By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

PORT ISABEL — The Port Isabel Tarpons believe they’ve surprised a lot of people who may have overlooked them coming into the season.

Through five weeks, the Tarpons are 4-0 and 1-0 in District 16-4A Division II — with three of those victories coming in consecutive road games. They’re the top rushing team in the Rio Grande Valley, accumulating more than 1,500 yards on the ground in their Slot-T offense and averaging 45 points per game with no intentions of slowing down.

Port Isabel debuted in the RGVSports.com poll this week in the No. 10 spot. The Tarpons are the only sub-5A team currently ranked. They have a good test coming up Friday when they play host to Raymondville (2-2, 0-1) at 7:30 p.m., and they’re ready to keep showing their potential.

“The kids have all bought in. They hang their hat on what we say, and they do it,” Port Isabel coach Tony Villarreal said. “Historically Raymondville has been very, very tough … so we’re excited about this opportunity. They have a championship bloodline and so do we, we just haven’t shown it the last five years. We’re re-establishing all that, so we’re going to play hard.”

Behind a sturdy offensive line, senior running back Gilbert Medina has paced the Tarpons’ offense, scoring 11 touchdowns and already rushing for more than 700 yards. He is enjoying carrying the lion’s share for Port Isabel but was quick to credit the guys up front for keeping him successful.

“It feels good being the main guy. A lot of responsibility, so I practice hard every day,” Medina said. “I feel very protected with my linemen. Without them, this wouldn’t be possible, us being the top rushing team in the Valley. It’s something crazy. It’s good knowing I have good blockers in front of me and I’m going to be able to do my thing without getting hurt. They work hard every practice and take care of their business.”

Port Isabel’s line is comprised of tight end Fernando Romero, strong tackle Timothy Martinez, strong guard Jayden Gonzalez, center Hassiel Aguilar, quick guard Steven Martinez and quick tackle Nathan Martinez.

Aguilar said knowing the snap counts, hitting their spots and pushing back defenders are some keys the O-line focuses on every day. The senior said it feels amazing to be undefeated and anchoring a line that guides one of the RGV’s top offenses. He praised his linemates, saying they deserve an A-plus grade for their efforts, and believes they’ll continue showing out against Raymondville.

“It hasn’t been like this for a few years. It’s honestly a blessing,” Aguilar said. “Our offense is very intense. We like hitting people in the mouth. We put it all on the field and it shows. … I expect a good fight, but we’re going to be ready, that’s for sure. They’re expecting P.I. from two years ago, but this ain’t P.I. from two years ago anymore.”

Villarreal credited Medina and the offensive line for sparking Port Isabel’s success since long before the season started as part of “The 15 Strong.”

“‘The 15 Strong,’ they’re the kids that were here for spring ball, in the summer and on Aug. 3. They believed in our offseason, in our strength and conditioning, our Slot-T. And it’s the offensive line and Gilbert. That’s been the core, that’s what started it,” Villarreal said.

Another key player for the Tarpons has been senior fullback/defensive back Derrin Valdez. Villarreal feels Valdez may be overlooked by outsiders, but his versatility is unmatched. He is clutch in short-yardage situations and handles the PAT duties. He’s part of a senior class that has a major impact on the team.

Last week’s 55-40 victory over Robstown was the closest game Port Isabel has played this season. Villarreal called it a good learning tool, giving the team its first chance to respond when playing from behind.

Now, as the Tarpons look forward to playing in front of their home crowd for the first time in more than one month, Medina wants everyone to know one important thing about the program.

“We’re back. The Tarpons are finally back,” Medina said. “Our team works hard. We’re confident. We’re playing some good teams (in district), but we can handle it.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

PORT ISABEL — The Port Isabel Tarpons believe they’ve surprised a lot of people who may have overlooked them coming into the season.

Through five weeks, the Tarpons are 4-0 and 1-0 in District 16-4A Division II — with three of those victories coming in consecutive road games. They’re the top rushing team in the Rio Grande Valley, accumulating more than 1,500 yards on the ground in their Slot-T offense and averaging 45 points per game with no intentions of slowing down.

Port Isabel debuted in the RGVSports.com poll this week in the No. 10 spot. The Tarpons are the only sub-5A team currently ranked. They have a good test coming up Friday when they play host to Raymondville (2-2, 0-1) at 7 p.m., and they’re ready to keep showing their potential.

“The kids have all bought in. They hang their hat on what we say, and they do it,” Port Isabel coach Tony Villarreal said. “Historically Raymondville has been very, very tough … so we’re excited about this opportunity. They have a championship bloodline and so do we, we just haven’t shown it the last five years. We’re re-establishing all that, so we’re going to play hard.”

Behind a sturdy offensive line, senior running back Gilbert Medina has paced the Tarpons’ offense, scoring 11 touchdowns and already rushing for more than 700 yards. He is enjoying carrying the lion’s share for Port Isabel but was quick to credit the guys up front for keeping him successful.

“It feels good being the main guy. A lot of responsibility, so I practice hard every day,” Medina said. “I feel very protected with my linemen. Without them, this wouldn’t be possible, us being the top rushing team in the Valley. It’s something crazy. It’s good knowing I have good blockers in front of me and I’m going to be able to do my thing without getting hurt. They work hard every practice and take care of their business.”

Port Isabel’s line is comprised of tight end Fernando Romero, strong tackle Timothy Martinez, strong guard Jayden Gonzalez, center Hassiel Aguilar, quick guard Steven Martinez and quick tackle Nathan Martinez.

Aguilar said knowing the snap counts, hitting their spots and pushing back defenders are some keys the O-line focuses on every day. The senior said it feels amazing to be undefeated and anchoring a line that guides one of the RGV’s top offenses. He praised his linemates, saying they deserve an A-plus grade for their efforts, and believes they’ll continue showing out against Raymondville.

“It hasn’t been like this for a few years. It’s honestly a blessing,” Aguilar said. “Our offense is very intense. We like hitting people in the mouth. We put it all on the field and it shows. … I expect a good fight, but we’re going to be ready, that’s for sure. They’re expecting P.I. from two years ago, but this ain’t P.I. from two years ago anymore.”

Villarreal credited Medina and the offensive line for sparking Port Isabel’s success since long before the season started as part of “The 15 Strong.”

“‘The 15 Strong,’ they’re the kids that were here for spring ball, in the summer and on Aug. 3. They believed in our offseason, in our strength and conditioning, our Slot-T. And it’s the offensive line and Gilbert. That’s been the core, that’s what started it,” Villarreal said.

Another key player for the Tarpons has been senior fullback/defensive back Derrin Valdez. Villarreal feels Valdez may be overlooked by outsiders, but his versatility is unmatched. He is clutch in short-yardage situations and handles the PAT duties. He’s part of a senior class that has a major impact on the team.

Last week’s 55-40 victory over Robstown was the closest game Port Isabel has played this season. Villarreal called it a good learning tool, giving the team its first chance to respond when playing from behind.

Now, as the Tarpons look forward to playing in front of their home crowd for the first time in more than one month, Medina wants everyone to know one important thing about the program.

“We’re back. The Tarpons are finally back,” Medina said.

“Our team works hard. We’re confident. We’re playing some good teams (in district), but we can handle it.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

The intensity in the Brownsville Veterans Memorial gym was palpable when the Lady Chargers hosted the Brownsville Pace Lady Vikings on Tuesday.

Both teams were 5-0 in District 32-5A heading into the pivotal match that had title implications, and the fans came out in droves to cheer on their respective teams.

The crowd made the gym too loud to hear the referee’s whistle at times and got to its feet often as the teams battled — one BVM student even busted out a trumpet and led the home crowd in the classic “charge” chant. Brownsville Veterans’ deep arsenal of hitters and tough serving threw Pace off its game, leading to a 25-23, 27-25, 25-21 sweep for the Lady Chargers.

“This is the kind of environment you want to be in, play in, have this many fans in. I told them, ‘Appreciate that, be grateful for that, especially during these times.’ It was wonderful,” BVM coach Lisa Mares said. “We’re peaking at a good time.”

Pace took a quick 3-0 lead on errors committed by BVM, then the Lady Chargers settled down to tie. They took their first lead at 8-7 with help from some miscommunication errors by Pace.

The opening set stayed tight with neither team going up by more than two points until late in the action. Pace middle blocker Andie Lozano-Lomeli and outside hitter Natalisha Torres were effective at the net with hard kills, tips and blocks to cause a plethora of errors by the Lady Chargers and take an 18-15 lead.

Following an injury to every-rotation player Kassy Garcia, Brownsville Veterans came back determined. Alexa Torres’ serving and an excellent finishing ability from standout middle blocker Elise Fourt helped the Lady Chargers pull away and win the set despite good fight from Pace.

“Going through adversity … has really helped us, and we’ve come together,” Mares said. “I told them, ‘Relax. I know it’s getting loud and it’s exciting, but just relax and focus on your jobs.’”

Fourt kept her momentum to put BVM in charge during the second set. Her block and powerful swing sent the Lady Vikings scrambling as the Lady Chargers went up 7-1.

Pace did well to chip away at the deficit in the raucous environment. Torres and libero Bryanna Narvaez used solid defense to get the offense rolling. Outside hitter Ashley Gonzalez notched a block and contributed with hustle plays, then Lozano-Lomeli stuffed Fourt to make it 14-10 in favor of BVM.

Lady Chargers middle Carrington Lane was strong at the net to keep her team on top. She used a mix of heavy swings and well-placed tips to cause Pace’s passing woes to flare up, then took advantage by slamming down over passes.

Torres and Lozano-Lomeli were strong at the net to help Pace fight off five set points and push the second set, but poor passing sunk the Lady Vikings late.

“We were down in the second set and came back,” Pace coach Daya Venegas said. “We lost (close), but they fought back. This team has confidence to come back and compete.”

When the Lady Vikings’ passing allowed them to stay in system, the Lozano-Lomeli sisters showed off their impeccable connection. With Dyllan delivering a perfect set, Andie sent down rocket kills to any spot on the court. But the inconsistency with serve-receive and struggles against BVM’s powerful hitters resulted in too many errors and lackluster free balls, causing Pace to fall in three.

“Veterans is a great team. We had a plan, and it didn’t go our way but I’m proud of the job that they did,” Venegas said. “We had a lot of mistakes in serve-receive, and that was the key of the game. We got to go back and do some work.”

Brownsville Veterans made some lineup changes after the early injury and showcased their depth as the players responded and didn’t miss a beat. Torres was solid in the back row to help libero Andrea Chapa shore up the defense. Chapa made stellar digs and precise passes throughout the match, helping setter Paulina Ramirez mix up her hitters and run a dynamic offense.

“(Ramirez is) just a sophomore and she’s great,” Mares said. “She’s been running a five-one (with our other setter injured), and she’s really been improving in her game. She works hard.”

Montserrat De Los Santos turned in an impressive performance, and Gracie Avila and Gladis Espinoza contributed to the Lady Chargers’ attack. Back-to-back aces from Fourt put BVM firmly in control late, and then a missed serve from Pace on match point caused the Lady Chargers’ crowd — filled with cowboy hat-wearing students — to erupt as their team clinched the victory.

“The environment was really good, and they motivated us,” Ramirez said. “We stayed focused the entire time and we executed really well, all did our jobs. It all started with a good pass, then that gave us good hits. I never ran out of options today. Everyone played their ‘A’ game.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

Three of the East Valley’s four remaining unbeaten football teams got their district seasons started on the right foot in Week 5.

The San Benito Greyhounds (4-0, 1-0) and Harlingen South Hawks (4-0, 1-0) continued to hold down the No. 4 and No. 5 spots, respectively, in the RGVSports.com top 10 poll after opening District 32-6A play with comfortable victories.

Port Isabel stayed hot in its District 16-4A Division II opener, outdueling Robstown for a 55-40 victory. The Tarpons (4-0, 1-0) made their season debut at No. 10 in the poll.

San Benito defeated Los Fresnos 38-7 on Friday. After giving up a first-quarter touchdown, the Greyhounds’ defense did what it has done in several games this season — locked down its opponent. They recorded two interceptions, continuing a streak of having at least two turnovers in every game this season.

Sophomore running back Fabian Garcia had a huge day to lead San Benito’s offense. He scored three rushing touchdowns and accumulated 255 yards on 21 carries. All of San Benito’s touchdowns came on the ground, with one each from quarterback Rodney Rodriguez and running back Gavin Suarez.

Harlingen South blew out Brownsville Hanna 41-12 behind solid performances from athlete Jeremiah Rivera and quarterback Xander Casarez. Crosstown rival Harlingen High also cruised to a district-opening victory, beating Brownsville Rivera 41-10, adding to the intrigue of this week’s Bird Bowl.

The No. 3 Harlingen High Cardinals (3-1, 1-0) were paced by junior running back Izaiah Bell on offense. Bell scored four total touchdowns — two rushing, two receiving — and senior kicker Joseph Garza hit two field goals. The Cardinals’ strong defensive unit continues to impress

Port Isabel rode another stellar performance from senior running back Gilbert Medina in Friday’s victory. Medina rushed for more than 200 yards. Raymondville and Rio Hondo, the other East Valley teams in 16-4A DII, both dropped their openers to Rockport-Fulton and Ingleside, respectively.

Marine Military Academy improved to 4-0 with a 26-13 victory over Premont. Both teams were unbeaten going into the matchup, and MMA used a big fourth quarter to seal the win and the intact unblemished record.

The Lyford Bulldogs (4-1, 1-0) opened their District 16-3A DI campaign by shutting out Falfurrias 22-0. Senior quarterback Brendan Nunez tossed two touchdowns and was 8-for-11 with 168 passing yards. Senior receiver Diego Guerra was his top target, with two of his five catches resulting in touchdowns and totaling 133 receiving yards. Senior running back/receiver Justin Vela added a rushing score.

Brownsville St. Joseph (2-2, 1-0) defeated San Antonio St. Anthony’s 46-18 in its TAPPS DII District 3 opener. Senior quarterback Luigi Cristiano threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns, two to senior receiver Nick Jackson (11 receptions, 98 yards). Senior Santiago Vidaurri had one receiving and one rushing score, and sophomore Juan Pablo Vidaurri notched two rushing touchdowns.

The Santa Maria Cougars (3-2) bounced back to claim a 46-15 victory over Progreso. Junior quarterback Chris Ibarra accumulated 332 yards of offense and scored four total touchdowns. Sophomore running back Esiah Gracia rushed for 119 yards and three scores, and Juan Morales and Jerry Morales each had one receiving touchdown.

It was a tough week for the Metro-area teams. In District 16-5A DI, Brownsville Veterans Memorial picked up the only win in a 1-3 week for the Brownsville ISD group. Both BISD 32-6A teams lost their district openers.

Brownsville Veterans is in a four-way tie for second in the 16-5A DI standings at 3-1 behind 4-0 McAllen Memorial. Brownsville Pace is 2-2, while Brownsville Porter and Brownsville Lopez are both 0-4.

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

BROWNSVILLE — It was a high-scoring affair when the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers and La Joya Palmview Lobos closed Week 5 with a District 16-5A Division I contest on a cool Saturday night at Sams Memorial Stadium.

The Chargers (3-2, 3-1) used a hot start and a solid defensive effort to outduel the Lobos (2-3, 1-3) in a 55-41 victory.

“We felt like we had a really good game plan, and we wanted to capitalize early. We had a great week of preparation, and I think that showed in the first half,” Chargers coach Kelley Lee said.

Senior running back/linebacker Jorge Alvarado put the Chargers on top 14-0 with rushing touchdowns of 11 and 17 yards on Brownsville Veterans’ first two possessions. Alvarado was productive on defense, too, helping the Chargers keep the Lobos in check.

“(Alvarado) always plays well on defense, but he really ran the ball hard on offense. He got a lot of yards after contact, extra yards, so that’s always good to see, and I was proud of him there. And he blocked really well, too. It’s a very unselfish offense, everybody’s got to block,” Lee said.

With the Brownsville Veterans defensive line shutting down the run Palmview tried to pass, but the Chargers spoiled those plans. Sophomore defensive back Gilbert Trillo and junior DB Kenny Davis each reeled in interceptions during the first quarter.

After Davis’ interception, Chargers junior running back Jay Valdez scored on an 18-yard run to open the second quarter. Junior quarterback Reece Sampayo made it 27-0 with a 19-yard rushing touchdown. The 2-point conversion was no good.

The Lobos scored 14 straight points to trim the deficit. Senior running back A.J. Chapa broke the shutout with a 3-yard rushing touchdown, and then junior linebacker Joel Garza took a scoop-and-score around 40 yards following a fumble.

Just before halftime, big runs from Alvarado and sophomore running back Storm Montoya helped set up another BVM score. Sampayo hit senior receiver Zachary Dennis for a 22-yard gain, then Sampayo scored on a 1-yard rush.

The Chargers struggled with ball control during the second half, putting the ball on the ground five times. Guillen ran back a fumble recovery for Palmview’s second defensive touchdown of the contest, and then on BVM’s ensuing drive, sophomore DB Jose Guerra scooped up another loose ball.

“I think maybe when we got ahead, we were trying to do more than we needed to, tried to make the spectacular play instead of just doing what we did to get the lead. I think that’s why the ball ended up on the ground,” Lee said. “But you got to give Palmview a lot of credit, they never gave up and they played hard. Their offense is pretty tough when they get in a rhythm, and we had some issues in the second half.”

Brownsville Veterans responded with a pick six courtesy of senior linebacker William Wassen, then the Chargers recovered their own onside kick. On the first play after that, Sampayo found sophomore receiver Miguel Selvera for a 34-yard passing touchdown, making it 48-21 Chargers midway through the third quarter.

Again, the Lobos fought back. Chapa broke through tackles for a 17-yard rushing score, and then Guillen forced another fumble that was scooped up by Olvera to give Palmview good field position. Junior receiver Tony Villarreal cashed in the turnover with a 56-yard touchdown.

“They wanted the game, they wanted to win, we just dug ourselves too deep of a hole. But they kept fighting,” Lobos coach Margarito Requenez Jr. said.

Brownsville Veterans came back with a good drive to get into first-and-goal territory. The Chargers fumbled twice inside the 10 yard line but recovered both, including a recovery by Selvera in the end zone for a touchdown.

Despite the ball control struggles, the Chargers continued to impress with their option offense. They blocked well to aid the run game, and had some success in the air. Alvarado, Wassen, Trillo, Davis and senior D-lineman Joseph Perez were solid defensively for BVM.

Guillen and Olvera led a respectable defensive effort from Palmview, and Chapa handled his workhorse role well. Junior quarterback Christian Reyna delivered a nice ball to Villarreal for a 14-yard passing touchdown late in the game, but the Lobos were too far behind to notch a comeback.

“(Chapa is) one tough running back, and we put the load on him. That’s what we expect every night out of him, and I couldn’t be prouder of him,” Requenez Jr. said. “Those early turnovers killed us. It’s hard when you put yourself in a situation like that, but I can’t be mad because my coaches and my players did a hell of a job responding. Any other team would’ve shut down, but my boys kept fighting. That’s all I can ask.”

Both teams have byes in Week 6 before returning to district action Oct. 7. The Chargers will face Brownsville Lopez, and Palmview will battle Brownsville Porter.

“We really got to work on our ball security and our tackling,” Lee said. “A lot of times today we had them at the point of attack, and they bounced off and we let them get extra yards, so that’ll be our point of emphasis (in the bye week), ball security and tackling.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

All local volleyball teams are playing district contests as of this week, and a few are already solidifying themselves as title contenders.

No East Valley team has shined quite as bright as the Harlingen High Lady Cardinals, ranked No. 19 in Class 6A by the Texas Girls Coaches Association. Harlingen High is 6-0 in District 32-6A after sweeping Donna North on Saturday. The Lady Cardinals have only dropped one set during the district season and sit atop the standings.

Los Fresnos sits in second with a 5-1 record after defeating Brownsville Hanna (3-3) in four sets Saturday. The Brownsville Rivera Lady Raiders are currently third with a 4-2 record. Rivera defeated San Benito (1-5) on Saturday. Harlingen South (3-3) is tied in the fourth spot with Hanna. The Lady Hawks dropped a five-set battle to Weslaco High on Saturday.

The first round of 32-6A action ends Tuesday with Harlingen High facing Hanna, Rivera playing host to Donna North, Harlingen South visiting Los Fresnos and San Benito traveling to Weslaco High.

In District 32-5A action Saturday, Brownsville Pace defeated Brownsville Porter (3-2) to improve to 5-0 in district. Brownsville Veterans Memorial (5-0) also remained undefeated with a sweep over Donna High. BVM plays host to Pace at 7 p.m. Tuesday in a pivotal 32-5A match. Brownsville Lopez (1-3) also faced Edcouch Elsa on Saturday.

Rio Hondo got its District 32-4A campaign underway with a big five-set win over consistent title contender La Feria on Tuesday. The Lady ’Cats improved to 2-0 in district with a victory over Grulla on Saturday.

La Feria beat Raymondville 25-20, 22-25, 26-24, 25-17 on Saturday. Both teams are 1-1 in district. Port Isabel lost to Raymondville and faced Hidalgo in 32-4A’s opening week.

In District 32-3A, the Brownsville IDEA Frontier Lady Chargers boast a 2-0 record. Frontier defeated Brownsville Jubilee on Tuesday and beat Brownsville Harmony on Friday. Jubilee is 1-1 in district after sweeping Santa Rosa on Saturday. Brownsville IDEA Riverview faced Progreso on Saturday.

The Lyford Lady Bulldogs are well into their District 31-3A season. Lyford beat Weslaco Pike on Friday to improve to 11-1 in the district race.

In District 32-2A/1A, San Perlita and Lasara both dropped games to TGCA 2A/1A No. 9 San Isidro this week. Santa Maria was 2-1 before playing Bruni in a Saturday afternoon contest.

Brownsville St. Joseph is 1-1 in TAPPS 5A District 6 action after sweeping Corpus Christi Incarnate Word Academy on Saturday.

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — The Harlingen South Hawks have been flying high during the first part of the season, and their winning ways continued when they opened District 32-6A play Friday at Boggus Stadium.

The Hawks soared to a 41-12 victory over Brownsville Hanna (1-3, 0-1 in 32-6A), fueled by another big performance from senior do-it-all standout Jeremiah Rivera. Harlingen South’s defense kept Hanna’s offense contained, recording a first-half shutout and two turnovers during the second half.

“God is good to the utmost degree. We’re super excited about where we’re at,” South coach Israel Gonzalez said. “We’re going to enjoy it tonight, but we’re back to work when the sun rises.”

Rivera and the Hawks (4-0, 1-0) started hot, scoring on their first two possessions. On the second play of the game, Rivera broke loose for a 74-yard rushing touchdown. He made it 14-0 midway through the first quarter on a 9-yard rushing score. Senior quarterback Xander Casarez connected with Rivera and senior receiver Elias Ledesma to keep the 60-yard scoring drive moving efficiently.

The Eagles’ defense forced two punts and a turnover on downs to keep the game within reach at halftime. Senior Humberto Garcia and junior Manrique Cantu helped the defensive line stop South’s run game, and senior defensive back Anthony Ambriz shored up the secondary.

But Hanna’s offense couldn’t get going during the first half. South’s Joe Jimenez, Andrew Luna and Levi Ince kept the Eagles from having much success running the ball. After punting on their first four possessions, the Eagles turned to the pass and got a rhythm going late in the second quarter.

Senior backup quarterback Marco Mancha hit senior receiver Ethan Pena for a 16-yard reception, picking up Hanna’s first first-down of the contest. Pena made two more nice catches, including a tip-toe grab on South’s sideline, and had a big run to help Hanna get to first-and-goal on the 4-yard-line.

The Eagles couldn’t finish after throwing six incomplete passes inside the red zone, one of which was tipped as South’s Marcus Jasso leaped into the air on a good defensive play.

“Defense has done a tremendous job all year. The staff does a tremendous job with the game plan, the kids believe in the game plan, and they came out and executed,” Gonzalez said.

Hanna came out with some fire in the second half. The Eagles scored on their first possession as junior running back Kriz Pena busted through tackles after a pass from junior quarterback Josh Vela, the starter, for a 33-yard pickup. Kriz Pena followed a great block from senior offensive lineman German Woo to get downfield. Vela scored on a 2-yard carry, but the PAT was missed.

“I always preach to our kids, ‘We don’t get what we think we deserve, we get what we earn,’” Hanna coach Mark Guess said. “These guys work their tails off, they’re giving us every ounce that they got, we just got to keep getting better.”

South answered quickly as Casarez delivered a strike to a well-defended Fidencio Mesa for a 24-yard touchdown. On the ensuing Hanna drive, Jayden Galindo notched an interception that the Hawks cashed in on Rivera’s third score. Casarez dumped off a third-down pass to Rivera, and he followed blockers through the defense for a 37-yard score.

“I felt pretty good. It was all thanks to my O-linemen, they had some very good blocks, and my receivers, too. They were helping me score all my touchdowns,” Rivera said. “At halftime we made some adjustments, everybody came together and we were just explosive. It feels really great right now, but we have to get back to work tomorrow.”

After the interception, Ambriz became the third Eagles player to line up at quarterback, but South continued to stifle Hanna’s offense. Vela returned and hit Kriz Pena on a short pass, and the junior showed his elusiveness to get 70 yards downfield, setting up a 3-yard rushing touchdown from Vela. Hanna had two tries at the two-point conversion following a penalty, and both were unsuccessful.

“We’ve got to get someone (at quarterback) that’s going to move the ball and get us into the end zone. We’re trying to work on some things, see what we can do to get a spark in our offense,” Guess said.

South kept its foot on the pedal throughout the fourth. Casarez and Mesa linked up again for a 58-yard touchdown. Senior running back Marcos Gonzales plowed through the defense for a 4-yard rushing touchdown, adding to an impressive and well-distributed offensive performance conducted by Casarez. Jared Rivera notched an interception in the end zone on Hanna’s last possession.

“(Casarez is) calm, cool and collected,” Gonzalez said. “He’s a senior, he’s used to the pressure. He’s the leader of this football team, and he does a tremendous job. We know he’s going to be able to handle any situation, and we love him to death.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

BROWNSVILLE — The final score in Brownsville Porter’s 42-28 loss to McAllen High in Friday’s District 16-5A Division I contest doesn’t show how tight the game was.

Despite picking up the win, McHi coach Patrick Shelby called the bout “too close for comfort.”

The Porter Cowboys (1-4, 0-4) showed fight to come from behind and take the lead midway through the third quarter, but the explosive connection between senior quarterback Hunter Curl and junior receiver Christian Echazarreta lifted the Bulldogs (4-1, 3-1) to victory.

“McAllen’s a well-coached football team. We made some mistakes there in the fourth quarter and couldn’t overcome it in the end,” Porter coach Carlos Uresti said. “I’m proud of the way the kids worked. They played hard, showed a lot of heart and a lot of fight. The score may not indicate how close the game was, they scored at the end with a minute and change left on another mental mistake on our part.”

The Bulldogs scored first with a 23-yard passing touchdown from Curl to Echazarreta. Porter ate more than seven minutes of game clock on the ensuing drive and got some nice runs from its committee of backs, comprised of senior Juan Zavala, junior Marcos Ramirez and sophomore Gael Hernandez. But the Cowboys, using a slow and steady offensive approach for most of the night, couldn’t maintain momentum and failed to score.

“We were trying to make sure we executed offensively,” Uresti said. “We have a couple kids out with injuries, had a couple of new starters. We wanted to make sure we were all on the same page, didn’t want to go too fast, take our time with the play calls and give our defense a rest.”

The Cowboys’ defense had an overall strong outing led by Adriel Trevino, who tied the game after forcing and recovering a fumble on a fourth-down pass and running it back almost 30 yards for the score. Porter contained McHi’s run game and recorded three turnovers, but its secondary was burned on three long plays between Curl and Echazarreta that made the difference.

“We wanted to make sure we took away the run, and I think throughout the course of the night we did that. But when it was time for them to throw the ball, they made us pay,” Uresti said.

After a 29-yard rushing touchdown by Curl to cap an up-tempo drive, McHi needed only one play to extend its lead to 21-7. Echazarreta showed his speed, taking a sideline catch untouched into the end zone for an 80-yard score.

Porter wasn’t fazed by the highlight-reel play. Instead, the Cowboys picked up the tempo and drove 80 yards in less than two minutes, helped by a 27-yard reception by senior receiver Adolfo Gonzalez from senior quarterback Kyle Aguirre. A 2-yard rushing score by Aguirre made it 21-14 at half.

The Cowboys came out hot during the third quarter. Hernandez scored on a 21-yard carry to tie the game, then Porter’s special teams came up big. A McHi player bobbled the ensuing kickoff and was hit hard by Trevino inside the 10, causing a fumble that was recovered by senior DB Chris Ortiz on the 2. Junior receiver Gunnar Williams used back-to-back 1-yard carries to score and give Porter its first lead, 28-21.

“We just had to communicate, get lined up and execute,” Shelby said. “We talk about having perfect execution, and we did that on some plays which allowed us to take that lead back. All we ask is they give us their best every single time, and we feel confident in our guys that if they do that we’ll be good.”

The Bulldogs responded with a quick drive behind senior running back Weston Guzman and costly penalties committed by Porter. Guzman scored on a 2-yard rush to tie the game with 5:31 in the third, and then McHi’s defense forced a punt. Porter defensive linemen Arath De La Torre and Samuel Moreno almost forced a three-and-out but on third-and-8, Curl hit Echazarreta in the middle of the field for a 74-yard touchdown.

After a turnover, the dynamic duo linked up again for a 75-yard score to seal the deal.

“Offensively, it starts up front with the O-line,” Shelby said. “The line did a great job with protection, and (Curl and Echazarreta) have a good connection to keep plays alive. They’re both on the same page right now, that’s something we really saw tonight, so good thing they’re both on our team.”

Trailing with time winding down, Porter’s offense pushed a bit too much, resulting in back-to-back interceptions by senior defensive backs Kolten Ottmers and Thomas Alaniz to help McHi hold on.

The Cowboys moved the ball well with their running back trio following the offensive line to pick up consistent medium-yardage gains. Williams showed his athleticism, picking up yards after catches and from the backfield as he stutter-stepped defenders and slipped tackles. Trevino contributed to all three Porter turnovers, hauling in an interception during the fourth quarter.

Senior defensive end Anthony Battista, junior linebacker Diego Avila, Ottmers and Alaniz led the Bulldogs defensively. Next up, McHi faces Weslaco East, and Porter will battle La Joya Palmview.

“There’s not going to be any easy (district) games,” Shelby said. “Porter, Coach Uresti, they did a great job preparing their kids tonight and getting them ready to go. They played extremely hard. I was really happy to see our boys bounce back after halftime, regroup and come out and finish.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

LOS FRESNOS — There’s a family mentality that binds the Los Fresnos Falcons, one they’ve strengthened since Day 1 under the new regime to prepare for the District 32-6A season.

The Falcons have already gone through adversity in this young season, but it’s only made their bond stronger. Senior quarterback Matthew Padilla said Los Fresnos depends on that closeness to help it fight under the Friday night lights.

“We’ve bonded as a team, and us doing that has really helped us on the field. We really fight for each other on the field,” Padilla said. “Me and the rest of the captains, we make sure everybody feels a part of the team and gets along, because if you don’t really know each other, you aren’t going to succeed. We’re a whole big family, and we’re there for one another.”

Senior middle linebacker Greg Jones, another team captain, echoed that sentiment. Jones, the undisputed leader of the unit, said the continuity of Los Fresnos’ defense keeps it competitive.

“Our defense is really tight-knit, we’re all brothers and we have each other’s backs. We all trust each other, and we know the person next to us is going to get the job done,” Jones said. “Our defense is solid, and we feel pretty good about ourselves. We have a great group of guys. They really help me be the leader I am, and I just try to do my best to be a role model for them and help us win games.”

Padilla sets the tone for a Falcons’ offense that is stacked with versatile athletes. Because of the old system, Padilla hasn’t been the quarterback since his freshman year. He’s enjoying being back in the QB1 role and working with an offense that keeps opponents on their toes.

“I love to play the quarterback position, and I love to lead. Being able to throw the ball again is a lot of fun,” Padilla said. “We have a great group of guys, and I’m really excited for (today) to show out with them.”

Los Fresnos (1-1) knows it’ll need all three phases ready to go when it kicks off district play at No. 4 San Benito (3-0) at 7 p.m. today. First-year Falcons coach David Cantu said they’re expecting “an electric atmosphere” and an aggressive, well-rounded Greyhounds team.

Senior athlete Hector Muniz, junior running back Jonus Gonzalez, senior center Gerardo Garcia, junior linebacker RJ Limon and senior safety Ethan Gonzalez are a few noted playmakers who will help the Falcons battle throughout district.

“Defensively, it’s so good to see how everyone runs to the football, the pride they take in being that type of defense. (Jones and Limon) make so many plays for us. They play 100 miles per hour,” Cantu said. “Jonus Gonzalez has shown how tough he is. My goodness, he’s one of the toughest blockers I’ve seen. … It’s a group to be proud of. This game means a lot to them.”

The Falcons said things feel different when the district season rolls around, especially since they respect how deep 32-6A is. Cantu said “there’s no doubt you can sense the couple notches that have gone up” in terms of intensity and focus from his team.

But even though they know the next seven games are extra important, Jones and Padilla are keeping the Falcons concentrated on themselves. They believe they have what it takes to return to the postseason, and they’re ready to show it.

“We’re keeping the same mentality, coming in knowing we’re a good football team,” Jones said. “We’re going to do our jobs, trust each other and hopefully come out with some wins. We know (San Benito is) going to come out and try to hit us, but we’re going to be up for the challenge and shut them down.”

Added Padilla: “We know they’re a great team. They’re going to be chirping a lot through the whole game, so we got to stick to our game plan, do what we do and let our playing do the talking. We’ve dealt with a lot of adversity in the beginning part of the season. I feel like we’ve adjusted and jelled really well, so we’ll be all right.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

SANTA ROSA — Patience, hard work and believing in the process paid off for the Santa Rosa Warriors as they secured their first win of the season Friday.

After battling for three weeks and getting closer and closer to victory, the Warriors (1-3) shut out Progreso 50-0 during their final non-district contest. The win was significant for the program, marking the first victory for new coach Joe Marichalar in Santa Rosa and his first as a head coach since 2017. Marichalar was recognized by the Hispanic Texas High School Football Coaches Association as a coach of the week for crossing that hurdle.

“It’s always a blessing when you win. We say we’re going to work really hard and give all the glory to God, so it’s a blessing when you win and you get accolades,” Marichalar said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done, but it was good to get that win just to let the kids know their hard work is paying off. If they continue to work hard and stay dedicated and committed, those wins are going to happen on their own.”

Marichalar credited the offensive line for anchoring the team’s success. Santa Rosa’s offense got a little better each week, going from 10 to 14 to 19 points scored before exploding for 50 last week.

“We have some guys that can really make some plays for us, but where it all starts is with the offensive line,” Marichalar said. “Those guys are the main catalysts that get the team going. They open up holes for our running backs and give us time to throw. The O-line has steadily been improving, jelling, they’re understanding the offense and the defense, so a lot of the credit goes to them.”

Jorge Cisneros, a senior offensive tackle, said getting the win, which was his first as a varsity player, “felt very amazing.” But the linemen didn’t feel they played their best, so they challenged each other to work harder and “block to the whistle” when they play host to Odem (4-0) in the District 16-3A Division II opener at 7 p.m. Friday.

“We’ve been working hard these past few weeks, and getting that win was something we wanted. We were all really happy about it,” Cisneros said. “As an O-line group, we discussed that we were a bit lazy, missed a couple blocks. We got together, said we need to step it up and put more work in.”

Antonio Saldana Jr., a sophomore center, echoed Cisneros, saying the linemen are striving to get better before the next game. The Warriors know Odem, the favorite to win the district, will pose a big test, but Saldana feels they’re ready.

“Odem is going to be the toughest team we’ve gone against, but we came together as a team last week, got our coach his first win, and we see that it works. After going 0-3, it definitely brought our confidence back up. It brings momentum into this week,” Saldana said. “We’re a lot different from the first practice. We’re all accountable for each other, call each other out when we need it. … We’re pushing real hard in the weight room, out on the field, giving it 110 percent.”

Along with accountability, the camaraderie among the linemen is a big boost for Santa Rosa. Cisneros believes the unit can help the team surprise doubters this season.

“We succeed as a group and we fail as a group. We never blame each other. If someone makes a mistake, it’s on the whole line. No one takes the fall on their own,” Cisneros said. “I feel (our offensive line is) the fastest in the district, and that’s going to help us in our playing style. I feel like a lot of people are counting us out. New coach, started out 0-3, we’re a young team, but we’re not going to let any of that discourage us.”

With the big guys setting an example and leading the way, the Warriors are going to stay focused on themselves as they fight for the right to do another “victory run” around the school.

“We’re going in with the mindset that we’re just going to worry about ourselves. We’re going to focus on our tasks, our job, and just try to execute as best we can,” Marichalar said. “If we can eliminate the mistakes and go out and play tough, execute, it’s anybody’s game at that point.”