By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — Sharyland Pioneer coach Jason Wheeler can look back on last week now, and laugh.
Before the start of last week’s game, however, his players hardly seemed amused, as Corpus Christi Ray’s cheer squad ran up and down the field, waving flags and essentially taunting the Diamondbacks.
“Last year, that probably would’ve intimidated us,” Wheeler said, thinking back to a 37-8 loss to Ray. “But this year, it made us want to play that much harder to beat them.”
Pioneer nabbed an interception during the second series of the game, ending in an Alejandro Ramirez touchdown. The senior quarterback then found Alec Garcia for a 45-yard score. And before the half was over, Leo Rios drilled a 37-yard field goal.
Just like that, the second-year Diamondbacks took a 16-7 lead in their first out-of-Valley road trip.
“It was kind of funny,” Wheeler said. “At halftime, I noticed they didn’t go onto the middle of the field anymore. It was like (Ray was) expecting us to be the same as last year, but we’re not. It’s like they were living in the past.
“It kind of backfired on them.”
The fight toward respectability carries into Week 4, as the Diamondbacks (3-0) host La Feria on Friday.
Across the board, the growth has been evident for Pioneer. Its defense, through three games, stands as second-best in district, behind Roma. Ramirez, who threw a district-high 13 interceptions last season, has only one, so far. And the team, as a whole, has played more confidently.
“Last year, a lot of the kids were just excited to be varsity players. They didn’t see themselves as winning a lot of games,” Wheeler said. “This year, we expect to win. That’s the biggest difference: their attitude.”
Part of their maturity stems from experience. The Diamondbacks have 50 returning lettermen, 40 seniors and 10 returning starters on each side of the ball. Whereas last year there were different players in front of the exercise line each practice, the Diamondbacks have consistent leaders now setting the tone.
Senior Joe Garza, a standout at middle linebacker, has noticed the difference. Last year, he said there was “no team chemistry at all.” Players were “selfish,” he said.
“Now, we’re all working as a team,” he said. “Guys are having a lot more fun and we’re all flying to the ball.”
The senior-heavy Diamondbacks have played a more uptempo style of game. Depth has allowed players to stay fresh, going two or three deep in certain positions, due to their offseason conditioning plan.
When two-a-days got under way, Wheeler felt comfortable having his players work in the weight room rather than dive into the playbook.
His confidence in their general knowledge of their schemes allowed for such a move, and so far it hasn’t come back to haunt them. In fact, turnovers are down considerably, even while going with as many as 6-8 ball carriers and 7-9 receivers in a recent game.
Penalties have been shored up, as well, while a switch to a 4-3 defensive set has helped the Diamondbacks slow the run, allowing three less yards per carry than they were yielding a season ago.
“I really believe our defense is the backbone of what our team is,” Ramirez said. “They keep us in games, allowing us to get the turnovers that help us get going.”
The thought of making a surprise push for the playoffs has accelerated the learning process for a team that was simply trying to find its way a season ago.
“It’s just the confidence they have in themselves now,” Wheeler said. “I think we’ve gotten to a point where I feel we could play with anybody. I don’t know how many games we’re going to win, but our ultimate goal is playoffs.
“I’m not one to sell ourselves short. We didn’t get there last year, but it doesn’t mean we didn’t do a pretty good job. Our district every game is going to be close, and it could go either way. If we’re not too tight and we’re having fun, good things will happen for us.”