BY MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — This season was all about progression for Edinburg Vela.
Can the SaberCats take the next step? Will they get into the playoffs? Is this the year they thrust themselves into the conversation among the Valley’s best?
Vela answered every question emphatically, capping its best season to date with a 39-12 victory over Mission Veterans on Thursday at Cats Stadium.
“It was all hard work,” defensive end Joe Gonzalez said.
“We all wanted it,” quarterback Ebher Lopez added.
The SaberCats (9-1, 5-1) put together one of their better all-around games of the year. They scored at will against the stingiest defense in district. They summoned their best defensive effort this season, rendering the top offense in 31-5A largely ineffective. And it resulted in a runner-up finish in district only behind Sharyland High.
“I think our kids are still excited about playing football, and that’s big this time of year,” coach Michael Salinas said.
Lopez bulldozed through the defense to the tune of 172 yards on 16 carries, scoring once on a carry. He also connected on 8-of-17 catches for 144 yards, a score and an interception.
“We trusted each other,” Lopez said. “We were all in.”
The SaberCats defense helped ignite the charge Thursday. Ruben Garcia blocked both extra-point attempts. Gonzalez returned a fumble for a 38-yard score. And, as a whole, it put the clamps on Mission Veterans quarterback Santos Villarreal, the district leader in passing yards.
Villarreal scrambled most of the game, completing 16 of 35 passes for 167 yards and two scores — with most of the production coming in the second half, with the game out of reach.
It was Mission Veterans’ second-lowest scoring output of the season since a 44-8 loss to Odessa Permian.
“From the very top, from the head coach all the way down to our program, we got beat tonight,” Patriots coach David Gilpin said. “I give Edinburg Vela credit.”
Mission Veterans (7-3, 4-2) avoided what would’ve been its first shutout of the year when Villarreal found Adam Solis in the end zone on a 22-yard catch that trimmed the deficit 22-6 with 1:41 left in the third quarter after Garcia blocked the extra-point attempt.
“We’re going to enjoy this win for 24 hours, and once next week comes, we’ll get ready for the next opponent,” Lopez said.
HEAVY WORKLOAD
Going into Week 11, Edinburg Vela owned the second-worst defense in district in yards allowed, surrendering 322.6 per contest. On Thursday, however, the SaberCats summoned one of their better defensive performances, slowing Villarreal in the opening half as Mission Vets struggled to find its footing.
Villarreal either passed or ran the ball on 21 of 27 first-half plays for the Patriots. Through two quarters, he completed 6 of 14 passes for 43 yards, coming up short on his 55.8 completion percentage.
He also ran the ball for 10 times for 25 yards before intermission.
UP NEXT
Following Thursday’s win, Edinburg Vela will take on the No. 2 seed in District 32-5A’s Division I. Barring any upsets, that should be Donna High (5-3, 4-2). Tonight, Edcouch-Elsa hosts Donna in both team’s regular-season finale.
Mission Veterans, which is the No. 2 seed after the loss, will more than likely take on PSJA High (5-4, 3-3) in the opening round of the playoffs. Donna North hosts the Bears tonight.
Times, dates and sites for these bi-district matchups next week have yet to be determined.
maguirre @themonitor.com