LA JOYA — The La Joya Palmview Lobos were the lone team from La Joya ISD to see action on the gridiron last season, with La Joya High and La Joya Juarez-Lincoln both opting out due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the Lobos opted to play in 2020, several players throughout the program elected to sit out the season, including 2019 District 16-5A DI Newcomer of the Year AJ Chapa and all-district linebacker Danny Guillen.
With a limited roster and a shortened season, the Lobos finished the year 0-3, missing the postseason for the second time during head coach Margarito Requeñez’s eight years at the helm.
“It was a struggle just trying to get a squad going last year,” Requeñez said. “It would have been nice to have those players last year play with us. Maybe our outcome would have been a little bit different. But we did what we could.”
Chapa and Guillen are back in the mix as the Lobos prepare for a return to the postseason.
The emphasis during the first week of practice has been on getting players who opted out, as well as younger athletes, reacquainted with the game, Requeñez said.
“You’re starting fresh, so you have to rehearse everything a little more than you’d like,” Requeñez said. “I just got to make sure that I keep these guys healthy. They’ve been gone a whole year. They haven’t been hit. Our strength and conditioning program during the summer was great, but that’s without pads. Once you put the pads on it’s a different ball game.”
Chapa, a running back, joins last year’s starter George Speidon in the backfield, giving the Lobos a one-two punch to lead Requeñez’s Slot-T offense. Speidon finished last year with 275 yards and two touchdowns in three games.
First-team all-district wide receiver Tony Villarreal gives the Lobos a weapon in the passing game, tallying 12 catches, 194 yards and two touchdowns a year ago.
Still, Requeñez said he believes the team will go as the offensive line goes, with his run-heavy offense, depending on the athletes in the trenches.
Meanwhile, Guillen will captain a young Lobos’ defense, returning only three starters. Defensive back Gino Ibarra, a 2020 second-team all-district, will man the secondary, while sophomore defensive lineman Ezquiel De Hoyos sets the tone up front.
With a mix of youth and experience on both sides of the ball, a return to the postseason is in the team’s sights, Requeñez said.
“Yes, we did lose some seniors, but I think as an overall group we’ll be in the same capacity as we were last year,” he said. “Each year our goal is to win a district championship. Right now, our goal is to get back to that playoff contention and that’s what we’re going to do.”
La Joya Palmview kicks off its season Aug. 27 against La Joya High at La Joya ISD Stadium. The Lobos are then scheduled to begin District 16-5A DI play Sept. 3 at home against McAllen Rowe.