GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
WESLACO — Weslaco High’s defense has been one of the Valley’s best all season, but they’ve never seen anything like what they’ll face against Laredo United.
After a season playing in a district where passing is an afterthought, Weslaco draws an area round matchup at 7 Saturday in San Antonio against a team that threw for 4,218 yards this season.
“I can’t remember the last time we faced a team that passed the ball this much,” Weslaco defensive coordinator Ross Moore said. “A lot of our teams in our district spread, but they spread to run. This is a true spread team, and they’re good.”
The most prolific passing offense Weslaco High has faced to this point in the season — PSJA Memorial — threw for 1,431 yards on the year.
United quarterback Ignazio Tellez racked up nearly half that total during last week’s 62-7 win against La Joya High, throwing for 601 yards. In the history of the classification currently designated 6A, no quarterback has ever thrown for more yardage in a game.
“Between the quick game and the deep game and the vertical game and screens, we throw a lot of stuff out there for (the defense),” United coach David Sanchez said. “If they’re not used to it, it’s the first time they’ve seen it, it makes it tough on them.”
Weslaco High is attempting to simulate United’s spread attack in practice. The Panthers are also looking to replicate the tempo, switching out two different offensive units during drills so the defense has less time to rest and prepare.
“We’re doing a lot of passing plays, more than we’ve ever done since I’ve been here,” safety Undrae Galindo said. “It’s helping us prepare for Laredo United. Everybody is doing good.”
Galindo and the other secondary players are drawing from their experience playing 7-on-7 over the summer — the last time they faced spread concepts like United’s.
Weslaco’s defensive backs even have the advantage of having faced some of these same skill players, losing to United 53-41 during the Calallen State Quaifying Tournament.
“It’s good, because it should be a 7-on-7 game over there when we’re playing them, because it’s mostly passing,” cornerback Ethan De Luna said. “I think me playing 7 on 7 should help me this game.”
Moore called the game “7 on 7, with pads,” but coach Tony Villarreal is still worried about United’s “scramble drill.” When opponents get pressure and the play breaks down, Tellez excels at finding his receivers coming back towards the line of scrimmage.
“We’ve got to not only run the routes, but we have to stay on them when they come back to the quarterback,” Villarreal said. “That’s a whole different technique.”
The Panthers aren’t changing too much of what they do to try to counter. Maybe remove one front seven player for an extra defensive back, but that’s about it.
Villarreal is optimistic Weslaco can generate some pressure with its front four. Rene Perez has been a disruptive force all year, and Villarreal said “this game is made for” defensive end Jesus Reyna, who is a smaller, quicker pass rusher.
Moore said the players have had an easy time adapting to the new concepts they’ll face against United.
“Our football IQ on the defensive side has been tremendous all year,” Moore said.
Lastly, Weslaco is hoping to get a little help from the weather. United’s coaches pushed to play indoors at the Alamo Dome, but Villarreal opted for Alamo Stadium.
Current weather projections call for thunderstorms today, potentially subsiding by game time.
“We’re hoping we’re going to get some bad weather,” Villarreal said. “We’re hoping the elements will help us a little bit.”