By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
LOS FRENOS — It’s a new year, but once again Los Fresnos faces Weslaco East in a crucial point of the season.
Last year, Los Fresnos slipped past Weslaco East 17-16 on the road and the victory propelled it to four wins in the team’s last five games and a postseason run that went three rounds deep.
The Falcons (3-2, 1-1) play host to the Wildcats (3-2, 1-1) in The Brownsville Herald’s Game of the Week at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Leo Aguilar Memorial Stadium.
Los Fresnos expects a game similar to last year’s, a bruising contest that could be won or lost in the trenches.
“Weslaco East prides themselves on being physical, especially on the offensive and defensive lines,” Los Fresnos coach Patrick Brown said. “They want to run the ball and establish their physicality up front. It was a physical game last year and I don’t expect anything less this week.”
And just like last year, the matchup could mean a lot for the race to the postseason.
“Every district game is important, so it’s a very important game for us,” Weslaco East coach Mike Burget said. “We know our kids are going to play hard, so we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
The Falcons defense is in the middle of the pack in District 32-6A, allowing 305 yards and 17 points per game. Brown said it will be crucial for the Falcons to contain the Wildcats’ ground game. Weslaco East averages 38 points and 391 yards per game on offense, 236 that come from running the football.
“We’re going to have to stop their running game,” he said. “We have to take away their run game as much as we possibly can.”
But the Wildcats can also throw the ball pretty well. Quarterback Richard Lefevre is second in the district with 701 yards and 10 touchdowns through the air.
“We have to find a way to better move the ball,” Burget said. “We’ll probably throw the ball almost every play this game and see if Lefevre can handle the pressure. We’re looking forward to airing it out.”
Offensively, Los Fresnos is also capable of moving the chains. The Falcons average 364 yards and nearly 32 points per game.
Senior quarterback Charles Chapa has thrown for 667 yards and four touchdowns, the majority going to top target and sophomore receiver Nico Valencia, who has 30 catches for 256 yards and three scores.
Brown said Chapa would need to keep the Weslaco East defense honest when Los Fresnos has the ball.
“I think we need to throw the ball downfield and really stretch their defense out,” he said. “If we can have some success throwing the ball, we’re going to have success in the game.”
It will be a tough task facing the second best defense in District 32-6A. The Wildcats allow 280 yards and less than 19 points per game.
Even though Weslaco East is slightly banged up, Burget said his young guys are ready to step up and could be the difference in this game.
“I think our defense has played great all year,” he said. “We just went back to the fundamentals of football, tackling, wrapping up (in practice this week). The team that wins the turnover battle, causes turnovers and makes the least amount of mistakes will probably be the team that walks off the field winners.”
Regardless of who is playing on each sideline doesn’t matter to either team. In District 32-6A, every week is a tough game.
“From week-to-week, anybody can beat anybody … I know that sounds cliché, but it’s true in our district,” Brown said. “The kids have to know that every week has a sense of urgency. I think Weslaco East is going to be a playoff team, so if we want to be a playoff team we have to beat those teams.
“This is a very big game for both teams.”
Both Los Fresnos and Weslaco East can put the points on the board. The Falcons have a dangerous combination on offense — quarterback Charles Chapa to receiver Nico Valencia — but the Wildcats do as well, in quarterback Richard Lefevre and receiver J.C. Vargas. Each team is pretty stingy on defense too. Los Fresnos allows 305 yards and 17 points per game. Weslaco East allows slightly less — 280 yards and less than 19 points per game. The teams are very similar on both sides of the ball, so it could be similar to last season’s close game. It may come down to which team wins the turnover battle or comes up with a key turnover or stop down the stretch.
PREDICTION: Los Fresnos 31, Weslaco East 27
Thursday
District 32-5A
EDCOUCH-ELSA AT BROWNSVILLE VETERANS MEMORIAL
WHEN: 7 p.m., Thursday
WHERE: Sams Memorial Stadium
RECORDS: Edcouch-Elsa (4-1, 2-0); Brownsville Veterans (4-1, 2-0)
GAME NOTES: The Chargers and Yellowjackets meet in a showdown of District 32-5A powers … BVM seeks another big win after defeating Mercedes 24-17 on the road. … Chargers QB Gustavo Vasquez is coming off a big game in which he totaled 254 yards and two touchdowns, the second coming late in the fourth quarter that proved to be the game-winning score. The team as a whole recorded 334 yards, all coming on the ground. … The Chargers will be without running back Abel Martinez, who sustained a knee injury at Mercedes and indicated on Twitter that his season could be over. … Edcouch Elsa defeated Donna 27-7 at home last week. … Yellowjacket running back Jorge Gomez is coming off a big night against the Redskins, rushing for 144 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.
PREDICTION: Brownsville Veterans 21, Edcouch-Elsa 17
— Mark Molina
LOPEZ AT DONNA HIGH
WHEN: 7 p.m., Thursday
WHERE: Bennie La Prade Stadium, Donna
RECORDS: Lopez (5-0, 2-0); Donna High (2-3, 0-2)
GAME NOTES: Lopez jumped on Donna North early in its Week 6 blowout victory. After recovering a fumble, senior running back Jose Echavarria scored on a 30-yard touchdown run 16 seconds after the Lobos gained possession. … Echavarria added 11 carries and ran for 138 more yards and another touchdown for the Lobos. … Quarterback Alex Ramirez threw for 217 yards and four TDs. … The Donna High defense is going through its toughest stretch of the season. Donna allowed 60 points in its first three games of the year against Valley View, PSJA North and La Joya High. In two district losses to Mercedes and Edcouch-Elsa, Donna has given up 62 points. … Donna senior QB Hector Guerrero has rushed for a touchdown in four of his team’s five games this season.
PREDICTION: Lopez 29, Donna High 10
— Nate Kotisso
Friday
District 32-6A
SAN BENITO AT RIVERA
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Friday
WHERE: Sams Memorial Stadium
RECORDS: San Benito (5-0, 2-0); Rivera (1-4, 0-2)
GAME NOTES: It just doesn’t get any easier for the Rivera Raiders. One week after falling 45-20 to Harlingen High, the Valley’s No. 3-ranked team, the Raiders go against the Valley’s top-ranked Greyhounds, who are coming off a decisive 44-21 triumph at Weslaco East … When the Raiders and Greyhounds played last year in San Benito, the Greyhounds won 70-6. … The last time Rivera beat San Benito was a 42-35 win in 2014 … So far this season the Greyhounds are averaging a district-best 411 yards a game on offense and have shown themselves to be quite a force offensively and defensively with RB Tyrone Harper leading the way on offense as he has rushed for 747 yards in five games and is averaging 7.0 yards per carry with 10 TDs.
PREDICTION: San Benito 42, Rivera 17
— Roy Hess
HANNA AT HARLINGEN SOUTH
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Friday
WHERE: Boggus Stadium, Harlingen
RECORDS: Hanna (4-1, 2-0); Harlingen South (1-4, 0-2)
GAME NOTES: The Harlingen South Hawks are in much need of a win. South is 0-2 in district play after loses to Harlingen and Los Fresnos. South will lean on its rushing attack led by Jorge Alicea. Defensively the Hawks will depend on defensive end Brandon Bennett and Sky Tatum to provide a pass rush. Brownsville Hanna has been on a roll with a 2-0 district record. Hanna is led by quarterback Victor Campos. In last week’s win against Weslaco High, Campos went 4 for 9 through the air with 99 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Joe Cavazos finished with 181 yards on nine carries and three scores. Hanna’s offense is average 33.4 points per game this season while Harlingen South has managed just 19.2 per contest.
PREDICTION: Hanna 26, Harlingen South 17
— Kevin Narro
District 32-5A
PORTER AT DONNA NORTH
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Friday
WHERE: Bennie La Prade Stadium, Donna
RECORDS: Porter (0-5, 0-2); Donna North (0-5, 0-2)
GAME NOTES: Porter at Donna North is the only district matchup this week featuring two teams who haven’t won a game this season. … Porter allowed Pace to score eight touchdowns on nine offensive possessions in a 56-34 loss in the lone Saturday game of Week 6. … On the flip side, the Cowboys’ 34 points were a season-high. Porter alternated between scoring seven or 14 points in their first four games. … QB Kevin Garcia ran for 144 yards and a TD while throwing for 108 yards and another score. … Donna North continues to hang its hat on a running game headlined by senior Tony Gomez and freshman Juan Jaramillo. Jaramillo is the club’s leading rusher with 329 yards. Gomez is right behind Jaramillo with 295 yards on the ground.
PREDICTION: Porter 23, Donna North 11
— Nate Kotisso
District 16-4A DII
PORT ISABEL AT RIO HONDO
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Friday
WHERE: Bobcat Stadium, Rio Hondo
RECORDS: Port Isabel (1-3, 0-0); Rio Hondo (3-1, 0-0)
GAME NOTES: The Bobcats are off to an impressive start behind quarterback Tyler Bush. The senior QB has impressed this season with 964 yards passing from 64 completion on 106 attempts, with most of them going to his two top targets: Erik Pizarro (588 yards) and Frank Hernandez (194). On the ground, Bush also leads the team with 444 yards on 51 carries. … For Port Isabel, the season hasn’t gone as good as many would have hoped for. A combination of injuries and a new system have seen the Tarpons go 1-4 this season. This season, the Tarpons have seen five quarterbacks take snaps under center for a combined total of 490 yards passing. On the ground, the Tarpons have rushed for 597 yards with Bryan Medina leading the pack with 336 yards on 41 carries.
PREDICTION: Rio Hondo 35, Port Isabel 14
— Freddy Gonzalez
Saturday
District 32-5A
MERCEDES AT PACE
WHEN: 7 p.m., Saturday
WHERE: Sams Memorial Stadium
RECORDS: Mercedes (3-2, 1-1); Pace (2-3, 1-1)
GAME NOTES: Mercedes lost to Brownsville Veterans Memorial 24-17 in Week 6. … The Tigers’ offense averages 342 yards and 21 points per game. Quarterback Marc Ledesma is a dual threat as he has rushed for 366 yards and six touchdowns and thrown for 673 yards and four touchdowns. … The Mercedes’ defense allows 274 yards and 21 points per game. … Pace defeated Porter 56-34 in Week 6. … The Vikings’ offense averages 333 yards and 28 points per game. Senior quarterback Randy Aguilar leads the way with 790 yards passing and eight touchdowns. His favorite target, Gabriel Zapata 24 catches for 430 yards and five touchdowns on the season. … The Pace defense allows 336 yards and 24 points per game.
PREDICTION: Mercedes 34, Pace 28
— Andrew Crum