By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
Pace has two opponents to face today, Donna North and the weather.
The Vikings face a Chiefs squad that is still looking for its first win and inclement weather is expected during the District 32-5A game at 3 p.m. Saturday at Sams Memorial Stadium.
The game originally was scheduled for 7 p.m. but was moved up because of the forecast for heavy rains.
Pace is looking to bounce back after a tough 28-21 loss against Porter in Week 8.
“It was a tough loss, tough on the kids and the coaches,” Pace coach William Deen said. “I think we’ll be able to bounce back and be ready to play. We’re more and more confident offensively and defensively.”
The Vikings have battled injuries all season and have had to move players around to different positions. But it seems to be coming together at the right time, and Pace hopes to finish the season strong. Even though the Chiefs are winless on the season, the Vikings aren’t expecting an easy game.
“We can’t take them lightly,” Deen said. “They do some good things, they run the ball well at times and are able to throw it when they want to. They’re not a bad football team, just a little snakebitten, but not a bad football team.”
Offensively, both teams prefer to run the ball first and throw the ball when necessary.
Dominic Ochoa, who has 788 yards rushing and six touchdowns on the season, leads Donna North’s ground attack.
Pace counters with Luis Rodriguez, the Vikings’ dual-threat quarterback with 520 yards rushing and nine touchdowns and 425 yards passing and three more scores on the season.
Pace isn’t changing the way it is preparing to fit the weather pattern. It has been the same as it would be any week.
“It doesn’t really change anything,” Deen said. “Obviously the game’s going to be a little early, but it shouldn’t change much.”
Pace isn’t changing the game plan either.
“I don’t see it changing a whole lot, we have to establish the run and be able to run the football,” Deen said. “The game is on field turf, so it doesn’t effect the game as much as it used to.”
While artificial turf fields drain fairly well, a wet, slick field could come into play. Because of the weather, the game could come down to which team can avoid losing scoring opportunities because of turnovers.
But Deen is cautious. He said his team has to be ready for other factors that happen with weather issues.
“We’ve played in the rain before, so it shouldn’t be a big deal,” he said. “But we do have to be prepared for possible delays, lightning, things like that, so we’ll have to be prepared for that mentally.”
Donna North coach Tommy Sauceda did not return calls for comment.
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.