By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
A pair of middle linebackers, Joe Ibarra and Alejandro Guevara, anchor Brownsville Veterans Memorial’s defense.
The senior duo has played the same position throughout high school and leads the team in tackles this season.
“They can make plays from sideline to sideline, and they are the core of our defense,” Brownsville Veterans coach David Cantu said. “They have to play well if we’re going to do well on defense. They are our leading tacklers, they’re the playmakers. They are the guys who make the big plays to stop the run game and have the ability to create turnovers.”
Brownsville Veterans (7-3) faces Weslaco East (7-2) at 7 p.m. tonight at Bobby Lackey Stadium in Weslaco in the Class 6A Division II bi-district playoffs.
Ibarra is a three-year starter and letterman. Guevara became a starter this season and is a two-year letterman for the Chargers. While Ibarra is the bigger and stronger of the two, Guevara is quicker. The two bring the best of both power and speed to the position and work well as a tandem.
“We’re really comfortable together. We know each other’s strength’s and weaknesses,” Guevara said. “We have each other’s back.”
Guevara is responsible for making the defensive reads and changing coverages, and Ibarra oversees the rest of the unit. But both have become the leaders of the defense and make it stronger together.
“I’m a quiet leader. I don’t hoop and holler, I just go and get it done,” Ibarra said. “I don’t scream I just do my job. I’m out there to do my part, I’m not a very vocal guy.”
But that has changed for Ibarra somewhat, just as it has for Guevara.
“We’re quiet off the field, but on the field we’re pretty energetic,” Ibarra said.
Guevara didn’t say much at first.
“I didn’t have much confidence in myself, so I led more by example,” he said. “As the season has progressed I got more confident in myself and the defense, and I started to be a little more vocal.”
Cantu said both players are a class act. Officials at one game took the time to tell the Brownsville Veterans coach how much they were impressed with their skill and their respect on the field. And the Chargers coach knows that they will be relied upon against Weslaco East’s running game.
“We know we have our best out there,” Cantu said. “(Weslaco) East runs about as many formations as I’ve seen. They’re a run-first team, so it’s on them. If they play great, then hopefully we’ll be getting ready for the next one.”
Ibarra is ready for the task at hand.
“I took on the challenge to lead this team to the playoffs, because this team deserves it,” he said. “Our defense playing at a high level. I feed off their energy and they feed off mine. I feel like me playing at my best is what this team needs.”
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.