GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
The biggest questions facing Edinburg Economedes coach Gabe Peña coming into the year were on the defensive side.
The Jaguars are starting five sophomores, and Peña has really seen that group of players grow and develop during the first four weeks.
“Any time you’re playing five sophomores on defense, you really need that seasoning,” Peña said. “We’ve had some opportunity to get that seasoning these first four weeks, and we held our own. I’m real proud of that.”
The Jaguars’ defense ranks in the middle of District 31-6A through four non-district games. The majority of the damage came in a 69-38 loss to McAllen Memorial in which Economedes surrendered 633 yards. Removing the game, the Jaguars have allowed just 214.7 yards per game across their other three contests. That figure would rank first in the district.
Sophomore Darren Earhart has been starting at middle linebacker, and Peña said Earhart has shown a lot of maturity for his age. Earhart has grown through the first four weeks, and Peña said he was “proud of his effort.”
Earhart’s transition has been eased by the presence of linebackers Amador Puente and Israel Gomez on either side of him.
“Their experience has allowed for Darren to mature in the middle,” Peña said. “It’s given him time to come into his own the first four weeks. I can’t say enough about both Amador and Israel Gomez.”
Peña also spoke highly of Dayron Molina, a two-year starter at defensive back who has become another one of the unit’s leaders.
HUSKIES HURTING
La Joya Juarez-Lincoln has been dominated on the field and riddled by injuries through the first four weeks of the season, but coach Tommy Garcia thinks he’s found a reason for optimism: the defense.
The group has given up an average of 382 yards, but Garcia said it had its best performance of the season last week in a 21-7 loss to Edinburg Economedes.
“Defensively, I just felt like we came together as a unit last week,” Garcia said. “If we can play that type of inspired football on the defensive side and move the ball on offense, I think we have a good chance of beating Nikki Rowe.”
Linebacker Dustin Ruiz is the defense’s leader and top tackler. Rene Loredo, who started off on the defensive line, has been used at linebacker and in the secondary, playing well in every role.
But getting anything out of the offense has been a challenge. The team has scored just 26 points in four games, averaging only 157.5 yards.
The struggles start up front with the offensive line, which starts three sophomores and two juniors.
“The offensive line has really come a long way,” Garcia said. “We’re not where we want to be, but it takes time.”
Leading receiver Anthony Mora suffered a broken clavicle in Week 4 and will miss the rest of the season. The team entered the year without a true running back. Miguel Cuellar was the closest the Huskies had, and he’s out with a high ankle sprain. Obed Fernandez, an offensive weapon who contributes both running and receiving, is also injured.
RAIDERS RISING
PSJA North may have gone 0-10 last season, but first-year coach Jorge Peña never doubted that his team, when healthy, could play with anybody.
The Raiders proved him right in non-district play, defeating PSJA High and losing to Brownsville Veterans, Los Fresnos and Mission Veterans by a combined 16 points.
“We feel like when we’re healthy and we know what we’re doing, I feel like we can play with everybody,” Peña said. “Every week, the offense and the defense gets a better grasp of what the coaches are trying to implement. When that happens, mistakes go down, and the efficiency goes up.”
Also expected to boost efficiency is the return of offensive tackles Anthony Marin and Andy Martinez, who Peña called North’s two best players. Both suffered injury against Los Fresnos in Week 3 and missed last week’s matchup against Mission Veterans.