By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
St. Joseph Academy has a talented team, but nobody does more than the four players on both sides of the ball.
The Bloodhounds’ ironmen are juniors Javier Gonzalez (offensive guard/defensive end), Mario Garcia (running back/linebacker), and Bernardo de la Garza (wide receiver/cornerback), and senior Dave Lapeyre (slot receiver/free safety).
“It takes a special breed to play the game of football, and then to ask that person to never step off the field,” St. Joseph coach Tino Villarreal said. “These four guys do whatever it takes for the team to win, and they’re willing to step up and play roles they’re not too comfortable playing by default because of injuries.”
Because of their play, St. Joseph advanced to the postseason and came close to capturing the district title this season.
St. Joseph faces Midland Christian in a TAPPS playoff game at 7 p.m. Friday at Canales Field in Brownsville.
Gonzalez became a two-way starter early in the season because of a season-ending injury to a senior player, but he enjoys it.
“It’s been fun to play on both sides,” he said. “I get to play with all my teammates, and I get to experience football in a way not a lot of people do.”
Lapeyre played both ways last season and his endurance and offseason work make the team better when he’s on the field. He was slated to move to one side of the ball or the other, but Villarreal felt he was needed on offense and defense.
“Having done it last year helped me,” he said. “Anything to help the team win, I’m willing to go at it every play because I know my teammates want to win as well.
“I’m a senior, go out there and have fun, so every minute I get to be on the field is awesome.”
Garcia is new to his defensive role at linebacker that needed to be filled after an injury to Cole Conner a few games ago. The junior has been slowed this season by an injury himself and was limited earlier this year.
“At first I didn’t (like it) because I didn’t know key reads and all those things, it was difficult,” Garcia said. “I like it now, I’m used to getting hit so now I can give the hits, so it’s a little bit more fun. I really believe in my team. Whatever it takes, whether I like it or not, I will give my all to get us a win.”
Junior de la Garza is a shutdown corner who plays when the opponent is a pass-heavy team, much like Midland Christian. He will be relied upon to help the Bloodhounds take away Midland’s passing attack.
“I don’t play there every game, but I do when we face a passing team,” de la Garza said. “It feels good that Coach (Villarreal) can depend on me whenever he needs me.”
Villarreal feels these four will help the team somehow against Midland Christian, whether it’s offensively or defensively. But it’s their mental toughness that teammates admire.
“When you don’t step off the field, it takes a lot of mental strength,” he said. “We look to them for their energy level and their willingness to go the extra mile for the team. I think it invigorates the team.
“When you’re in a do-or-die game, you have to put your best 11 on the field.”
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.