DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
After Edcouch-Elsa and McAllen Rowe met to open the 2014 season, it appeared the Warriors would be contenders following their impressive 48-28 win and the Yellowjackets would struggle just to make the playoffs.
But the reverse happened. E-E eventually put things together in well enough time to finish third in District 32-5A, while Rowe never looked as good as it did in Week 1, winning just two of the remaining nine games.
Heading into Friday’s 7:30 game at Benny Layton Sr. Memorial Stadium, the Yellowjackets want a better start and the same finish — a playoff berth — and the Warriors want the same start, but a different finish.
“We ended up having a few key injuries, in areas where you have to be consistent if you want to win games,” Rowe coach Paul Reyes said. “We kept trying to find the right pieces and we never could seem to get in sync.
“The biggest thing, more than not, was our psyche. After awhile, we just started expecting bad things to happen, and when they did it got us. The kids were playing not to lose.”
Both teams are banged up and missing key starters.
Edcouch-Elsa’s defense is ailing with injuries to defensive linemen Julio Contereras (knee) and Jacob Hernandez (hamstring), and linebacker Joel Cardoza (possible hip-pointer). Offensive tackle Elias Munoz is also hindered with an ankle ailment.
All are questionable for Friday’s game, though in the Yellowjackets’ read-and-react defensive scheme it’s easier to plug players in at a moment’s notice because of its simplicity.
“It’s early and we’re just trying to survive,” E-E coach Joe Marichalar said. “Get the kids healthy and make sure they’re ready for the district season. We have depth and we have kids that can step in and play.”
Rowe has three defensive starters and one offensive starter missing Friday’s game. None of the injuries are expected to be serious.
At this time last year, Edcouch-Elsa was young, going through an intense evaluation process to determine its quarterback, receivers, secondary and other spots. The Yellowjackets are a year older, and, Marichalar is convinced, a year better, particularly with a new open offense that highlights the abilities of quarterback Marco Aguinaga and receivers Andrew Segura, J.J. Flores, Tey Valdez, Moises Gomez and others.
“I feel we’re one step ahead of where we were last year,” said Marichalar, who will be keeping an eye on “situational football,” like players knowing alignments, assignments and responsibilities during particular down-and-distance circumstances. “That goes to experience. Obviously, we have way more reps than what we had last year. Rowe’s very explosive offensively and we know it’s going to be tough.
“Before we can start worrying about an opponent, we need to fix our own problems.”
Rowe, too, was searching for pieces last season, and it wasn’t until the final weeks they were found. Now the Warriors are comfortable with their roles and who will be where, particularly on offense.
Reyes has even added wrinkles to the offense to put his playmakers — quarterback John Perez, running back Jose Chavez and receivers Hector Bosquez and Joseph Moreno — in more space.
“We know our identity and we know what we can and can’t do,” Reyes said. “These guys know their roles, know their strengths, and we just have to maximize that. I’m OK with where we’re at right now.”