BY NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — If McAllen Rowe hasn’t completely come out of the dark ages yet, the Warriors definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel.
After a three-year absence from the postseason, the Warriors returned to the playoffs last season under first-year coach Bobby Flores. With a 7-4 record, they also finished with their first winning season since that 2012 playoff team. Next, Rowe will set its sights on winning its first playoff game since 2007.
“I just wanted to bring back the winning tradition,” Flores said. “That was the most important part. I’ve been here since we built the program. Then we had some very strong years in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. That’s what I wanted them to focus on… the tradition of what Nikki Rowe football is about.”
The program face-lift is continuing amid a defensive transition. Many skill players return on offense, but defense only returns four.
A lot of new faces will be tasked with defending the potent ground attacks in 30-6A. Luckily for D-Line coach Noel Valero, most of the experience is up front on the line.
Robby Leal is one of three returning seniors on the defensive line. The group has meshed together and will do its part to replace two graduating all-district lineman.
“We do click together pretty good,” Leal said. “We’ve been working hard this whole summer and growing up since our sophomore year. A lot of us are returners. We should do pretty well.”
Three players in District 30-6A rushed for more than 1,000 yards last year, and several teams are seeking running backs to do the same.
Leal and his linemates are aware that this district loves to run the ball and are prepared to face the challenge head-on.
“The most important thing is not to get pushed back,” Leal said. “We’re pretty strong this year. We’ve been working real hard. We’ve pretty much been focusing on stopping the run.”
With that in mind, the Warriors know that throwing the ball is something teams are less prepared for, even if they themselves are known as the passing team.
Adrian Bernal was the top target for Rowe’s quarterbacks last year. He knows that the Warriors’ air attack makes them hard to plan for.
“It adds another element to the opponents,” Bernal said. “Everyone else in our district is working to stop the run. When we come in, we’re a little bit more pass heavy. When they do cover our pass, we start to run. We have a great running back in Raudel Garcia. So it throws in that other asset in the game.”
CALLED ON AGAIN
The offensive side of the ball is where Rowe looks to separate itself from its competitors. Last season, the team finished behind only the powerful attack from McAllen Memorial in yards gained. The Warriors were the only squad to throw for more than 2,000 yards, picking up 2,168 in total between its two quarterbacks. Rowe also added 1,454 yards on the ground, primarily through running back Garcia, who not only ran for 1,004 yards on 168 carries but also caught 21 passes.
“With the experience coming back on the offensive side, we have some senior leadership. That’s what we’re going to bank on,” Flores said. “Coming out here and understanding the work we need to put in in order to advance. We need to focus every day, not make any excuses and work.”
Quarterback Jesus Sanchez is eager to get back on the field after an injury shortened his junior season. Before going down in Week 6, Sanchez completed 99 passes for 1,198 yards, enough for top marks in completions and completion percentage in the district in 2016.
“I am pretty lucky that we’re probably the team that throws the most,” Sanchez said.
SUMMER OF IMPROVEMENT
A handful of Rowe’s skill players were part of a state qualifying 7-on-7 team. While the league doesn’t exactly resemble the action of a fall game, it gives the skill players opportunity to compete, have fun and build chemistry with teammates.
“We had a good 7-on-7 run,” Sanchez said. “That got us even more excited. Getting to advance to the state 7-on-7, that hyped us up more, because we saw what we’re capable of. That energy transferred over to now, and so far we’ve been bringing that energy.
“My senior year, we just want to get back to where we were — the old Rowe. Not just the third school here in McAllen, but a school to watch out for. Because we have the same amount of talent as the other McAllen schools.”
The defense didn’t sit around and only let the offense get better, either. While there was no 7-on-7 for the linemen, a lot of the big guys competed lifting and got stronger.
“A lot of it was in the weight room,” Leal said. “Then, we came out here and did some drills, like pushing the sled and whatnot by ourselves. We’d come here during the day and at night go to Gold’s (Gym) or Freedom (Fitness).”
He was blunt with how he felt about last season’s taste of the playoffs. It wasn’t enough.
“The little first round, that was a good feeling, but we want to go even further this year,” Leal said.
ROWE’S PROGNOSIS
A strong core of returning skill players means Rowe’s offense should be potent again. The new pieces on defense will have to come together for the Warriors to achieve their goal of passing the first round of the playoffs.
2016 record: 7-4
Returning starters O/D: 5/4
COACH’S TENURE
Coach: Bobby Flores
Year at School: 2nd
Record at school: 7-4