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HARLINGEN — Weslaco High beat Harlingen High 3-0 in a Class 6A bi-district game Friday at Boggus Stadium in Harlingen.
Harlingen quarterback Michael Allen Gonzalez dropped a handoff to running back Leo Tienda, setting the Panthers up on the Cardinal 14-yard line with with 5:15 left in the third. Edward Limas kicked the game-winning, 25-yard field goal four plays later.
Penalties and the Panthers defense held the Cardinals scoreless despite them starting every first-half drive in Weslaco territory.
In the second half, Harlingen crossed the 50 just once.
“(The defense) has been stepping up all year long. We’ve given up 11 points a game all year and we’ve played teams like Corpus Christi King, Harlingen and about seven or eight playoff teams combined,” Weslaco coach Tony Villarreal said. “To allow 11 points, our average went down tonight.”
The Panthers (7-4) advance to take on Laredo United. The Panthers have won six games in a row.
Harlingen’s season ends 6-5.
DEL RIO 35, McALLEN MEMORIAL 20: At Laredo, McAllen Memorial’s season came to a surprisingly early conclusion at the hands of Del Rio.
The Mustangs entered the postseason 9-1, coming off an outright District 30-6A title and with hopes of advancing to at least the third round. Instead, running back Trevor Speights will have to wait another year in his quest for a first playoff win.
Speights led all running backs with 188 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. But Speight’s trouble was also his team’s trouble – the big play never came when it mattered most.
“I don’t think they were the better team,” Speights said. “But they wanted it more than we did. They whooped our butts, basically.”
The Mustangs jumped out to an early 6-0 lead midway through the first quarter after quarterback Fabian Pedraza connected with receiver DJ Johnson for a 21-yard score immediately following a Del Rio fumble.
The Rams, however, responded with a clock-eating 10-play drive that resulted in a seven-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Walt Ashley to wideout Aldo Chapa to take a 7-6 lead.
For every Memorial score, Del Rio matched. After a 6-yard Speights touchdown run late in the first quarter made it 12-7 in favor of the Mustangs, the Rams answered again with a seven-yard score from fullback Cesar Escajeda. It was a one-point contest at halftime as Del Rio led 13-12.
The Mustangs looked determined to put the game away at the beginning of the second half, taking a 20-13 lead on a 4-yard run from Aaron Villarreal capped by a successful two-point conversion from Speights.
The Rams (6-4-1, 3-2 District 29-6A) tired of playing catchup, and took the lead for good in rapid-fire fashion. Within 11 seconds, Del Rio scored 15 points. First came a one-yard rushing score from Ashley followed by a two-point conversion from Escajeda. The Rams followed with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Ashley to receiver Gus Rodriguez after a successful onside kick with 2:35 left in the third to take a 28-20 lead.
“I knew we were in trouble after that,” Memorial coach Bill Littleton said. “We got the ball back, but we just couldn’t get into a rhythm offensively.”
Del Rio finished the season just 5-4-1, needing a win against Eagle Pass in Week 11 to sneak into the playoffs.
LAREDO UNITED 62, LA JOYA 7: At Laredo, United dominated an overmatched La Joya High team.
The Coyotes, making their first playoff appearance since the La Joya ISD split after the 2007 season, could not keep their upstart season alive, finishing the year 4-7.
SHARYLAND HIGH 29, EDCOUCH-ELSA 0: In a matchup of two of the Valley’s most stories programs, Sharyland High showed why its been considered the Valley’s best team all season, cruising past Edcouch-Elsa in Mission.
Sharyland High will face Corpus Christi Calallen next week.
A young Edcouch-Elsa team finishes the season 6-5.
MISSION VETERANS MEMORIAL 17, DONNA 14: At Mission, Mission Veterans Memorial outlasted a Donna High team that entered the playoffs riding high after the return of Amonte Bowen.
Mission Veterans advances to face Corpus Christi Flour Bluff, the state’s No. 6 team.
Donna finishes the year 6-4.
ROMA 28, MERCEDES 21, OVERTIME: At La Joya, Roma pulled off a shocking upset against Mercedes.
The Gladiators entered the matchup a heavy underdog after needing a Week 11 win against Valley View to reach the playoffs.
Mercedes, on the other hand, had looked like one of the Valley’s strongest teams all season, winning nine in a row after a Week 1 loss to Calallen.
Mercedes finishes the year 9-2, while Roma advances to face the winner of Saturday’s game between Gregory-Portland and Medina Valley.
WESLACO EAST 42, SAN BENITO 14: At Weslaco, Weslaco East defeated San Benito by the same score as when the teams met in Week 2.
Ciro Rojas pulled down three interceptions and a 14-yard touchdown catch to pace the Wildcats.
For, Lupe Moron, it was another night at the office. The senior led the Wildcats with 169 yards on 16 carries and scored four touchdowns while nursing an ankle injury that’s bothered him for much of the season. In fact, Moron didn’t take any snaps at practice to rest his ankle. Last year, Moron was a member of a district title team with La Villa, but Friday marked his first playoff win, which he admitted means more.
“I would have to say yeah,” Moron said. “This was win or go home.”
East advances to face the winner of Saturday’s game between Palmview and Laredo LBJ.
San Benito finishes the year 6-5.
LOS FRESNOS 42, EDINBURG NORTH 7: At Edinburg, Los Fresnos’ strong defensive effort propelled the team to a win over Edinburg North.
Throughout the first three quarters, Los Fresnos shut down every Edinburg North scoring threat.
Isaac Moreno had two rushing touchdowns, while Raul Lopez, Azul Barriento and Sammy Cruz each added one. Lopez also caught a touchdown from Pierce Ruiz.
The Falcons move on to face Del Rio, while Edinburg North finishes the season 5-6.
BROWNSVILLE RIVERA 49, PSJA NORTH 42: At Pharr, Brownsville Rivera survived a back-and-forth game against PSJA North in a battle of two of the Valley’s biggest surprises.
Rivera has now won six in a row after an 0-5 start and advances to face McAllen High in the area round.
A year after going 0-10, PSJA North ends the season 5-6.
CUERO 55, RIO HONDO 14: At Corpus Christi, Cuero defeated Rio Hondo. The Bobcats finish the season 8-3.
YOAKUM 44, RAYMONDVILLE 27: At Corpus Christi, Yoakum scored 44 points against a vaunted Raymondville defense. The Bearkats finish the year 6-5.
SINTON 52, PORT ISABEL 22: At Kingsville, Sinton handed Port Isabel its earliest exit from the playoffs since 2011. Port Isabel ends the year 7-4.
Port Isabel trailed 14-0 in the first quarter before J.J. Gonzalez returned a kickoff 90 yards for the Tarpons’ first score.
The Pirates led 21-7 by the end of the first quarter and held a 33-7 advantage at intermission. Sinton took a 40-15 lead into the final period.
HALLETTSVILLE 44, LYFORD 6: At Sinton, Hallettsville ended Lyford’s season with a dominating win. Lyford finishes the season 4-7.
GOLIAD 61, SANTA ROSA 7: At Taft, a dominant Goliad team took care of business against Santa Rosa. The Warriors finish the year 5-6.
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