Andrew Segura’s 2015-16 Hudl Highlights
DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
ELSA — Tough. Quiet. Humble. Resilient.
The words used by coaches and teammates to describe Edcouch-Elsa senior quarterback Andrew Segura are glowing. But they are not empty.
Segura is still coping with the loss of younger brother Anthony, who died during a July car accident that also seriously injured his mother, father and younger brother. Since then, he’s been asked to lead the Yellowjackets’ offense after a finger injury sidelined starter Marco Aguinaga during a Week 3 win against Edinburg North.
Still, Segura has, somehow, found a way to star on the field while dealing with tragedy off it. In eight starts, he has completed 57 percent of his passes for 1,737 yards and 14 touchdowns to six interceptions. He’s also rushed for 457 yards and eight more touchdowns.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder has been a front figure in leading Edcouch-Elsa (7-4) to its Class 5A, Division II area playoff game Friday against Somerset in Laredo.
“Every game, I play for him,” Segura said of Anthony. “I know he’s there watching me. He’s my guardian angel, and every time I take the field I’m thinking about him.”
Segura is modest when asked how he’s dealt with it all. Teammates say he has not talked about his brother at all.
“He shows no emotion and he’s handled it a lot better than most of us would,” senior offensive lineman Jared Cantu said. “We’ve just been there for him and let him know if he needs us he can come to us.
“Andrew’s just a great leader. He does everything he’s supposed to, he’s a good kid and he takes care of his business. He leads by example.”
Segura’s reason for his stoic nature is simple.
“I just play the game. I don’t talk,” Segura said. “Whatever I do on the field is all I need to show. I feel whatever I can do out there will say enough.”
When Aguinaga went out, Segura stepped right in and the Yellowjackets didn’t skip a beat. Segura and Aguinaga are similar in ability — both can pass effectively while also knowing when to tuck the ball and run to extend plays.
Segura and Aguinaga engaged in a quarterback competition prior to the 2014 season, which Aguinaga won in a close call. Since then, Segura has been his backup and the No. 1 receiver, but he’s also taken a significant amount of reps at quarterback during practices.
So, when Segura started fast by directing E-E to four wins in its next five games, it came as no surprise.
“We knew he was going to catch fire,” E-E coach Joe Marichalar said. “He is a playmaker. Once he had the opportunity, he seized the moment. His numbers, his success, are just a testament to his hard work and talent.”
Aguinaga was cleared Monday to return to football. Marichalar said the junior will play Friday, but Segura will start.
“It’s out of respect for what Andrew has done in getting us here,” said Marichalar, who added Aguinaga will see time at wide receiver.
Marichalar said football has helped Segura cope with the loss of his brother. Segura admitted as much in August.
When the team hit the field for the start of preseason two-a-days, it was a breath of fresh air for Segura, a welcomed break from his role as the man of a distraught home while his father was in a San Antonio hospital recovering slowly from his injuries.
“‘Drew has a tough mentality, a ‘no big deal’ type of attitude,” Marichalar said. “He handles everything thrown at him like a man. His sanctuary is coming to the football field and being with his teammates.”
Segura said leading his family through a dark time helped him on the field.
“Whenever my dad wasn’t here, I had to take care of my family and be the strong one,” Segura said. “I was there for them whenever they needed me. As quarterback, it’s the same. You have to protect your team and lead them. You have to be calm and confident and have them feed off that.”
Leave it to Segura, then, to drive the Yellowjackets during their bi-district playoff win last week against Roma.
Coming off a messy late-season stretch in which E-E lost three of four games, nobody gave the Yellowjackets much of a chance. Here we go again, Yellowjacket followers thought. Another loss in the first round, just like the previous two seasons.
But Marichalar said he could see his signal-caller playing with a chip on his shoulder as he threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another score.
Segura confirmed it.
“I don’t think the community was supporting us like they should and they felt like we weren’t going to make it,” Segura said. “That was my chip. I felt we had to dominate and show everybody we still have it, we’re still here.
“Edcouch-Elsa still has it.”