SEGUIN, Texas — Winning for the first time was one step. What the Seguin Matadors do next might tell Gary Gutierrez considerably more about his football team.
Coming off a 49-28 victory over Cedar Creek, Seguin returns to Matador Stadium for a homecoming district matchup against Kyle Lehman looking to accomplish something it hasn’t yet done this season: build on success.
For Gutierrez, the most encouraging part of last Thursday’s victory wasn’t Seguin racing out to a 20-point advantage. It wasn’t even walking away with the win.
It was what happened in between.
Cedar Creek responded to Seguin’s fast start by cutting the deficit to six and putting the Matadors in a position where an encouraging night suddenly threatened to unravel. This time, Seguin answered. The Matadors wrestled momentum back and eventually pulled away for a three-score victory.
“The ups and downs happen in every game and in every facet of the game,” Gutierrez said. “Seeing our kids see momentum swing against us and then fight against it and get it back on our side was truly a sign of growth.”
That response represented something Gutierrez has been waiting to see from his players.
His definition of success goes beyond what appears on the scoreboard. He wants to see players begin becoming what he believes they are capable of becoming.
“I think the ultimate win to a coach is seeing players play to their potential,” Gutierrez said. “Seeing players function to their potential. What you see them — who they can become, not who they are currently.”
The Matadors provided some evidence of that growth offensively against Cedar Creek.
Seguin established its running game, stayed ahead of the chains and eventually forced the Eagles to choose between committing defenders to the box or protecting the perimeter. Gutierrez felt that balance helped turn momentum decisively in Seguin’s favor during the second half.
Senior Daniel Pinon has become central to that approach.
After previously playing receiver, Pinon’s transition to running back culminated in a five-touchdown performance against Cedar Creek. Through four games, he leads Seguin with 251 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 52 carries.
His emergence has given the Matadors another way to take advantage of his speed.
“I really appreciate his willingness to try something outside of his comfort level,” Gutierrez said. “I think he’s seeing the fruition of when somebody sees something in you, talks about it, to give it a chance.”
Alongside him, sophomore quarterback Avery Franklin continues to grow into a larger role.
Franklin has completed 29 of 51 passes for 336 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while also rushing for 139 yards and a score.
Gutierrez sees each snap as another investment in his young quarterback.
“Every snap he gets, he grows confidence,” Gutierrez said. “Whenever you have a sophomore quarterback, you really want to give him as much experience as he can handling the ball.”
Friday presents another test of that progress against a Lehman defense that has demonstrated an ability to disrupt opposing offenses. The Lobos have recorded 32 tackles for loss and seven interceptions through four games. Dennerick Toliver has two of those interceptions, while James Albritton has seven tackles for loss and two sacks.
Seguin’s challenge begins up front.
Gutierrez emphasized physicality along the offensive line throughout the extended preparation for Friday’s game, particularly against the size Lehman possesses in the middle of its defensive front.
“We want to be really, really physical,” Gutierrez said. “Really being physical with him and trying to establish that inside-the-tackle push is going to be a big thing for us.”
The same principle applies when Seguin’s defense takes the field.
Gutierrez expects Lehman to prioritize its ground game, using the buck sweep from multiple formations before attempting to create opportunities through its screen game.
The Lobos have rushed for 412 yards through four games. Za’Tevious Thornton leads them with 234 yards on 35 attempts, an average of 6.7 yards per carry, while Jayden Thomas has contributed 167 yards on 40 carries.
That puts considerable responsibility on Seguin’s defensive ends and outside linebackers to control the edges.
“I think we have to control the line of scrimmage,” Gutierrez said. “These guys are an off-tackle run-game-oriented [team], and so we’ll have to make sure really our defensive ends and outside linebackers are playing well and setting the edge for us.”
For all the tactical questions surrounding the matchup, however, Gutierrez’s biggest question is simpler.
Can Seguin do it again?
One strong performance demonstrated what the Matadors are capable of. Gutierrez now wants to see consistency — 11 defenders pursuing the football, an offense sustaining drives, fewer mistakes and perhaps a play on special teams that can steal a possession.
“If we can do those kind of things,” Gutierrez said, “I feel like we’ll have seen some growth.”
Doing it on homecoming night would make the occasion particularly meaningful.
Gutierrez saw the enthusiasm surrounding the program during Seguin’s community pep rally this week and understands the importance of homecoming in a one-high-school community.
But for his players, he has tried to simplify everything surrounding the night into one objective.
“The number one thing for homecoming is for the football team to win,” Gutierrez said.
Last week, Seguin showed it could respond when momentum turned against it.
Friday night, the Matadors get an opportunity to show they can respond to something different:
Success.