BY GREG LUCA AND MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITERS
When La Joya Palmview lost two offensive linemen to injury in Week 1, coach Margarito Requenez knew he wouldn’t be able to run the same type of ground-and-pound attack that had led the Lobos to success in 2015.
Early in the year, Palmview relied on its passing game, featuring improved quarterback Jonathan Zieske and District 30-6A’s leading receiver, Tristan Myende. And as the new offensive line has started to come together, the Lobos have again found their running game, spearheaded by Joel Piña.
With both phases clicking, Palmview is hitting its stride, knocking off La Joya Juarez-Lincoln last week to move to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in district play.
“When we had to find another way to move the ball, we went to the passing game,” Requenez said. “Finally, we’re running the ball. So it’s getting there. It’s a timing process, and the good thing is it’s working out fine during district.”
Zieske, a pocket passer, was on the lesser end of a time-share with Andrew Puente at quarterback for two years before taking over the job with a strong offseason. Puente has since moved to defense, and Zieske ranks second in the district with 783 passing yards.
His primary target has been Tristan Myende, a senior who started his career at Palmview but spent last season at Katy Taylor. A threat to go deep or evade tacklers after a short completion, Myende has hauled in 30 passes for 491 yards and 2 touchdowns.
“He’s one of those players that if you don’t put two guys on him, he’s going to kill you every time,” Requenez said.
That passing threat has started to open running lanes for Piña, who last season ran for 1,469 yards with 19 touchdowns.
In his first three games of 2016, he ran for 221 yards with 1 touchdown. In his three most recent games, he’s picked up 342 yards with 5 touchdowns.
Requenez said Piña is bigger and stronger than he was last year, and that his production has improved as Palmview has established its passing threat and solidified the nine-man rotation of offensive linemen in front of him.
“As we’ve adjusted, teams still load up the box, but not as much as they used to,” Requenez said. “And what that’s doing, is Joel has seen the light.”
LATE SPARK
With La Joya High’s offense yet to record a first down as the final minutes ticked away in the third quarter, Joseph Moreno provided a spark.
Moreno, the Coyotes’ leader in rushing and receiving, broke loose for a 39-yard gain on a sweep, giving the offense the boost it needed to pull out a 14-13 win against McAllen High last week.
“The key play was that sweep. That play just gave us a lot of momentum on offense,” La Joya coach Reuben Farias said. “It motivated the team. They were clogging up the holes, but the sweep got us going.”
Moreno finished the drive with a touchdown run, one of his 13 carries for 70 yards.
Later, after La Joya got the ball back in McHi territory, Moreno capped a quick drive with a 32-yard touchdown grab from quarterback Irving Garcia. He finished the game with four receptions for 52 yards and was the only Coyotes player to catch a pass.
On the year, Moreno leads La Joya High with 45 carries for 227 yards with 2 touchdowns. He’s also accounted for 78.6 percent of the team’s passing yardage, hauling in 17 catches for 271 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Behind his efforts, the Coyotes are 3-3 overall and 2-0 in District 30-6A heading into a bye this week.
“I’m pretty excited, and the kids are excited,” Farias said. “It’s been a long time since we’ve been 2-0 in district. There’s still a lot of football left. A lot of things that can happen.”
ALL-AROUND CONTRIBUTOR
As a sophomore last year, PSJA High‘s Joachim Almaguer racked up 600 all-purpose yards. In his second varsity season, Almaguer is close to surpassing that total at the midway point of the schedule.
The junior is the team’s most productive rusher outside of quarterback Trey Guajardo, tallying 426 yards and seven rushing touchdowns.
He’s also had four catches for 66 yards and one score.That puts the second-year lettermen, who also returns kicks and punts, as one of the district’s top scorers for PSJA High (2-3, 0-2 in district).
“We try to get him the ball everywhere,” Bears coach Steve Marroquin said. “Last year, the goal was to get the ball in his hands and see how he evolves in the offense. This year, it’s more the same. He knows what’s being asked of him every week, and he goes out there and gives it everything he has.”
Outside of having an experienced offensive line this year, Almaguer has also benefited from his work with the track and field team, where he is one of the team’s better sprinters.
“He’ll tell anybody that track helps with football, that it’ll help your confidence and your speed when you’re running,” Marroquin said. “They go hand in hand, and he’s a perfect example of that.”