EAGLES UP AGAINST IT, BUT UNDAUNTED

BEHIND THEIR ROCK-SOLID LEADER

BY GREG SELBER

EDINBURG – It is the Big Question surrounding Mission football in 2010, a query that is perfectly understandable given the circumstances, but probably moot when one considers the heavy and proven presence of Mario Pena.

The Eagles are coming off their best season since 2002’s three-deep run with the Earvin Taylor team, as they came within four minutes of advancing to the third round losing late against a decidedly worried Gregory-Portland group, 12-7, in area. But after massive graduation losses, the roster is light this season, especially for a return to Class 5A, and people are wondering if the Eagles can do it again.

The uncertainty is not invalid; it is going to be tricky for Mission to step up and back into 5A ball and compete with the Sharylands and McHighs in 30-5A. Any sane observer would have pause before predicting another postseason dance for the proud program. But not Pena.

If we have learned anything about the intimidating man from Mission, it’s that he strides to the beat of his own drummer. A hard-working taskmaster who seems to imbue his teams with the same sort of controlled anger and focused intensity he brought to the field as an All-Valley defensive star back in the 1970s, Pena is not about to entertain any doubts about the uphill climb facing him and his kids in ‘10.

“You always get that, when you win, people very quickly come to expect it every year,” said the veteran mentor before his unit took on EHS here in the first scrimmage action of the pending campaign. “We went 12-1 at San Benito one year and folks wanted to have that every year. But guess what…so do we. People may say that we will be down or whatever. But I tell you this, we will put our best 11 on the field against any other in the Valley, and we don’t plan on taking a step back!”

MEET THE EAGLES

The success of this year’s contingent will rest on how quickly new faces can step in and replace the departed stars. One can only tell so much from a scrimmage, and casting around too seriously in the tea leaves can leave one blinded by the deception of light. The fact is, Mission has a handful of dependable stars to carry the deal until the rest of the kids catch up; such is the way it works when too many of your veterans walk the plank with diplomas in hand. It is a fact of football life.

But if you had to ask for one guy to be back in maroon for 2010, it would probably be Gilbert Gonzalez, and yes, the signal caller has another year of eligibility left. He threw for over 1,600 yards as a junior and expects to do better this time, especially with shifty George Nino, one of Class 4A’s best catchers, in the huddle. Nino took a reverse 62 yards for Mission’s only score of the scrimmage Saturday, showing once again that he is a game-breaker who must be accounted for at all times.

As for Gonzalez, well, he is a huge guy at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds and though he is not a fleet runner, he knows where the holes are, when to take off, and let’s be honest, is NO fun to try and tackle. He routinely puts a lick on anyone foolish enough to get in his path.

That’s a pretty nifty duo for the offense, though the line did say goodbye to Andy Rodriguez, a top-flight talent. The group for 2010 is nice-size, not huge, but showed a good punch-and-move performance against the Bobcats. With Mission’s quick-hitting passing game, balls are gone fast, meaning if the horses can make that first hit count, and find their way backward and sideways to contain the rush, Gonzalez should be able to pick his way downfield. His arm is solid, his touch improving, and some experts have tabbed him as one of the best three or four QBs in the area. No argument here.

Keep an eye on Jaime Tijerina, because the 230-pounder will be here, there, and everywhere, as an offensive lineman and defensive stud. Given the small numbers on hand this season, Mission will get some of its kids onto the field for double duty and Pena mentioned Tijerina (who was accorded the honor of having his picture printed in Texas Football Magazine) as one of the keys to the charge. He’s All-Valley good.

Backup QB Matt Meza is another of the versatile Eagles expected to shoulder much of the burden in 2010, mainly as a defender. But he ran well against Edinburg and offers a change of pace to Gonzalez’ cannonade.

Speed is a factor as well with Luis Villarreal, a fullback-linebacker who played very well in the scrimmage. Not terribly large, he can run in the 4.6 range and was active early and often in the center of the action Saturday.

Last year the Eagle D was among the best, as one might expect from a Pena team. If this latest edition is to duplicate the effort, newcomers will have to come up to scratch in a hurry. Sophomore George Gonzalez, brother of Gilbert, is a long and lean safety who appears to have what it takes to make a significant splash on the varsity level. Linebacker Derrick Villegas, one of the better prospects at the school in recent memory, is a comer.

And Pena is Pena, meaning that during the action over the weekend, he was in his team’s face, the good way, exhorting it to achieve. When he talks, people listen, and not just because he’s the meanest mother on the block. He knows winning and he breathes motivation.

“Come on Derrick, show me something!” he hollered at one point. “You ain’t showing me nuthin’ yet!”

That the fiery leader would take after one of his stars is par for the course. He does it in the time-honored, Old School manner and the players automatically intuit that he isn’t down on them; rather, he’s always up, up, and away, in support.

“We don’t have a big team this year, not a lot of guys right now, but it doesn’t matter,” Pena said. “These kids know what they can do, they are ready to prove it. We have a lot of pride here. They’ve been in our system for a year now, and they know what it feels like to win. We came really close to beating G-P, and we should have. I told everyone, you have to have pride in this team or we don’t want you here.

“And these kids, they are proving every day that they want to get after it. We will be fine down the line, I know that and they know that.”

Tags: gilbert gonzalez, mario pena, mission eagles, texas high school football