Spring Insider: Esperanza defense

Esperanza’s reputation: Bruising defense, complemented by ball-control offense.

This fall: Variable offense, complemented by up-and-coming defense?

Coach Bill Pendleton: “We should be a lot more of a 50-50 team. Last year, strength-wise, we were a lot more of 55-45 (in favor of the D). We won games by controlling the ball, playing good defense and not turning it over. Next year, we’ll score more and probably not shut you down quite as much. Hopefully we’ll still be successful.”

The Aztecs return two defensive starters -- nose guard Sean Avila and DB Dane Poole.

Of Avila, Pendleton says: “He’s a dominator.”

Esperanza’s offense, the only group to play against the new D, is impressed.

Guard Geoff Hyde: “We probably won’t be as strong on defense as we were last year. But we still have a pretty good defense.”