BY NATE KOTISSO | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — Sharyland High’s 2016 season ended with a 17-7 loss at the hands of Mercedes in the bi-district playoffs, but the Rattlers have lost a lot more. Starting quarterback Alan Alvarez is gone. The trio of wide receivers Edgar Alanis, Miguel Pena and Luis Franco — who combined for 1,357 yards and 18 touchdowns – are set to graduate, as well.
Despite their glaring losses offensively, the Rattlers will return five players on that side of the ball. Sharyland will also add talent from its junior varsity team that went 9-1 and finished in first place in its district last year.
Front and center amongst those making the step up from JV to varsity will be current sophomore quarterback Edgar Longoria.
Longoria started two games last season in the place of Alvarez, who suffered an injury versus Laredo Nixon. His first start came in a 42-28 victory over Mission Veterans. The sophomore went 15 of 23 for 220 yards and four touchdown passes while also carrying the ball 16 times for 116 yards and a score.
“The Mission Vets game was key for us,” Sharyland coach Ron Adame said. “Apart from us needing to win it, it was Homecoming. There were so many reasons to be distracted, but he played like a champ that night. He was the coolest of all our players out there, so that showed a lot.”
Alvarez was healthy enough to start the following week versus Rio Grande City, but Adame decided to stick with Longoria. Longoria completed 14 of 20 passes for a career-high 245 yards and three touchdowns against one interception in a 35-19 triumph.
Adame has yet to officially name a starter behind center for 2017, so Longoria isn’t taking any chances.
“I’d like to think I’m the starter, but usually, everything here is earned,” Longoria said. “I can’t really say I am until we actually play a spring game, which I probably won’t this year.”
In total, Longoria accounted for eight touchdown passes and one interception. Longoria is expecting himself to become more than an adequate signal caller.
“I think I’m ready to lead,” Longoria said. “Not only will I try my best in practice, but in the film room, as well. I think we’ll see smarter decisions. Reading the field and cutting down on turnovers. Even though it was one pick, I still believe it shouldn’t have happened.”
Longoria won’t participate in any more spring practice due to a rib injury. During a scrimmage the first week of spring ball, Longoria rolled out of the pocket, and two of his teammates landed on him. Longoria said he heard a pop and didn’t experience any pain at first. He continued to practice as the injury bothered him. When Longoria had it checked out by a doctor, the diagnosis was a broken upper rib.
“I won’t be able to practice for the rest of spring ball,” Longoria said. “But if everything goes well, I’ll be back in August.”
EXCITEMENT IN UNISON
Adame gushed about his players’ camaraderie and leadership potential during this year’s spring practice.
“We’re excited about our chemistry and our cohesiveness,” Adame said. “Some may hear that every year from coaches and assume it’s a cliché. But this team is united. We’ve had teams that may not have been the most talented, but their cohesiveness allowed them to overachieve. We’ve had teams that have been pretty talented here that may not have been the strongest unification-wise. In a season, that could be the difference between winning close games and losing them. I’d like to think this year that we’ve got a little bit of both.”
LINEBACKER CORE ROUNDING INTO SHAPE
The Rattlers’ linebacking core will be anchored by current sophomore Javier Lopez (113 tackles, 66 solo, five sacks in 2016), who may have to shoulder more of a load with the departure of outside linebacker Tyger Brigman (54 tackles, 39 solo, seven tackles for a loss and six sacks in 2016). Joining Lopez in the middle of the field will be current juniors Brandon Quintanilla and Noe Guzman. Quintanilla was originally a defensive end for Sharyland, and Guzman previously spent time as a cornerback and wide receiver.
“Brandon’s got the speed to fill his position,” Guzman said. “Tyger was fast for a linebacker, but Brandon knows how to get into the backfield as well.”
SHARYLAND HIGH
Returning starters (O/D): 5/3
Returning lettermen: 24
Key players: QB Edgar Longoria, RB/WR Blake Klein, OT Joshua Williams, LB Javier Lopez, LB Brandon Quintanilla
Coach: Ron Adame, 6th year at school
2016 record: 7-4