By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
As a freshman, Richie Sanchez played wide receiver and safety on Valley View’s junior varsity team. With an opening at quarterback following an injury, Sanchez asked for a shot under center.
From what coach Carlos Saenz gathered, players gravitated toward Sanchez, who seemed like a natural fit at quarterback. So with the Tigers looking to shake things up this year after starting 0-5, Sanchez got another chance to prove himself.
In three games, Sanchez has thrown for 513 yards and three scores, while impressing the coaching staff with his ability to throw on the run. Since taking over the position, the Tigers have averaged 171 yards in the air compared to 81.2 yards with their previous starter.
“He’s a good athlete,” Saenz said. “He runs well, throws well. He does a lot of good things. Whatever the team needs, that’s what he’ll do.”
Though a sophomore, Sanchez appears to be a more natural fit under center than his predecessor, Jorge Aguilar, whose experience mostly came from the defensive side of the ball. Sanchez has completed 58.1 percent of his attempts compared to Aguilar’s 36.1 percent.
With last year’s starter, Daniel Lince, transferring to Sharyland High before spring ball, the Tigers went with Aguilar, a senior, as their signal caller. Since the switch, though, Sanchez has helped rejuvenate Valley View’s offense, generating 300 yards of offense twice in three games.
Through the first five outing, the Tigers hadn’t generated more than 231 yards.
SEIZING THE MOMENT
Rio Grande City running back Gerardo Garcia has been hampered by shoulder injuries the past two seasons. But with the senior back at full health last week, he rushed for a season-high 169 yards on 14 carries for a touchdown.
It was much-needed boost for the Rattlers, who endured another one-point loss at the hands of Edinburg Vela for a second straight year.
“He’s a different type of runner,” coach Carlos Longoria said compared to his top two backs. “He’s a slasher. He’s got good wheels. It’s a good balance. And I think that was a key factor in keeping (Vela) off-balance. He brings some speed to the table.”
Garcia had gotten a few touches throughout the course of the year, but his emergence last week is a welcome boost for a Rattlers team in search of a postseason berth. At 3-5 overall and 1-3 in district, RGC must win out to keep its hopes alive.
GROWING UP
With Alejandro Ramirez out of the year, Sharyland Pioneer has plugged freshman Jacob Rosales under center.
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound QB was called up after Ramirez sustained his first injury in Week 6. He picked up his first start last week against Sharyland High, throwing for 170 yards on 13 of 21 passing in a 19-10 loss.
“I thought he played pretty well last game,” Diamondbacks coach Jason Wheeler said. “He’s getting more comfortable with our offense. He’s definitely the fastest quarterback in our program, and probably has the strongest arm. He has a lot of physical talent.”
Rosales will try to lead the Diamondbacks (6-3, 2-3) over Roma (6-2, 2-2) on Friday in The Monitor’s Game of the Week. It’s the last regular-season game for Pioneer, which needs to win to stay alive in the postseason hunt.