By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

Five teams from the East Valley boast perfect records three weeks into the season.

The No. 4 San Benito Greyhounds and No. 5 Harlingen South Hawks both improved to 3-0 with hard-fought victories over out-of-Rio Grande Valley opponents Friday.

San Benito defeated Schertz Clemens 13-7 behind another good effort from the defense. The Greyhounds reeled in three interceptions — two by junior Mariano Garcia and one by junior Homer Quiroz. Garcia also recorded a sack to aid the victory. He has been one of the top producers on a ’Hounds defense that has only allowed opponents 20 points scored through three weeks, racking up 22 tackles, five sacks and three interceptions.

Harlingen South grinded out a 14-7 road victory over Alice. The Hawks’ offense, led by a senior trio in quarterback Xander Casarez, running back Marcos Gonzales and athlete Jeremiah Rivera, has been impressive while lighting up the scoreboard for 112 points.

South’s defense, which has only allowed 16 points in three games, should not be overlooked and shined in the battle with Alice. Harlingen South notched four turnovers — two interceptions by seniors Levi Ince and Joaquin Montes during the first half, and two fumble recoveries in the second.

San Benito and South are open this week and have turned their attention to preparing for the upcoming District 32-6A season, which kicks off in Week 5.

Port Isabel coach Tony Villarreal picked up career win No. 200 when his Tarpons routed Aransas Pass 41-7 on Friday. The Tarpons are 3-0 and also have a bye week before beginning District 16-4A Division II play in Week 5. Port Isabel outscored its first three opponents 125-20.

No. 10 La Feria and Marine Military Academy are off to 2-0 starts. The La Feria Lions defeated Donna North 39-17 on Friday, and MMA rolled past Monte Alto 36-0 on Friday.

La Feria senior quarterback Aaron Trevino was efficient, going 15-for-19 with 178 yards and three touchdowns passing with another 100 yards and one score rushing. Sophomore running back Zion Dickerson and receivers Joaquin Trevino and Brandon Villanueva again had productive outings. Elijah Vela and Angel Garza led La Feria’s defensive effort.

MMA senior Malik Rivers broke away for two consecutive punt return touchdowns during the win over the Blue Devils, and junior Nathan Harvey had a solid game on both sides of the ball.

Raymondville (2-1), Brownsville Rivera (2-1) and Brownsville Pace (2-1) picked up good wins Friday.

The Raymondville Bearkats came out of its rivalry matchup with then-ranked Lyford with a 30-14 victory after containing the typically explosive offense. Jayson Cantu and Diego Gutierrez combined to rush for 272 yards, and Cantu scored four touchdowns in the win.

Rivera outdueled another high-scoring offense in the Rio Hondo Bobcats, going on the road to earn a 33-13 win. Turnovers and a solid defensive effort helped the Raiders keep the Bobcats contained.

Pace improved to 2-0 in District 16-5A Division I with a 41-17 win over Brownsville Porter. Pace junior running back Ivan Gonzales scored three touchdowns — two rushing — and junior quarterback Brandon Narvaez threw two touchdown passes. Junior Edward Guerrero scored on a fumble recovery, and junior Andrew Gonzalez had a team-high 11 tackles, with four for loss.

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

BROWNSVILLE — There was a competitive field at the Brownsville ISD Cross Country Invitational on Saturday at the BISD Encampment.

The Harlingen South Lady Hawks picked up a dominant victory in the girls team standings, boasting four top-10 finishers and a team score of 38. Alexis Fonseca and Victoria Scarberry took third and fourth, respectively, and were closely followed by Arianna Rodriguez (sixth) and Aliyah Fonseca (eighth). Luz Jimenes contributed to the team score.

“We as a staff were very pleased,” South cross country coach Ralph De La Rosa said. “We have been saying all season that we need to run as a pack, and it looked like we got better at it today. We have girls that don’t mind pushing the pace and (bringing) their teammates with them.”

Brownsville Veterans Memorial sophomore Naia Gracia won the individual girls title, running 19:07.6. Gracia was among the leaders from the gun, separating from the pack with a group of Harlingen South runners and Harlingen High’s Ayianna Olivas, who won silver, during the first mile.

Gracia and Olivas were steps apart as they pulled away on the second lap, but it was Gracia who found another level in the final mile. She finished almost 25 seconds ahead of any other runner.

Gracia cried tears of relief over not letting her supporters down after the race. She had family, friends, coaches and teammates encouraging her at different points throughout the course.

“I saw everybody cheering for me, and it was super emotional,” Gracia said. “I didn’t want them to feel disappointed in me, and that’s what got me going to finish the race. It was super painful because my breathing was already hurting in the last mile, but everybody (was) telling me to keep on going. I just had to give it all, and that’s what I did. … (I feel) super good, super accomplished and proud of myself.”

Harlingen High (66) took second place. Contributing to the Lady Cardinals’ score were Stephanie Suarez (13th), Annabel Reyes (14th), Irene Ramirez (16th adjusted, 18th overall) and Brianna Venegas (21st, 23rd).

Brownsville Veterans Memorial (83) finished third. Loren Averyt (12th) and Bianca Mascoro (15th, 17th) picked up top-20 finishes. Angela Garcia (23rd, 25th) and Kaitlyn Barrios (32nd, 38th) aided the team score.

Brownsville Hanna’s Brissa Stinson (fifth) and Fernanda Aguilar (10th), Los Fresnos’ Jasmine Ponce (seventh) and San Benito’s Deandra Ibarra (ninth) rounded out the top 10 girls finishers.

The meet was essentially a District 32-6A meet preview, with all of the district’s schools running at the future meet site. De La Rosa said the experience and victory will bode well for the young Lady Hawks as they keep “learning and growing” for district.

“It’s important for our runners to get a visual of the course and understand the layout, and it’s always good to run against this very competitive group of young ladies in our district,” De La Rosa said.

The boys race was dictated by a trio of athletes who have solidified themselves as the top distance runners in the East Valley. Harlingen High’s Geovany Cisneros, Brownsville Hanna’s John Abrego and Brownsville St. Joseph’s Pedro Cardenas quickly rose to the front of the pack.

Abrego and Cisneros were neck and neck as they separated from the rest during the second mile. Abrego took a slim lead early in the final mile and managed to create some space, but Cisneros made a move with the finish line in sight.

“I made my move last 800 meters. I didn’t think I had anything left in the tank, but I heard my coaches and parents yelling at me, and I saw him looking back and slowing down, so I decided to give it all I got, and it paid off,” Cisneros said. “Coming in I was scared he was going to pass me again, but when I crossed the finish line I felt good, relieved.”

Cisneros clocked in at 15:46 to win the individual gold. Abrego took second with a 15:54. Harlingen High’s Dominic Luna overtook Cardenas during the final mile and held him off at the line, putting them in third and fourth, respectively.

The boys team standings included adjusted scores. Brownsville St. Joseph’s three runners were all among the first 10 to cross the finish line. Behind Cardenas, Alejandro Ramirez was fifth and Jorge Albores was seventh.

The Donna North Chiefs won the boys team title with a score of 43. With adjusted scores, they had three top-10 finishers in Marc Corpus (fifth adjusted/eighth overall), Jose Torres (sixth/ninth) and Ricardo Rubio (seventh/10th). Benjamin Rubio and Jairo Pedraza added to the team score.

Cisneros and Luna led the Cardinals (59) to a second-place finish. Contributing to the team score were Carlos Marchand (eighth/11th), Chris Nowak (19th, 23rd) and Oscar Martinez (28th, 32nd).

“It’s a good thing we raced here because we’ll know the course (for district), and it gives me confidence in my team that they’ll know what happened here and they’ll want to work harder so come district we’ll get the win,” Cisneros said.

Hanna (68) took third. Ethan Perez (12th, 15th), Carlos Montes (16th, 19th), Esteban Roblero (17th, 21st) and Juan Perez (21st, 25th) aided the team placing.

McAllen Rowe’s Kevin Cardenas in sixth overall in the individual boys standings.

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — This season’s first edition of the Bird Bowl pitting the Harlingen High Lady Cardinals and the Harlingen South Lady Hawks against each other brought great energy to the gym.

The District 32-6A match was played at Harlingen High. The fans in red were rowdy from the get-go, with the packed student section wielding brooms in hopes of watching their No. 18 Lady Cardinals sweep the crosstown rival.

Harlingen High (23-5, 2-0) didn’t disappoint, earning a 25-15, 28-26, 25-15 over Harlingen South.

“I feel a special type of way because I’m an alumni from South but I’ve worked here for five years, so whenever they come into our gym, it’s like, ‘All right, let’s go,’” Harlingen High coach Joslynn Torres said. “I’m proud of them, they handled it well. Mentally, it’s tough to play in this kind of environment, and they did well. … We got ready, we prepared for it, and they executed well.”

The Lady Cards opened a lead during the first set as outside hitter Juli Bryant strung together three consecutive points with booming kills. After a slow start, Bryant’s opposite, Casey Vidal, got going on her second trip to the front row. Vidal’s potent swing and good serves by setter Juliana Valdez helped Harlingen High extend its advantage to 18-9.

Despite the large deficit, Harlingen South was playing well and rallies between the teams were long. Malloree Mireles and Sonia Corona were tough at the net with block touches and good hits, and both team’s back-row defenses showed great hustle to sell out for pancake digs and chase down awry passes.

Back-to-back aces by libero Elena Aguinaga put the Lady Cards up by 10 late in the set. Corona’s serve helped the Lady Hawks cut into the lead, but Harlingen High put the opening frame away comfortably as middle blocker Alana Rouquette slowed down South’s hit at the net.

“When I get (to the service line), I just take a deep breath and think, ‘Get it over,’ first of all. It’s an attack to help my team, and I’ve always taken pride in my serving so it’s great to see that paying off,” Aguinaga said.

Energized by its raucous crowd, Harlingen High quickly jumped out to an 8-1 advantage in the second set, forcing a South timeout. The Lady Hawks came out of the huddle determined and put together an impressive comeback.

Blocks by Mireles and a stellar series from Corona got South its first lead at 13-12. Corona was swinging well in the front, and when she went back to serve, she recorded two consecutive aces for the lead and some cushion.

After swapping points, Bryant put down two straight kills to tie the match at 16. Corona answered, sending over hard hits, and tough serving by Kaylie Dickens put the Lady Hawks up two.

But Aaliyah Gomez, Vidal and Bryant in the front and excellent defense from Aguinaga brought Harlingen High back to set point at 24-23. A block by Mireles and a kill by Meghan Pachciarz swapped the momentum, giving South set point at 25-24.

“I thought Malloree did a good job at the net for us. We knew coming in we had to put a stop to not only (Bryant), but Vidal as well. I thought we matched up well and played well in that set,” South coach Lizzette Esparza said.

The rivals took turns scoring until consecutive kills by the dynamic duo of Vidal and Bryant clinched Set 2 for the Lady Cardinals, 28-26.

“Set 2 was disappointing, and that’s what we struggle with sometimes. Crosstown rivalry game, that’s what we expected, and that’s OK,” Torres said. “I’m proud of them for coming out with the ‘W,’ even in that second set, and to come out in Set 3 and take care of it the way they did, I’m proud of that.”

Harlingen High was fired up after winning the battle and rode the wave to dominate Set 3 and secure the sweep. Vidal and Aguinaga showed their serving prowess, and the Lady Cards’ libero anchored a defense that didn’t let much touch the ground.

“It felt great to have a crowd hyping us up. It’s a rivalry, so we always go all out and it’s the best feeling for my senior year,” Aguinaga said. “Ultimately, I always feel like our communication and chemistry is what helps us out of a hard time. Once we clean up our serve-receive, everything just comes together.”

The Lady Hawks were scrappy and had some really solid stretches, but they gave up too many points with errors to keep up with Harlingen High.

“I don’t think it’s going to get any rowdier than this, so if we can manage and keep it together in a game like this, I think we can manage in any game,” Esparza said. “At the end of the day, I think errors and missed serves at key points were our fault. But I’m proud of them for sticking to the plan.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

The Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers handed the Weslaco East Wildcats their first district loss since 2018 behind a stellar defensive effort Friday.

Brownsville Veterans (2-1, 2-0 District 16-5A Division I) shut down the Wildcats’ offense during the first half and forced a shift in their identity.

Weslaco East (1-1, 1-1) typically employs a run-heavy offense, but the Chargers’ defensive line stymied that plan from the jump. The Wildcats had to turn to the pass in the second half, and the Chargers turned up the pressure to secure a key 24-17 victory over the district championship favorite Wildcats.

“It feels amazing. We knew this was going to be a tough game, we saw all the predictions for Weslaco East. But we didn’t let that bother us,” Chargers senior linebacker William Wassen said. “We knew what we have as a team, and we stayed together and we worked hard every day for this game. We knew we had to bring it tonight.”

Brownsville Veterans sophomore defensive lineman Israel Yanez recovered a fumble to end Weslaco East’s first possession. Yanez and the Chargers’ standout linebacker duo of Wassen and Jorge Alvarado kept the Wildcats completely contained for the majority of the first half, forcing three consecutive punts after the turnover and a change in personnel at quarterback.

The Wildcats didn’t get an offensive rhythm going until late in the second quarter, when they started a drive on the Chargers’ 44-yard-line following a shanked punt. Backup quarterback Alex Martinez completed passes to Jesse Garcia and Jay Vasquez to get some momentum. Vasquez and Martinez picked up key yards with their legs and got Weslaco East into first-and-goal on the 3-yard-line.

With the Wildcats on the 1-yard-line, the Chargers’ defense held firm, stopping a quarterback sneak up the middle and a pitch outside to the speedy Vasquez to keep the Wildcats out of the end zone as the halftime buzzer sounded. Brownsville Veterans’ players, coaches and fans went wild after the goal-line stop.

“When we had the shutout in the first half, I was so proud of these guys. Everything we worked on was executed on the field,” Wassen said.

Brownsville Veterans held a 17-0 lead at halftime thanks to a fast start by the offense. Senior running back/defensive back Jose Moreno and junior quarterback Reece Sampayo led an efficient performance by the Chargers that resulted in three consecutive scores during the first half.

Moreno scored on a 3-yard rushing touchdown during the first quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, Sampayo found senior receiver/defensive back Zackary Dennis after he juked single coverage for a 19-yard touchdown. Senior kicker Jose Medrano nailed a 25-yard field goal midway through the second quarter to extend the lead. Medrano was 3-for-3 on PATs and punted well for the Chargers.

“We’re young, and we’ve started off well and we know we’re only going to get better,” Chargers coach Kelley Lee said. “We were very physical up front. Our D-line got off the ball, our linebackers really stopped the run. We made them one-dimensional where they had to throw in the second half … and that’s not their forte, so anytime you can get someone out of their element that’s good. We accomplished our game plan.”

Weslaco East scored on its first possession of the second half. Starting quarterback Javier Garza returned under center and capped a 72-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard rush. Brownsville Veterans answered three minutes later as Sampayo and Dennis connected again, this time for a 66-yard passing touchdown after the quarterback escaped pressure and delivered a perfectly placed strike.

Trailing by 17 with time running out, Garza and Co. tried to open up the field. Yanez and junior D-lineman Christian De La Garza recorded sacks, and Moreno broke up pass attempts to force Weslaco East punts.

The Wildcats cut into the lead in the fourth as kicker Pedro Espinoza made a 28-yard field goal, but they couldn’t complete the comeback. Wassen and the Chargers’ D-line were too much for Weslaco East to overcome.

“We shut down the run completely. They love to run, that’s all they do. We made them pass, and that’s not something they’re comfortable with,” Wassen said. “We’re going to keep on building with the support from our fans and keep on rolling.”

Diego Ortiz, Silver Rangel, Joe Lugo and Rodrigo Puentes played well to lead the Wildcats’ defense.

Brownsville Veterans junior running back Jay Valdez had another nice game contributing to the offense. The Chargers’ drives were meticulous and time-consuming, and though there were some mishaps that fortunately rolled their way, Lee is pleased with the offense’s consistent growth.

“We really grew up tonight against a quality program, great team. I’m really proud of our guys,” Lee said. “Lot of young guys playing, and they learned a lot about how to play tough district football tonight. (This win) shows us that anything is possible. It’s a tough district, but traditionally it doesn’t get any better than (Weslaco East), so if we can beat that we can play with anyone.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

LYFORD — Packed stands are expected today at Bulldog Stadium for the return of the Willacy County Cotton Bowl between Lyford and Raymondville.

The game wasn’t played in 2020 due to COVID-19, meaning several players on both teams will be experiencing the matchup at the varsity level for the first time. But the lore of the rivalry is not lost on the newcomers, and they’re eager to be a part of it.

“This is something we look forward to. It’s the Cotton Bowl,” junior offensive/defensive lineman Carlos Martinez said. “I’m excited to see packed stands. My freshman year I saw them play, and I want to experience that. We’ve always had stacked teams, both of us. I feel we have more talent than they do, we’ve put in more work, and we’re ready for this.”

Said Raymondville junior linebacker Hunter Posas, “It’s just exciting, after this horrible pandemic, coming back to play our rivalry. … I’ve been working my tail off all summer for this time, this game actually.”

The Lyford Bulldogs (2-0) are confident they’ll be capturing their first victory in the series since 2016. Though the Bearkats have dominated the matchup during the past 10 years, winning six of the eight meetings (no game in 2015), Lyford believes its explosive offense will be the difference-maker this go ’round.

The Bulldogs are averaging 42.5 points and 618 yards of offense per game. Junior quarterback Osmar Martinez has a slew of speedy receivers to throw to, led by top target senior Justin Vela, and moves the ball well with his legs.

Senior athlete Mark Marroquin (71 rush yards, TD; eight tackles) thinks “all the hard work” Lyford has put in will lead to his first Cotton Bowl victory.

“The offense, everything’s been working out. I think our speed does really well on all the plays to help us score,” Marroquin said. “I don’t think history’s going to repeat. It’s going to be the best feeling because we’ve been losing for, like, five years, but I think we’re going to win this one. It’s going to be a good game. I feel like it’s going to be a shootout, but I think we’re going to stop them and come out on top.”

Raymondville (1-1) is young and has had trouble with slow starts, but coach Frank Cantu has appreciated the “fighting heart” his team shows. Last week, a late goal-line stand helped put the Bearkats in the win column. They’ll need another solid defensive effort to slow down Lyford, which hasn’t scored in this series since 2017.

“We’ve been practicing hard this whole week, and they’re honestly nothing special. We should be good. All we got to do is execute on our secondary level. I doubt they’ll be able to run the ball on us because our run game is very strong,” Posas said. He leads the team with 30 tackles.

Senior Jayson Cantu is in his third season as Raymondville’s QB1 and feels he’ll be getting one final victory over the Bulldogs. He has thrown five touchdown passes and 454 yards with a high completion percentage. Junior Diego Gutierrez and senior Jayden Garza have been key parts of the offense.

Jayson Cantu, one of the few Bearkats experienced in this game, is telling his teammates to “stay calm and collected” and not get caught up in the revelry. He believes Raymondville is “bigger up front” and can battle Lyford’s defense.

“The energy’s way up, more than the other games just because it’s our rival. The stands get a little more hyped. It helps us out on the field to go a little harder,” Cantu said. “But it’s just another game for us, we have bigger opponents coming up in district, so stick to our game plan and we’ll be all right. We’re not worried, I’ll tell you that.”

This will be Lyford coach Jerry Jauregui’s first Cotton Bowl as a head coach. His No. 9 Bulldogs are arguably the favorite, but he doesn’t want them thinking about that. Jauregui wants Lyford’s focus to be on showing fight and finishing a game strong.

“We know the history behind this game. But we tell the kids it’s just the next game on the schedule,” Jauregui said. “All the outside noise, we just block it out and get ready for this game. We’ve had good preparation, good practices, kids are locked in. We have a very good offense, very explosive. Execution, no penalties, that’s what we’re emphasizing this week, and hopefully if the ball rolls in our favor we’ll get the victory.”

Frank Cantu called Lyford’s speed “very impressive” and thinks its offense could pose a problem. If Raymondville can contain the Bulldogs on defense and put together long scoring drives offensively, Cantu believes the Bearkats can continue their winning ways.

“It’s just a pride thing, trying to get this win, and then move on. It just makes the whole season go a little bit better,” Cantu said. “We know we have our hands full, but what a great challenge to come up against a team like this and see where we stack up against somebody with that much firepower. Let’s cut the mistakes down and execute our game. If we can do that, we feel we have a chance.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

Coming into the season, Brownsville Rivera coach Beto Leal was excited about the Raiders’ defense.

With eight starters returning from last season, he knew the unit would be experienced and competitive. Through the first two weeks of the season, Rivera’s defense has held opponents to low point totals and showed its potential. The Raiders (1-1) have a big test up next when they head to Rio Hondo for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff against the Bobcats (2-0) and their high-scoring offense.

“They’ve really lived up to (our preseason hopes). We have expectations for them, they have expectations for themselves, and they know when they mess up and when they do right,” Leal said. “(Rio Hondo is) 2-0 for a reason. Rocky James does a damn good job over there, everybody knows that. We want to beat them, and that’s what our plan is to do.

“We have to stop their running back and their quarterback, they’re both pretty good,” Leal added. “That’s our game plan right now. Our whole main focus is stopping those two guys, among others, but those two stand out.”

Rio Hondo has outscored its first two opponents 114-6. The Bobcats are led offensively by senior running back Ethan Jeradiah and senior quarterback Zechariah Rios. Jeradiah has rushed for more than 400 yards and six touchdowns this season, and Rios has added five passing touchdowns and more than 350 yards in the air. Senior receiver Tomas Arredondo is a key target in the passing game with 12 receptions for 232 yards and four scores.

The Raiders are confident they can slow the explosive offense. Junior linebacker Abel Campos said the defense is “a lot better than last year” and feels prepared for anything Rio Hondo brings to the table.

“The bond that we have together and all the grind we put in (helps us play well),” Campos said. “Our whole defense is good. Especially on that defensive line, we have a lot of speed on the outside and a lot of strength in the middle. (We expect) a lot of trick plays and different plays (we can stop) with our D-line and our linebackers.”

Fellow junior linebacker Jose Hernandez echoed Campos’ sentiments, saying the defense has “improved tremendously” since last year. Hernandez said the Raiders have a lot of talented playmakers that truly understand the defense, which makes the unit dangerous.

“I think we’re solid and we’re going to get better. We’re a very fast defense and a very aggressive defense,” Hernandez said. “We’ve worked on our corners and backs so we can focus on (Rio Hondo’s) passing. And we’ve worked on contain to stop their running back. They are 50-50, but we’re expecting more of a pass since that’s what kind of hurt us last game. … I think we’re going to win this game. We know our defense and we can call a lot of plays, so it makes me very confident and I have trust in them.”

Leal spoke highly of Rivera’s defensive line, which features seven players in Adrian Lerma, Rogelio Lopez, Damian Rubalcava, Arnold Rodarte, Erick Arevelo, JP Cuello and Hector Guerrero, who rotate throughout the game to stay fresh. He credited defensive coordinator Hugo Ramirez and D-line coach Eddie Wall Garcia for doing a good job with the group that keeps the Raiders competitive.

Leal said he’s expecting today’s contest to be more of a defensive showdown, but he knows both offenses can and will score some points. He wants the defense to start strong and stay strong, and for the team to use this final test before District 32-6A play to continue improving.

“Kids have been playing great. We’re not where we want to be, and nobody really is yet, so we just have to get better,” Leal said. “We had a very good defensive game against PSJA North, offensively we started slow. Vice versa against Edinburg (High), offense started fast and defense started slow. Once we get all three phases together, I think we’re going to be OK. It’s going to be about who comes out to play, the Raiders or the Bobcats.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

HARLINGEN – The Marine Military Academy Leathernecks picked up their second one-sided win of the season Thursday, cruising past Monte Alto 36-0.

MMA opened the season two weeks ago with a 55-14 over Santa Maria, then had a bye week. After a slow start Thursday, MMA coach Jim Morton said the Leathernecks made good adjustments and came out strong to close out the second half.

“The first half, I think it was an eye-opener. It’s good that it happens now, it keeps them humble. They came out in the second half and I said, ‘We’re going to see what you’re made of.’ And they did well. I’m happy,” Morton said. “I just wanted a team effort. We had a lot of individualism, and that’s what’s been a problem here for a long time. But once these guys learned as a team they can defeat anybody, they did that in the second half.”

The Leathernecks’ defense had Monte Alto beat down by the second half. They were quick to stop the run and finished tackles to prevent the Blue Devils from moving the ball. William Webb, Nathan Harvey, Brandon Flowers and Isaac Brandt were among the top contributors on defense. During the fourth quarter, MMA pinned Monte Alto deep and picked up a safety.

Malik Rivers, starting quarterback Benjamin Smith and Harvey, the backup QB, played well to open the lead. Rivers broke away for two punt return touchdowns and Harvey tacked on a 67-yard rushing touchdown to put the game on ice in the fourth.

Morton was happy to see MMA continue to play hard to the end despite the comfortable lead and believes the strong start to the season bodes well for the big goals in their future.

“I really believe, with these kids, if we stay healthy, we can go all the way. They’re just a good group of kids, and we’re going to get better,” Morton said. “It’s all about them. We just put them in the positions, and they have a great attitude. This team has great chemistry compared. … What I’m more happy with than anything is the way these guys finish. They don’t ever take a lazy step, and I think that’s the sign of a championship team that plays hard the entire game.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — Two weeks into the 2021 season, the change in mindset and playing style brought on by a revamped coaching staff is already evident at Harlingen South.

The Hawks have eight new coaches on staff, including first-year coach Israel Gonzalez and all new coordinators. Gonzalez praised the team for quickly buying into the new philosophies, and they’re already reaping the rewards.

South is off to a 2-0 start and looking like a well-oiled machine from top to bottom. Senior linebacker Levi Ince said the Hawks are enjoying this strong start, and as a team leader, he’s making sure it’s not a “one-and-done” situation.

“Having this new coaching staff that’s rejuvenated us as a whole and given us this effort is showing us what it’s like to be on a winning team,” Ince said. “We have to keep going on for generation to generation, and it starts with getting our younger guys to really step up whenever its their time to shine. It’s been challenging to have to step up as years go on, but being in the role has been exciting and I’m humbled to be known as a leader on this team.”

Ince and senior athlete Jeremiah Rivera are both three-year starters for South. Rivera credits his teammates being coachable and putting in good work from Day 1 under the new regime for the faster-than-expected culture change.

“The coaching staff brings this energy every day, excitement every day, and it translates to us players and everybody just comes together as one,” Rivera said. “When the coaches first came, they told us it was going to be a process and we just bought into it. Everybody just buying in, the way they love the game of football, we play with a lot of heart and passion.”

Rivera is a Swiss Army knife for South, contributing at receiver, running back, safety and handling kick/punt return duties. He feels best on the offensive side of the ball. He leads the offense with 174 rushing yards, is second with 130 receiving yards and has scored four touchdowns. Rivera said the new offensive scheme has kept opposing defenses off-balance, helping the unit explode for 98 points through two games.

Senior Xander Casarez is the full-time quarterback after splitting time at the position last season. He is 23-for-37 with 387 passing yards and six total touchdowns this season. Casarez was quick to credit the offensive line for the early success.

“(Having one quarterback) shows the team that we have a real leader now, and they put trust into us that we’re going to get the win. I couldn’t give any more glory to God, and I want to thank the O-line for opening up the holes for our run game and for the protection I have,” Casarez said.

On Friday, the Hawks will travel to Alice to take on the Coyotes (0-2) in non-district action at 7:30 p.m. Casarez expects the game to be a shootout, and Gonzalez said it’s going to be a good test.

“They’ve played two top-tier teams in their area, came up short, but watching film they are well-coached and they’ve got a whole bunch of speed and physicality,” Gonzalez said. “We’re hoping to go out there and stay healthy. But we also want to see if we can, again, play a complete game. Play against a competitive opponent and face a little adversity, and see how we respond to it.”

South’s defense held its first two opponents to 302 collective yards and has done particularly well against the pass, allowing only 89 yards. The Hawks have forced three turnovers and given up only nine points. Ince said facing Alice’s offense will help them see how they’ll fair in District 32-6A.

“They’re big, they’re physical, they’re fast. They’re going to be live comparisons to what we’re going to be facing in our district,” Ince said. “We’ve had a lot of speed and quickness getting off the ball. Every group from D-line, linebackers to defensive backs, we’ve all been flying around and playing as a unit.”

As good as all three phases have looked, Gonzalez has been most impressed with South’s mentality. The Hawks are confident and enjoying the process, which has resulted in them debuting this season at No. 7 in this week’s RGVSports.com poll. But they’re not worried about the “outside noise” and are keeping their focus on getting better every day.

“We try and keep our heads out of polls and points and spreads and that stuff,” Gonzalez said. “It goes back to building the culture. If you build a culture of showing up, rent’s due every day and you pay that rent with sweat equity, then you’re going to be all right. … I think our mentality has shifted. Once you believe you can run through a brick wall, it’s going to happen.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

Another busy weekend of Texas high school football is upon us, and this week several East Valley squads will be facing opponents from outside the Rio Grande Valley.

Four Brownsville ISD schools will play their second District 16-5A Division I games this week. The Brownsville Lopez Lobos (0-2, 0-1) will get the action started with a 7 p.m. Thursday game at McAllen Rowe (1-1, 1-0).

On Friday, district foes Brownsville Pace (1-1, 1-0) and Brownsville Porter (1-1, 0-1) will face off at 7 p.m. at Sams Memorial Stadium. Brownsville Veterans Memorial (1-1, 1-0) will play host to Weslaco East (1-0, 1-0) at 7 p.m. at Brownsville Veterans’ on-campus stadium.

Brownsville Rivera (1-1) will travel to Rio Hondo (2-0) for a final non-district bout at 7:30 p.m. Friday before both teams open district play in Week 5.

Rivera and four other District 32-6A teams will have byes in Week 4 before beginning district play. The final tuneup for the No. 4 Harlingen High Cardinals (1-1) will be against Laredo United (0-2) at 7 p.m. Friday at Boggus Stadium. No. 7 Harlingen South (2-0) travels to Alice (0-2) for a 7 p.m. contest on Friday.

The No. 6 San Benito Greyhounds (2-0) have their third consecutive home game, facing Schertz Clemens (0-2) at 7 p.m. Friday at Bobby Morrow Stadium. Los Fresnos (1-0) returns to action after canceling its Week 2 contest due to COVID-19 with a road contest against Corpus Christi Calallen (2-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Santa Maria (1-1) added a game to its schedule this week and will now face San Benito’s JV squad at 6 p.m. Thursday in San Benito. Marine Military Academy (1-0) also will be in action Thursday, playing host to Monte Alto (0-2) at 7 p.m.

All other games involving sub-5A teams will be played Friday.

The No. 9 Lyford Bulldogs (2-0) will host the Raymondville Bearkats (1-1) at 7:30 p.m. in a return to the “Cotton Bowl” rivalry. La Feria (1-0) plays host to Donna North (1-1) at 7:30 p.m. at Lions Stadium. The Lions will be playing for the first time since Week 1, and the Donna North Chiefs come in after ending a 30-game losing streak last week.

Port Isabel (2-0) will be chasing career win No. 200 for coach Tony Villarreal when they travel to Aransas Pass (0-2) for a 7:30 p.m. contest. The Santa Rosa Warriors (0-2) play host to the La Villa Cardinals (1-1) at 7:30 p.m. looking for the first win under new coach Joe Marichalar.

Brownsville St. Joseph (1-1) and Brownsville Hanna (1-1) both have byes this week.

SJA senior quarterback Luigi Cristiano was selected as the private school Built Ford Tough Player of the Week for his Week 2 performance in which he threw for 375 yards and six touchdowns against Santa Rosa.

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

BROWNSVILLE — The Harlingen High Lady Cardinals are on a mission to rewrite the volleyball program’s history books this season.

They’re on the right track one month into the season, boasting a 22-5 record and a No. 18 ranking in Class 6A from the Texas Girls Coaches Association — the first state ranking they’ve had in more than 20 years.

Harlingen High took the first step toward a big goal — clinching its first district championship in 15 years — in Tuesday’s District 32-6A opener. The Lady Cardinals swept defending district champion Brownsville Rivera 25-22, 25-20, 25-19, handing the Lady Raiders their first district loss since 2019.

“They came out … and 100 percent threw (Rivera) off their game. I’ve never seen Rivera play like that because they’re a great team,” Harlingen High coach Joslynn Torres said. “I’m so proud of them. It sets the tone for our main goal, and that’s the district championship. We’ve got our eyes on the prize, and they’re executing very well.”

Rivera started the match by maintaining a two-point lead early in the first set. The Lady Raiders’ hitters were swinging well while the Lady Cardinals were tipping often, which Rivera’s defense, anchored by libero Richelle Guerra, took advantage of. Kenya Ibarra, Emily Morales, Nyla Trevino and Alondra Garza all picked up kills to aid Rivera’s offense.

Outside hitter Casey Vidal’s powerful swing and libero Elena Aguinaga’s tough serving got Harlingen High on a roll. Aguinaga challenged Rivera’s serve-receive, and Vidal and middle blocker Aaliyah Gomez came up big at the net with blocks and kills to aid a six-point run, putting the Lady Cards on top 13-8.

Rivera responded with a pair of blocks by Morales and heavy hits from Ibarra to pull even at 13, then a back-row kill by Guerra gave the Lady Raiders back their edge. The teams played each other tight and swapped points until Vidal took over the back end of the set. She used a well-placed tip and a service ace to give Harlingen High some cushion, then clinched the opening set with a kill.

The Lady Raiders again had a lead early in Set 2. Garza, Ibarra and Kimberly Chavez played well at the net to put Rivera up 15-10 midway through the frame. But as Harlingen High’s hard hits from Vidal, Bryant and Gomez got Rivera’s usually top-notch defense on its heels, the Lady Cardinals came roaring back.

Poor passing kept Rivera out of system and scrambling, and Harlingen High took advantage of the inconsistent attack. A kill from Vidal gave the Lady Cards their first lead at 18-17, and then the combination of her swing and Aguinaga’s serving again gave the Lady Raiders fits as Harlingen High went on a run to win the set.

“I just think we came out flat. I just never saw the fire,” Rivera coach Mary Elizabeth Avelar-Guerra said. “You can’t come out flat just because you beat a team in the past. They’re going to try harder, and that’s what happened. They wanted the game more than we did. We weren’t even talking, and I don’t know why.”

Rivera’s communication and energy plummeted during the third set. The Lady Raiders were visibly frustrated as the Lady Cardinals jumped out to a lead.

Harlingen High’s block came up big throughout the match and especially during the final set. Alana Rouquette, Gomez, Vidal and Bryant all recorded blocks and got good touches to slow down Ibarra and Co.’s hits.

“That’s what we’ve been focusing on a lot, so it’s really nice to see it come through. (The block) looked really good tonight,” Torres said. “Alana, she’s a freshman. She’s the baby, but she’s a sponge. Anything that we tell her, she’s going to try her very best.”

After trailing by five, the Lady Raiders trimmed the deficit with hustle plays and some help from Harlingen High errors. But Bryant came up big down the stretch for the Lady Cards to put the game away.

“Harlingen was on fire. That was the difference, they came out to play and we didn’t,” Avelar-Guerra said. “We still have the second half of the season. There’s a lot of good teams (in our district), so we just have to keep fighting and we have to stay up.”

Bryant finished with 17 kills and Vidal added 14. Aguinaga recorded 15 digs and anchored a solid passing effort that helped Harlingen High setter Julie Valdez notch 46 assists.

“This is exactly what we needed as a district opener. It was time, and we showed up and we took care of it,” Torres said.