GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — When La Joya Palmview coach Mage Requenez was meeting with offensive coordinator Gary Lauer for the first time, he asked if Lauer had an offense they could run under center. Palmview had traditionally run a spread, and Lauer had employed the spread in his time at Mission and as head coach at Rowe. But that wasn’t what the Lobos needed.
“Can you do something with the size?” Requenez asked. “We sat down and evaluated the team, and the kids, and he said, ‘Coach, I can do that.’”
With two powerful backs running behind a massive line, an offense that was one of the Valley’s worst in 2013 has been among its most productive units through two games of 2014.
In a District 30-6A with powerhouses McAllen High and McAllen Memorial, Palmview is the only remaining unbeaten.
“We’ve been showing something,” fullback Jose Bernal said. “Not like last year, when we went 1-9.”
Palmview scored 101 points and ran for 1,168 yards last season. This year, in wins against PSJA Southwest and Brownsville Lopez, Palmview has racked up 81 points and run for 1,020 yards.
Instead of being pass happy and running only three formations — doubles, trips or empty — the Lobos have added a wide variety of packages and become run heavy out of all of them.
Requenez said the change has made Palmview significantly harder to scout.
“It’s better than the spread offense,” running back Freddy Villarreal said. “This offense is made for us.”
The offensive line has been a major factor in the turnaround. Anchored by tackle Jonathan Garcia and guards Arturo Gutierrez and Michael Rodriguez, the line has an average height greater than 6 feet. They range in weight from 225 to 275, and they’re only getting stronger. Requenez says the linemen are still in the weight room three days per week.
Under new offensive line coach Ernesto Lerma — a loud, old-school disciplinarian — the line has learned to take advantage of that size. Lerma ironed out a number of flaws in the unit and taught the players how to use a four-point stance, making them more potent downhill blockers.
“It felt awkward in the beginning, but once you get used to it, it just becomes natural,” Garcia said.
The line has created plenty of running room for backs Villarreal and Jose Bernal. Both are power runners — when one is lined up at halfback, the other plays fullback.
“We’re pushing people around,” Requenez said. “We’re running the ball from any formation we want right now.”
Villarreal has 50 carries for 443 yards and six touchdowns in two games, while Bernal has 28 for 312 and four scores. After playing defense for much of his sophomore and junior seasons, Villarreal is still transitioning to the position. Requenez said he needs to learn how to cut back, juke and find holes in the line.
“Right now he’s just running over and stiff-arming people left and right,” Requenez said. “I have a pretty good idea that he’s probably going to be one of the top backs in our district this year.”
In a 35-28 win against PSJA Southwest on Saturday, Villarreal carried the ball 39 times. He wasn’t supposed to get the ball that much, but the coaches kept calling “First group,” and Villarreal kept lining up.
“Coach Lauer thought Bernal was carrying some of the load, because they were supposed to be alternating at tailback,” Requenez said. “It just so happened that Freddy took charge and was always in there. We didn’t know he carried the ball that much. It won’t happen again.”
The question is whether Palmview can have similar production against some of the Valley’s best teams. Right now, they’re only focused on their next opponent: Rio Grande City. In the locker room, Requenez has a clock counting down to game time next to a picture of whoever is next on the schedule.
That won’t change, even against the district forces from McAllen.
“I’ve seen all three schools. I’ve seen what they can do,” Requenez said. “They’re very powerful offenses. But as long as we have the ball, the offense can’t get on the field.”
Villarreal knows it’ll be a challenge. But he and his teammates are confident Palmview has what it takes to reach the postseason for the first time in school history.
“Defenses like McAllen Memorial, they’re going to be really tough, but we’re going to give them a run for their money,” Villarreal said. “We’re going to do the best we can.”