By STEFAN MODRICH | Staff Writer
Before La Feria’s 28-23 win over Grulla, the last time the unbeaten Lions had an opponent finish within five points of them was a 35-31 home victory over Mercedes on Sept. 13.
The District 16-4A Division I leader is now looking to cap a daunting regular season at home with an opportunity to lock up the district title against Hidalgo after playing five of its last six games on the road, all without a bye week. La Feria has racked up a plus-283-point differential in nine games, and averaged nearly 480 yards per game on offense while limiting opponents to a mere 256 yards per game.
La Feria coach Oscar Salinas said playing in a tight contest against Grulla was helpful in their preparation for the second-best team in 16-4A DI.
“It helps to play a four-quarter game, a tight game,” Salinas said. “It brings situational football into play, and we get to work on those things that you won’t be able to get in practice. Any time (you can face a quality opponent on the road) it’s good, but especially coming into a game against (an opponent) like Hidalgo.”
In the absence of Avishai Dickerson, who was still ineligible as of Thursday afternoon, Angel Garcia stepped up to become the latest running back to have a breakout game for the Lions (9-0, 3-0 16-4A DI). Salinas also added he hopes to have right tackle Jose Lugo to return from injury, as well as linebacker Ricky Cantu.
“We’re fortunate that we’ve had some depth this year that we haven’t had in the past,” Salinas said. “Kids have stepped up, and we’ve had some consistent play — our receiving corps has been real solid. And whether it’s Angel, or whichever running back we put back there, we’ve had good rushing yardage.”
Garcia rushed for 260 yards on 29 carries and has since eclipsed quarterback Dorian Hernandez as the team’s leading rusher with 771 total yards and four touchdowns, averaging 8.1 yards per carry.
“He’s a bruiser, he’s a big kid,” Salinas said. “He’s gotten a lot more reps now, and he’s started to get the vision to find the hole and to read the (offensive line’s) blocking. He’s done a really good job of that.”
La Feria is 12-3 against the Pirates (7-1, 2-0 16-4A DI) in the last 15 meetings between the two schools. The Lions have won the last six matchups in a row handily, by an average margin of 37 points. But Salinas knows Hidalgo is a different team under coach Monty Stumbaugh.
“They’re big offensively, they’re big up front,” Salinas said. “They have some size. They do a good job of running their system, and they haven’t made any mistakes. … They’re a good football team and we’re gonna have to be ready to go.”
The Pirates are led on offense by running back Zachary Carrera, who has 19 touchdowns and 1,691 yards on the ground in eight games this season.
“He’s very patient,” Salinas said. “He’s quick, and once he gets into the open field he’s able to take it the distance. He’s not a very big kid, but he does a good job leaving the blocks and finding holes and getting positive yardage.”
Hidalgo senior quarterback Angel Lopez has thrown for 710 yards and seven touchdown passes through seven games.
Salinas said he expects to have a playoff atmosphere for what will essentially be a de facto district championship game, followed by a much-needed week of rest for his group, which hasn’t had a week off since August.
“It’s going to be a good game,” Salinas said. “We feel like we’re ready to go. We’re hoping to get some kids back that are banged up like everybody is right now.”
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. tonight at Lion Stadium.