Still trying to figure out the puzzle

Alexander suffered a disappointing result this past Friday, falling to Medina Valley 14-7. The Bulldogs are still searching for offensive consistency with three regular season games left.

By Garrett Kroeger

Close.

That’s what the Alexander Bulldogs have been this season. They’ve been “close” to unlocking their potential on a weekly basis. However, they keep faltering.

This season has been an up-and-down dilemma for Alexander. One week, the Bulldogs look like a formidable team that looks prime to win a district title. Then the next week, they struggle mightily, especially on offense. And this past Friday against Medina Valley on the road, Alexander struggled.

The Bulldogs fell to the Panthers 14-7. The Navy & Gold’s defense was elite once again – like it has been all year. The unit kept Alexander in the game. But the team’s offense was inconsistent – again – which has been a trend all year long.

“We are trying to find the pieces of the puzzle,” Alexander head coach Edwin Garcia said. “Trying to find a way for our guys to be consistent on the offensive side of the ball. That’s what my job is. There’s still light at the end of the tunnel with three games left.”

It wasn’t like the Bulldogs couldn’t move the ball against the Panthers. Alexander totaled 10 first downs. Its rushing game created a handful of big plays. What doomed the Bulldogs were turnovers as they fumbled twice on what seemed to be almost guaranteed scoring drives.

Now, Alexander has the makings of a dominant offense. Its offensive line is full of high-level, experienced starters. Quarterbacks Karlo Tenorio and Julius Vaughn have shown glimpses of being solid playmakers. Starting running back Joe Fernandez is one of the best in the district. Even backup backs Gael Rubio and Brennan Kisslinger have proven to be quality playmakers, too. And its receiving core has shown flashes of brilliance as well.

Garcia is a little puzzled on what has held the offense back this season. He’s an offensive guy. He has produced some of the best offenses Laredo has ever seen over the past few years. So, with three games left in the regular season, he’s determined to get the unit on track and being a well oiled machine he knows it can be.

“I don’t know what’s holding us back,” Garcia said. “Sit back and really see what we are doing. It has to be something we are doing in practice leading up to games. I just have to find out what it is. We have alternated big weeks for mediocre weeks. So, I have to figure out what’s going wrong.”

Now, after a tough game like Alexander had this past Friday, it usually responds well and puts on a stellar performance in the next matchup. So, the Bulldogs are hopeful that they will bounce back this coming Saturday, Oct. 19, when they host Eagle Pass for their homecoming game.

Alexander has three games left. And after its latest loss, its path to the playoffs has become even more rocky. The Bulldogs will likely have to win their last three games – Eagle Pass, LBJ and United – to safely make the postseason. And for them to do that, they’ll need their offense to find some consistency.

At times this year, Alexander has looked like a dominant team. It handled Gregory-Portland and Del Rio. It beat a quality Brownsville Veterans Memorial team in a shootout on the road, too. But in its four losses, the Bulldogs have struggled, especially on offense.

Alexander has been “close” to unlocking its true potential on a weekly basis this season. But as the old saying goes, “close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.”

The Bulldogs’ goal of winning a District 30-6A title has probably been diminished, barring anything crazy over the next few weeks. But their goal of making the playoffs is still alive. However, they need to find some consistency – especially on offense – to make that dream into a reality. So, with three games left this season, Alexander is determined to find the right combination to unlock its potential and be a deadly team for the remainder of the year.

“We still have some games left,” Garcia said. “If we win the next couple of games, we will put ourselves in a decent position. Obviously, if we win all three, I feel we will get in. We just need to find a way to win the next one. We can’t worry about the other games. We just have to figure out what we have to do against Eagle Pass.”