RGVSPORTS.COM
There’s movement, but the top three teams remain for RGVSports.com’s Top 10 high school football poll heading into Week 2.
In an unanimous vote once again, Harlingen High has been voted upon by RGVSports.com as the Valley’s No. 1 team. The eight voters are writers who cover RGV high school football for AIM Media’s three newspapers (the Monitor, Valley Morning Star and Brownsville Herald).
The Cardinals dominated Mission Veterans Memorial 44-14 in Week 1, even despite limited production from top running back Leo Tienda. Harlingen High hosts Laredo United South this week.
The next two teams flip-flopped for the second and third spots in the poll. San Benito jumped over Edinburg Vela for second following its impressive 47-21 rout of regional power Laredo United last week in Laredo. The Greyhounds, expected to be in a rebuilding year this season, showed a balanced offense and the defense was lights out against one of the top offensive attacks year in and year out in South Texas.
San Benito hosts San Antonio East Central this week.
Vela was strong in its own right by earning a 63-62 double-OT win at Victoria East. Senior running back Robert Guerra compiled a Valley-record nine touchdowns, seven rushing and two receiving. The SaberCats go to Edcouch-Elsa on Friday for The Monitor’s Game of the Week.
McAllen Memorial jumped up a spot from last week’s poll and is fourth after beating Sharyland Pioneer 40-27 last week. In the opener, the Mustangs showcased freshman phenom Campbell Speights, Trevor’s younger brother who rushed for three touchdowns and more than 150 yards.
McAllen Memorial hosts Weslaco East this week.
Los Fresnos rounded out the top five after its electrifying performance from Mark Mata and Co. during last week’s 50-40 win over Edcouch-Elsa. The senior quarterback and former defensive back totaled 367 yards of offense and six touchdowns to establish himself as one of the Valley’s premier athletic talents.
Mercedes fell two spots to No. 6 after a tough 20-7 defeat to No. 8-state ranked Calallen. The Tigers’ defense, the Valley’s best in 2015, lived up to the hype in the showdown.
Mercedes hosts McAllen Rowe this week.
Roma moved up a couple of spots to No. 7 after its 41-7 pummeling of La Joya Palmview. Even without the Valley’s leading returning rusher in Ramon Espinoza, the Gladiators proved they are more than fine against a program coming off consecutive playoff appearances.
Roma welcomes La Joya High this week.
Weslaco High dropped a spot to No. 8 after its 38-0 loss to Richmond George Ranch, which won the Class 5A state championship last season. The Panthers go to the Alamo City to play San Antonio Marshall this week.
Edcouch-Elsa dropped three spots to No. 9 after its loss to the Falcons. But the Yellowjackets’ aerial dynamics were in fine form with Marco Aguinaga and receivers A.J. Rodriguez and J.J. Flores, and they get another challenging test this week in the SaberCats.
Weslaco East made its debut in this season’s Top 10 after its methodical 21-14 win at Sharyland High last week. The defense overpowered the Rattlers, and Fabian Castro led a diverse running attack.
Other teams receiving votes in this week’s poll: Brownsville St. Joseph, Brownsville Veterans Memorial, Sharyland High, McAllen High, Mission Veterans Memorial and La Feria.
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RGVSPORTS.COM WEEK 2 TOP 10 POLL
The following are the teams in RGVSports.com’s Top 10 poll, with first-place votes in parentheses and total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through 1 point for a 10th-place vote. The eight voters are writers who cover RGV high school football for AIM Media’s three newspapers (the Monitor, Valley Morning Star and Brownsville Herald).
Team – Record – Points – Prev.
1. Harlingen High (8) 1-0 80 1
2. San Benito 1-0 66 3
3. Edinburg Vela 1-0 64 2
4. McAllen Memorial 1-0 51 5
5. Los Fresnos 1-0 46 8
6. Mercedes 0-1 41 4
7. Roma 1-0 26 9
8. Weslaco High 0-1 24 7
9. Edcouch-Elsa 0-1 16 6
10. Weslaco East 1-0 11 NR
Other teams receiving votes: Brownsville St. Joseph (7), Brownsville Veterans Memorial (4), Sharyland High (2), McAllen High (1), Mission Veterans Memorial (1), La Feria (1).