GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — Watching classmate Andrew Puente quarterback the La Joya Palmview offense for two seasons, Jonathan Zieske admits he sometimes grew envious.
In his head, he felt he was the better player, and he knew he could earn a promotion from backup to starter if he put in the work.
Zieske describes himself as a blunt person who tells it like it is, so he openly stated his intention to be the new No. 1 in three different conversations with coach Margarito Requenez during the spring.
“I was very vocal about how I wanted that spot,” Zieske said. “Sometimes, I was a little bit annoying. When you want something, you want to go get it. Especially when you have a knot in your throat, because you think you’re better, or you know you’re better, and you just have to do what’s necessary to beat that person out.”
Zieske not only beat out Puente, but he brought balance to the Palmview offense for the first time in his career.
Entering a matchup against Mission High at 7 tonight in La Joya, Zieske ranks second in District 30-6A with 941 passing yards, having completed 66 of 122 attempts with five touchdowns and four interceptions.
“I’ve been wanting this role since I was a freshman,” Zieske said. “I had to work my way up in the system. I think everything that I’ve earned, I’ve worked for. I’ve been hungry for this role, and I think it’s showing.”
Zieske describes himself as a highly competitive person by nature, so he was not going to allow Puente to get the starting nod for the third straight season. Heading into his senior year, Zieske went to multiple summer quarterback camps, including one at Incarnate Word. He said he was named a top-three quarterback at each camp, beating out a field of about 50 at UIW.
From a skills perspective, he trimmed his 40-yard dash time from 4.9 seconds to 4.77, lost some unnecessary weight, added muscle, and strengthened his arm through regular throwing sessions with his father.
“He finally got stronger. He finally has that arm strength, and he’s showing it this year,” Requenez said. “Now, he can go up to the line, and he can change the play at the line. He can audible. He’s actually learned the game like it’s supposed to be.”
Requenez said he was happy Zieske came to him in the spring to share his aspirations of taking the job, praising the senior’s natural leadership. Requenez had no doubt Zieske would put in the work not just independently, but also during the Lobos’ athletic period, where his teammates could witness his progress and commitment to studying film and asking questions.
“They have to see you work hard here, not only outside,” Requenez said. “That’s been the biggest difference.”
In all of 2015, Zieske threw for 467 yards — less than half of his total so far in 2016 — as Puente led the team with 785 yards and 8 touchdowns through the air. But with Zieske taking so many strides forward and looking ready to manage the role on his own, Requenez moved Puente to free safety this season.
Though Zieske said he’s comfortable managing the pocket as well as throwing on the run, success for Palmview’s offense did not come immediately. In Week 1, Palmview lost two offensive line starters to injury, hindering a group that was already going through major turnover. As a result, the Lobos turned to the passing game, unable to run the ball as well as they did last season. The team picked up 81.3 percent of its offense on the ground last year compared to 55.9 percent so far this season. The running game has rounded into form as the offensive line has improved, but the balanced attack has remained.
“In the beginning of the season, I didn’t really have much time,” Zieske said. “Palmview isn’t used to pass blocking, so we had to teach them how to pass block a little bit. They’ve picked it up quick, and it’s showing that I have time in the pocket now.”
Zieske has also benefitted from the return of Tristen Myende, the district’s leading receiver with 33 catches for 525 yards and two touchdowns. After playing a limited role with Katy Taylor last season, Myende came back to Palmview for 2016, reuniting with the teammates he played with from seventh grade through sophomore year.
Requenez said Myende returned from the year away much more athletic and ready to be a leader on offense, lighting a fire under the Lobos offensive linemen.
“My confidence level has increased greatly,” Myende said. “I’m getting faster and getting stronger. It’s making me perform at a very higher level than I used to, so I’m really moving and going how I expected I should go.”
Myende said speed is his biggest factor on the outside, but he’s also shown an ability to pull in jump balls. He stands just a half-inch shy of 6-foot and provides Zieske a reliable security blanket because of his strong vertical. Zieske said he always looks for Myende on fade routes, trusting the wideout to beat his man with either speed or positioning.
“If anything goes wrong, I know I can just throw it up to him,” Zieske said. “I don’t try to do that because I want to involve everyone, but I could throw it to him every time, and he’ll probably catch it every time.”