.png)
The Wildcats struggled to find their rhythm in a 42-0 loss to the Anderson Trojans last week, a stiff early season test for a roster rebuilding under new leadership.
Elgin’s defense had trouble containing Anderson’s passing attack in its second game of the season Sept. 5. The Wildcats allowed 158 yards and three touchdowns on just three completions from Trojan junior quarterback Cove Darbyshire.
“Ultimately, we gave up a couple of big plays in the pass game,” head coach Rich Lucero said. “We didn’t cash in on a couple of opportunities, but those are growing pains. We’re working with new quarterbacks, and everything is brand new to them.”
Still testing out hands on offense, junior quarterback Trey Flores got the start for Elgin for the second straight week. He was matched by a physical Anderson defense that contested the Wildcats in the air and made it difficult to gain any meaningful ground.
Lucero said this high level of competition also plays a factor in Elgin’s slow start. The Wildcats opened the year against Buda Hays, another undefeated team. “The two teams that we have played haven’t lost, so you can’t get mixed up with that,” he said. “It’s a rebuild. We’re at rebuild numbers, and we’re having to pull up kids who don’t have varsity experience. That’s the kind of result you get whenever you play 5A Division I teams.”
Despite back-to-back blowout losses, Lucero said his team still has plenty of fight in them. He drew comparisons to last season, when the Wildcats moved past a rocky opening and hit their stride in district play, earning Elgin’s first playoff win in a decade.
“I was here last year, and we went through this same situation,” Lucero said. “We rely on the culture that we are building — that’s what we go back to, our core beliefs and values. We hold them together by reminding them who we are and where we are going as a program, and they get it.”
Lucero highlighted areas of growth between weeks one and two, particularly a special teams that looked sharper on the ball.
“We moved the ball well at times,” he said. “The positives are that our players got to be put in those situations that they are going to be in during district play. Special teams were a lot cleaner this week. It’s hard now, but you can’t excel at something until you fail at it.”
Lucero said his team will face another tough test when they host Montgomery on Friday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m.
“It’s another very good team with a lot of depth on both sides of the ball,” Lucero said. “They are going to present the same challenges, but it’s another opportunity for us to be able to go out there and play clean football.”
