Vela get first win of the season in shoot out

Edinburg Vela got rid of first-game jitters in a 51-46 win over Laredo United on the road Thursday.

What looked like a potential blowout early in the game turned out to be a battle to the very end.

“ It was a tale of two halves,” head coach John Campbell said. “Most of the plays were explosive on both sides.”

One of those explosive plays was a special teams touchdown return for more than 90 yards by Jaime Perez.

The SaberCats fumbled early in the second half causing a change in the momentum, Campbell said.

The SaberCats had a 44-20 lead at halftime. They scored 30 points in the first quarter.

By the end of the third quarter Laredo had cut the lead by 10 bringing the score to 47-33 with two touchdowns and a failed field goal attempt.

AJ Sotello did a “good job” and wide receivers Justin Cantu and Justin Vega also made some big catches in the game.

Vela returns to action at 7 p.m. Thursday at Brownsville Hanna.