DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
As the chase for the District 32-5A title winds down, The Monitor’s Game of the Week between Mercedes and Edcouch-Elsa at 7:30 Friday night in Elsa looms large.
Not only is it the 63rd chapter of the historic rivalry, which Edcouch-Elsa leads 32-29-1, it is a chance at redemption for Mercedes and a chance to further stake a claim as a district favorite for E-E.
Mercedes, the reigning district champ, can’t afford another loss after falling 28-21 to Donna last week if it wants a shot at defending its title. And Edcouch-Elsa wants to stay out in front, a shiny 3-0 through district so far, and remain as the league’s only undefeated team along with Donna
“Games like this, we don’t have to get our kids up,” Edcouch-Elsa coach Joe Marichalar said. “They get up themselves. It’s a long rivalry that’s talked about for years in the homes of these two communities.
“We know the kids will come and play, that’s for sure.”
The Tigers (3-3, 2-1 32-5A) won last year’s meeting as they rolled to a district championship. This year, they have few returners, but boast plenty of dynamic talent in sophomores Zach Gomez (quarterback), Fabian Ledesma (running back) and linebacker Roger Adame III (linebacker). That’s a nice budding core to put alongside senior playmakers Brandon Gutierrez (receiver), linebackers Fabricio Quintanilla and Adrian Noriega, and Damien Ledesma (defensive back).
And Mercedes will be motivated as well after the heartbreaking loss to the Redskins at home that was determined with 43 seconds left.
“Games like that turn kids into men,” Mercedes coach Roger Adame Jr. said. “I told the kids I was proud of them. They fought and they battled.
“You could tell (the loss) hit the kids when we were in the locker room afterward, but right after they left they were focused and ready to move on to Edcouch-Elsa.”
The Yellowjackets’ (5-1, 3-0) only loss this season came at Los Fresnos in Week 2. They’ve dealt with a bout of key injuries on both sides of the ball all season, and are still doing so with starting quarterback Marco Aguinaga and starting safety Victor Valdez sidelined.
But the play of young players like defensive lineman Seth Garcia and junior receivers A.J. Rodriguez and J.J. Flores have helped steady matters, and the spectacular performance of senior backup quarterback Andrew Segura has kept E-E moving right along.
In just three games as starter, Segura has thrown for 1,022 yards and nine touchdowns and rushed for 326 yards and six more touchdowns.
“He’s playing at another level,” Marichalar gushed.
In general, E-E has a passing game unlike any other team in 32-5A. Under first-year offensive coordinator Gene Garza’s spread attack, the Yellowjackets average 260 passing yards. Mercedes has played just one pass-heavy team this season in McAllen Rowe, a 26-20 double overtime loss for the Tigers in Week 2.
On the other side of the ball, however, will be a Mercedes defense ranked No. 1 in the district, statistically, allowing 204.5 total yards per game.
“It starts when they’re young,” Adame said. “We put into their heads about defense and the physicality part of the game. It means flying to the ball and getting stops.”