By FREDDY GONZALEZ and KEVIN NARRO
Staff Writer
The La Feria Lions enjoyed a thrilling 28-25 bi-district victory over Beeville Jones on Friday evening.
The Lions were trailing 19-14 at the half before outscoring the Trojans 14-6 in the second to earn their second area-round berth during the past four years.
“Our kids just battled all night and we got two big fourth-down stops at the end of the game, and we were able to get a big bi-district win for our program,” coach Oscar Salinas said. “Our seniors have done a good job of leading us and making the big plays, but it was just one of those games that could have gone either way.
“At the end we just made one more play than they did.”
La Feria quarterback Dorian Hernandez had a night to remember for the Lions. The senior passed the ball for 153 yards and one touchdown on 15 of 22 attempts, and he rushed for another 167 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries.
Wide receiver Darius Hernandez hauled in 69 yards on five receptions, and Noah Conde caught the ball five times for 48 yards and one touchdown.
After consecutive setbacks in the bi-district round (2016, 2017), the La Feria Lions are back in a scenario Salinas and the Lions found themselves in three seasons ago in 2015, when La Feria fell to China Springs.
“We’re probably coming into the game healthier that we have ever been,” Salinas said. “We had that week off before this game and we got some kids back, and the kids are excited to be playing another week.
“You can’t count out this team, because this team is united and we are going to get ready this week, and we are going to be to play a really good Needville team, but we are not going to back down.”
The Rio Hondo Bobcats are back to back bi-district champions after a 37-20 win over Ingleside in the class 4A DII bi-district round Friday night in Los Fresnos.
Up next is a date with Cuero. The ’Cats will meet the Gobblers at 7:30 p.m. next Friday at Phil Danaher Field in Calallen.
“I thought the offensive line played well. Jake Rhyner and Ben Flores led the way,” Rio Hondo coach Rocky James said. “With the way Danny Vasquez ran the ball last night, it kept the offense going.”
Against Ingleside, the Bobcats’ defense came up with a few key stops and forced turnovers.
“The defense made some big stops for us down the stretch,” James said. “Joey Ortega, Troy Macias, Gabriel Martinez and Justin Flores were all big for us defensively.”
In Class 6A, San Benito will meet PSJA North in the area round at 2 p.m. Friday at PSJA Stadium.
The ’Hounds steamrolled Edinburg High 46-20 on Friday and, on Saturday, the Raiders beat Laredo United South 25-17 to punch their ticket to the area round. The bi-district win is a first for third-year coach Marcus Kaufmann.
“From here on out, it will take a perfect game to try and give yourself a chance to be in the game in the fourth quarter,” ’Hounds coach Dan Gomez said.