NATHANIEL MATA | THE MONITOR
McALLEN — A pair of McAllen Rowe defenders went up to intercept or deflect Laredo Alexander quarterback Matt Connor’s pass to Albert Laurel Jr.
Instead, the receiver came up with the reception and a touchdown. The play was a microcosm for Rowe’s night, as the mistakes snowballed into a 42-17 bi-district loss Thursday in McAllen.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 21-0 lead, and the Warriors never had a chance to claw back into the game. Laurel Jr. ended up having the best individual performance of the game, with 171 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
The Warriors end the season on a three-game losing streak after starting the year 7-1.
Despite seeing his team hampered by injuries and falling short of a playoff win, second-year coach Bobby Flores was complimentary of his team and senior class.
“It was a fantastic season,” Flores said. “I was telling our guys that they work hard each and every day, and this is a tough sport. A sport where you have to come out and grind, and it’s physical. My hat goes off to the seniors. They were juniors last year, and they got us into the playoffs this year again. It’s a tough loss, but they kind of set the tone for next year, and our young ones have to learn for that.”
Adrian Bernal, Hector Ramirez and Jesus Sanchez were some of the big names who dealt with injuries, but all were on the field Thursday.
Bernal said even in defeat the last ticks of high school football were something to cherish.
“It was awesome,” Bernal said. “It’s tough to say goodbye to it all. It was a long journey. We want to embrace it all at the end. Even though we were losing, it’s the last minutes to remember, and those are the ones we’re going to take with us forever.”
Bernal will be on the hardwood for basketball soon. But even as one of the top returning point guards in the Valley, he had his priorities set and played hurt.
“It’s tough,” Bernal said. “I know I have basketball to look forward to. Might not have been the smartest thing. I had a couple games left, and I knew it and I had to be out there.”
Bernal had 43 yards on six receptions.
Alexander was smothering on the defensive side of the football, not allowing a touchdown until the result was well in hand.
“We just weren’t ourselves tonight. Alexander’s a great team, but I feel like we could have put up a better fight,” Sanchez said. “They’re a great team, and it’s a well-deserved win for them.”
Sanchez started just his fourth game of an injury-abbreviated season. Sanchez threw interceptions on back-to-back drives in the third quarter. Turnovers were a huge roadblock when the Warriors tried to mount any sort of comeback. The Warriors gave the ball away six times (two interceptions, four fumbles) and only had one fumble recovery of their own.
“It was a major setback, but everything happens for a reason,” Sanchez said of his injury. “I’m just glad I got to be there for Jonas. He’s going to be a great player in the coming years. I’m glad I was able to help him out become better.”
Jonas Ortiz should be one of the bright spots for the Warriors during the next two seasons. The sophomore filled in during Sanchez’s absence at quarterback. Against Alexander, Ortiz was used first as a tight end, then was called on to play quarterback during the second quarter.
Ortiz used his legs to put Rowe in position to score its first points, a 30-yard field goal by Edgar Castillo.
In the second half, Sanchez found his understudy Ortiz for a 73-yard touchdown to give Rowe its first touchdown. Sanchez also found Jorge Pena in the late stages. The two touchdowns sandwiched an Alexander defensive score that came on a displaced lateral pass.
Ortiz said he feels good about what he learned as a sophomore.
“Yeah, of course,” Ortiz said. “With these experiences, I’m coming back better and stronger next year with the rest of my team. These guys coming back have a lot of potential.
Alexander will put its six-game winning streak on the line in the area round when it faces the winner of Weslaco East at PSJA High tonight.