By ROY HESS | The Brownsville Herald
The Rivera Raiders and Donna High Redskins battled on even terms through the majority of Friday night’s game, the final scrimmage of the preseason for both football teams.
The scrimmage started a little late and wound up lasting into the night.
The first half of the controlled portion of the scrimmage saw each team score three touchdowns, making it 3-3.
Extra points were kicked after each score, and technically, Donna High had the better showing as the Redskins nailed all three of them while the Raiders managed to convert just one of three point-after attempts.
Following halftime, the two teams had two quarters of live game-condition action. Neither team scored in the first quarter of that part of the scrimmage, although the Raiders did have the ball deep in Donna High territory but couldn’t find the end zone.
Friday’s scrimmage was considered to be the first official athletic event played on Rivera’s newly constructed artificial turf field. A standing room only crowd turned out to watch the two squads play.
For Rivera, its three touchdowns came on pass plays covering 21, 18 and 6 yards.
Donna High’s TDs came on a pair of quarterback keepers and an 18-yard pass play. The first QB keeper score for Donna High was a 2-yard run off the right side. The second Redskins’ score saw the quarterback roll out around the left end and go into the end zone from 8 yards out.
The Raiders now open the regular season against city rival Brownsville Veterans Memorial next Friday at Sams Memorial Stadium.
Donna High opens the regular season next Friday as well against crosstown rival Donna North at Bennie LaPrade Stadium.