By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
With just two games left in the District 32-5A season, both Lopez and Edcouch-Elsa are seeking an invite to the postseason.
Both the Lobos and the Yellowjackets have lost their last two games, so it will be an especially-crucial matchup when they clash in The Brownsville Herald’s Game of the Week at 7 p.m. tonight at Sams Memorial Stadium.
Lopez (6-2, 3-2 in District 32-5A) had won six straight games, but played football that was uncharacteristic for the Lobos in losses to Brownsville Veterans Memorial and Mercedes over the last two weeks. Edcouch-Elsa (4-4, 2-3) lost to Mercedes in Week 8 and then to Pace last week.
Each team is looking to get back on track and back to playing the way they know they can.
“We’ve been honest … about what this game means and regards to playoff implications for both teams,” Lopez coach Jason Starkey said. “This week is about regrouping and getting back to playing Lopez football … that’s a physical brand of football that’s aggressive on defense and physical on offense … we’ve paid attention to just getting back to the basics.”
For Edcouch-Elsa, it’s getting focused.
“I’ve been working of the mental aspect of the game,” Edcouch-Elsa coach Joe Marichalar said. “It’s about motivating them and keeping them upbeat and focus on the task at hand. It’s more of a mental game and making sure they stay focused because we face a tough team in Lopez, they are explosive and have a good thing going on.”
Offensively, Lopez averages 342 yards and nearly 33 points per game. The Lobos are led by senior running back Jose Echavarria with 974 yards and seven touchdowns, but have struggled to run the ball the last two weeks and want to get back to what they do best.
“(We have to) run the dag gum football,” Starkey said. “If we can’t run the ball … we don’t have a chance to be successful. From a play-calling standpoint, we’ve tried to get too complicated … we need to keep it simple to give our kids an opportunity to make plays.
“It’s now or never.”
Edcouch-Elsa averages 366 yards and nearly 24 points per game on offense. It had four turnovers against Pace and the Vikings were able to capitalize on a couple of them that contributed to the difference in the final score.
“The turnover ratio was big and it came back to haunt us,” Marichalar said. “We need to do a better job of controlling the ball … if we can eliminate turnovers, I think we have a shot.”
On the side of the ball, the Lobos and Yellowjackets are the top two defensive teams in District 32-5A. Lopez is the top unit allowing 216 yards and 17 points per game. Edcouch-Elsa isn’t far behind allowing 241 yards and less than 25 points.
Both teams are stingy when it comes to the opponents’ offensive output and the game could come down to which unit steps up and takes care of business.
It’s certain that each teams knows the stakes and what this game means to their season.
“It’s seizing the moment, taking one play at a time and not trying to do too much,” Marichalar said. “Any district game is a crucial game … the pressure is the same every game. We put that pressure on ourselves because we want to shoot for the stars … we have to play ‘Jacket football for four quarters, that’s our goal.”
For Lopez, its senior class has a chance for back-to-back playoff berths, something not common in past years.
“We’re not ok with just a winning season,” Starkey said. “Our objectives and goals remain the same, getting to the (postseason). My challenge to them is do you want to be remembered or be forgotten?
“These seniors have a chance to be remembered and I’m looking forward to taking the field with them to see that play out.”
Both teams have struggled in the past two weeks, but each hopes to get back on track and earn a postseason berth in the last two weeks of the regular season. Lopez and Edcouch-Elsa are very similar offensively, but the Lobos have averaged nine more points per game. Defensively, these are the top two units in District 32-5A and it could come down to which team can create some turnovers and hold the opponent in check. If it comes down to defensive stops, Lopez gets the edge and that could be the difference on the scoreboard.
PREDICTION: Lopez 28, Edcouch-Elsa 21
Thursday’s Game
District 32-5A
BROWNVILLE VETERANS MEMORIAL AT DONNA NORTH
WHEN: 7 p.m., Thursday
WHERE: Sams Memorial Stadium
RECORDS: Edcouch-Elsa (4-3, 2-2); Pace (3-4, 2-2)
GAME NOTES: Brownsville Veterans scored a season-high 70 points against Porter last week. … QBs Gustavo Vasquez and Liam Longoria combined to complete 28 of 34 passes for 360 yards and two scores. … Longoria threw for 194 yards while also running for 121 yards and three touchdowns. … The Chargers recorded eight of their 10 TDs on the ground. … Brownsville Veterans also recovered three fumbles. … A win for the Chargers would clinch a district championship regardless of what happens in Week 11. … Donna North dropped its annual rivalry game against Donna High. The loss to Donna drops North to 0-4 in the all-time series. … Vasquez is second in 32-5A with 1,135 rushing yards with 15 TDs. The Chiefs’ running game was halted to just 93 yards on 32 carries, good for 2.9 yards per carry. … Senior wide receiver Sergio Canales hauled in his team-leading third touchdown catch of the season against Donna.
PREDICTION: Brownsville Veterans 35, Donna North 6
— Nate Kotisso
Friday’s Games
District 32-5A
PACE AT DONNA HIGH
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Friday
WHERE: Bennie LaPrade Stadium
RECORDS: Pace (4-4, 3-2); Donna High (4-4, 2-3)
GAME NOTES: Both Pace and Donna High are fighting for a 32-5A playoff berth with two games left in the regular season … Thanks to capitalizing off some turnovers, Pace is fresh from a surprising 34-17 home win against Edcouch-Elsa in Week 9. Donna High downed Donna North 21-10. … Pace boasts the top passer and receiver in 32-5A as QB Randy Aguilar has completed 82 of 140 passes for 1,370 yards and 16 TDs with seven INTs. Receiver Gabriel Zapata has made 37 receptions for 682 yards and nine TDs. … Pace averages approximately 350 yards offensively, while Donna High averages approximately 220. Defensively, the Redskins allow approximately 280 yards a game while the Vikings give up approximately 370 … The Redskins have a pair of capable ground gainers in RBs Eliseo Alvarado and Carlos Bowen plus a productive sophomore QB in Alex Sanchez.
PREDICTION: Pace 31, Donna High 28
— Roy Hess
MERCEDES AT PORTER
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Friday
WHERE: Sams Memorial Stadium
RECORDS: Brownsville Lopez (6-1, 3-1); Mercedes (5-2, 3-1)
GAME NOTES: Mercedes defeated Lopez 34-7 in Week 9. The Tigers’ offense averages 391 yards and nearly 30 points per game. Quarterback Marc Ledesma leads the offense with 612 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground and has thrown for 1,287 yards and eight scores. … Mercedes’ defense allows 253 yards and less than 19 points. … Porter lost to Brownsville Veterans Memorial 70-0 in Week 9. … The Cowboys’ offense averages 234 yards and nearly 14. Freshman quarterback Kevin Garcia leads the offense in passing (579 yards/three touchdowns) and rushing (391 yards/six touchdowns), but he didn’t play last week and may be injured. His status for this week is unknown. Running backs Jose Villalon and Ulises Guzman have combined with 552 yards and a touchdown this season. … The Porter defense allows 453 yards and 45 points per game.
PREDICTION: Mercedes 35, Porter 17
— Andrew Crum
District 32-6A
HANNA AT HARLINGEN HIGH
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Friday
WHERE: Boggus Stadium, Harlingen
RECORDS: Harlingen (5-3, 3-2) Hanna (6-2,4-1)
GAME NOTES: Harlingen High has reached a crossroads with two weeks left in the regular season. The Cards have uncharacteristically dropped two games in a row and are looking to rebound versus the Eagles on Friday night. … Cardinals quarterback Daniel Ramirez (1,648 passing yards and 18 touchdowns) will look to rebound in Week 10 and hit his top targets Ethan Martinez and Joe Reyna. … Meanwhile, Hanna saw its six-game win streak snapped at the hands of San Benito. … Hanna still sits in a comfortable position with a 4-1 district record. … The Eagles’ offense is led by sophomore quarterback Victor Campos (743 yards passing and 11 touchdowns). … Although Hanna fell behind early to the Greyhounds, the offense still posted 27 points and 328 total yards. … Both teams should slug it out as we approach the final week of the regular season.
PREDICTION: Harlingen High 26, Hanna 24
— Kevin Narro
District 16-4A DII
PORT ISABEL AT RAYMONDVILLE
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Friday
WHERE: Burnett Stadium, Raymondville
RECORDS: Port Isabel (2-5, 1-2); Raymondville (7-1, 2-1)
GAME NOTES: The Bearkats enter Week 10 looking to rebound after its first loss of the season to Rio Hondo, while the Tarpons hope to keep their momentum up after beating Progreso last week for their first district win. … In Port Isabel’s 54-30 win against Progreso, the Tarpons racked up 394 yards of offense, including 259 on the ground on 40 carries for seven of the team’s eight scores. . … Running back Travis Camacho had his finest game of the season, rushing for 113 yards and three scores on 15 carries, while Jeremy Martinez passed for 135 yards and a score on 9 of 17 passing. … The Tarpon defense allowed more than 300 yards and four touchdowns to the Red Ant offense, but also intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble. They have forced nine turnovers this season.
PREDICTION: Raymondvlle 35, Port Isabel 20
— Mark Molina
SATURDAY’s GAMES
Non-district
ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY AT ALL SAINTS ACADEMY (FORT WORTH)
WHEN: 11 a.m., Saturday
WHERE: McNair Stadium, Fort Worth
RECORDS: St. Joseph Academy (5-3, 1-0); All Saints Academy (Fort Worth) (7-0, 0-0)
GAME NOTES: St. Joseph defeated Central Catholic (San Antonio) 45-21 at home in Week 9. … The Bloodhounds’ offense average 466 yards and 43 points per game. Senior quarterback Kai Money is a dual threat as he has thrown for 1,564 yards and 24 touchdowns and has rushed for 1,013 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior running back Anthony Cantu has run for 617 yards and seven touchdowns. … The St. Joseph defense has allowed less than 23 points per game. … All Saints Academy defeated St. Pius X (Houston) 49-37 in Week 9. The Saints’ offense averages 529 yards and 46 points per game. Senior quarterback Shaun Taylor has thrown for 2,503 yards and 36 touchdowns. Sophomore running back Jacob Matlock has 917 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.
PREDICTION: All Saints Academy 42, St. Joseph Academy 35
— Andrew Crum
Saturday
District 32-6A
LOS FRESNOS AT RIVERA
WHEN: 1 p.m., Saturday
WHERE: Sams Memorial Stadium
RECORDS: Los Fresnos (5-3, 3-2); Rivera (1-7, 0-5)
GAME NOTES: Los Fresnos looks to keep pace in the jumbled 32-6A playoff race as it’s one of three teams with two district losses vying for a playoff spot. Rivera is hoping to rattle off a win or two in light of a disappointing season. … The Falcons defense stepped up in a big way last week, holding Harlingen High scoreless in the second half of a come-from-behind 27-20 win. … The defense ranks fourth in the district, giving up just 285 yards of offense to opponents. … The Falcons’ offense got a big boost last week from running back Albert Banuelos, who ran for 118 yards and a score on 23 carries. On the season, he has 501 yards and three touchdowns on 99 carries. … Quarterback Charles Chapa scored the winning touchdown last week and has continued to be a force, passing for 1,070 this season and running for 395 more with 11 total touchdowns.
PREDICTION: Los Fresnos 38, Rivera 17
— Mark Molina