BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — When La Joya Juarez-Lincoln defensive tackles Norberto Lomeli and Bryan Lira made their first varsity starts as sophomores this season, coach Tommy Garcia saw them make a classic sophomore mistake. At the snap, the two would simply stand up rather than staying low and firing off the ball.
For the 6-foot-4 Lira and 6-foot-3 Lomeli, proper technique wasn’t always essential at the freshman level. On varsity, it is.
With five sophomores starting on each side of the ball this season, the Huskies have been learning those types of lessons up and down the lineup. Garcia has seen all of the newcomers take steps forward during their first two varsity games, which included Juarez-Lincoln’s first win since 2013 last week against Rio Hondo. But none have come farther, quicker than the duo of Lira and Lomeli.
“When they went out there in the first scrimmage, they played like sophomores,” Garcia said. “Now, they’re starting to play like seasoned veterans. They’re not there yet, but they have a good chance of getting there by the time district comes around.”
Both boast a lot of natural strength, Garcia said. But facing players of similar stature for the first time, they’ve quickly discovered how important it is to be fundamentally sound.
The two run pluggers on the line in Juarez-Lincoln’s 4-2 scheme said the varsity level has been much faster than what they were used to.
“It doesn’t really matter what size you are or how strong you are,” Lomeli said. “If you have good technique, you will beat the man that you need to.”
While Lira and Lomeli have shown the most improvement in two weeks, Garcia said safety Elias Gutierrez has been the biggest surprise of the sophomore starters. Not only has Gutierrez shown playmaking ability by forcing multiple turnovers and returning a punt for a touchdown, but he’s also been charged with relaying signals and directing the team’s rover and strong safety.
Garcia said he expected that Gutierrez would need time to learn the role. Instead, the sophomore has played like a two-year starter.
“I feel I needed to step up more, because I’m the leader of the defense,” Gutierrez said. “I needed to man up.”
Starting linebackers Joseph Valdez and Benito Gonzalez are also sophomores. Garcia said the duo has made sophomore mistakes, but each game has also brought improvement.
“I’m increasing every play, every game that we have,” Valdez said. “Every time I go and make a tackle and I look at the film, I feel like I need to do better.”
Sophomore offensive line starters Jesus Proa and Julio Monsivalles are also growing up quickly. Monsivalles, a pass-blocking specialist and the Huskies’ starting left tackle, is a step ahead of Proa as a result of only having to play one position.
Proa, meanwhile, has been shuffling around the other spots on the line.
Garcia said the two were wide-eyed during the first preseason scrimmage but started to look more comfortable as quickly as Week 2.
While the defensive players said speed was the biggest difference from freshman ball, Proa and Monsivalles said the major change they noticed was size.
“The hits are harder,” Proa said, “but it feels better when you win.”
The Huskies also have sophomores at the skill positions on offense. Speedster Adonis Barrillas was the team’s leading rusher in Week 1 before suffering a high ankle sprain that may keep him out until district play. Sophomore Eddie Hernandez is often the one leading the way at fullback, and Harley Vargas is usually split out wide.
With 62 freshmen in the program, the Huskies have had to split the group into two teams. If all goes well, those players will someday provide useful depth for Juarez-Lincoln’s experienced core. The Huskies project to return seven starters on offense and seven starters on defense next year, by far more than Garcia has ever had to work with during his four-year tenure. The prospect has the coach and his players optimistic about the future.
“We have pretty good size right now,” Gutierrez said. “Back in the day, they weren’t disciplined. Right now, we’re more and more disciplined, and we care about the program. So I’m kind of excited.”