MIKE GONZALEZ | STAFF WRITER
WESLACO — Not a game goes by without Weslaco East running back Lupe Moron and quarterback Darren Rivas asking coach Mike Burget for the ball. It’s the same case in practice.
Trailing by 13 to start the fourth quarter of their District 31-6A 34-27 win over PSJA Memorial on Friday at Bobby Lack Stadium, both players worried that a 0-2 start to league play would put the Wildcats in a hole they did not want to be. Moron and Rivas took control of the game to ignite an East (5-2 overall, 1-1 district) rally past Memorial (3-3, 1-1).
“We’re really good at adversity,” Moron said. “I kept telling my teammates to just give me a crease.”
Playing with a sense of urgency, Weslaco East played almost the entire third quarter ina no-huddle offense. Rivas engineered the offense while Moron followed his blocks and used his strength by overpowering defenders.
Moron scored two rushing touchdowns and added another on a 43-yard punt return, which gave East its first lead at 21-20. Only two minutes prior, the Wildcats trailed 20-7. After his rushing TD, the Wildcats defense forced a three-and-out, which Moron followed with his punt return for a score.
Memorial answered, though, behind backups after starting quarterback Michael Gonzalez did not play the second half because of an arm injury while running back Jonathan Treviño had to leave the game in a crucial fourth quarter drive.
Wide receiver John Anthony Saenz and Jesus Rodriguez engineered a 10-play, 78-yard drive. Treviño returned to the game to finish the drive with a touchdown that game the Wolverines a 26-21 lead.
The Wildcats responded with a quick five-play drive in which only Moron and Rivas touched the ball. A 25-yard run by Moron led to Rivas’ nine-yard go-ahead touchdown with 4:45 left for a 27-26 lead.
The Wildcats then forced a turnover, which Moron and the offense turned into a touchdown and a 34-26 cushion.
PSJA Memorial coach Gus Cavazos turned to Ryan Ramos in hopes that he would lead a rally. The Wolverines were moving the ball but a false start, a sack and an interception by Ricky Cardoza doomed Memorial.
“We ran out of bodies,” said Cavazos, who is hoping Gonzalez will return next week. “They’ve got a very good team.”
The contest featured the top two rushers in the district, and they didn’t disappoint. Moron’s fourth finished with 159 yards rushing while Treviño ended with 128 yards and two touchdowns on 28 totes.
East showed once again that it can rally from behind
“I really don’t know (how we do it),” Burget said. “The kids just make plays whether it’s on offense, defense or special teams.”