MARFA The Marfa football team dealt with plenty of adversity in 2020.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Shorthorns did not end up playing their originally scheduled 10 games and finished the year with a 3-6 mark.
Moving ahead a year later, the goal for the Marfa program is to have something closer to a normal season that will hopefully turn into better fortunes in 2021.
Head coach Arturo Alferez said that it was a challenge having to deal with the protocols and navigating through an uncertain season.
Consequently, he believes that the team learned about perseverance and enters the new season with new perspective.
“Football can be here one day and it can be taken away the next day,” Alferez said. “So what we’ve learned is how to cherish, take advantage and enjoy football every day and just stay healthy.”
The Shorthorns hope that better health and more experience provides better results.
Uriel Torres, a fullback and defensive ends, is one of the returning seniors.
“We have a big group of seniors on this year’s team and all of us have pretty much been together since junior high,” Torres said. “Hopefully, we can do good.”
Alferez added that the seniors all have been in the program since he took the reins in 2016.
“I started with those seniors back when they were seventh graders so they’ve been through the program through the years,” he said. “When they say experience, they know what I expect from them and how to execute the plan.”
Having a full offseason is also something that should help with that plan.
Alferez said a number of players are playing in different spots and having the chance to get adjusted to their new roles should prove useful.
“This group is a lot different than those in the past,” he said.
Receiver Ian Marquez said that not being able to have as many full practices limited the team’s progress.
Justice Ortiz said he learned a valuable lesson after dealing with the challenges from last season.
“I learned to not to take things for granted and to be grateful for the things that you have,” Ortiz said. “Last year, COVID took a lot of things from us real quick and suddenly and no one was expecting it.”
The sudden change also helped some players take on a different attitude entering this season, including senior Cristian Ontiveros, a utility player at a quarterback, linebacker and kicker.
“I think the biggest thing that we need to do is show a lot of heart and hustle,” he said. “We need to be more mature mentally. I feel if we can do that, we can achieve a lot.”
The Shorthorns take their first step toward those goals in the new Six-Man Shootout to open the season at Sul Ross State’s Jackson Field in Alpine.
Marfa is taking part in one of four games scheduled for the final Saturday in August and Alferez wants the team to take advantage of the opportunity.
“It’s an experience for them and something to look forward to by playing on a college field,” he said. “But at the same time, it’s just about bringing football together in one day.”
His message for his team for that game and the season is simple: “Just play in the moment. Don’t worry about next week or the next game. Enjoy it.”
> Follow Tony Venegas on Twitter at @OA_TVenegas
MARFA SHORTORNS
— COACHES —
>> Head coach: Arturo Alferez.
>> Coach’s overall record: 14-24.
>> Coach’s record at school: 14-24.
>> Assistant coaches, duties: Josh Kelly, defensive coordinator; Edgar Ramirez, offensive coordinator; Aaron Luna, assistant.
— TEAM INFORMATION —
>> 2020 overall record: 3-6.
>> 2020 district record: 1-2.
>> Last district title: N/A.
>> Last playoff appearance: 2016 (lost in bi-district round).
>> Stadium name: Martin Field (600).
>> Base offense: J-Bird.
>> Base defense: 4-2.
— PLAYERS —
>> Returning lettermen: 6.
>> Returning starters: 7 (3 offense, 4 defense).
>> Key returners: Ian Marquez, Sr., RB; Juan Avala, Sr., RB/QB; Cristian Ontiveros, Sr., QB/LB; Uriel Torres, Sr., RB/LB.
> Key newcomers: Zach Wilson, Soph., RB; Derick Campos, Fr., RB.
MARFA SHORTHORNS
Date Opponent Time Site
Aug. 13 Grandfalls/Sierra Blanca* TBD Grandfalls
Aug. 28 Six-Man Shootout TBD Alpine
Sept. 17 Fort Hancock 7:30 p.m. Marfa
Sept. 24 Sierra Blanca 7:30 p.m. Sierra Blanca
Oct. 1 West Texas 7:30 p.m. Marfa
Oct. 9 TLCA-Midland 7:30 p.m. Marfa
Oct. 15 Garden City 7:30 p.m. Garden City
Oct. 22 Fort Davis 7:30 p.m. Fort Davis
Oct. 29 Buena Vista 7:30 p.m. Imperial
Nov. 5 Van Horn 7:30 p.m. Marfa
*-scrimmage
