DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
RIO GRANDE CITY — Grulla coach Abel Gonzalez III expected an Anzaldua to start at quarterback in Friday’s home season-opener versus Port Isabel.
But he didn’t think it’d be the younger brother.
Eddie Anzaldua, the senior starter, was injured during a four-wheeler accident earlier this month. He is fine, and his status is week-to-week. But that means his younger sibling, sophomore Fabian, will take the snaps Friday.
“He’s pretty similar,” Gonzalez said when comparing Fabian to Eddie. “I think he’s a little quicker, a little more athletic. Eddie is bigger, taller, and faster, but he’s not as shifty or crafty.
“When the lights turn on, Fabian doesn’t have that deer-in-the-headlights look. The moment is never too big for him.”
Eddie Anzaldua isn’t the only Gator on injured reserve. Running back M.J. Garza and receiver Leo Martinez suffered collarbone injuries and won’t be back until six weeks at the earliest.
“You’re going to have kids go down and have to have other kids step up,” Gonzalez said. “That’s the way this game is.”
Gonzalez has no choice but to look to the next man up, particularly with Port Isabel in town.
Yes, the Tarpons, regional semifinalists last season, only return five starters and have open holes at multiple positions, but they’re still a daunting task to master.
“Every year we’ve played them, and every year we’ve played a close ballgame,” Gonzalez said. “They’re one of those programs that’ll be good every year. They just reload.”
Port Isabel coach Monty Stumbaugh’s team graduated 28 of the 36 players it had on varsity last season, and only eight players this year have varsity experience. The passing game needs work, and guys could afford to block better on the perimeter, but Stumbaugh likes what he sees from the offensive line and running backs.
“We have a lot of spots that kids are still battling for,” Stumbaugh said. “We have questions still to answer. We need guys who will go out there and raise the level of play, step up their game.”
Defensively, Stumbaugh expects a significant test going against Grulla’s stable of pure athletes, including senior do-it-all star Troy Trillayes.
“It’s about great technique, making sure every kid takes care of his responsibility,” Stumbaugh said. “We have to tackle right, we have to get off blocks right, and we can’t give up big plays. We have to make them earn it. We have to be fundamental against a team like that.
“We have to get them before they get going.”
dsilva@themonitor.com