KRISTIAN LIMAS | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
MISSION — The rain came down hard Friday night at Tom Landry Stadium but it cleared just enough for the Mission High Eagles to complete a 23-16 win over the Donna North Chiefs. The game was called in the fourth quarter because of inclement weather.
David Flores got the bulk of the work as the Eagles kept their game on the ground. He ended the night with 90 yards off 17 carries and a touchdown. William Arias also chipped in with a touchdown of his own in the first half.
The weather played a major factor in the early going as the rain continued to fall at a steady pace before letting up by the half. The wet conditions made the ball slippery and helped the Eagles get on the board first when a bad snap on the Chiefs’ first play from scrimmage was recovered by the Eagles in the end zone to make it 7-0.
On its second possession, Mission High scored after a six play drive capped by a 3-yard run by Flores to make it 13-0.
The Chiefs got on the board after the Eagles fumbled the extra point that the former returned to make it 13-2.
Mission answered with an eight-play drive to make it 20-2, the Eagles added a field goal in the closing seconds of the first half to make it 23-2.
In the second half, the Chiefs found their offensive rhythm, as they marched down the field on an 11-play drive capped by a 5-yard touchdown run by David Martinez to make it 23-9. A short punt by the Eagles gave the Chiefs great field position and allowed them to strike again when Mark Gutierrez ran it in from 1 yard out to make it 23-16.
But it proved to be too little too late as the rain returned in force in the fourth quarter. The added presence of lightning forced the officials to call the game with 12 minutes left.