footballgal
08-08-2007, 09:26 PM
The Esquivel era
http://admin.onset.freedom.com/pictures/rgvsports/1186531029-laferiapractice3.jpg
Aug 7, 2007 6:51 pm
By ELADIO JAIMEZ
eladioj@valleystar.com
956-430-6285
LA FERIA — The times they are a changing at La Feria.
The Lions kicked off the 2007 season with two-a-day workouts starting Monday under the direction of new head coach Elifonso Esquivel.
Also new on the agenda was the Lions’ offense.
Esquivel, who served as defensive coordinator under former Lions head coach Roberto Valdez the past seven years, revamped the offense. And there’s no secrecy to the Lions’ new look. They’re going to pass the ball.
“We’re going to run the same kind of defense,” said Esquivel, the 30-year coaching veteran. “We’re just polishing it up. But our offense is different. We’re going with a one-back set and we really concentrated on that during the spring. We’re just opening up our offense. If we can run the ball, we’ll run the ball. We’ll take what they (opponents) will give us.”
Esquivel was the head coach at Asherton High (near Carrizo Springs) for two years before moving to the Valley. He coached at Rio Grande City and at Roma before ending up in La Feria.
About 120 kids showed up for practice from grades 9-12 for Esquivel’s first training camp as head coach.
Esquivel said having spent the past seven years at La Feria will make the transition easier.
“I know these kids and their parents personally,” he said. “I’ve seen them come up since seventh grade, especially since my son played with them. That helps tremendously.”
Among the scores of athletes showing up for workouts was Esquivel’s aforementioned son, Eleasar.
The younger Esquivel will handle the quarterback duties for the Lions. Eleasar Esquivel showed tremendous potential as a passer last season during the playoffs.
Elifonso Esquivel hopes the momentum carries into this season and is expecting a big year from him and the rest of the Lions.
“He’s just one of our seniors,” Elifonso Esquivel said. “He did good in the playoffs last year and that’s one reason we’re opening it up. They’ve all been working hard and we have a good nucleus of seniors. They’ve been winning since they were in seventh grade.”
Other seniors included offensive lineman Jaime Valdez, who is expected to anchor a solid O-line considered the strength of the squad.
On defense, tackle Eloy Almanza and nose guard Luciano Rodriguez will lead the Lions’ stop troops.
Esquivel made Greg Johnson his new defensive coordinator and Mark Mattox takes over the offensive coordinator duties. Johnny Hinojosa will serve as Esquivel’s first assistant.
“I have a good staff,” Esquivel said. “We share the same philosophies and that makes things easier.”
http://www.rgvsports.com/articles/esquivel_175___article.xml/lions_feria.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjiY2UFWOQw&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ergvsports%2Ecom%2Farticles %2Fesquivel%5F175%5F%5F%5Farticle%2Exml%2Flions%5F feria%2Ehtml
http://admin.onset.freedom.com/pictures/rgvsports/1186531029-laferiapractice3.jpg
Aug 7, 2007 6:51 pm
By ELADIO JAIMEZ
eladioj@valleystar.com
956-430-6285
LA FERIA — The times they are a changing at La Feria.
The Lions kicked off the 2007 season with two-a-day workouts starting Monday under the direction of new head coach Elifonso Esquivel.
Also new on the agenda was the Lions’ offense.
Esquivel, who served as defensive coordinator under former Lions head coach Roberto Valdez the past seven years, revamped the offense. And there’s no secrecy to the Lions’ new look. They’re going to pass the ball.
“We’re going to run the same kind of defense,” said Esquivel, the 30-year coaching veteran. “We’re just polishing it up. But our offense is different. We’re going with a one-back set and we really concentrated on that during the spring. We’re just opening up our offense. If we can run the ball, we’ll run the ball. We’ll take what they (opponents) will give us.”
Esquivel was the head coach at Asherton High (near Carrizo Springs) for two years before moving to the Valley. He coached at Rio Grande City and at Roma before ending up in La Feria.
About 120 kids showed up for practice from grades 9-12 for Esquivel’s first training camp as head coach.
Esquivel said having spent the past seven years at La Feria will make the transition easier.
“I know these kids and their parents personally,” he said. “I’ve seen them come up since seventh grade, especially since my son played with them. That helps tremendously.”
Among the scores of athletes showing up for workouts was Esquivel’s aforementioned son, Eleasar.
The younger Esquivel will handle the quarterback duties for the Lions. Eleasar Esquivel showed tremendous potential as a passer last season during the playoffs.
Elifonso Esquivel hopes the momentum carries into this season and is expecting a big year from him and the rest of the Lions.
“He’s just one of our seniors,” Elifonso Esquivel said. “He did good in the playoffs last year and that’s one reason we’re opening it up. They’ve all been working hard and we have a good nucleus of seniors. They’ve been winning since they were in seventh grade.”
Other seniors included offensive lineman Jaime Valdez, who is expected to anchor a solid O-line considered the strength of the squad.
On defense, tackle Eloy Almanza and nose guard Luciano Rodriguez will lead the Lions’ stop troops.
Esquivel made Greg Johnson his new defensive coordinator and Mark Mattox takes over the offensive coordinator duties. Johnny Hinojosa will serve as Esquivel’s first assistant.
“I have a good staff,” Esquivel said. “We share the same philosophies and that makes things easier.”
http://www.rgvsports.com/articles/esquivel_175___article.xml/lions_feria.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjiY2UFWOQw&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ergvsports%2Ecom%2Farticles %2Fesquivel%5F175%5F%5F%5Farticle%2Exml%2Flions%5F feria%2Ehtml