By Ramiro Paez
956sports.com
EDCOUCH – Edcouch-Elsa coach Joe Solis doesn’t find it necessary setting several goals. He simply doesn’t believe in them.

Why?

“If you put out there 10 to 15 goals, they’re trying to do all of them and don’t accomplish any of them,” Solis said. “We keep it very basic with them.”

And by basic, it means setting one suitable objective: to make the postseason and, more importantly, reclaim what was once theirs for six consecutive years.

It’s been three years since the Yellowjackets last claimed a district championship, an odd feeling most people in the community would admit to. The 2008 season was the program’s sixth straight District 32-4A title and marked the end of E-E’s remarkable 39-game district winning streak.

To say the ‘Jackets hope to regain that glory would be an understatement.

“We have a great tradition here,” Solis said. “After you win district for six years in a row, you kind of get spoiled on it. Back in
November after the playoffs, we got to work and our goal was to get together as a team and do the things we needed to do to drive toward that district championship.”

And that means having to accomplish that feat with a relatively “young” team.

The ‘Jackets return only nine starters from last season’s 10-2 group, but bring back key players at several different positions. The experience is an advantage Solis hopes to keep the program making strides and avoid another collapse like it did in 2009, when the ‘Jackets fielded a much more youthful bunch.

It was then when the ‘Jackets stumbled to a 4-6 record and caused panic in many who wondered if E-E would be able to rebound. The following season the ‘Jackets countered with a par year and perhaps the turning point in the program’s main quest toward a district championship. E-E stunned a heavily-favored Alice team on the road in the bi-district round and rejuvenated a program that was out to redeem itself.

That all led to last season’s 9-1 regular-season campaign – it’s only loss to eventual district champion Weslaco East – and an area-round appearance.

So what’s the next step?

To really clear the air about any lingering doubts.

“Bottom line, win the district championship,” Solis said.

They’ll have the personnel to get things started on the right track.

The offense returns four starters, including three skill position players in senior quarterback Eric Morales, junior running back Israel Loredo and junior wide receiver Noe Gonzalez. The trio played a big part in the ‘Jackets success last year with Morales and Loredo accounting for more than 1,000 yards in their respective category and Gonzalez with close to 600 yards receiving. All three, however, were lost before E-E’s bout with Port Lavaca Calhoun in the area round.

The key on offense will be having to replace the entire line, which was lost to graduation.

Junior running back Diego Garcia, who impressed the coaching staff during spring ball, says he still sees no significant drop off despite young players having to fill in.

“We’ll just keep going and going,” he said. “Just never give up and keep each other up.”

Defensively, five players return from a unit that ranked as one of the Valley’s top defenses the past two seasons.

Senior defensive tackle Alvin Lofton says his teammates are hard at work to uphold that defensive identity.

“Our defense is always solid,” he said. “We’re working hard to make it even better.”

Returning Offensive Starters: 4

Returning Defensive Starters: 5

Returning Lettermen: 23

Offensive Players to Watch: Eric Morales, senior, QB; Israel Loredo, junior, RB; Noe Gonzalez, junior, WR; Diego Garcia, junior,

RB/safety; Isaias Martinez, senior, WR/CB

Defensive Players to Watch: Alvin Lofton, senior, DT; Rick Villarreal, senior, OLB; Art Moreno, senior, LB

Last Year’s Record: 10-2

Last Time Made Playoffs: 2011 (area, Port Lavaca Calhoun)