LA JOYA — La Joya Palmview trailed McAllen High by six points with the ball and 2:09 remaining in their District 15-5A DI game Friday night at La Joya Pack Stadium.
Having just watched the Bulldogs march down field for a go-ahead touchdown with a blocked extra point, the Lobos knew they had one last shot.
Palmview’s offense delivered as quarterback Christian Reyna connected with Jesus Hinostrosa on a double-move for a 31-yard touchdown down the right sideline with 44 seconds left in the game, followed by a successful extra point attempt.
The Bulldogs attempted a 49-yard field goal as time expired, but it was no good as the Lobos locked up a 31-30 victory to strengthen their shot at securing a playoff spot with two weeks left in the regular season.
Palmview improved to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in 15-5A DI. McHi dropped to 3-5 and 2-3 in district.
“We just had to keep playing hard. The almighty is up there — he’s the only one that can say who’s going to win and who’s going to lose, and thank God it went our way today,” Palmview head coach Margarito Requenez said.
Palmview’s game-tying touchdown from Reyna to Hinostrosa was executed to perfection. Knowing the Bulldogs were trying to keep the Lobos in bounds to keep the clock moving, Hinostrosa ran a 5-yard hitch that got the defense to bite, then he turned upfield and found himself wide open with the ball in the air and end zone in front of him. Reyna threw a receiver-friendly pass that Hinostrosa hauled in.
“I told my team in the huddle, this is where we go all out. We had one chance. Coach gave me the opportunity and I took it and we got the lead,” Hinostrosa said.
“The play before, I saw them bite really hard, so I told Coach, ‘let’s do the double move,’ and it worked to perfection,” Reyna said.
McHi took a 30-24 lead just minutes prior as quarterback Joaquin Valdez hit Max Alvarez for a 2-yard touchdown. A blocked kick on the ensuing extra point attempt ended up being the difference, however.
“Hats off to the coaching staff at Palmview. They did a hell of a job, had a great game plan and came in here and played their butts off,” McHi head coach Patrick Shelby said. “You can’t take anything away from them. It’s a tough one for us, so we just got to go back to work and get ready to go next week.”
McHi’s Valdez finished with four touchdown passes —two to Alvarez and one each to Bryan Alaniz and Christian Echazarreta.
Palmview’s Jose Guerra and Eddy Peña ran for one touchdown apiece. The Lobos’ defense got in on the scoring with a strip-sack returned for a touchdown by the duo of Stephen Zeledon and Joel Garza, in addition to the Reyna to Hinostrosa game-winner. Eddie Valdez had a key interception during the third quarter to swing momentum in Palmview’s favor.
“I have a hell of a coaching staff and my kids, they play for my coaches,” Requenez said.
Next for Palmview is Edinburg Vela (7-1, 4-1) at 7 p.m. Thursday at Richard R. Flores Stadium in Edinburg. McHi will gear up for a rivalry game against McAllen Rowe (6-2, 4-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium in McAllen.