BY MARK MOLINA | The Brownsville Herald
Now that the Hanna Golden Eagles and head coach Mark Guess have brought the program a district title, their sights are now set on a deep playoff run.
The chance to take the first step towards that will be tonight when they host Weslaco East in bi-district action, which is slated for 7:30 p.m. at Sams Memorial Stadium.
“We are just handling this as the third part of our season,” Guess said. “When you get to the postseason, you start over at 0-0 again, so we look at it as a new season.
We’re fully aware that a loss will end the season, but at the same time the kids have been pretty focused this week and doing a good job of what it is we’re trying to do. Hopefully we execute on Friday night.”
Hanna (8-1) and Weslaco East (5-4) will face off after having their Week 3 non-district game cancelled due to weather.
Weslaco East finished third in District 31-6A, but boasted the league’s top defensive unit, which allowed just 183.4 yards per game.
The Wildcats also had the third best offense in the district, averaging 285 yards per game and highlighted by 2,212 yards on the ground.
Wildcats quarterback and running back Gio Guerra have combined for 1,154 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground to lead the offense.
Guess is expecting nothing but a physical ground and pound attack from Mike Burget and the Wildcats.
“Coach Burget and his staff do a great job there at East and have won bi-district championships I don’t how many years in a row,” Guess said. “They just do a great job of getting their kids to play physical football. Coach Burget is going to do what he what he wants to do. He does such a great job of managing the clock and managing the run game for their offense. They are just lights out on defense; they weren’t the best team in their district defensively for no reason.”
Hanna boasted the top defense and No. 2 offense in District 32-6A.
On offense, the Golden Eagles average 401 yards of offense per game and have a bruising running attack themselves.
Cesar Mancias has rushed for 1,065 yards and 10 touchdowns in nine games, while Aaron Frausto put 375 more yards and three scores.
Against Harlingen South, Hanna pounded the ball all night on the ground to the tune of 256 yards and three scores and threw just three passes with starting quarterback Victor Campos on the sidelines.
On defense, Hanna has held opposing offenses to 261 yards and have intercepted eight passes and recovered five fumbles.
Guess said that the physical game will make every possession mean something, so getting off to a good start on both sides of the ball is a must.
“Both squads can be pretty physical and I know that going into the game,” Guess said. “That in and of itself sets what we have to do game plan-wise. There were some games where we wish we could’ve had a better start defensively, but what we’re looking at doing is getting off to a fast start. With a team like East, when you have that ground control type of game they eat up a lot of clock. We have to make sure that every offensive possession we have we take advantage of.”
In Class 4A, Port Isabel (4-5) will face West Oso (6-4) at Donna’s Bennie La Prade Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
The Tarpons come in to the postseason limping after dropping their last two games to Raymondville and Rio Hondo.
Running back Brayan Medina (1,001 yards, 6 TDs) missed the final two games with injury, but is good to go for tonight’s game.
Quarterback Cesar Aguilera had a good season under center with 687 yards passing and 889 yards rushing for 22 total touchdowns.
The Tarpons will be challenged by a tough West Oso defense that has forced 22 turnovers this season.
Also playing tonight will be St. Joseph Academy (2-1) in the TAPPS Division II Playoffs at Houston Second Baptist (9-1).