MISSION — Mission Veterans quarterback Ricky Reyna threw for three first-half touchdowns as the Patriots downed the Edcouch-Elsa Yellow Jackets 27-21 in a District 16-5A DII battle Thursday at Richard Thompson Stadium.
The win marked the third straight for the Patriots after back-to-back non-district losses to open the season, including a 51-point defeat against San Benito. The Patriots improved to 3-0 in District 16-5A DII with the victory.
“When we hit the San Benito game, we came home and that was the lowest point in a long time for me,” Mission Veterans head coach David Gilpin said. “They just destroyed, humiliated us. We had a little come to Jesus meeting and got things right. Our mindset has changed. We talk about Patriot football mindset all the time and they’ve had it now. We’re a different team when we’ve hit the field. Three wins later, here we are.”
Sophomore wideout Vincent Abrego was on the receiving end on two of Reyna’s three touchdowns, scoring from 12 and 8 yards.
Reyna completed 17 of 33 passes for 305 yards, including a 77-yard bomb to junior Enrique Ordaz on the third play of the game.
The Patriots’ offense tallied 335 yards of total offense, while scoring on four of their first six possessions.
“Our offense struggled in those first couple of games,” Gilpin said. “We weren’t clicking on all cylinders yet, but I knew it was coming. I could feel it. Sure enough, the last three games we’ve moved the ball up and down. We’ve put up a lot of points the last couple of weeks. I feel like we could have put up some more tonight but you gotta give Edcouch-Elsa credit.”
After giving up 110 yards on the Yellow Jackets’ first two possessions, the Patriots’ defense buckled down, holding Edcouch-Elsa to 174 yards on their final eight drives.
Linebacker Luis De Hoyos heard his name called several times, swarming to the ball all night to stifle the Yellow Jackets’ offense.
Running back Joshua Gomez led the charge offensively for the Yellow Jackets, toting the rock 13 times for 128 yards and two touchdowns.
“The coaches did a great job,” Gilpin said. “That Edcouch nasty slot is not a lot of fun to go against sometimes. But our defensive coaches continued to battle and put their nose to the grindstone and work.”
Next for the Patriots is a matchup against Sharyland High (2-1, 1-0) on Thursday, Sept. 30, at Richard Thompson Stadium.
Meanwhile, the Yellow Jackets (1-3, 1-2) prepare for a rivalry contest against the Mercedes Tigers (4-0, 2-0) on Friday, Oct. 1, at Tiger Stadium in Mercedes.