidable in year 2.

Behind a slew of playmakers in linebackers Manuel Lerma and Carlos Hurtado, and defensive backs Mark Ochoa, Alex Gonzalez and Oscar Salas, North is allowing 21.6 points on 304.3 yards per game. The offense is still not where it needs to be, but defense has kept the Chiefs competitive.

Donna North is losing by an average of eight points, whereas this time last year, through the first three games, it was losing by an average of 12.

Ochoa leads the team with 14 tackles per game, four fumbles caused and one fumble recovery. Hurtado has two sacks, three quarterback pressures and an interception.

Lerma averages 13 tackles and has a sack, a caused fumble and a fumble recovery.

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