By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
The quarterback situation for Hanna and Donna High is very similar, regarding how each player was somewhat forced into the spotlight.
Golden Eagles quarterback Andy Lopez earned his spot last season after he and two others battled for the starting role early in the season. It took some growing pains, but Lopez has become consistent and a good field general for Hanna.
“We’ve watched them live and on film, and they’re pretty explosive, (Lopez) has a really good arm,” Donna High coach Ramiro Leal said. “He’s a talented quarterback. He threw a ball from the 15-yard hash mark to the other on a rope. He can really throw the ball.”
Redskins quarterback Edward Dougherty was pushed into his new role this season after slated starter Amonte Bowen broke his collarbone during a scrimmage against Rivera and will be sidelined for at least another month. Dougherty has responded with a comeback victory over Brownsville Veterans Memorial in Week 1, and then — though Donna High lost — the junior quarterback finished with 227 yards of offense against Weslaco High.
“They lost their quarterback, but they have another kid back there I think is pretty damn good,” Hanna coach Rene Medrano said. “They’ll run the ball, but they’ll launch it when we need to launch it. (They have) guys that can go get it, guys that can run, so we’ll have our hands full.”
Medrano was concerned about the Donna High offense because of the many weapons it has.
“They do a lot of things good. They’re quick, they’re fast, they’re big, and we have to be ready,” he said. “You can’t just say we have to stop one guy or one scheme, it’s going to take a total effort.”
Leal also was concerned about the Eagles’ offense and its ability to score in a hurry.
“They move the ball well, they can score quickly,” he said. “They can score on one or two plays and change the complexity of the game really fast. We need to sustain drives to keep their offense off the field. They’re going to get the ball, we just have to make sure when they do they have to earn whatever they get.
“We’re expecting a dogfight.”
Both Leal and Medrano agreed that it was an important game for both squads to get ready for district play in two weeks.
“I know we’re in the 5A category, but we schedule (against) 6As because we want stiff competition,” Leal said. “These (have been) quality teams to get us ready for district, and that’s what we’re looking for.”
The Eagles coach was looking for his team to remain consistent.
“(Last week) we focused in for four solid quarters against a good team, and I want to make sure they can come back and do it all over again,” Medrano said. “If you’re going to be a good team, you have to be able to do it day in and day out, it can’t be sporadic.
“It’s going to be a test for us, and I’m anxious. We’ve had (some) good days of practice, and I’m anxious to put it out there.”
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.