NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — Edinburg High defensive end and kicker Emmanuel Duron played two different positions very well on Friday night at Richard R. Flores Stadium in Edinburg. His impact in the first half of the Bobcats’ win over Mercedes was hard to quantify. Unless you just count points.
The Bobcats outpaced the visiting Tigers 45-18 to improve to 4-0 on the season. Mercedes fell to 1-3.
Duron was responsible for half — 12 of 24 — of his team’s points in the opening half. As the primary kicker, he recorded three PATs and three points on a 29-yard field goal. He also provided the highlight of the night — a tipped interception that he caught near the 35-yard line and brought back untouched for a defensive score.
He was modest about his play, but maybe that’s because he’s used to getting into the end zone by now. Earlier in the non-district season, he scooped a fumbled PAT and returned it for two points.
“It feels good. Thanks to our teammates, we got the victory,” Duron said.
The sophomore added that he found his role on the team by “just trying new positions.”
“He’s a tough little kid. He’s just a guy that goes out all the time,” Edinburg High coach J.J. Leija said.
The Bobcats’ bench boss recalled Duron’s fumble-forcing big hit after his own kickoff with EHS trailing Harlingen South 14-0 on opening night. EHS scored on that drive in Week 1 and stormed from behind to a 34-21 win.
“Like I said, excitement turns everything around,” Leija said. “Manny’s a good kid that likes to get after it, and that’s all we can ask.”
The defense lifted the Bobcats many times in Friday’s win. The unit limited the Tigers to six points in the first half and only three scores in the game.
Leija said his group self-motivates to make big plays.
“We preach a lot of family,” Leija said. “We’re always together. The kids are always hanging out. So when one is successful, we’re going to pick each other up. Those big plays, they light up the guys. They get excited. We have a championship belt out there, and everyone’s trying to get that championship belt. There were like four or five guys who got that belt tonight.”
Powerful running back Hearlin Benavides picked up 155 yards in the second half to ice the victory for his team. After sitting out last week’s game for maintenance, he scored touchdowns number six, seven and eight on Friday. Two came in the second half.
He had TD runs from 13 yards, 14 yards and the big one that went 80 yards to put EHS up 38-12.
The 80-yarder might have been the most flashy, but the drive that ended in the 14-yard score was impressive, as well. He carried the ball eight times on a nine-play drive that started at Edinburg’s own 34-yard line.
“I always emphasize no line, no shine,” Benavides said. “I couldn’t have done it without my team. It’s always good to get the little yards. The little things count the most, and as long as we’re moving the ball forward, it doesn’t need to be a long run.”
Benavides gave the Tigers defense a lot to think about, which opened up opportunities for the rest of the Bobcats offense. Quarterback Matt Cruz used a fake to Benavides to score on a 10-yard keeper in the first half.
“If I’m running the ball, it opens a lot of opportunities for our receivers and quarterbacks to do their thing,” Benavides said.
His backup, Brian Tejada, also found pay dirt from seven yards.
For Mercedes, Josiah Cantu caught a 56-yard touchdown pass from Horacio Pequeno to open the second half and shrink the gap. Sonny Vela scored on a 31-yard run.
Pequeno split time with Brandon Lozoya, who moved from defensive back to QB this week in the absence of regular starter Israel Alegria.
Lozoya broke a 45-yard run for Mercedes’ third score. All the points came on big plays. After each touchdown, the Tigers failed to score extra points.
Edinburg High moves on to face Weslaco East to start District 31-6A play following a bye in Week 5.
Mercedes will lock in for its annual rivalry match against Edcouch-Elsa next Friday.