DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
Playing receiver in Donna High’s power-I offense is not for everyone. Instead of catching touchdowns, Redskin wideouts block for other guys who score them.
“When you play receiver here, you know you’re not going to get the ball,” Donna High coach Ramiro Leal said. “You’re blocking 75 percent of the time. It takes a selfless, humble young man to play receiver here.”
That’s why Leal, who also coaches receivers, can’t talk enough about senior wideouts Bo Barrera and Jonathan Sandoval, who also happen to be cousins. Whenever Redskin playmakers Amonte Bowen, Edward Dougherty or Paul Guerra find the open field for long runs, it’s often Barrera and/or Sandoval, who have combined for just 17 catches and one touchdown, leading the charge.
Barrera and Sandoval have the agility, understanding of angles, and sound technique to clear the way for touchdowns.
“We tell our backs that if they see the receiver’s back, that’s the angle they take,” Leal said. “They read off the blocks of the receivers. You find the receiver’s outside shoulder and take him where he wants to go.”
After not attempting a pass two weeks ago in a win at Mercedes, Donna, which averages 4.2 carries for every pass attempt, threw 12 last week at PSJA High. As the playoffs near, Leal knows smart teams will load the box and play the run. Against the Bears, Leal called for a deep post to open the game, which almost resulted in a timeout from Barrera because he thought the offense had the wrong play call.
This season, Donna has completed 45.6 percent of its 68 passes for three touchdowns to one interception. Barrera averages 14.1 yards per catch and Sandoval averages 11.2.
“It’s a schematical issue,” Leal said. “We have to be able to throw. We can’t just sit there and force something against someone when they have more guys going at you than you can block. We are going to throw the ball more, and we’ll need to.”
GETTING IT TOGETHER
During last week’s 40-0 rout of Donna North, PSJA Southwest (2-2 32-5A) finally played like many expected it to all season. But the Javelinas have dealt with injuries most of the year, so it’s no coincidence they produced their best offensive effort of the season with the return of right guard Angel Valdez and offensive tackle David Rodriguez, who had missed the previous two games.
“It was the complete package, from offense to defense to special teams,” Southwest coach Jesus Reyes said of the game. “There was very little thinking and more reacting. The kids were quick off their feet.”
Reyes simplified things last week. He had the defense line up in base formation almost exclusively all night against Donna North. As a result, the defense flew to the ball like it hadn’t all season.
“We had at least 8-10 helmets around the ball at all times,” said Reyes, whose team gave up just 105 total yards.
The return of Valdez and Rodriguez, seniors with good size, was vital, as is the improving confidence of Jesus Acosta. Southwest’s big-time playmaker is still dealing with a broken bone in his hand, but he’s running more aggressively and is not as tentative as when he was first playing with the injury three weeks ago.
THE RIGHT ATTITUDE
Edcouch-Elsa’s offense has received a lot of attention this year because of a passing game that has lit up the Valley. But the defense has been just as impressive, though that’s more the norm.
The Yellowjackets (3-1 32-5A) are the second-best defense in District 32-5A, giving up 16.3 points on 253.9 yards per game. Three times, they have allowed 10 or fewer points.
“We don’t look too much into the stats,” E-E coach Joe Marichalar said. “What we do concentrate on is that we’ve always been known for defense, and we put that challenge to our kids year in and year out. It’s about an attitude.”
Marichalar said his defense is playing well right now because “our kids are at that point where you can throw anything at them and they know how to react.” It also helps that his linebacking corps of Sammy Alaniz, Rigo Ayala and Joel Cardoza is full of athleticism and strength.
“They’re one of the best I’ve ever coached,” said Marichalar, who coached E-E’s linebackers before taking over the program in 2013.