That Marfa Shorthorns enter the 2022 season with one senior on their roster.
That lone senior is Nathan Pena.
Arturo Alferez, the head coach of the Shorthorns, said Pena’s leadership will play an important role even if he’s not on the field.
“He’s been a vocal leader ever since last season,” Alferez said. “He’s been the vocal leader of the team and he’s the one who communicates with the entire team.
“If I have to tell the team something, (Pena) will tell the team. He has been the one who has been getting kids to the weight room.
“I tell him that communication is a life skill and what we are doing with him is teaching him that life skill.”
Alferez said the underclassmen will received plenty of experience this season.
Marfa concluded the 2021 season with a 3-7 record and finished fourth in a district headlined by Van Horn.
“We are a very young team,” Alferez said. “When I say young, I mean underclassmen, but we do bring back some experience.
“We are trying to put players in new positions. We started with eight or nine players and now we are up to 15.”
Marfa has three starters returning on offense and four starters returning on defense.
The underclassmen the Shorthorns are set to rely on include juniors Jaden Nunez, Zach Wilson and Luis Solis and sophomores Derek Campos and Diego Jurado.
Alferez said Campos broke his ankle in the middle of the 2021 season but said the sophomore is back with a chip on his shoulder.
Alferez is expecting to start freshman Alex Rodriguez at quarterback.
“He’s learning the system,” Alferez said about Rodriguez. “It’s different playing junior high ball to high school ball, especially at the varsity level.
“We understand that it’s a progression and we understand that he’s learning. We aren’t going to throw the entire playbook at him. We are put in things that he feels comfortable with.”
Alferez said he expects stiff competition during district play.
“Our district is kind of scattered, but at the end of the day, it should make up for some great games,” he said.
>> ON AIR: “The only livestream that we do sometimes if is Texas 1A Fan shows up and covers out game,” Alferez said. “On Aug. 26, we have partnered with Sul Ross State University for the second year to our Sul Ross 6-man Classic. We got three games happening at Sul Ross. They will typically livestream the games for us.”
>> EXPECTATIONS: “We want to win whether it’s on the field or in the classroom or it’s after graduation. That’s our expectation.”
>> Follow Royal McGregor on Twitter at @SirRoyal
MARFA SHORTHORNS
— COACHES —
>> Head coach: Arturo Alfarez.
>> Coach’s overall record: 22-28.
>> Coach’s record at school: 22-28.
>> Assistant coaches, duties: Edgar Ramirez, offensive coordinator; Aaron Luna, special teams.
— TEAM INFORMATION —
>> 2021 overall record: 3-7.
>> 2021 district record: 0-3 (Fourth).
>> Last district title: N/A.
>> Last playoff appearance: 2016.
>> Stadium name: Martin Field.
>> Base offense: Multiple.
>> Base defense: 3-2.
— PLAYERS —
>> Returning lettermen: 3.
>> Returning starters: 4 (3 offense, 1 defense).
>> Key returners: Nathan Pena, 5-11, 200, Sr., OL; Derrik Campos, 5-9, 145, Soph., RB; Jaden Nunez, 5-9, 200, Jr., OL.
>> Key newcomers: N/A.
MARFA SHORTHORNS
Date Opponent Time Site
Aug. 26 Grandfalls-Royalty 6:30 p.m. Marfa
Sept. 2 Sanderson 6:30 p.m. Marfa
Sept. 9 Fort Hancock 7:30 p.m. Fort Hancock
Sept. 16 Balmorhea 7:30 pm. Balmorhea
Sept. 23 Sierra Blanca 7:30 p.m. Marfa
Sept. 30 Open
Oct. 7 Open
Oct. 14 Open
Oct. 21 Van Horn 7:30 p.m. Van Horn
Oct. 28 Fort Davis 7:30 p.m. Marfa
Nov. 4 Buena Vista 7:30 p.m. Imperial
