By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

It’s Week 5 in Texas high school football, which brings the start of district seasons for most East Valley teams.

District 32-6A action debuts Friday with several tough matchups featuring the group’s ranked squads. Last season, the district played in zones. Harlingen High and Brownsville Hanna were the respective zone champions but didn’t get to play an outright title game due to COVID-19.

The No. 3 Harlingen High Cardinals (2-1) hope to begin their journey to another district title by taking on Brownsville Rivera (2-1) at 7 p.m. at Sams Memorial Stadium. Brownsville Hanna (1-2) will start its title defense campaign with a good test, facing No. 5 Harlingen South (3-0) at 7 p.m. at Boggus Stadium. No. 4 San Benito (3-0) looked sharp in the non-district season and will look to stay perfect against Los Fresnos (1-1) at 7 p.m. at Bobby Morrow Stadium.

The fourth week of District 16-5A Division I games will begin Thursday with the Brownsville Porter Cowboys (1-3, 0-3) playing host to McAllen High (3-1, 2-1) at 7 p.m. at Sams Memorial Stadium. At 7 p.m. Friday, Brownsville Pace (2-2, 2-1) faces Weslaco East (2-1, 2-1) at Bobby Lackey Stadium, and the Brownsville Lopez Lobos (0-4, 0-3) will battle with Donna High (0-3, 0-3) at Bennie LaPrade Stadium.

The Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers (2-2, 2-1) will end the week with a 7 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Sams Memorial Stadium against the La Joya Palmview Lobos (2-2, 1-2).

District 16-4A DII commences district play with 7:30 p.m. kickoffs Friday. Port Isabel (3-0) had a strong non-district season and will look to carry that momentum into its opener at Robstown (2-1). Rio Hondo (2-1) plays host to Ingleside (3-0), and the Raymondville Bearkats (2-1) are playing host to Rockport-Fulton (3-0).

Both 3A East Valley squads, the 16-3A DI Lyford Bulldogs (3-1) and 16-3A DII Santa Rosa Warriors (1-3), will begin district play Friday. Lyford plays host to Falfurrias (0-4) with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff, and the Warriors will battle Odem (4-0) at 7 p.m. at home.

Brownsville St. Joseph (1-2) kicks off its TAPPS DII District 3 schedule at 7 p.m. with a home game against San Antonio St. Anthony (0-2).

In non-district action Friday, the No. 9 La Feria Lions (3-0) are traveling to face Beeville Jones (1-3) at 7:30 p.m. Santa Maria (2-2) will aim to bounce back from a loss with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Progreso (0-3). Marine Military Academy (3-0) will have a good challenge, playing host to Premont (3-0) at 7:30 p.m.

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — For two weeks, the Harlingen High Lady Cardinals studied and prepared for Tuesday’s pivotal District 32-6A match against Los Fresnos.

Both teams came into the bout with 4-0 district records, including victories in straight sets over defending champion Brownsville Rivera, and had raucous student sections cheering them on. But it was the No. 19 Lady Cardinals (26-5, 5-0) that pulled off the 25-13, 25-20, 25-15 victory over the Lady Falcons (16-12, 4-1) to get one step closer to their goal of capturing the district title.

“I get chills because it means so much to us. It feels amazing. I am beyond proud,” Harlingen High coach Joslynn Torres said. “This team has a lot of swag, and they know how to put that into their play. It feels great. We’re going to carry it over to the next game because every game is just as important. They’re doing great right now, the consistency looks really nice, I’m so proud of them.”

Harlingen High’s dynamite trio of Juli Bryant, Casey Vidal and Elena Aguinaga were strong from the start. All three recorded aces as the Lady Cards jumped out to a 13-4 lead during the first set, quickly setting the tone for the match.

Bryant and Vidal, the outside-hitting opposites, made great decisions at the net, ripping down hard kills and dropping well-placed tips to open spots behind Los Fresnos’ typically disruptive block.

“It feels great. Having a great district opener with Rivera and them coming in and sweeping Los Fresnos, it boosts our energy and we know we can power through the rest of the district,” Bryant said. “It took a lot of practice and extra effort. (Our preparation) really helped us out because we were in the right mindset. I can’t wait to see what we do the rest of the season.”

Aguinaga, the libero, and defensive specialists Mallory Sauceda and Natalie Garcia passed well to keep Harlingen High firing on all cylinders. Setter Juliana Valdez found success with second-touch tips and gave her hitters plenty of opportunities for solid swings.

Los Fresnos had some success with its block as Shiloh Jones and Savannah Smith slowed and stuffed a few hits. But the Lady Falcons couldn’t consistently defend the tip and didn’t finish at the net enough to affect Harlingen High’s attack.

The Lady Cardinals’ offense sent Los Fresnos scrambling and kept its offense out of system throughout all three sets. Libero Caydence Castillo and defensive specialist Cory Reyes made some nice digs and hustle plays against Harlingen High’s power hitters, but overall, the Lady Falcons didn’t pass with precision and struggled to find a rhythm.

“We watched film, and we critiqued every single movement that every single player on that team does,” Torres said. “Today was all about execution. You have to play smart, and that’s what we really emphasized. Our homework was done to the T. To see them strategically play and take them out of their game was the goal. Every single point, I said, ‘You take them out of system,’ and they did and it was obvious.”

Los Fresnos’ passing woes led to its hitters sending touches long as they couldn’t get a proper approach on sets off the net, and sending over too many free balls.

Bryant and middle blocker Aaliyah Gomez took advantage of passes into the net by getting up and slamming down kills to keep Harlingen High in control. Gomez and Bryant got blocks and touches to throw the Lady Falcons off when they were executing in system.

The Lady Falcons played behind big deficits throughout the match, but coach Anissa Lucio was happy with the fight they showed in spurts and after the loss. During the second set, the closest of the night, Los Fresnos went from being down 12-8 to a slim 13-12 deficit. When Harlingen High responded with a four-point run, the Lady Falcons came out of a timeout and put together their own 4-0 run, trailing 17-16. But they couldn’t maintain momentum long enough to sway the match.

“Regardless of the score, we were showing some fight and we were back and forth. We just couldn’t close it at the end. Give credit to Harlingen, they played a really good game,” Lucio said.

Jones hit well from the opposite pin and notched some blocks as Los Fresnos’ most consistent front row player in the match. Olivia Parra and Dakota Martinez had some solid moments for Los Fresnos, and Marcela Tijerina contributed with her tough serve.

“We didn’t have it tonight, but I’ve never seen my girls with the fight they have in their eyes that I see right now,” Lucio said. “My girls are hungry. Our goals don’t change by any means, we’re still fighting for district. Adversity is good right now. We need to learn from this. We’re going to remember what this felt like and definitely turn it around for next time.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

The East Valley struggled in Week 4, with only four teams picking up victories ahead of most programs beginning district play this week.

No. 9 La Feria continued its unbeaten streak, improving to 3-0 with a 58-36 win over Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway. The Lions’ up-tempo offense is averaging 47 points per game, led by senior quarterback Aaron Trevino and sophomore running back Zion Dickerson.

The duo of Trevino and Dickerson accounted for all of La Feria’s scores during Friday’s contest. Both players rushed for three touchdowns and Trevino added three passing touchdowns, one each to Brandon Villanueva, Joaquin Trevino and Julian Torres.

The Lions racked up 609 yards of offense and Aaron Trevino accounted for 355, with 191 in the air and 164 on the ground. Dickerson accumulated 157 rushing yards. Defensively, senior Elijah Vela hauled in two interceptions and La Feria forced a fumble.

Santa Rosa (1-3) rolled by Progreso 50-0 to pick up its first win of the season and the first for new coach Joe Marichalar since 2017 when he was at Edcouch-Elsa.

Lyford returned to its high-scoring ways with a 52-6 victory over Santa Maria. The Bulldogs racked up 635 yards of offense and ran all over the Cougars’ defense, accumulating 551 rushing yards. Senior running back/receiver Justin Vela and senior quarterback/running back Brendan Nunez each scored three touchdowns.

Marine Military Academy improved to 3-0 with its second consecutive shutout victory, this time defeating Lyford’s JV squad 39-0.

It was a tough week for Brownsville-based teams. All four District 16-5A Division I members — Lopez, Pace, Porter and Brownsville Veterans — lost. A big second half lifted Corpus Christi Miller over Hanna, and the St. Joseph Bloodhounds lost on the road to Hebbronville.

The other eight East Valley teams had byes in Week 4. This week, District 16-5A DI will continue district play, and 32-6A, 32-4A DII, 32-3A DI and II and TAPPS DII District 3 will begin their conference slates.

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

MERCEDES — Saturday’s District 32-5A match between the Brownsville Porter Cowgirls and Mercedes Lady Tigers went down to the wire, offering a thrilling show for viewers.

The back-and-forth battle needed five sets — and extra points in the fifth — to decide a winner. Porter held off Mercedes’ late push and went home with a hard-fought 25-19, 18-25, 25-14, 21-25, 17-15 victory to improve to 2-1 in district.

“I hate that we have to go five sets, but what I do love to see is the girls come together and my seniors step up, especially Brianna Franco,” Porter coach Ashley Martinez said. “But at the end of the day, we have to finish in three. We have to start fast, and we can’t get comfortable.”

The teams played each other tight through the first 10 points of the opening set. The Cowgirls settled in first, improving passing efficiency, and it allowed setter Andrea Perez (44 assists, six aces) to get the offense rolling to a four-point lead. Middles Brianna Franco (23 kills, three blocks) and Ebony Garza hit at a high clip for Porter.

When Mercedes’ dynamic duo of Ximena Puente and Jayda Luna was patrolling the net, momentum shifted. They slowed Porter’s hitters with their solid blocking, and Puente hit well from the middle to put the Lady Tigers up 15-14.

“We told them defense was going to be the key, to stay ready and play smart. Porter has a good middle blocker, too, so we told them they’d have to play big in the middle and around Franco,” Mercedes coach Olga Adame said.

Porter pushed points when Puente was off the court and Luna moved to the back row to set. Mercedes struggled with serve-receive and passing throughout the match, resulting in too many tips, free balls and hits that sailed long. The Cowgirls took advantage of the limited attack, delivering precise passes to set up hot hitters Franco and Monica Gonzalez to clinch the set.

Porter took a 6-0 lead in the second behind three consecutive aces and solid serving from Perez. But again, the one-two punch of Puente and Luna swayed the set in Mercedes’ favor. The duo racked up blocks and hard kills, and its play — combined with tough serving by Leah Adame — got the Cowgirls completely off balance.

Mercedes went up 17-8 before Porter stopped the bleeding. Franco, Perez, Ebony Garza and solid defense from libero Liberty Garza (40 digs) helped the Cowgirls cut into the deficit, but they couldn’t maintain momentum due to multiple stops in action as the down referee questioned their rotations, and the Lady Tigers evened the match.

The third set was very close at the start. Both teams hustled to cover the court and looked good offensively, resulting in exciting rallies. Porter created some separation behind solid hitting by Gonzalez, then Gianna Aviles controlled the back end of the set to put the Cowgirls up 2-1. Aviles played solid defense and scored five straight points from the service line, where Porter dominated with 14 aces.

“We are a great spot-serving club. We really know how to pick you apart. I’m happy my girls are confident with the ball, that’s what I want to see,” Martinez said.

Mercedes played arguably its best volleyball during the fourth and fifth sets. Puente and Luna continued to produce at a high rate, and more Lady Tigers started to contribute to the attack. They weren’t putting down hard kills, but well-placed tips and a good effort up front from Valeria Zamaripa and Jackie Bibian gave them a lead in the fourth. Alex Gomez notched three consecutive aces, then an 8-0 run aided by Porter miscues put Mercedes in position to take the frame.

“They played as a team, they did really good. Communication was the key to staying on their toes,” Adame said. “(They have to) stay composed when they feel the pressure, when it’s close. Stay focused, stay composed, get the point back and keep pushing forward.”

In the fifth, Liberty Garza and the Porter defense took advantage of Mercedes’ heavy use of tips and free balls to increase passing efficiency and aid the Cowgirls’ early lead. The Lady Tigers clawed back and tied the decider at 12 following an Adame kill.

Porter had several questionable calls go against it, but the Cowgirls fought through frustrations, energized by the rowdy subvarsity players cheering in the stands. The final five rallies were strong and Mercedes killed off four of Porter’s match points, but Ebony Garza finished it for the Cowgirls.

“Porter’s on the rise in a lot of sports, and I’m really proud of this program,” Martinez said. “(Ebony Garza’s) still very young at the net, but man, she’s showing great progress. And, of course, my setter (Perez), playing on one ankle today, she came through. It’s great.”

In other 32-5A action Saturday, Brownsville Pace (3-0 in district) defeated Brownsville Lopez, and Brownsville Veterans Memorial (3-0) swept Weslaco East.

In 32-6A, Harlingen South (3-1) swept Donna North and Brownsville Rivera (2-2) swept Brownsville Hanna (1-3). Los Fresnos and Harlingen High both picked up 3-1 victories over Weslaco High and San Benito (0-4), respectively. Los Fresnos and Harlingen High sit atop the district standings at 4-0 and will face off at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Harlingen.

District 32-4A action starts Tuesday. Rio Hondo, which defeated La Joya Palmview in five Saturday, will play host to La Feria. Raymondville travels to Port Isabel for a 6:30 p.m. match.

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

LYFORD — After suffering a tough loss last week, the Lyford Bulldogs were determined to return to form during their final non-district tuneup Friday.

Lyford’s explosive offense showed its true colors early and often as the Bulldogs (3-1) rolled past the Santa Maria Cougars (2-2) in a 52-6 victory at home. Not to be outdone, Lyford’s defense contained Santa Maria’s usually efficient offense.

“Last week, we had a little sour taste in our mouth after that loss. Our preparation was better this week,” Lyford coach Jerry Jauregui said. “We’ve had some injuries, a little adversity, and like I told them, adversity is just like life, and it’s what you do after the adversity that matters. The boys did a good job today, got after it, and I’m proud of them. Still some stuff to clean up though.”

The Bulldogs had several athletes sidelined during the Week 4 bout, causing some changes in personnel. Senior Justin Vela, typically a dynamic receiver, was moved to running back. On Lyford’s first offensive play, he showcased his speed and scored a 91-yard rushing touchdown. Vela added scoring runs of 25 and 29 yards in the first half, displaying good vision and a quick burst to cruise through lanes and up the field.

“I felt good. I just came ready. I was looking for the holes and ready to go score,” Vela said. “I just saw the holes and they couldn’t wrap up on me, so I just took off and scored. There’s extra work for us this week, and we’ll be ready to go next week. We’ll be better. Our offense is dangerous, our defense is shutdown and I don’t think no one can score on us.”

Senior Brandon Nunez got the start at quarterback and played well to lead Lyford’s offense. He powered his way through Santa Maria’s defense and escaped tackles to contribute to the virtually unstoppable run game.

Nunez scored on a 25-yard carry during Lyford’s second possession. Though he didn’t throw often, Nunez delivered a perfectly placed ball for a 50-yard passing touchdown to junior Noah Guzman in the second quarter. The Bulldogs held a 32-6 lead at halftime.

“Our starting quarterback (Osmar Martinez) is out, so we changed things to fit the strengths of our backup quarterback (Nunez),” Jauregui said. “I think it was a good plan by offensive coordinator Doug Ames and our defensive coordinator Victor Rubalcaba.”

Santa Maria’s opening drive started on Lyford’s 43-yard-line after a blundered kickoff by the Bulldogs. The Cougars went three-and-out as Lyford’s defensive line, led by junior Jordan DeLuna, quickly asserted itself.

The Cougars responded on their second possession. Junior quarterback Chris Ibarra and sophomore running back Esiah Gracia connected on a pass, and both broke off good runs to cross into Bulldogs territory after a fourth-and-1 pickup. Gracia turned the ensuing play into a 46-yard rushing touchdown, tying the game at 6 during the first quarter after both teams missed PATs.

“When we actually started blocking well, continued to keep pressing, good things started to happen,” Cougars coach Israel Gracia said. “I’m proud of these boys. They continued to fight, got a little banged up, and they fought through it.”

The Bulldogs’ defense locked everything down after the score. DeLuna, junior Carlos Martinez, sophomore Elijah Vela, senior Gavin Martinez and junior Oscar Alaniz dominated in the box to keep the Cougars from running. Sophomore David Caballero and senior Manny Vela led Lyford’s suffocating secondary defense.

Lyford’s defense forced four three-and-outs, two turnovers-on-downs and recorded two interceptions courtesy of Caballero and sophomore Aiden Olivas.

During the second half, Lyford moved Olivas to quarterback and used a heavy dose of junior Alex Rosas in the backfield to eat up the clock with long drives. After using most of the third quarter on a 70-yard scoring drive, Olivas rushed for a 1-yard touchdown.

Santa Maria’s defense almost kept the Bulldogs out of the end zone on the drive with a strong series led by juniors Jordan Ramirez and Nathan DeLaRosa inside the 5, but Olivas scored on fourth down. The Cougars notched two turnovers as Ramirez reeled in an interception during the second quarter and they forced a fumble in the third.

“Speed kills, and we weren’t able to make tackles. Had a little breakdown on the line, and weren’t able to get things right,” Israel Gracia said. “We’re young, and I think we got hit in the mouth and our eyes kind of popped open a bit. We’re going to take that, and next time we face a good football team like that, we’ll be better.”

Caballero had a 68-yard rushing touchdown to end the third quarter, and Nunez busted through a solo tackle attempt to add a 47-yard rushing touchdown during the final two minutes.

Aside from a plethora of penalties and inconsistency with extra points — Lyford was 4-for-7 on PATs and failed to convert one two-point attempt — the Bulldogs put in a solid effort to give them some momentum heading into the District 16-3A Division I season, which begins next Friday against Falfurrias. Santa Maria will travel to Progreso for a non-district contest.

“I’ve been preaching to the boys, this is our last cleanup game before district. That’s our No. 1 goal, just get ready for district. I think (this win) gives them a little confidence going into district,” Jauregui said.

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

The McAllen Rowe Warriors cruised to a District 16-5A Division I victory over the Brownsville Pace Vikings on Thursday at Sams Memorial Stadium.

The Warriors started fast on offense and played lights-out defensively. Rowe shut down Pace’s usually effective run game and controlled the contest from start to finish.

“First off, I’d like to give credit to my coaching staff,” Rowe coach Robert Flores said. “They get the kids ready on offense and defense. My defensive coordinator, Robert Bocanegra, had a great plan coming in and the kids executed, they played hard. … We were fortunate enough to move the football, execute and also make some stops on defense.”

Rowe’s swarming defense dominated the first half. The Warriors held Pace to 89 yards of offense, unofficially. Diego Pacheco, Jason Neal, Yahir Garcia and Anthony Reyes were quick to break up passes and help the solid defensive line stop the run.

Pace’s first two drives ended with negative yardage, and the Warriors took their first two possessions to the house. Rowe senior quarterback Mateo Llanas connected with junior running back Chris Zavala on a quick pass for a 39-yard touchdown, then Llanas hit senior receiver Jorge Diaz after he beat single coverage for a 34-yard score.

The Warriors increased their lead to 21-0 early in the second quarter as Llanas found junior Nelson Ramirez for a 25-yard touchdown on fourth-and-11. Rowe moved the ball with ease as Llanas hit a number of targets and Zavala picked up yards with his legs, spinning and trucking through arm tackles.

“On offense, Mateo Llanas is a three-year varsity guy and came out and controlled the pace, was able to make some plays. The offensive line, along with Jorge Diaz, Chris Zavala, several players did a fantastic job,” Flores said.

Pace didn’t get any offensive momentum going until late in the first half. Rowe senior defensive back Adolfo Gonzalez hauled in an interception, but on the Warriors’ first drive of the ensuing possession, Pace senior linebacker Jorge Rodriguez forced a fumble recovered by junior defensive lineman Julian Vasquez to give the ball back to the Vikings.

The turnover fired up the Pace sideline, and the Vikings used that energy to get on the scoreboard after a 63-yard scoring drive. Junior quarterback Brandon Narvaez ran the ball well and connected with Ivan Gonzalez, Adrian Cantu and Alexander Agado to get down field. Narvaez hit Agado through tight coverage for an 11-yard touchdown.

Rowe only needed one minute to answer. Diaz had a pair of receptions during the quick drive, including a diving catch down the sideline. A pass interference penalty against Pace helped set up Llanas’ 11-yard touchdown run. He ran like a power back to the goal line, plowing over a defender to hit paydirt.

“We made some good plays on defense, but when we made a good play we had one that broke our back. When we had a good series, we gave one up,” Pace coach Danny Pardo said.

The Warriors didn’t miss a beat after halftime. Neal snagged an interception on Pace’s second play of the second half, giving Rowe the ball in Vikings territory. Zavala scored on an 18-yard carry.

Rowe added one more touchdown during the third quarter as Ramirez took a pitch 44 yards. Even after cutting out the passing plays to slow things down in the fourth, the Warriors tacked on a score. On fourth-and-13, Ramirez showed his elusiveness again on a 24-yard shovel pass touchdown.

The Vikings continued to play hard despite the deficit. With starting back Gonzalez sidelined, Cantu and sophomore Valiant Rodriguez showed promise with their carries. Cantu scored on a 1-yard rush after pushing the ball downfield during a third-quarter scoring drive.

Narvaez continued to make things happen with his legs and showed patience against an aggressive defensive line to finish some good throws. He found senior tight end Chase Morales for an 11-yard touchdown late in the game. Senior kicker Emilio Cahuiche was 3-for-3 with PATs.

“We got beat. You can’t hide anything. They were much tougher than we were. We didn’t come out to play, we had a lot of miscues. It’s not an excuse, they just have to learn,” Pardo said. “When you play a team like this, and the rest of the way out it’s all good teams, we can’t afford to start slow, we can’t afford to make mistakes, and when we have to make plays, we have to make the plays.”

Along with scoring three touchdowns, Ramirez notched an interception during the fourth quarter. He was one of several defensive standouts for Rowe. Senior defensive end Victor Vega played a good game and often got pressure on the quarterback. Two Warriors handled the kicking duties; senior Kevin Badillo was 4-for-4 on PATs, and junior Mauricio Andree made all three of his attempts.

Next up, the Vikings (2-2, 2-1) will travel to face Weslaco East, and the Warriors (3-1, 3-0) have a marquee matchup with McAllen Memorial.

“We’re jelling, we’re working hard, but we know that McAllen Memorial’s up next. They’re the king, they’ve done a very good job,” Flores said. “Weslaco East is tough, Brownsville Vets has been playing well. It’s anybody’s, so we have to continue to study, get better and stay healthy.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

SANTA MARIA — It’s not lost on the Santa Maria Cougars that today’s non-district bout against Lyford will be a challenge, but they’re looking at it as more of an opportunity.

The Cougars are 2-1 and riding a two-game win streak into Bulldog Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. The Lyford Bulldogs, also 2-1, are looking to bounce back from last week’s loss.

Santa Maria’s young squad features just six seniors and not much experience since its 2020 season lasted one game. But coach Israel Gracia is happy with the growth the Cougars have made and thinks they’re trending in the right direction ahead of their biggest test yet.

“Little by little, they’re growing up. I’m very pleased with where we’re getting to,” Gracia said. “Lyford’s going to be a whole different animal. Lot of good athletes over there, they’re very well-coached and they’re a good football team. It’s going to be a very, very good test for us. This is a signature game we have to play if we want to get noticed. We’re going to take the opportunity to try and get ourselves a little respect out there.”

Offensively, the Cougars have had success moving the ball and scoring both in the air and on the ground. They’re able to make adjustments depending on what the opposing defense gives them, and Gracia credited junior quarterback Chris Ibarra’s decision-making skills for spearheading Santa Maria’s success.

Ibarra prides himself in being a dual-threat quarterback. He has accumulated 392 yards and seven touchdowns passing and rushed for 143 yards. He’s expecting to see “a lot of blitzing” from the Bulldogs and thinks the Cougars are ready for the challenge and to “show everybody we can play.”

“I like doing both, whatever’s there I’ll do it,” Ibarra said. “I think I’ve done good, but I can do better. I’m teaching everybody, even the receivers because I don’t just play quarterback, so I show them how to do things. We’ve got a lot better.”

Helping Ibarra lead the offense is running back/receiver Esiah Gracia. The sophomore coach’s son has “come into his own” as the go-to weapon for the Cougars. Esiah Gracia boasts 238 rushing yards, 232 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns. He quickly praised his teammates for aiding his eye-catching performances.

“It’s been a big responsibility, but I feel like I can handle it. But I wouldn’t be able to do it with anyone but these guys,” Esiah Gracia said. “The team has been working. Our O-line has been a very big part of this offense. I’m only running the ball. They’re blocking for me to perfection, and I feel like if the O-line can hold up against Lyford, I think we’ll have a good chance.”

On the defensive side, the junior linebacker duo of Jordan Ramirez and Mark Rodriguez has been setting the tone for Santa Maria. Rodriguez is the No. 2 running back and handles kicking duties. Ramirez leads the team in tackles and sacks.

“Jordan just goes hard every play. He’s a very energetic kid, and having him on the field is a plus for us. He’s exciting to watch,” Israel Gracia said.

Ramirez said the Cougars’ defense has been working hard and focusing on pass protection ahead of the matchup with Lyford. He’s excited to go up against a hard-hitting team and believes chemistry will give Santa Maria an edge.

“It’s all about the bond we’ve got. We’re a small school, small team, and we have a bond. The closer we are, the better we understand how we play,” Ramirez said. “I just play the game with my family, that’s what I call them, my brothers. I like to hit people, I like to hit hard, so I want to teach them how to hit, too. … I’m pretty sure we’ve got this game. A win definitely will bring up our confidence, give our team a little jump. We just have to try really hard.”

The Cougars have some confidence and are feeling good heading into the game, and Ibarra hopes their fans will “come out and watch us play.” Santa Maria’s stadium is under construction, so the team hasn’t played in front of a home crowd, but having that support can help it chase that signature win.

“We have a little momentum, for sure. But Lyford is a tough team. We can’t take them lightly at all,” Esiah Gracia said. “It would mean a lot, because Santa Maria is a small town and everybody looks down on us. So, if we can beat a team like Lyford, it would definitely be an accomplishment.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

PORT ISABEL — The Port Isabel Tarpons had a lot of reason to cheer at a surprise celebration for football coach/athletic director Tony Villarreal held Wednesday in the high school gym.

Villarreal’s Tarpons rolled by Aransas Pass 41-7 on Friday to improve to 3-0 this season. The victory was extra special because it was the 200th win in Villarreal’s storied career.

Though they celebrated the milestone with banners and a confetti bath after the game, the Tarpons weren’t done being proud of their coach, and they presented him with a special plaque at Wednesday’s festivities.

“I think it speaks to the quality of people that are here,” Villarreal said of the celebrations. “Football is important here in Port Isabel. I think most of my wins have been here at Port Isabel, I think we won 60 or 70 in my first stint. It’s special to get it here because you don’t do all this without having special people like are here.”

Several people spoke on Villarreal’s behalf during the ceremony, including two former players that are on his staff at Port Isabel. John Mark Calvillo and Juan Torres both thanked Villarreal for being “a coach for life” and continuing to support them long after high school football.

“I played for Coach Tony and then I coached with him in Weslaco for 11 years, so this is really special for him to reach this big milestone. He’s the winningest active coach in the state of Texas,” Calvillo said. “He’s a special individual, he’s my mentor, and to be here at Port Isabel with him, on the field as he accomplishes 200 wins, is something special.”

Torres told a story about running into Villarreal while he was in college, and the coach asked him what his post-grad plans were. When Torres said he wanted to be a teacher and coach, Villarreal told him “‘call me and I’ll get you a job,’ and he delivered on that promise.”

“Coach Tony is the greatest. He has made every coach on this staff better, every player he’s coached better. He demands our best, and he brings it out in all of us every day,” Torres said. “It’s an honor, it’s a privilege, it’s a huge blessing to be in that office with him every morning, to hear the wisdom, the knowledge, the passion that he has for (his players) and his coaches, too. … I’m glad to be on his team.”

Villarreal thanked his family, his past and present coaches and their families, the fans and school boards and administration for giving him the chance to coach at a handful of schools throughout the years. He called his current Tarpons team “pretty special” and said their obedience, discipline and work ethic will keep them, and him, racking up the wins.

“First and foremost, I want to thank all the former players from Port Isabel, PSJA North, Brownsville Hanna, Weslaco and now back here,” Villarreal said. “This is a very humbling situation. When you get into coaching, you don’t think you’re going to break 200, you just want to win the next game. You just want to do the best for your team and your coaches. …

“I’ve coached at a lot of places, and I am super proud and super happy to coach (these players), and that this happened here. It’s not over. Hopefully we can win a few more games.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

Eight teams in the East Valley are open this week to prepare for the start of district play, but there are still plenty of good matchups to watch.

As District 16-5A Division I heads into the third week of the district slate, the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers (2-1, 2-0) will be chasing another key victory. The Chargers are riding high after defeating title favorite Weslaco East last week, and they’ll be looking for their third straight victory when they face McAllen High (2-1, 1-1) at 7 p.m. Friday on the road.

Brownsville Pace (2-1, 2-0) kicks off the district action Thursday by playing host to No. 9 McAllen Rowe (2-1, 2-0) at 7 p.m. at Sams Memorial Stadium in another contest with early playoff implications. On Friday, Brownsville Lopez (0-3, 0-2) faces No. 6 McAllen Memorial (2-1, 2-0) at 7 p.m. at Sams, and Brownsville Porter (1-2, 0-2) will take on Weslaco East (1-1, 1-1) at 7 p.m. at Bobby Lackey Stadium.

Brownsville Hanna (1-1) will be the only East Valley 32-6A squad in action in Week 4. On Thursday, the Golden Eagles will travel to Buccaneer Stadium to take on Corpus Christi Miller (2-1) at 7 p.m.

Port Isabel (3-0), Raymondville (2-1) and Rio Hondo (2-1) all have a bye week ahead of next week’s District 16-4A Division II openers. The No. 10 La Feria Lions (2-0), who compete in District 16-4A Division I, play host to Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway (1-2) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The Lyford Bulldogs (2-1) and Santa Maria Cougars (2-1) will battle at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bulldog Stadium. It’ll be the last non-district contest for a Lyford squad looking to bounce back from a loss and get back on track before District 16-3A Division I action. Santa Rosa (0-3) travels to Progreso (0-2) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday.

Brownsville St. Joseph (1-1) travels to Hebbronville (2-0) for a 7:30 p.m. game Friday for a final tuneup before the Bloodhounds begin TAPPS Division II District 3 play next week.

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

BROWNSVILLE — Los Fresnos coach Anissa Lucio said the Lady Falcons came very close to picking up that signature win over a top team through their tough non-district season.

On Tuesday, Los Fresnos put a complete match together to make that happen, picking up a 25-19, 26-24, 25-20 victory over defending District 32-6A champion Brownsville Rivera. The Lady Falcons (15-11) improved to 3-0 in district season and sit atop the standings with Harlingen High.

“It feels amazing. I think we were long overdue for a big-time win like this. We’ve been really close … and it’s been coming,” Lucio said. “Rivera’s a great team, we have so much respect for them and this was just a big win for us, so I’m proud of them.”

Los Fresnos boasts one of the tallest, if not the tallest, front rows in the East Valley, and the Lady Falcons wasted no time getting their big block going. Dakota Martinez, Savannah Smith, Olivia Parra and Shiloh Jones showed their dominance at the net and put pressure on Rivera’s hitters throughout the contest.

“It’s very exciting to get all those blocks and hits so we can get that win. Our back row can trust in (the block), and we work really well together,” Martinez said.

The Lady Raiders took control of the first set initially as solid defense against Los Fresnos’ plethora of hitters by libero Richelle Guerra helped setter Clarissa Olivares and outside hitter Kenya Ibarra connect for points.

Martinez and Jones hit well from the middle and opposite pins, respectively, to get the Lady Falcons on a run to their first lead at 6-5. The teams swapped points as both defenses showed hustle and covered the court well to pick up hard swings.

Los Fresnos’ consistent block caused the Lady Raiders to commit an excess of attack errors, sending hits long and out when trying to work around the block. The Lady Falcons took advantage of tips and off-speed hits, improving the passing efficiency, which led to booming kills by Martinez and Parra to create a 19-13 lead. Los Fresnos held off a Rivera comeback attempt late in the opening set to take the 1-0 advantage.

“It feels very good. They were just thinking about Harlingen, they didn’t think about us, and we wanted to prove a point that we’re just as good as them. We’ve continued to practice and improve on our performance, and work as a team,” Martinez said.

The Lady Falcons jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the second set with a nice shot down the line from Jones and solid back-row defense anchored by libero Caydence Castillo. Setter Jenna Rios did a great job mixing up her hitters and finding time to send over a second-touch tip for points. Smart decisions by outside hitter Mia Brown and hard swings from the variety of hitters put Los Fresnos up 20-11.

Emily Morales and Kimberly Chavez brought Rivera all the way back to trailing 21-20. Morales matched Ibarra as an impactful hitter for the Lady Raiders, and Chavez got her block going to force some Los Fresnos attack errors.

Stellar defense by Castillo and Cory Reyes ended Rivera’s run and got Los Fresnos to set point at 24-20. The Lady Raiders again came storming back, killing off four set points to tie at 24 on a rocket off the block by Ibarra. After another hit sent too long, Martinez put down a kill to clinch the second set for Los Fresnos.

“The biggest thing was to know that we control the controllable. That’s what we’ve been battling, and now we’re at the point where we know we can stay in control of ourselves mentally,” Lucio said. “We have some young girls … and they’re growing and learning. They’re really starting to pick it up, and I think we’re peaking at the right time.”

The rallies in Set 3 were top notch as both teams pushed toward different goals, battling to an 11-11 tie. Guerra, Darlyng Longoria and Ashlyn Tapia relentlessly covered the court and delivered on-point passes to the hard-working Olivares to help Rivera go up 16-11.

Determined to finish the match strong, Los Fresnos came fighting back. Tough serving by Castillo and solid blocking by Martinez and Jones got the Lady Falcons on a run to a 20-17 lead. With the sweep in sight, Brown and Parra, who hit and passed well in the back row as well, helped Los Fresnos put the match away.

Ibarra and Alondra Garza helped Rivera make another comeback attempt, trimming the deficit to 21-20, but ball control errors and miscommunication, which were issues throughout the night, held the Lady Raiders back. Rivera (20-10) fell to 1-2 in district.

“They’re playing like they’re afraid to lose,” Rivera coach Mary Elizabeth Avelar-Guerra said. “When they’re playing together, they’re talking, they’re awesome. But then they just fall apart. We’re not losing because we’re not better. We’re losing because we’re not finishing the game. … I told them it’s their choice, they’re either going to roll over or step up.”