By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — The high-powered offense that has come to define Edinburg Vela’s run the past two seasons is in question after graduation claimed some of its primary weapons.
In losing one of the Valley’s most accurate passers and a dependable receiving corps, much falls on the shoulders of running back Robert Guerra, who rushed for 20 touchdowns and more than 1,300 yards during the regular season. But the team has expressed confidence in both Guerra and the offensive line — with their experience and knowledge in the system — to help usher in a new era.
“People leave all the time,” said Jose Castillo, a returning letterman. “You just have to continue working hard as a team, grow together and come together.”
The SaberCats, in fact, graduated 35 players and returned 23 lettermen. Five starters are back on each side of the ball. Their quarterback situation is in flux, with junior Nate Garcia and sophomore Marc Buhidar splitting snaps during Friday’s scrimmage against McAllen Rowe.
Garcia played sparingly as a backup last year to then-senior Fabian Pedraza, the District 31-5A MVP, who completed 65.2 percent of his passing attempts for 1,617 yards and 21 touchdowns during the regular season. Buhidar was the starting signal caller for the freshman team in 2015.
Whichever player inherits the reins under center will have the benefit of a formidable offensive line in left tackle Jaime Alaniz, center Joey Carreon and left guard Caleb Luna, who combined to record 210 pancakes in aiding the second-best offensive attack (402.3 yards per game; 47.3 points per game) in the Valley behind McAllen Memorial (518.8 yards; 60.0 points).
“I don’t see any difference from last year,” said Carreon, a 5-foot-11, 245-pound senior. “We’ve just been working hard, getting better running the ball wisely and still trying to throw to our receivers. We just have to make some tweaks here and there, but we’ll be fine.”
Last year’s receiving corps accounted for 47.3 percent of the offense Vela hauled in. And while none of those players return this year, the SaberCats appear committed to a spread offense with newcomers junior Brandon Guzman and sophomore Nico Rodriguez, among others, battling for touches.
As such, coach Michael Salinas conceded his “wideouts are going to have to grow up in a hurry,” as the SaberCats take on Victoria East in the season opener next week in a rematch of last year’s area-round playoff game.
“We lost some receivers, guys who started three years for us,” Salinas said, “but we do have a group behind them that wants to uphold the standard.”
EYE ON THE ‘D’
Edinburg Vela surrendered the most yards per game (350.7) of any district team last year, and an average of 22.8 points (ranking fourth in a seven-team district). But Salinas wasn’t reading too much in those numbers, especially after the SaberCats finished the year with the largest point differential of any team in the Valley other than McAllen Memorial.
“We know they don’t get points for yards, so that’s never been a factor,” Salinas said. “The way we’ve played the last couple of years on offense did put our defense on the field more because we did score fast and often. So when that happens, your defense is bound to give up more plays.
“There were a lot of games last year where we had 10 possessions a game. When you do that, you’re going to give your opponent more opportunities and with that is going to come more yards. So as long as we hold them out of the end zone, we’re happy.”
FILLING HOLES
Among the more competitive position battles is in the secondary, where the SaberCats are looking to replace strong safety Taylor Clough. Sophomore Ian Ochoa has emerged as a potential replacement. Salinas said Ochoa is “a quicker learn and extremely smart and disciplined.” His biggest obstacle, so far, is his lack of experience.
Nick Enriquez, a junior, is showing promise at free safety and could carve out a significant role this year. Adrian Acosta, who was a backup nickel back last year, could also see a spike in playing time.
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EDINBURG VELA’S PROGNOSIS
With a formidable offensive line and standout running back, the SaberCats should be in contention for another district title, assuming it is able to develop an aerial attack.
Projected 2016 record: 11-2
COACH’S TENURE
Coach: Michael Salinas
Year at school: Fifth
Record at Vela: 27-8