By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
In the midst of a four-game winning streak, the Rivera defense has been as good as it has been all year, allowing just 161 yards and nine points per game.
But the Raiders’ offense has picked up as well. Led by quarterback Danny Elizondo, the Rivera offense has flourished and has become just as dangerous as the defense has been stingy.
“We did a few things differently (on offense) than we did earlier in the season,” Rivera coach Tom Chavez said. “We developed a scheme that would be best for our team with our personnel. Danny has done a great job. He’s like a coach on the field.
“With him passing and running, we progressed a little more. We’re able to do a little more offensively using him as a quarterback but also as a running back.”
During the past four games, Elizondo has put the offense on his back and put up big numbers.
The senior has run for 385 yards on 54 carries and scored eight touchdowns. He has also completed 46 of 81 passes for 647 yards and seven touchdowns with just two interceptions.
Though normally more of a pocket passer, adding the threat of running has made him harder to defend and put opposing defenses on alert.
“It just developed in practice. The O-line has been putting in a lot of work into the run game,” Elizondo said. “We knew we had to improve our run game to help the pass. I feel like I had to step up and get the running backs motivated.”
It’s not just the offensive production, though. Elizondo has become an even better leader for the Raiders.
“I felt as a senior, I felt like I had to set an example,” he said. “I can see the younger guys follow me. When I work hard, they work hard. I try to work hard in practice and give it a 110 percent in games, and I think they do, too.”
Chavez has noticed the difference from last year to this season.
“It makes a difference from being a junior to a senior,” he said. “The guys respect him. The better we’ve played, the more the whole team rallies around him, offensively and defensively. We’ve just started to jell together.”
The quiet, reserved and humble Elizondo doesn’t take the credit. He says it was a team effort.
“I feel from the beginning of the season we struggled, but the offense and defense never gave up,” he said. “We have a good staff. I feel like they coached us up, and the offensive line has improved a lot this season.”
Though Chavez was hesitant about the offense changes, he knew Elizondo could make the necessary adjustments.
“He just takes everything in, he’s sees the big picture,” Chavez said. “We’ve made a lot of changes to our offense from the first of the year. It takes time, but Danny picked it up right away, the offense picked it up. I think everybody is just working hard and working together right now.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.