By KEVIN NARRO AND MARK MOLINA, Staff Writers
The Harlingen High Cardinals are 2-0 on the young season.
On Saturday, the Cardinals’ defense stood its ground against Laredo United South by yielding just nine points. The Panthers scored on their opening drive, but after that Big Red’s defense shut down the Panthers’ attack.
Harlingen High has now won two in a row against the Panthers.
The Cards took the momentum after a 78-yard touchdown from Jaime Galvan to Damon Cantu that gave the Cardinals a 10-7 edge early in the third quarter, and they did not give up the lead from there. Galvan went 10 for 22 with 185 yards and one score. Through the air, Joe Reyna finished with five catches for 37 yards.
Up next is will be the toughest challenge yet, as Converse Judson will invade Boggus Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
FIRST WIN
The Greyhounds found themselves in a shootout, and found themselves on the winning end against Victoria West, 43-41.
San Benito held off a 20-point fourth quarter to seal its first win of the season. Senior QB Jacob Cavazos found a rhythm in the passing game, going 13 for 20 for 193 yards and two scores. Cavazos also ran for 87 yards on 12 carries in the win.
San Benito will host PSJA High at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The matchup should provide plenty of fireworks, as Trey Guajardo comes to town.
LOOKING BACK
Seventeen years ago, America was struck by tragedy. The Sept. 11 attacks, 17 years later, still have many remembering the pain and shock everyone went through that day.
Most of the varsity members of the Harlingen South team were not born yet, but they have learned and read about the events in their history class.
Hawks coach Brian Ricci, like most, remembers where he was that morning.
“I sure do remember, it was my second year of coaching and I was coaching at Splendora Jr. High. I was out at a gas station picking up some Gatorades,” Ricci said. “I saw everyone looking up at the TV, and the news was on. I wasn’t sure what everyone was looking at until I saw what was happening. It was an awful event, but we persevered and we went through it, and we came out stronger as a country.”
FALCONS EXPLODE
For the second straight season, Los Fresnos coach Patrick Brown said his defense would have to do a lot of the heavy lifting early while his offense finds itself.
It did just that during the final 14 1/2 minutes of Friday night’s 36-35 win over LBJ Austin.
The Falcons’ 29 unanswered points during the third and fourth quarters were more than they had put up in the six previous quarters combined (20).
The offense totaled 332 yards of total offense one week after a 128-yard effort against El Paso Montwood in Week 1.
Junior wide receiver Nico Valencia had a big game Friday night, hauling in 11 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns.
Valencia now has 16 catches for 166 yards and three scores in two outings.
Quarterback Sergio Martinez also had a more productive Week 2, going 19 for 29 for 190 yards and a pair of touchdown passes. He also ran 20 times for 81 yards, one touchdown and a two-point conversion.
The Los Fresnos offense can expect a favorable matchup this week as it faces an Edcouch-Elsa team that has been outscored 94-7 in its first two games.
GETTING ON TRACK
Coming off tough 35-20 road loss, Hanna looks to try and get back on track when it takes on Weslaco East in a non-district matchup.
Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at Bobby Lackey Stadium in Weslaco.
It will be the first time the two meet since Weslaco East was moved to District 31-6A during the biennial UIL realignment this past spring.
Weslaco East is hunting its first win of the season after losing to Manor and Laredo Alexander during its first two outings.
Weslaco East won the last meeting 42-35 in its District 32-6A finale at Sams Memorial Stadium in Brownsville.