By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
Porter faced some changes as it began practice Monday.
While most of the other Texas high school football programs hit the practice field Aug. 1, the Cowboys had to wait an extra week after participating in spring practices.
Nonetheless, the extra wait did little to quell the anticipation of the new faces eager to get to work.
The Cowboys hope to follow up last season, where Porter earned a playoff berth for the first time in nearly a decade, with another trip to the postseason.
“I think spring ball was perfect for these guys because of the coaching changes we’ve had,” Porter coach Tom Campos said. “Spring ball did us well. I think (my players) ready to pick up where they left off a few months ago.”
The Cowboys’ 2015 defensive coordinator, Curtis Lamle, and offensive lineman coach, Greg Fortner, have left to pursue other opportunities. Raul Gomez, the defensive coordinator at Lopez last season, stepped in to take over the defense. And with a large, talented senior class that graduated in May, the Cowboys are trying to fill open spots and adjust to their new coaches.
Campos said they just need to put the right guys in the right spots.
“We talked about not looking back (at last season),” he said. “You can’t do that. It’s a whole new team, new kids, more new kids than returners. You have to make it your own year.”
The head coach isn’t worried as practice nears the end of Week 1, though.
“There was turnover, but it was because of success,” Campos said. “I told them success was a good thing, it’s going to help everyone. I think we’re going to be doing a tuneup, fixing a couple things here and there, but not a overhaul.”
Replacing senior running back Jorge Gutierrez will not be easy. Gutierrez was Porter’s go-to running back who amassed over 2,000 yards and 26 touchdowns during the 2015 regular season.
The Cowboys are hoping that senior running back Jonathan Gonzalez will be up to the challenge of filling the Gutierrez hole. Gonzalez was the team’s fullback last fall. The offensive line is poised to help him get there after leading the way for Gutierrez.
“We need to stay conditioned and push hard so we can hopefully get another 2,000 yards,” Porter offensive lineman Juan Lopez said. “We have to stay mentally tough, that’s the biggest thing, be here every day and go all out. Every play (Gonzalez) will go head up against the linebackers, he’s not scared.”
The Cowboys’ spring practices seem to set the tone for the new season. Porter knows it must work hard to return to the postseason, and it won’t be easy. But there was plenty of optimism and excitement as the team went through its first practices of the new campaign.
“The mentality is to get back to the playoffs and win the game. Getting there is one thing, but winning is another,” Porter linebacker Adrian Gamez added. “We have to work as one unit. Everyone has to be on the same page working together.”
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.