Advosports

In the Victoria East scrimmage against Rockport-Fulton, the team faltered toward the end. They were lucky it was only a practice.

It was apparent to Lorenzo Vega that it wasn't a matter of talent.

"At the end of the scrimmage, we all started getting weaker and slowing down," said junior defensive end Lorenzo Vega. "We're going to condition until we get it right and work until the fourth quarter."

One of the big issues that arose in the scrimmages was with conditioning. Coach Mickey Finley said that the team's ability to play four quarters is going to be a major part of whether they are successful in their season opener at home against Harlingen South on Friday.

"It's going to have to be," he said. "We've got a lot kids playing both sides of the football, which we didn't last year, that's one of the reason we've been running more."

The Titans spent late last week specifically on conditioning, Finley said. School starting also promises to help out them out too, allowing for a regular routine.

"About the time we finish practice it will start cooling off and we can really get into more conditioning. We're going to really working on it."

Victoria East hasn't been able to do as much as Finley had hoped in the lead up to Friday's game because of the weather.

Aside from a some exchanged papers and information, both East and Harlingen South know little about their Friday opponents.

"All I've seen is that they are going to be favored to beat us," Finley said. "So, it's a big challenge for us, they're a 5A program and we're a brand new 4A program, that's probably why they are favored."

Junior quarterback Nic Wallace said the Titans have been working to change the conditioning issues from the season before, and it all starts with intensity.

"We're not going to stop, we're going to pick up the intensity," he said. "We're really focused on our endurance this year. Last year, we didn't run at all, and I think that's why we had a lot of fourth quarter last year."

Finley said the Titans have been focusing on conditioning and cutting down on the mistakes going into Friday night.

But there's one overlooked part of the game that could play a major role: the kicking game.

"It's always big in the first game or two," he said. "Mistakes made in the kicking game will get you beat or win you games if you can take advantage of them."

Vega said the team would be ready for Harlingen South, adding that the Titans have the talent to beat their 5A opponent.

"We're working hard, we're conditioning, we're working out, getting our plays right and getting our techniques right," Vega said.

"We're definitely going to go far. We're a talented team, we have lots of speed, the defense is going to be great and the offense is going to dominate."

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