DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
DONNA — Ball control and execution determined the 82nd chapter Friday night between Weslaco High and Donna High. That’s nothing new.
Something else familiar these days is the Panthers’ dominance in the series. Behind two big takeaways, including one that resulted in a touchdown, Weslaco High ran away with its third straight win over Donna High 28-13 at Bennie La Prade Stadium.
Ahead 14-13 late in the third quarter, Weslaco (2-0) didn’t need much more time to build separation. Junior linebacker Jordan Nichols’ 50-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown on Donna’s ensuing drive handed the Panthers a 21-13 lead they would only build upon.
“We knew we could score,” said Nichols, who also had a big interception during last week’s win at Harlingen South. “We just had to cause turnovers and not give up the big play, and that’s exactly what we did.”
The Panthers’ defense also collected a key interception by senior Ulises Hernandez in the end zone late during the first half as the Redskins were driving into Panther territory to potentially add to what was then a 13-7 advantage.
“We have a chance to go up 20-13 there at halftime, or at worst get a field goal, and we blew it,” Donna High coach Ramiro Leal said. “But that fumble recovery was the real dagger. We knew it was all about field position from that point. It just didn’t bounce our way.”
The Redskins (0-2) hold a 46-32-4 all-time edge in a series that dates back to the 1920s. The majority of the contests have been settled like Friday’s, with little margin for error.
Weslaco High coach Tony Villarreal wanted more consistency from his offense after it sputtered during the second half against Harlingen South in Week 1. He got it. The Panthers produced 243 yards, all on the ground, for 6.1 yards per carry.
But it was the defense that sealed the deal.
“I learned I have a pretty good middle linebacker,” Villarreal boasted of Nichols. “That’s the second time this season he makes a big play. Our defense came up big, and our offense came up big.”
The Redskins totaled 276 yards, but just 5.3 yards per play. Their offense was run exclusively through running back Amonte Bowen (176 rushing yards, two TDs) and quarterback Edward Dougherty (84 rushing yards).
Meanwhile, nine players carried the ball for Weslaco, and four found the end zone.
“They executed and we didn’t execute,” said Leal, who fell to 0-3 against Weslaco. “I really thought we had a good chance at this one. We’ve just got to get better.”
BEING AWARE
Donna, Mission and PSJA independent school districts are partnering together for Childhood Cancer Awareness month, a campaign engineered by Maritza Esqueda, co-founder of the local nonprofit Faith, Family, and Friends Foundation.
Every Friday this month, all teams will sport a gold wrist band during games to recognize childhood cancer awareness. Friday, Donna honored Jesse Mena, a young man who lost his battle with cancer at 10 years old earlier this year.
Weslaco and Donna cancer survivors, and individuals who lost a kid to cancer, were recognized prior to Friday’s game in Donna.
UP NEXT
Donna High hosts Brownsville Hanna at 7 Thursday night for its last non-district game.
Weslaco High travels to the Coastal Bend to face off against Corpus Christi Ray at 7:30 Friday night.