By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer
FALFURRIAS — The Raymondville Bearkats made a statement in their long-awaited season debut, fighting for a 38-33 win in a thriller over Victoria West on Friday.
Raymondville senior running back ZaRaivion Armendarez was the cream of the crop as he scored all six touchdowns for the Bearkats. Senior defensive end Dylan Ramirez was a force throughout the night and laid a big hit on Victoria West’s quarterback to clinch the win.
Bearkats coach Frank Cantu gave his team a passionate speech after the win, praising their determination against a bigger Class 5A opponent after a small amount of practice and no scrimmage to prepare.
“This is the first time we’ve started with a win in three years, and it feels incredible,” Cantu said. “We were going to scrimmage Pace tonight and then this opened up, and look where we are. We took it and just played outstanding. I was so pleased. We did a lot of things right. We had a few mistakes, but I was expecting more. But you know what? It looked like we picked up where we ended last year, and they just played their hearts out.”
After both teams punted on their opening drives, the Warriors and Bearkats each scored on their second. Victoria West found the scoreboard first on a 28-yard touchdown run from Adam Diaz.
Armendarez answered in less than one minute as he zigzagged through the defense then turned on the jets for a 76-yard rushing score. He scored again on a 12-yard passing touchdown from senior quarterback Jayson Cantu, and receiver Aaron Rivera caught Raymondville’s only successful 2-point conversion of the night to make it 14-7.
The Bearkats extended the lead as Armendarez scored on fourth-and-5 inside the 10-yard line. Victoria West found some momentum by turning up the passing game, which led to an 8-yard rushing touchdown by running back Chase Patek to make it 20-14 at halftime.
“For the kids to show up and never quit … I told them, ‘We’re going to be in it at half, and then we’re going to have to dig deep,’” Cantu said. “They were tired, kids going both ways, and they stuck it out. They wanted it and, wow, what an ending and what a game. So proud of them.”
The third quarter was a barnburner, as the Bearkats and Warriors combined to score four touchdowns, taking turns finding the end zone.
Armendarez scored twice for Raymondville, first on a 5-yard rush and then by displaying his speed from the slot to turn a short pass from Cantu into a 67-yard touchdown.
Quarterback Blake Buzzell picked apart the defense as Victoria West went no-huddle and turned up the tempo during the second half. The Warriors continued to lean on the passing game, and Buzzell hit receiver Dion Green for two scores. Green outjumped solid coverage in the corner of the end zone to snag his second touchdown, a 19-yard reception, out of the air after another impressive catch by a tip-toeing La’Trell Barfield.
Raymondville’s defense, anchored by Ramirez, Arturo Sayas and Samuel Gomez, made a stop inside the 10-yard line to force a Victoria West field goal attempt that went wide left. But the Warriors’ defense made a stop, too, and they used the momentum to take a 33-32 lead on a 26-yard rushing touchdown by Patek.
On fourth-and-7 with the game clock winding down, Cantu hit Rivera deep, and the receiver made an impressive catch to get the Bearkats to the 10-yard line. Armendarez recorded consecutive 5-yard rushes to score and regain the lead, 38-33.
“For us to be as tired as we were in the first half, to keep on fighting and keep on going, and finishing with a win like that, playing good on both sides of the ball, it’s just a great win for the team,” Armendarez said. “They talked to us in the locker room and I just realized I had to step it up, be me and lead this team, and I just did that. I just kept on fighting, like they always tell us to do. We want it, and we’re not going to quit. We’re a little late, so we wanted to jump on the ball right away, and I think this was big for us as a team.”
A big kickoff return from Victoria West’s D’Andre Fillmore and a defensive pass interference call put the Warriors in the red zone. But on fourth-and-7 from the 15, with 31 seconds on the clock, Ramirez shot off the edge to sack Buzzell and seal the victory.
“Big moments make big players. I was just thinking, ‘Get off the line as fast as I can.’ I was close all night, but I finally got one,” Ramirez said. “It means a lot coming out and performing against a bigger team than us. They’re a 5A school, and we came out and competed, and showed everybody we’re ready for the rest of the season. It felt amazing. We have a lot to learn, that wasn’t half of our best. But I’m very proud of the guys. We never gave up, and that was a hard-fought game right there.”