MARK MOLINA | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — A rematch between two traditional Valley programs unfolded into a defensive struggle between two running teams.
As a result, nothing came easy for the Harlingen Cardinals or the Weslaco Panthers.
A late third-quarter fumble by the Cardinals led to an Edward Limas 25-yard field goal that proved to be the game-winner, lifting the Panthers to a 3-0 Class 6A Division I bi-district playoff win Friday night at Boggus Stadium.
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. They kicked the winning field goal four plays later.
Weslaco (7-4) answered the bell throughout the night and it was no surprise to Weslaco head coach Tony Villarreal.
“(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,” Villarreal said. “To allow 11 points, our average went down tonight.”
It was a mixture of stout Weslaco defense and miscues that ultimately cost Harlingen (6-5) the game.
Penalties and the Panthers defense held the Cardinals scoreless despite them starting every first-half drive in Weslaco territory in the first half.
In the second half, Harlingen crossed the 50 just once.
On the night the Cards turned the ball over three times and gained 133 yards of offense.
“It was tough. We made mistakes at critical times and (Weslaco) executed; give them credit. At the same time we have some young players on this side of the ball,” Harlingen head coach Manny Gomez said.
“We’ve overcome so much from start to finish this year and it’s that pride that will help them in the game of life. That’s something that is bigger than what happened tonight. Give Weslaco credit, but what the kids experienced and overcame is bigger than life.”
In addition to the miscues, Harlingen’s Giovanni Guillen missed four field goals from 52, 31, 43 and 57 yards out.
The one from 57 yards was on a 4th and 21 with under a minute to go and came after Harlingen’s Gonzalez was dropped for an 8-yard loss.
It was another failed opportunity for the Cardinals and came on their last drive, which started on the Weslaco 23 following a Felix Reyna interception that also ended aWeslaco drive that lasted six minutes and 39 seconds.
Still, that drive was the best Weslaco had all night as the Cardinal defense was equally stingy throughout.
Weslaco gained just 94 yards of offense, crossed the 50 only once all night and started two drives in Cardinals territory.
“Our seniors did an amazing job,” Villarreal said. “We found a little something there late in their defense and exploited it.”
The Panthers now face Laredo United, which routed La Joya 62-7 on Friday.