DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
Donna High is back in business. Now, coach Ramiro Leal said, all the Redskins have to do is ride the momentum from last week’s overtime win over PSJA High and win out to comfortably secure a playoff spot.
“It was a playoff-type game,” Leal said of the 14-7 win. “It was a must-win. We knew, mathematically, it could still happen, but we feel we have to almost win out to make the playoffs.”
Leal credited the defense, specifically the line, which used its quickness to thwart the Bears’ bigger line.
“Our guys answered the call, came off the ball pretty quick,” Leal said.
It also helps that Donna High (3-3, 2-2) is finally starting to get a rhythm. Leal said the three-week break between Week 2 and Week 5 was costly.
“Going three weeks with no game is hard,” Leal said. “The consistency of playing lets you get your form. It’s almost like we went through two two-a-day periods. Finally our timing is better.”
Leal is, however, concerned about the kicking game. The Redskins missed three field goals in a close-knit game.
“They were just kicking into the wind and they just couldn’t judge it,” Leal said. “We might have to just go with it on fourth down. You never want to leave points out there.”
Donna High went for it on fourth down three times last week, and converted two.
DEPLETED TIGERS
Mercedes will be without junior linebacker David Alvarado this week. Alvarado was hit during Friday’s game against Edcouch-Elsa and had to get stitches on his bottom lip. He also has a couple of teeth loose.
Tigers coach Roger Adame Jr. said the stitches will take at least a week to heal. Alvarado does not have a concussion and is permitted to play if the stitches heal, but Adame said he would hold him out anyway. Alvarado has not missed a game the last two seasons.
As for running back Isaac Vela, who did not play last week’s game after being cleared to practice earlier in the week, he will be re-evaluated today. Vela does basic drills with the running backs during practices, and then works with trainers rehabbing.
As for last week’s big win, Adame credited the onside kick as a big play after the Tigers returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. The Tigers recovered the kick, scored a couple plays later, and had a 14-0 lead before a minute had passed.
“We’re an aggressive team,” Adame said. “We’re going to try to get the ball into the offense’s hands as much as possible. If we lost the (opening) coin flip, we made a decision to go with (onside). We want to put opponents in a bind, get them in positions where they’re not comfortable.”
SOUTHWEST ROLLING
With three games left, PSJA Southwest is in place for a solid playoff seeding at 3-1 in District 32-5A.
“A year ago today, we were 1-6 and we weren’t in anybody’s conversation about being in the playoffs,” Southwest coach Jesus Reyes said. “This year we are. Everything goes back to their determination and hard work.”
The Javelinas are heading into the gauntlet of their schedule. Over the next two weeks, they play at Edcouch-Elsa and at Mercedes.
It helps that they’re coming off their finest performance of the season, a 52-8 rout of Donna North.
Southwest averaged 7.2 yards per play in amassing 340 yards.
“The key word is we executed,” Reyes said. “The kids came out there and they executed for four quarters. We played a complete game for the first time this season. We did everything well last week.
“When you’re playing people like Edcouch-Elsa and Mercedes, you have to execute.”