DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
PHARR — With his team 2-2 and coming off a 21-7 district-opening home loss to Edcouch-Elsa in late September, PSJA High coach Steve Marroquin had a decision to make.
He could stick with junior Andrew Castaneda at quarterback and let the promising talent grow through his mistakes. Or he could go with Troy Flores under center, a senior who always seemed to inspire the best out of his teammates.
Marroquin knew whatever move he made would dictate the rest of the season. With his team suffering a heartbreaking regular season finale loss the year before, costing the Bears a playoff berth, this was no time for a big-picture perspective.
He went with Flores.
“Looking back on the team, the coaches and I evaluated things and we noticed that every time Troy went into the ballgame, it seemed our kids played at a different pace, a different level,” Marroquin said. “It just seemed because he was a senior, things picked up a bit.”
It was the right move. The Bears have gone 4-2 since then and an offense that was in District 32-5A’s cellar the first four games is now surging heading into Saturday’s Class 5A bi-district playoff game against Edinburg Vela.
Without Flores as the main man under center early — when Marroquin often used four quarterbacks, including Flores, during games — PSJA High averaged 13.3 points. With him, it’s averaged 29.
“I did what I had to do,” said Flores, who has completed 51 of 95 passes for 765 yards and six touchdowns while running for 282 yards and four more TDs. “I wasn’t really expecting the switch, and it came out of nowhere. But I feel like I handled it right and did my best to get this team moving forward.”
It’s a domino effect. Because Flores is a dual-threat, more lanes open for the running game. Because the run game is now diverse, the passing game benefits.
“He makes the right reads, he can run out of the pocket and his speed opens up everything for all of us,” running back Andrew De La Cerda said.
Receiver Nathan Sifuentes has taken advantage. Early in the season, defensive backs stuck to the electric Sifuentes because the Bears’ offense was so stagnant. But now, plays last longer and that allows Sifuentes, who has scored in each of the last two games, freedom to get open.
“Troy’s done well, and everyone has fed off that,” Sifuentes said. “Our blocking has been better. The receivers are where they’re supposed to be on jets and sweeps.”
While Castaneda has the stronger arm, Flores, who started the season as a starting safety, is able to extend plays because of his athleticism. That has opened Marroquin’s playbook.
“It all starts with the quarterback,” Marroquin said. “The offense will exemplify what the quarterback is, and what Troy is is a great leader and someone who can manage a team. The kids respect him and they love playing for him. Those are intangibles you can’t really coach.
“At the end of the day, it’s about him making plays, and that’s what he’s been able to do.”
Those intangibles are what separate Flores. Teammates respond to him. Whether it’s because they’ve grown up together or because his play justifies his workmanlike intensity, it works.
“They know when I’m out there, I mean business,” Flores said. “They know I’m here to win. If they’re not with it, they know they shouldn’t be here. They always know where I’m coming from.”
Flores does not put pressure on himself to perform. He didn’t when he was inserted as a starting quarterback against PSJA Southwest, a 27-0 win that got the Bears rolling, and he doesn’t now.
But he admits the offense has undergone a drastic change. His no-nonsense approach has played a big part.
“I just stick to my game-plan,” Flores said. “I don’t think about what I’m going to do in a game. I just go out and play the game the way it’s supposed to be played.”