GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
As La Joya High’s defense has been pounded with injuries this season, linebacker Rey Hernandez and safety Gabriel Rios have taken charge of making sure new pieces fit seamlessly.
Through all the turmoil, the Coyotes have remained mostly solid on that side of the ball, ranking third in District 30-6A with 343.4 yards allowed per game.
“I think the guys have done a great job,” coach George Espinoza said. “We started of real strong and are still doing well. But when we’re having to swap people around and put them in different positions in order to fill in because of injuries, that kind of takes away from what we’re doing.”
Sophomore Jonathan Gomez has been filling in at linebacker for injured three-year starter Frank Melendez since Week 1, and Hernandez has been helping him along.
A leader since entering the starting lineup during the middle of his sophomore season last year, Hernandez ensures Gomez is lined up correctly and knows his assignment on each play.
“I’ve kind of taken him under my wing,” Hernandez said. “How he needs to feel, for him not to be so nervous, and how everything just flows. He’s gotten used to it, and he’s been feeling good during the season.”
Hernandez has also excelled with his play, leading the team with 70 tackles and three sacks.
“Rey is going to get after it,” Espinoza said. “He’s physical. He’s aggressive. But he has a little football savvy. He sees what’s going on, and he takes it.”
Rios has filled a similar role in the secondary, ranking second on the team with 61 tackles while giving direction to the rest of the group.
The ability Hernandez and Rios have to read the field and diagnose the offense has played an important role in La Joya’s defensive game planning.
“When Gabriel comes back, he knows, ‘They’re doing this, this, and this,’” Espinoza said. “Once we talk to those two guys, we more or less make the adjustments that we need.”
OFFENSIVE SURGE
Mission High’s offense has shifted to a more ground-and-pound mentality, and positive results have followed: The Eagles are averaging 402.5 yards per game during the past four contests after gaining just 248.7 per game during the year’s first four outings.
Coach Mario Peña attributed the uptick to the play of the offensive line, which was expected to be one of the team’s strengths coming into the year.
“We really emphasized for them to sustain their blocks and stay with their blocks,” Peña said. “That would really create bigger plays for us. Instead of giving us three or four yards, it would become 10 or 15 more. I have to give our offensive line a lot of credit.”
Juan Salazar has been the primary beneficiary on the ground, picking up 767 yards and six touchdowns on 122 carries this season.
Robert Martinez has run the ball 90 times for 509 yards and four scores despite missing last week’s win against McAllen Rowe. In his absence, linebacker Steven De Leon stepped in on offense, picking up 107 yards on 18 carries.
Given his success, De Leon may continue to see more work on that side, even as Martinez returns to health this week.
“At this point in the football season, it’s like I told the staff: ‘If you go down, you go down with your best on the field, man,’” Peña said. “That’s the way we’re going to go.”
PLAYOFF PICTURE
With just two weeks to play in the regular season, McAllen Memorial (4-0) is the only team to clinch a playoff spot, and McAllen Rowe (1-4) is the only team out of contention.
McAllen High (3-2), La Joya Palmview (2-2), Mission High (2-2), La Joya High (2-2) and La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (1-3) are fighting for three remaining openings.