BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
LA VILLA — During the halftime break of La Villa football games, senior Manny Prieto is anything but relaxed.
The defensive end and offensive lineman is always excited to get his helmet and shoulder pads off, but instead of grabbing a breath of fresh air and a Gatorade, Preito gets suited up for the band’s halftime performance. Prieto is the head section drum leader and plays the snare.
“Drumming isn’t as intense as football, but it’s still pretty intense,” Preito said. “I’m really tired after, but you just have to push through.”
As one of only three seniors on La Villa’s football team, Preito is a leader. Not only is he forgoing his break at halftime, but Prieto doesn’t get much in the way of break during the game, either. He plays on offense and defense and is vital to both groups, coach Daniel Perez said. Prieto’s hard work on Friday nights serves as an example for the rest of the team to never quit, Perez said.
Right now, La Villa has about 21 players coming out to practices, although Perez said he expects several more to join once the school year gets going.
“A lot of other schools have more depth,” Prieto said. “Some have three backing up, and right now we only have us two ends as seniors. We only have literally two extra (players on the line). It’s going to be hard, but we have done it before.It’s not imposible”
Prieto has 35-40 students in his grade. With classes that small, everybody knows each other, he said.
“Most of them come out and support on Friday nights,” Prieto said. “A lot of them are cheerleaders, too. We have a good amount of cheerleaders on the squad. Some of them are in band, just like me. So, yes, a lot of people come out.”
STOPPING THE CAROUSEL
In the past four years, La Villa has had four different head coaches. Each change makes it harder for the team to buy in.
“It’s not an excuse,” Prieto said. “I use it as motivation. For some guys it’s harder, because they get used to something and then it just changes. It’s hard to come in with new coaches every year. I went 110 percent with every coach we had. We put our trust in them, because that is what they are there for.”
The trend of change ends now, according to Prieto.
“(Perez), right now, I honestly think he is going to stay here for a while,” he said. “He’s pushing us a lot more than other coaches have before.”
Prieto has seen five coaches come and go since his seventh grade year, so his optimism isn’t easy to earn. But Perez comes in with the kind of experience that makes it easy to understand Preito’s confidence.
Perez coached at La Villa before. During his previous stint with the Cardinals, from 2007-2012, Perez was a defensive coordinator for five years and a head coach for one. Perez has only ever worked for two schools in his 23 years of coaching. He worked at his alma mater of Edcouch- Elsa for 12 years, then was at La Villa for six before spending the past four years back at E-E.
The biggest thing that Perez said he wants to bring from E-E this time at La Villa is the excitement and passion for the program.
“We had it here when I was here back then,” Perez said. “I don’t know what happened, but they lost it here for a while, because of the coaching changes. But, bringing that back would be big for this program. That’s my first step.”
AIR IT OUT
The Cardinals will have a familiar face under center this year, as junior Rey Felix returns to the role.
Last year, Felix completed 81 of his 188 attempts for 985 yards and 9 TDs. Felix says he likes the energy in camp so far.
“It feels good,” he said. “We have been waiting to get out pads. Hopefully our energy will show on Fridays.”
The team is so close that they all get together on the weekends to hang out.
“Last Saturday, we had a cookout,” Prieto said. “We were just hanging out and stuff, watching Hudl. This is a brotherhood. We are out here every day.”
That camaraderie shows on the field, according to Felix, who says he has a close relationship with his wide receivers.
“It’s a good group,” Felix said. “They are going to have to step up and replace those seniors that graduated, so hopefully they will step up and help us this year.”
LA VILLA’S PROGNOSIS
Coach Daniel Perez is familiar with what it takes to find success at La Villa. In a district where it takes one win to make the playoffs, if La Villa can buy into Perez’s system, the Cardinals can continue a streak of four straight years in the postseason.
2016 record: 1-10
Returning starters O/D: N/A
COACH’S TENURE
Coach: Daniel Perez
Year at school: 1st
Record at school: 0-0