By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
LOS FRESNOS — For the second week in a row, Rene Ortega did a little bit of everything for Los Fresnos.
The senior quarterback threw for 248 yards, rushed for 62 yards and accounted for five touchdowns to lead the Falcons to a 40-6 victory over Edcouch-Elsa in Week 2 on Friday night at Leo Aguilar Stadium.
“Rene’s very confident, he’s a smart kid and he’s paid his dues,” Los Fresnos coach Clint Finley said. “He’s been patient and has worked his way up through the program. He’s been in the program since Day 1 and has taken advantage of his opportunities here lately. I’m very happy with his efforts.”
Ortega completed 14 of 23 passes and had three touchdowns — two of those to Pete Perez — and one interception. He also rushed for 62 yards and two TDs.
Los Fresnos’ defense stepped up midway through the first quarter. Alex Garcia picked off a pass by Andrew Segura and returned it deep into Edcouch-Elsa’s territory. A few plays later, Ortega hit Pete Perez on a 10-yard touchdown pass to give the Falcons a 7-0 lead. Later in the first, Ortega scored on a 4-yard keeper and Los Fresnos took a 13-0 lead.
The Falcons’ defense stopped another Yellowjackets drive early in the second quarter, forcing a fumble inside the red zone. Later in the quarter, Ortega found Perez again, this time for a 46-yard touchdown pass and a 21-0 lead after a 2-point conversion.
“The kids have been working really hard to understand our schemes,” Finley said. “It’s shown so far that we have some different strengths than we have had in the past. To be able to throw the football around a little bit makes things a lot easier.”
Edcouch-Elsa finally got on the board less than two minutes before halftime when Marco Aguinaga found J.J. Flores on a 20-yard pass for a touchdown.
But Ortega wasn’t done for the Falcons. On the next drive, he hit Mike Rodriguez on a 17-yard touchdown strike to give Los Fresnos a 27-6 lead at the half.
“You have to give credit where credit is due, we faced a tough team in Los Fresnos. They were well-coached, a well-prepared team,” Edcouch-Elsa coach Joe Marichalar said. “For whatever reason, we didn’t play ’Jackets football tonight.”
Los Fresnos started the second half the way it ended the first half. During the first drive of the third quarter, Jose Hernandez broke loose and scored on a 64-yard run to give the Falcons a 34-6 lead.
And just before the end of the quarter, Ortega scored another touchdown on a 16-yard run on what looked like a broken play to take a 40-6 lead.
Hernandez finished with 111 yards on the ground and the one score for Los Fresnos.
Edcouch-Elsa didn’t get going offensively as the Los Fresnos defense held it to 262 yards, with many of those coming after the outcome had been decided.
“They got going and put some points on the board quick, so obviously they got momentum,” Marichalar said. “At times we were trying too hard to get something going, and when that happens we tended to make some mistakes. They capitalized on that, and we didn’t.
“I think everyone was trying so hard to get something going. For whatever reason it just wasn’t clicking for us.”
Finley was happy to see his offense click.
“Anytime you can be pretty balanced it helps your football team out, and so far we’ve been able to be pretty balanced,” he said. “I’d like to see our running game take off. I don’t want to get away from that. We’re going to try to do our best to take what they give us, but as long as we’re 50/50 or pretty close to being a two-dimensional football team that’s going to make us better.”
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.