Aggressive mindset powers Alexander's defense

The Bulldogs aim to make the playoffs this season. They'll need their defense to continue to be elite to do so.

By Garrett Kroeger

The Alexander defense takes everything personal.  

Whenever the unit takes the field, it wants to show just how mean and tough it is. It wants to be the aggressors. It wants opposing offenses to fear it. And that sort of mentality has allowed it to be elite this season.

“We take everything personal,” senior safety and captain Louie Quintero said. “We just end it there on the field and that’s it.

The Bulldogs have had an up-and-down season this year as they sit at 4-4 heading into their latest matchup against LBJ on Friday. However, the one constant this season is how well their defense has played game after game – especially within district competition.

Through four district matchups, Alexander’s defense has allowed a mere 14.5 points per game. During last week’s 17-14 win over Eagle Pass, the defense only allowed a mere 140 total yards with 80 coming on two plays. Outside of those two plays, the Eagles had a tough time doing anything against the Navy & Gold. 

“Our coaching staff has done a great job with our guys,” Alexander head coach Edwin Garcia said. “The guys believe in what we are doing and trust we are putting them in the right spots. They come in ready to work. Coach (Fernando) Lemus and his staff has done a tremendous job at preparing them week in and week out.”

Garcia knew the Bulldogs had the potential to be great defensively this year. Alexander returned players such as Quintero, linebackers Frankie Fuentes and Octavio Garcia, cornerback Mateo Canamar and safety Hector Benavides. The question mark surrounding the defense entering this year was the defensive line as they lost the likes of Jorge Alvarado and Joey Esqueda. However, luckily for Alexander, its newcomers along the defensive line have stepped up big time.

Junior Charlie Urbie has emerged as the leader of the defensive line as he has recorded 35 total tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks and nine quarterback pressures this year. The Bulldogs have benefited from the emergence of sophomore defensive Walter Gonzalez as he leads all defensive lineman with 39 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and six quarterback pressures. Then seniors such as Enrique Garcia, Onyx Benavides and Ismael Cavazos have all performed admirably, too.

“They have more than stepped up,” Edwin Garcia said of the defensive line. “As a unit, they have performed better than what we have in recent years.”

Alexander has two regular-season games – both crucial to its playoff chances. If the Bulldogs can win their last two games – LBJ on Friday and United on Nov. 8 – they’ll safely make the postseason. If they win just one of them, then they’ll need some outside help to potentially make the playoffs.

For the Bulldogs to make the postseason, they’ll need their defense to continue to be elite. They’ll need it to continue to be the hard-hitting, game-changing unit it has proven itself to be. And for Alexander’s defense to continue to perform at the level it has been at all season, Edwin Garcia feels it just needs to continue to put in the necessary work to get better everyday.

“We have to continue to do what we have been doing and continue to believe in each other,” Edwin Garcia said. “We just need to continue working hard and perform to the best of our abilities.”

Every time Alexander’s defense has taken the field this year, the unit has played with a personal vendetta. 

The unit has strived to prove it is the toughest, meanest, most aggressive defense in the Gateway City and District 30-6A. And from what it has shown this season, it has arguably lived up to that standard and more.

The Bulldogs aim to make the playoffs. They are confident they will. However, they will need their defense to continue to be as stout and as fearsome as it has been all year long. And with the mindset the unit plays with – it wanting to be the aggressors every single play – Alexander is confident its defense can power it to a postseason berth.

“We just play with the mindset of just being the more aggressive guy,” Quintero said. “If you are not the most aggressive guy out there on the field, you will find yourself on the sidelines.”