BY NATE KOTISSO | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — No moment is random and without its lessons. While season-ending injuries to defensive backs Aaron Fernandez and Giovanni Grimaldo were detrimental to the team’s performance in 2017, these injuries allowed for then-juniors like Elias Delgado and Gus Garza to fill in the voids in Mission Veterans’ secondary.
Garza grew up playing cornerback for most of his life, but he would be called upon to play safety late last season.
“I learned how to become a leader because of Aaron (Fernandez) and Gio(vanni) Grimaldo,” Garza said. “They helped me get to where I am now and to grow as a man. Once Gio got hurt, it was my turn to step up at safety. He taught me how to be like him.”
“Gus was one of our starting corners last year, but because we didn’t have a lot of depth at safety, we had to make the move,” Mission Veterans coach David Gilpin said. “He had played some safety as a freshman, but, in reality, he had to learn a new position. We made the change to safety and he had 15 tackles in his first game. Like the old saying goes: he grew into a safety like a duck to water.”
As a safety, Garza must find a balance between physical defender and cover man.
“I like hitting an offensive player, but I also enjoy guarding someone,” Garza said. “That’s what has always interested me. My dad was a corner and safety for Mission (High), so I was just following in his footsteps.”
“Gus might not weigh a buck 50 soaking wet, but he’s got the heart of a lion,” Gilpin said. “He plays like he’s 6-7, 275 pounds and take on a brick wall if necessary. That’s the type of mentality you have to have to play safety. That guy has no fear of anything. He was already one of our leaders as a junior.”
There were some details that could have been forgotten after the Patriots’ playoff opener last Friday against Victoria East. The offense garnered most of the attention, scoring 69 points in total including a five touchdown second quarter. But the defense and special teams made its presence felt at Tom Landry Hall of Fame Stadium and Garza was in the middle of it all.
As the Titans were driving deeper into Patriot territory, Garza picked off quarterback Caleb Longoria at the Patriots’ 15-yard line at the 8:03 mark in the second quarter.
Garza’s finest moment of the night came on an unexpected 83-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter. The touchdown was the first of Garza’s career.
“It was fourth and six and I was at my regular safety position. I saw their (Victoria East) runner back up real fast, so I had to back up to get the punt,” Garza said. “The coaches were telling me to get away from the ball, but it bounced right to me. I had a couple blockers in front of me. I saw Artie (Flores), Mike Gonzalez, Joey (Garcia) and they opened up a lane.”
“Back in August, I told our special teams coordinator that Gus was going to be our guy returning punts,” Gilpin said. “That’s our guy. I don’t care if he picks up one yard. He will catch it in the face of a freight train coming at him. He’s fearless.”
Mission Veterans’ (10-1) quest for five gold balls continues this week when they face San Antonio Veterans (8-3) at 7:30 p.m. Friday from Cabaniss Stadium in Corpus Christi.
San Antonio Veterans is in its first varsity season of football after opening its program with junior varsity competition in 2016 and 2017.
San Antonio Veterans, who share the Patriots nickname with Mission Veterans, are located in the powerful Judson ISD with state-ranked Class 6A Converse Judson and San Antonio Wagner.
“We told our kids that this (the area round) is new for them, but it’s not new for us,” Gilpin said. “We’ve got a bunch of guys with six to nine playoff games under their belts. They’ve been there before. It’s an advantage for our older kids like quarterback Landry (Gilpin) and (linebacker) Joey (Garcia), but we’ve got guys like A.J. Gonzaque who is playing his second playoff game like San Antonio Veterans. I need our kids to believe that our coaches will have them prepared to win, so that when they step on the field, they believe they can win.”