RGVSPORTS.COM
Roma trailed by 14 to Mercedes at halftime of its Class 5A bi-district playoff Friday night at La Joya ISD Stadium.
But the second half, and ensuing overtime wrote a different tale for the Gladiators, who took home the program’s first postseason win with a 28-21 win over a Tigers team that entered 9-1.
And Roma’s second-half adjustment?
“All our defensive adjustment was, it was us just saying that we’re not just happy to be here,” Roma coach Max Habecker Jr. said. “We want to win a bi-district title.”
They got it done a week after clinching the first postseason berth in program history.
The Gladiators (6-4-1) scored 21 unanswered points in the second half and OT, holding the Tigers’ powerful offense to 14 yards.
In overtime, Ramon Espinoza scored on a 25-yard run on the first play. On the next Mercedes possession, Roma got a fourth-down stop, pressuring quarterback Rene Presas, who threw a pass out of bounds in the back of the end zone.
The Gladiators stopped hurting themselves when it mattered most. They committed three turnovers in the first half.
“We were moving the ball well,” Habecker said. “I told them, man, we’re shooting ourselves in the foot.”
Just to get to overtime, Roma had to make brilliant plays.
After quarterback R.J. Garza was picked off with 30 seconds left, Roma stifled Mercedes’ attempt at a winning field goal. Rene Ramirez blocked the kick.
“They adjusted well at halftime,” said Mercedes coach Roger Adame Jr., who said he will look back at the blocked field goal as the biggest play. “They came out and made the adjustments. The first half, we moved the ball well and we survived their pressure.
Then they started dropping back and their pressure started getting to us.
“Our kids played their hearts out. Our guys played hard. Our guys responded to those adjustments, but give credit to Roma. It’s disappointing. We had opportunities.”
Unofficially, Garza led Roma with 171 yards and two TDs. Espinoza had 90 yards and the game-winning TD run.
Aldo Ramirez had four catches for 40 yards and a touchdown.
“This is the first time we’re champions,” Habecker said. “We made the playoffs, we made history. These kids made it happen. I’ll go and play a game with them versus anyone, not because of their athletic ability but it’s their heart and their guts.
“That’s what set us apart tonight. Our kids played possessed in the second half.”
Roma plays the winner of today’s tilt between Medina Valley and Gregory-Portland.