By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
That Edinburg Vela needs one more win — preferably on Friday — to clinch at least a share of the district title comes as no surprise. What is interesting, though, is the road the SaberCats took to get there.
Vela entered this season intent on pressing for 32 minutes and substituting entire lineups at a time. That changed during the regular season, even once district got under way, and the SaberCats managed to adjust without compromising their 31-5A record.
They did it with seven returners, including four starters, in the fold for a Vela team projected by many to have a breakout year. And on Friday, they have a shot of reaching yet another milestone in their short history when they take on Sharyland High (26-5, 9-1) for a shot at the district title.
“We’ve talked about it and these kids are very adamant about not sharing anything with anybody,” Vela coach Lalo Rios said referring to the 31-5A crown. “With the seniors we have, it would mean a lot to them and the program as a whole to win it outright.”
The SaberCats (26-5, 10-0) control their own destiny. With a win Friday, they can have the title all to themselves. Otherwise, they’d have to beat Roma in their regular-season finale to clinch at least a share of it.
Vela beat Sharyland in the first head-to-head matchup, even as it was adjusting to shorter lineups and a different defensive system. The change was born out of necessity, Rios said, with tougher competition prompting him to play his starters more minutes.
The SaberCats absorbed the curveball to secure their second straight playoff appearance in their three-year history.
“What’s amazing to me is the way these kids have responded,” Rios said, adding, “I attribute it to the hard work and commitment that these guys have shown over the course of the three years with the program. We sold them on a philosophy and these kids bought into it.”
‘DAUNTING TASK’
La Joya Palmview has three games left in the regular season, and it comes against the top two teams in District 30-6A.
The Lobos (20-11, 7-3) can take solace in knowing they’ve already secured a playoff berth. But if they want to move up the standings and secure the district title, they’ll have to beat McAllen Memorial followed by McAllen High.
“That was one of our goals to start the year,” coach Andy Saenz said. “We understand it’s going to be a pretty daunting task. (But) we’re going to try to work hard and take it one game at a time. Hang our hat on hard work.”
Palmview enters Friday as the third seed in district. They did it despite the loss of 6-foot-5 post Anthony Magallon (leg injury) for the year. And now they find themselves in contention for the 30-6A crown with two games remaining.
“The season’s not done yet,” Saenz said. “It was definitely an adjustment without Anthony. Losing a 6-5 kid, there’s no replacing him. But they’ve done a good job collectively. If it wasn’t one guy stepping up, it was another. It was a total team effort.”
GOING FOR IT ALL
Donna High (22-9, 12-0) secured its first district title since the 1970-71 season after beating Edcouch-Elsa on Tuesday. But coach Zeke Rodriguez is shooting for another milestone: the Redskins’ first undefeated district record in program history.
“We worked so hard to get this point,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve been able to instill in them a belief that with hard work, a lot of things are possible. And we truly believe that.”