HARLINGEN — Tone setter.
That is the best way to describe Harlingen High junior running back Noah Huerta over the past two weeks. Last week the junior broke off a 61-yard touchdown run on his first carry en route to a two-touchdown performance and a 42-28 win.
Huerta set the tone out of the gate once again this week, breaking loose for a 53-yard run on his first carry before rumbling in from 13 yards on the next play for the first of four touchdowns during a 29-24 victory over Harlingen South in the 32nd Bird Bowl on Friday at Boggus Stadium in Harlingen.
“It is in his bloodline,” Harlingen High head coach Manny Gomez said. “His family gives him great support. His brother was a beast defensive player for us and is playing at Texas State now. It is just in his blood to compete. He’s always smiling no matter what the situation. We handed him the ball tonight and it was game over. He’s a phenomenal kid. Just super excited for him, but the offensive line did a tremendous job to do what they needed to do to make those holes. He’ll be the first one to tell him it’s not just him.”
Huerta’s touchdown run to start the game was only the beginning of the junior’s big night. He added a 26-yard touchdown reception in the second, followed by a 53-yard touchdown run in the third and a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth to put the Cardinals up 29-17.
Huerta’s big night brings him to six total touchdowns on the year. He finished Friday night with 218 yards and three scores on 24 carries, also hauling in one reception for 26 yards and a score.
“Its just the experience from last year,” Huerta said. “The team, we’ve built that chemistry heading into this year. We’ve gotten a whole lot better. We’ve been putting in that work. Those early runs set that momentum. My O-line, they set it all up for me. My receivers and quarterbacks too. They set it all up for me.”
Despite Huerta’s big night, Harlingen South wouldn’t go down without a fight, cutting the lead down to six twice during the second half. A 12-yard touchdown pass from Austin Shroyer to Dylan Anaya during the third made it 23-17, while a one-yard touchdown run by Shroyer in the fourth brought South within five again following Huerta’s fourth touchdown of the night.
The junior quarterback’s touchdown run proved too little too late, however, with Huerta sealing the Cardinals victory with a five-yard carry to run out the clock during the final moments of the fourth quarter.
Shroyer finished the night 14-of-22 for 143 yards and one touchdown, completing passes to five different receivers on the night. Anaya added 13 touches for 72 yards and one score.
“All the glory to God. You have to understand you have to competitors as head coach here at Harlingen CISD,” Gomez said. “This is what you’re going to see as long as we’re both here. It is what we do and who we are in Harlingen. It is always going to be competitive. Kudos to the South Hawks, but I just want to say I have the best staff in all the state of Texas. They work extremely hard, and I just want to give that shoutout to all my coaches.”
The victory marked the third straight in the rivalry series by Harlingen High, moving it to 27-5 all-time against its intracity rival.
The Hawks (1-1) turn their attention to district play, kicking it off at 7 p.m. Friday against Corpus Christi Flour Bluff at Hornet Stadium in Corpus Christi.
Harlingen High (2-0) is set to face off against another RGVSports.com Top 10 team next week, taking on Edinburg Vela (2-0) at 7 p.m. Friday at Boggus Stadium in Harlingen.
“We just have to keep on going,” Huerta said. “We’re undefeated right now, but we can’t take it for granted. We have to keep on working hard and giving all the glory to God.”