GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
WESLACO — Last spring, when Lupe Moron made the decision to transfer from La Villa to Weslaco East, he thought he might not be able to play football his senior year.
Moron was a dominant force at La Villa in 2013, racking up 1,340 yards and 22 touchdowns. But when it came time to return for the spring semester, La Villa remained closed for three days. The city had turned off the water supply as a result of a yearlong debate over how much money the district owed.
Worried about his academics, Moron chose to transfer to East, despite knowing full well that the UIL could view it as a transfer for athletic reasons and block him from participating in football.
“I was like, ‘I might not even be able to play my senior year, but I’ve got to focus on academics.’ … I didn’t want to miss any more school, so I came here,” Moron said. “It was a long process, but in the end, I think it was a good change for me. School wise, academically, everything. It was a great move.”
The move worked out great for East, too. Moron made an immediate impact in last week’s 41-28 win against Brownsville Rivera, rushing for 260 yards and four touchdowns.
Teams at the 6A level may be significantly bigger, faster and deeper, but Moron is proving he can succeed in a new district.
“He’s showing the Valley that he can play 6A,” East coach Mike Burget said. “The kid definitely can play. Coming from a small school, that has not affected him at all.”
When he first arrived at East, Moron wasn’t ready. He hadn’t done much to keep in shape as he went through relocation, and Burget saw the results in the weight room.
When Moron first lifted at East, he maxed out at 185.
“Lifting wise, he wasn’t a Wildcat,” Burget said. “I didn’t lie to him. We have girls at this school that bench 185.”
His teammates saw Moron lagging behind when East went through workouts during the spring athletic period.
“When he first got here, he was really out of shape,” East running back Emilio Tamez said. “He needed to get better.”
So Moron got back in the weight room, and he went out for track and baseball.
At East’s most recent weightlifting session, Moron maxed out at 270.
“He struggled getting in shape and our expectations of him, and right now he’s finally molded himself into an East player,” offensive coordinator Jesse Trevino said.
East entered 2014 expecting to spread the ball around on offense, and that may still be the case. But against Rivera, Moron received 16 of the 28 carries and amassed 260 of the team’s 403 yards. His teammates believe in his ability to shoulder the load on offense.
“I can trust him carrying the ball,” center Jerry Decanini said. “I know if the hole is there, he’s going to hit it. If the cutback lane is there, he’s going to hit it.”
Although Moron has good size at 6 feet tall and 190 pounds, his biggest strength is his speed. He’s always looking to get to the outside and break a long run.
Trevino said one of Moron’s best attributes is his vision.
“He’s a legit 4.5 (second 40-yard dash time) kid, and you don’t get too many of those down here in the Valley,” Trevino said. “When you do, you have to use them to the fullest of your ability.”
East has been doing just that, working Moron not just at halfback but also at fullback, receiver, quarterback and safety in practice.
Once Moron develops greater timing with his new teammates, Burget expects him to be even better.
“Nobody has seen the other stuff he can do yet,” Burget said. “Once he starts getting in better shape where he can carry the ball maybe 15, 20, 25 times per game, maybe that’ll be called for.”
Moron said he wants to go on to play in college. He thinks that with more people watching him play against better competition, he’ll have a shot at getting noticed. So far, he’s hardly been in contact with anyone. Burget doesn’t think that will last.
“If he wants to get noticed, he better have nine more games like that,” Burget said. “At the end of the year, there will be people knocking on the door.”