FREDDY GONZALEZ | Valley Morning Star
SANTA MARIA — As the old saying goes, “If you believe in yourself, anything is possible.”
That saying can be applied for many teams facing a David vs. Goliath situation.
This week the Santa Maria Cougars are in David’s shoes again as they take on Shiner (7-2) today. However, head coach Steve Flores and his team has been preparing for this exact scenario all season by emphasizing one simple word: believe. It’s a motto that has carried the team through every game this season, win or lose.
“Our motto all year has been to believe,” said Flores. “Sometimes it’s difficult when we’re predicted to lose by 50, so before the game starts the kids already have their heads down and by the time they realize they can compete with them we run out of time. I think if we believe then anything is possible and we give ourselves a shot.
“All year we’ve always come back in the second half and played harder. That’s one thing that we’ve tried to instill in the kids is to finish and that’s hopefully something we can do tonight.”
The keys to tonight’s game will be to weather the storm early and stay in the game.
“I’m a big believer in defense and that’s why I brought in Coach Lanny Wilson,” said Flores. “If we can stop them and stay in the game, we’ll find them on offense and hopefully try to score. I think the keys to the game are going to be to stop them and slow them down and if we can do that then we have a chance.”
The Comanches enter the contest fresh off a 35-0 loss to the defending Class 2A state champion Refugio last week. Over the past four games the Comanches have outscored opponents 155-49.
However, since the Cougars’ loss to Progreso earlier in the season, they have received a moral boost with the return of some key players like all-around athlete Alex Perez.
Since his return Perez has rushed for 540 yards and eight touchdowns, with impressive performances against Ben Bolt (190 yards), La Villa (170) and Freer with 175 yards.