WEST MESA’S LEFTY HAS MUSTANGS ON THE RIGHT PATH
The West Mesa football team knows a little something about going down to the wire. Each of their last three games were decided on the final possession, including a 59-54 loss in week five. “It’s bittersweet because you’re down 41-20 at half and you’re able to come back and make it a game, so we take a lot of positives out of the game, but at the end of the day it does hurt” said quarterback Elijah Brody.
“Those are always tough to swallow man, but I’ve always said it’s a part of the process,” said head coach Landrick Brody.
That process has the Mustangs averaging 37 points a game with a spread offense. A big reason for their output is junior quarterback Elijah Brody. “He’s been around the game for a while and brings a part of the pedigree from a program he’s been a part of since he was a freshman and we hope that exudes through our program,” said the first-year head coach.
Elijah started his football career at Cleveland High School and then transferred to West Mesa when his dad took the head coaching job with the Mustangs. “It’s just like coaching any other kid,” said Landrick Brody. “I hold him accountable like I hold everybody else accountable. He has to pay the price like everybody else has to pay the price.”
“It’s fun, but when you have a bad practice you get yelled at out here and then you get in the car and he’s still yelling at you,” Elijah joked.
Elijah has racked up 13 touchdowns and over 12 hundred yards passing so far this season. The 6’3”, 190-pound junior is a big offensive weapon for West Mesa. “I do get a lot of comparisons to Cam Newton with my body stature and then Mike Vick because I am left handed and can run,” said Elijah.
“It’s a little bit different catching passes from a left-handed guy, but we were able to get a good amount of reps in and it’s just like a righty,” explained Landrick.
“The ball spins a different way for the receiver, so it’s definitely something they have to get used to,” said the quarterback. “If I’m training with the QB coach and he shows something with the right hand, I ask him if he can show me with the left hand.”
They may have a left-handed quarterback, but it appears West Mesa is headed in the right direction with a new quarterback and head coach. “I would like West Mesa to be a school kids want to come to and be able to compete,” said Landrick. “I want our culture to be something that not only lasts on this football field, but also in the community. I want our kids to leave here employable people, respectful people. That’s the biggest goal for my program.”
The West Mesa Mustangs open district play this week against Sandia.
