ELSA — Edcouch-Elsa Yellowjackets coach Joe Solis thinks defensive end Luis Hernandez deserves more attention. Solis said Hernandez didn’t get enough accolades heading into this season after a 2010 campaign that saw him become a first-team all-state selection as a junior.

After Friday’ matchup with Rio Hondo in The Monitor/Valley Morning Star’s Game of the Week, attention and accolades won’t be lacking for Hernandez.

Hernandez had three quarterback sacks and scooped up a Rio Hondo fumble and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown with 3:33 left in the third to lead the No.6 Yellowjackets to a 34-13 win over the Bobcats. Hernandez’s score gave E-E a 34-13 lead and came two plays after Rio Hondo appeared to catch a break when the ’Jackets recovered a dropped lateral that was ruled an incomplete pass.

In the end, it didn’t matter to the ’Jackets, who were led by a first-team all-stater who has started his campaign for another such honor.

“This kid didn’t get very much credit if you look at it in the picks and the magazines,” Solis said. “This kid was first-team all-state last (year) as a junior. I have all the respect for him because he’s a tough player. The people up there think he’s a heck of a player in the state of Texas. I think he needs to be noticed here.”

He certainly got the notice of Rio Hondo coach Rocky James.

The Rio Hondo offense, which put up 54 points last week, looked to have momentum before Hernandez’s score. It had pulled to within 7 on a 29-yard TD pass from Juan Puga to Victor Guzman, and after E-E answered with an Emir Alcala score, the Bobcats were moving again.

But Hernandez’s fumble recovery pretty much stopped for good any forward progress the Bobcats were making.

“It sure did (turn the game),” James said. “Whenever something like that happens, it actually turns momentum.”

Hernandez, of course, helped keep the momentum with the ’Jackets. He also earned a bit more publicity, though his focus was centered on E-E’s district opener in two weeks with Hidalgo.

By then, he’s looking for improvement from the defense, something that wouldn’t be welcomed by the rest of District 32-4A.

“We’ve got a lot to go,” Hernandez said. “We’ve been doing good but this ain’t nothing. We’ve got a lot to do.”

That would be welcomed by Solis, who didn’t need much prodding to call Hernandez his defensive leader.

“Luis is real quiet. He works his tail off and he’s the kind of kid you don’t have to worry about,” Solis said. “He’ll do everything 100 percent.”

Brian Sandalow covers District 32-4A football for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436 or via email at bsandalow@themonitor.com.

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