SONORA, Texas — Back in August, the Sonora Broncos started out their two-a-day workouts with one simple motto uttered by quarterback Jaime Buitron.
"The goal is Jerry World," Buitron said.
AT&T Stadium, also known as "Jerry World", is where the state championship takes place every year for every Texas high school football division. That has been the goal for the Broncos all season, but it has an even deeper meaning after the way their season ended just one year ago.
Last season, the Broncos fell in the third round of the playoffs to the eventual state champion Hawley Bearcats. Yet, head coach Blake Weston is proud of his athletes and credits their work during the week as the reason they come out victorious by an average winning margin of of 29 points.
"It all starts with Monday through Thursday. That is what leads us to put this product on the field," Weston said.
The Broncos have also dealt with their fair share of adversity. Buitron was hurt early in the season and did not make his return to the field until after bye week. In his absence, Juan Castillo, who the team lists as an "athlete", was thrust into the lineup as the emergency quarterback.
With Castillo under center, the team also called on a familiar face to carry the load offensively, after primarily being a defensive standout - running back Edgar DeLuna.
DeLuna was called "a nightmare on defense" by a major Texas high school football outlet prior to the season, but he's taken the same intensity on the offensive side of the ball as he closes in on the Sonora High School football rushing record.
"I am close to breaking the school record, and that is cool. Everyone has been there for me. It has been a blast, and makes this team so special," DeLuna said.
Weston's squad enters Friday's regular season finale against Forsan with Buitron back under center and DeLuna rushing his way into the history books, but that is not all.
If they win, the Sonora Broncos will be undefeated for the first time to close out the regular season since 2017. In doing so, they will be that much closer to the goal they set out to accomplish before the season began, during their off-season workouts.
