NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — If you’re trying to tackle La Joya Juarez-Lincoln running back Albert Martinez, or block defensive end Xavier Monreal, you’re going to have a tough time.
Even as the Huskies search for their first win, those two names and their stats have popped as hard-to-ignore talents in 2018.
Senior Albert Martinez played quarterback as a kid. But by the time he made the Huskies varsity team, his quarterback was his brother, Efren Martinez.
In their junior season, the duo led Juarez-Lincoln to their best season in school history (6-4, 3-3) and narrowly missed the playoff via tiebreaker. That team had senior talent that lifted the defense and O-line, forming the most well-rounded unit coach Tommy Garcia has been able to field in his seven years at the program.
The toll of graduation, a pesky injury bug that has bit the team, and more than a few tough breaks has the Huskies sitting winless 0-6 (3-3) into Week 8. Half of the losses have come by a single possession.
“It’s been a tough season because we don’t have the size and we have some underclassmen playing,” Martinez said. As the third-top rusher in 30-6A last year, he’s been a target all year. “I’ve been working in the offseason a lot. Going into the weight room and running (track).”
Even through the rough patch, Juarez-Lincoln can almost guarantee one thing each game; No. 11 in a Huskies uniform will find his way into the end zone at least once, probably multiple times.
Albert has been battling an ankle injury since early in the season but that hasn’t stopped him from scoring 14 touchdowns.
Eight scores have been rushing scores, another six have come on the receiving end. He already has two three-touchdown games and a four-touchdown game this season.
“He makes a lot of things happen on his own,” Garcia said. “As long the linemen create a small hole, he’ll get there. After that, if he’s in the open field he’s a very hard person to tackle.”
Garcia, who has been a part of the program since it opened its doors in 2008 and the head coach since the 2012 season, knows his Huskies’ history. He says Albert is second-to-none when ranking backs.
“We’ve had some good backs in the past, Martin Diaz, Pedro Reyes, but not as quick and as fast as Albert,” Garcia said. “He’s just got something you can’t teach and that’s vision. While the other backs were good backs, he’s the best kid we’ve ever had here at Juarez.”
The injury woes got much worse for the team when Efren went down in district play with a torn ACL. Joshua Briones has assumed the role since then.
“It’s sad because it’s our senior season and he’s not playing anymore because he got injured,” Albert said. “He’s my brother and we can’t play together anymore.”
The defense has a bright spot of their own in senior defensive end Monreal. He’s been getting through some of the top offensive linemen his team has faced and caused havoc at the point of attack. He leads the team in tackles with 61 (30 solo), 11 tackles for a loss, 14 QB hurries, four sacks and five forced fumbles.
Garcia said that his talent often earns a hat tip from the other coach.
“After every game, every single head coach the first thing that comes out of their mouth is ‘That No. 90 is animal, he’s a beast. We couldn’t block him,’” Garcia said about the common conversation in the handshake line. “There’s very few people that have been able to block him one-on-one. They usually get the running back to chip and help out. The kid has been just great for us. I think there have been three different players that he’s had an impact on the kid playing the next week. He’s one of those kids that goes 120 miles per hour every single play.”
Monreal was a first team all-district selection at defensive end a year ago. He’s glad to still be a thorn in the side of the offensive coordinator.
“It feels good when people try to make game plans on you,” Monreal said. “You feel like you’re important for them to focus on. Especially when you still get tackles for a loss and sacks like that, it makes you more hype.”
Monreal is still concerned with leaving his team in good hands.
“It’s always been great to be a good team leader,” Monreal said. “It’s good to teach the young guys. Setting the foundation and set the example for the young guys to not settle for less. Go out there and give more than what is expected from us.”
The Huskies continue their season this week against La Joya High in an all LJISD rivalry matchup.