After grabbing an early 10-point lead, the Cardinals’ momentum disappeared as the Smithson Valley Rangers’ offense outscored them 28-3 to pick up a 35-20 Class 6A Division I regional semifinal win Friday night at Buccaneer Stadium in Corpus Christi.
Harlingen Led 17 -7 after a 1-yard touchdown run by Jesse Castro early in the second quarter, but the Cardinals’ offense went cold and managed just three points the rest of the way.
It was thanks to the Rangers’ slow, methodical offense.
“Smithson Valley executed, but I can’t wait to watch the film,” said Harlingen head coach Manny Gomez. “They have a great coaching staff and a great organization; it’s a great learning experience for us.”
The Cards finish the season 10-3 and won at least a share of district title for the eighth year in a row, while Smithson Valley heads to the state quarterfinals to face Converse Judson.
The Cards started the game on fire after a Sam Gonzalez interception on the Rangers’ first play from scrimmage set up a Leo Tienda 1-yard run.
Tienda rushed for 92 yards in the first and 146 overall to lead the Cards.
The Rangers, down 10-0, answered back on a 3-yard run with under a minute left in the fourth by Hyuahda Roache, who had 25 carries for 128 yards and three scores.
Penalties hurt the Cards in the first half as a Castro touchdown was wiped off the board.
The Cards would’ve gone up 24-7 at that point, but punted instead, leading to Roaches’ second TD to make it 17-14 heading into the break.
Then things really turned against the Cardinals in the third.
After a Michael Allen return gave the Cards the ball at the Rangers’ 49, Castro’s first pass of the third quarter was taken to the house 51 yards, giving the Rangers a 21-17 lead they would not relinquish.
“The pick-six was tough. We had a great return and thought we had something going, but it is what it is,” Gomez said. “Great teams perform and make plays and Smithson Valley did that.”
The Rangers continued their offensive attack in the second half and began to salt the game away.
The Cardinals’ defense began to tire and the early pressure put on the Rangers’ offense was not there.
Roache scored his third touchdown on the night after a shanked Cardinals punt gave the Rangers a 31-yard field goal.
Trailing 28-20 midway through the fourth, Harlingen stopped the Rangers in their tracks on a fourth-and-goal on the 1, but Castro threw his second interception seconds later.
The Rangers went up 35-20 soon after on a 19-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Josh Adkins to Matt Sandoval to put the Cards away with 4:58 left.
Adkins was 13 of 18 and threw for 181 yards, a TD and 2 INTs.
“After a while, we were trying our best, but they out-flanked and outsmarted us,” Gomez said. “It is what it is and in the end Smithson Valley made more plays than we did.
“Our team is full of great competitors and the way they finished from the way they started the year was night and day; they’re going to be great competitors in life.”