By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
Los Fresnos looks to get back on track after its first loss of the season, and Rivera seeks its first win in Week 9.
The Falcons (6-1, 3-1) play host to the Raiders (0-7, 0-4) at 7:30 p.m. Friday night in a District 32-6A game at Leo Aguilar Stadium in Los Fresnos.
Last week, Los Fresnos lost to Harlingen High and ended its perfect start to the season. While the Falcons led much of the game, turnovers came back to bite them in the end during the 25-18 loss.
“We have to protect the football. You can’t expect to win when you turn the ball over five times,” Los Fresnos coach Clint Finley said. “It was disappointing and it hurt, but it’s a lesson that we’re going to take from it. Hopefully we can use that to our benefit in the future.”
Rivera is searching for its first win and has struggled on both sides of the ball. The Raiders beat Los Fresnos last season after the Falcons were coming off a big win against Harlingen High the week before. Rivera doesn’t have the same punch as it did one season ago, but the Falcons haven’t forgotten last year’s loss either.
“I expect a tough, hard-fought game,” Finley said. “We have to make sure that doesn’t happen to us and we learn from the mistakes from last year. Hopefully we can be a little bit better prepared and more ready to play because we’re going to get their best shot.”
Cowboys face district leader Donna High: Porter faces a tough test in Week 9 when it battles Donna High in a District 32-5A showdown at 7:30 p.m. Friday night at Bennie La Prade Stadium in Donna.
The Cowboys (5-2, 3-1) sit tied for second in the standings with Edcouch-Elsa and Mercedes, right under district leader Donna High (5-2, 4-0).
Even though the game has a lot at stake, Porter isn’t giving it extra attention.
“It’s just another game,” Porter coach Tom Campos said. “Our kids have done a good job of taking that approach to the season. Next opponent, next game.”
Each offense likes to run the ball early and often, so Campos thinks the game will come down to the defense that can make the most stops against the opposing offense.
The Cowboys know what the game means to the season, but they aren’t changing their approach to it.
“(The team) is fully aware of the implications, but if we take care of business and don’t worry about anybody else we’ll be fine,” Campos said.
Tarpons seek playoff berth against West Oso: Port Isabel is coming off an important district loss to Rio Hondo in Week 8 and is looking to get back on track against West Oso in a District 16-4A game at 7:30 p.m. Friday night at Tarpon Stadium in Port Isabel.
Just how important is this game to the Tarpons?
“Win and you’re in (the playoffs),” Port Isabel coach Monty Stumbaugh said. “It’s a big game. You can throw everything else out the window, so to speak.”
But Port Isabel (4-2, 1-1) must play better. Too many turnovers against Rio Hondo was too much to overcome.
The Tarpons hope to correct their mistakes against the Bears (1-6, 0-2).
“We need to take care of the football,” Stumbaugh said. “We’ve done that the last two years, and good teams like Rio Hondo make you pay.”
Despite the loss, Stumbaugh was proud of the effort his team gave, and he hopes it can continue.
“I was proud of our guys, they left it all on the field. We have to play with the same effort as last week,” he said. “We have to put it all together from here on out.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.