SAN ANGELO, TX — The TLCA San Angelo Eagles and new Head Coach Paulo Gonzalez made their 2023 debut last Friday, August 25, at home against the Ozona Lions. The Eagles had a rough night overall. Ozona defeated TLCA 65-14, but the young team used the tough, non-district matchup to show where the Eagles can improve in several areas moving forward.
“We moved the ball well at times but shot ourselves in the foot too many times,” Gonzalez said of his team last Friday against the Lions. “Our drives stalled, whether it was an incomplete [pass], holding, or something in that line that stalled the drive.”
Luckily for TLCA, these mistakes are common at the beginning of the season. With practice, the coaching staff can help these young men overcome their shortcomings and take that next step forward.
“Up front, we have to get better,” Gonzalez continued. “We have three sophomores and two juniors, so they haven’t really played together and bonded and gelled. So, getting that piece together is going to be our toughest job right now. But I think we have some good things that we are working on that will get that fixed.”
TLCA travels to Odessa on Friday, September 1, to play Compass Academy in Week 2. Compass Academy also lost on opening weekend. Sterling City traveled to Odessa and put the hurt on Compass Academy 35-0. Week 2’s matchup features two teams that faced tough opponents in Week 1 and still searching for their first wins. Coach Gonzalez thinks his Eagles can find that win this weekend if everyone on TLCA does their job.
“Execute,” Gonzalez said when asked what the key to victory was this weekend. “We have to execute our plays, and we have to finish drives.”
TLCA Eagles Football on Offense 2023
(San Angelo LIVE! Photo)
Defensively, the Eagles' secondary and linebacker core fly around the field. TLCA needs that speed on defense moving forward. Coach Gonzalez says to watch out for Natavian Sykes this weekend as the defensive end/linebacker leads the Eagles’ defense.
San Angelo LIVE! interviewed Sykes after practice on Monday. Watch the full interview below:
The TLCA San Angelo Eagles face off with Odessa Compass Academy on Friday, September 1, in Odessa at Ratliff Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
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