Struggling Edcouch-Elsa set to battle surging Mission High

MISSION — Edcouch-Elsa has gone through challenges it hasn’t had to face in years. Before last week, the Yellowjackets already had lost three games and their 39-game District 32-4A winning streak.

Last week, however, they lost something more personal and emotional. For the first time since 2002, the ’Jackets (2-4, 1-2) fell to their most bitter rival, suffering a 28-0 shutout at home against Mercedes. For E-E coach Joe Solis, the challenge heading into Saturday's game at No. 10 Mission High (5-1, 3-0) is to keep his team’s mood positive despite the setbacks, which also will probably include not defending their district title.

“I think they took it pretty hard but I think come Monday they got over it,” Solis said. “I think they see that it’s going to be real hard to get anymore of a chance to win district but they want to go to the playoffs.”

That Solis and the ’Jackets are thinking about only making the playoffs and not winning a district title shows how difficult this season has been for them. Despite the loss of stars Erik Niño and Artie Tanguma, E-E was still expected to contend for its seventh straight district title. With four games left in the regular season, those thoughts are all but gone. Instead, they must focus on trying to reach the postseason, which is by no means assured. A loss tonight to Mission would put them one game out of the fourth and final playoff spot.

Whether they like it or not, that’s now what the ‘Jackets must contend with.

“In a way, I think the pressure’s off,” Solis said. “We don’t have to worry about all the things that are happening to us, the injuries and everything else. We’re back to square one.”

Words like those haven’t been used to describe the state of E-E football in years. The offense has struggled all season and ranks last in the district in both scoring and yardage. Projected starting quarterback Ryan Garza lasted only three minutes in the opener at Calallen before suffering a sprained ankle that has kept him out of the lineup.

None of those factors have allowed Mission to take E-E lightly. Yes, the 2009 ‘Jackets aren’t nearly the same as some of their predecessors, but they are still E-E and have a tradition to uphold.

All of that is what Eagles coach Mario Peña is reminding his team before tonight’s game.

“I’ve told (the team) that their backs are to the wall,” Peña said. “You know that when somebody’s back is to the wall they’re going to do one of two things. They fold the tent or come out fighting. I guarantee you and I guaranteed (the team) that Edcouch is going to come out fighting.”

Brian Sandalow covers District 32-4A football for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436 or via e-mail at bsandalow@themonitor.com.