MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
ROMA — Four teams entered Week 10 with a shot at the final postseason berth in District 31-5A. In fact, three teams were tied in fourth place with 1-3 records.
After beating Sharyland Pioneer 37-3 on Friday, Roma positioned itself as the runaway favorites to nab the fourth seed.
The Gladiators (4-4-1, 2-3) control their own destiny now. If they beat Valley View next week, they can clinch their first postseason appearance in the program’s eight-year history.
Was Roma at all relieved Friday?
“No, no, no,” coach Max Habecker Jr. said.
If Habecker appears cautious, it’s because his team has been in this situation before. For a fourth consecutive year, Roma’s playoff chances are coming down to the wire. The Gladiators have fallen short in the past, but they appear primed to nab that final ticket with Valley View (1-8, 1-4) as their only roadblock.
“It’s win or go home,” Habecker said. “We’re treating this like a playoff game.”
Roma has a shot of realizing that dream after putting together its best all-around game of the year. They scored three touchdowns, matching a season high, and they received contributions from Jesus Hernandez, who returned an interception for a 30-yard score, and Jorge Garcia, who booted three field goals.
The defense also held Pioneer (3-7, 1-5) to only 49 yards.
“The dedication that we have to be the first team in Roma history to make it to the playoffs, that’s what’s driving us,” quarterback RJ Garza said. “We just want it so bad. We knew we had to win this game and next week. It’s not over.”
Garza completed 6 of 11 passes for 100 yards. He matched a season-best for completions and far surpassed his best yard-total.
Part of the reason? Aldo Ramirez, an all-district first team wide receiver, who played in his first game back from a shoulder injury.
Without Ramirez, Roma’s aerial attack struggled. The Gladiators’ ground-and-pound offense became predictable, putting even more pressure on their defense to keep them in games.
With a balanced look Friday, Roma’s offense was more free-flowing. Almost instantly, Ramirez made his presence known with a 38-yard catch that moved the Gladiators into the red zone. Three plays later, Garza found Ramirez again on a 1-yarder to put Roma up 9-0.
Ramirez hauled in four catches for 81 yards.
“It was fun having my buddy Aldo back,” Garza said. “He changed things up. I love the guy to death. He’s like my brother. He brought back that spark we needed in our offense.”
With Pioneer, Rio Grande City and Valley View taking losses in Week 10, the Gladiators can slide in and make history next week.
“That’s what we want,” Habecker said. “At the end of the year, all you want to do is play for games that count. It’s not pressure. This is what you want.”
GROWING PAINS
Pioneer quarterback Alejandro Ramirez finished a rough stretch to end his first varsity season Friday. He entered the week having thrown a district-high 10 interceptions. Against Roma, he threw three more — one directly leading to a touchdown, the two other igniting scoring drives.
“They have a good defense,” Pioneer coach Jason Wheeler said. “They basically put nine in the box and manned all of our receivers and had a hard time doing anything in the first half.
“We got to get in the weight room, get stronger. Our offensive linemen struggled a little bit this year, but they’ll all be back. We just have to get a little physicality there. We’ll be alright.”
The miscues mirrored last week’s game against Sharyland High in which the Rattlers returned two picks for touchdowns of 26 and 36 yards, respectively.
In the past three games, Ramirez threw eight interceptions. The junior finished the night completing 4 of 13 passes for 39 yards.
SMALL DOSES
Roma scored three offensive touchdowns Friday — two of those in the second half with the game already decided. The rest of its points came by way of field goals, a safety and an interception return.
Garcia was the biggest contributor, drilling three consecutive FGs (23, 18, 34 yards, respectively) and two extra-point attempts. He accounted for 11 points, a single-game high for the running back/linebacker.