By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

East Valley squads will be competing in some top-tier district contests in Week 8, headlined by the classic Battle of the Arroyo.

The No. 3 Harlingen High Cardinals (4-2, 2-1) will travel to Bobby Morrow Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff against the No. 4 San Benito Greyhounds (5-1, 2-1) in the latest edition of the Battle of the Arroyo.

No. 2 Harlingen South (6-0, 3-0) will play host to Donna North (1-4, 0-3) at 7 p.m. Friday at Boggus Stadium. The Los Fresnos Falcons (3-2, 2-1) will take on the Weslaco High Panthers (4-1, 2-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at Leo Aguilar Memorial Stadium. Brownsville Hanna (2-4, 1-2) and Brownsville Rivera (2-4, 0-3) will battle at 7 p.m. Saturday at Sams Memorial Stadium.

The Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers (4-2, 4-1) will play host to McAllen Rowe (4-2, 4-1) at 7 p.m. Thursday at Sams Memorial Stadium in a pivotal District 16-5A Division I game. On Friday, Brownsville Porter (1-5, 0-5) and Brownsville Lopez (0-6, 0-5) take part in the Battle of Southmost, with both teams chasing their first district victories. Brownsville Pace (2-4, 2-3) faces No. 8 McAllen High (5-1, 4-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at DQ Fan Field.

All sub-5A and non-UIL contests are scheduled to be played Friday. La Feria (4-1, 1-0) plays host to Grulla (3-2, 1-0) at 7:30 p.m. in District 16-4A Division I. In District 16-4A DII, the Rio Hondo Bobcats (2-4, 0-3) will travel to Tarpon Stadium to take on Port Isabel (5-1, 2-1) at 7:30 p.m. Raymondville (3-3, 1-2) plays host to Sinton (5-1, 3-0) at 7:30 p.m.

The Lyford Bulldogs (5-2, 2-1) travel to San Diego (5-0, 2-0) for a 7:30 p.m. District 16-3A DI contest. Santa Rosa (1-5, 0-2) plays host to Banquete (4-3, 1-2) at 7:30 p.m. as the District 16-3A DII season rolls on. The Santa Maria Cougars (3-3, 0-1) travel to Premont (3-3, 0-1) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff in a key District 16-2A DI game.

Brownsville St. Joseph (3-3, 2-1) faces Austin St. Michael’s (4-2, 2-1) at 6 p.m. on the road in TAPPS DII District 3. Marine Military Academy (5-1, 1-0) continues its TCSAAL district season with a game at 5:30 p.m. at KIPP Houston (2-3-1).

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

LOS FRESNOS — The revenge tour kept on rolling for the Brownsville Rivera Lady Raiders on Tuesday.

Rivera (8-2 in district) earned a 25-14, 25-18, 26-24 sweep over the Lady Falcons (8-2) on the road, avenging a home sweep it suffered during the first round. The Lady Raiders have now defeated both teams they lost to in the opening round, making the district championship and seeding race much more interesting.

The Lady Raiders used stellar defense and smart offense to clinch the win. Rivera’s hitters made great decisions at the net, hitting and tipping around the big Los Fresnos block, making it a non-factor for most of the match.

“It feels wonderful. I’m so excited for them. They played awesome tonight,” Rivera coach Liz Avelar-Guerra said. “They started on fire. I don’t think I’ve seen them start with this much fire before. I love that they’re coming together as a team really good. They’re really blossoming right now, and it showed tonight.”

Rivera got off to a hot start during the opening set, which was tight to a 10-10 tie before the Lady Raiders opened up things. Emily Morales, Kimberly Chavez, Alondra Garza and Naylah Trevino were solid at the net, dropping hits and tips around Los Fresnos’ block and recording blocks of their own.

The Lady Raiders’ defense covered the court like a blanket, getting under everything the Lady Falcons sent over. Libero Richelle Guerra and defensive specialists Darlyng Longoria and Ashlyn Tapia hustled and passed well to keep Rivera in system and able to shut down Los Fresnos’ offense.

“It feels incredible. We told ourselves we would give everything we got to win this game. We wanted it so bad and to get payback,” Guerra said. “I felt pretty confident in our girls today. Our team was on fire, and I’m so proud. I definitely feel that all our hard work is showing and paying off right now.”

Los Fresnos didn’t attack well during the opening set, and the hitting woes continued in the second. Three attack errors by the Lady Falcons helped Rivera go up 5-0 before Savannah Smith and Shiloh Jones combined for a block to end the scoring run.

Rivera outside hitter Kenya Ibarra sliced kills around the block and contributed from the back row with her heavy swing to help her team extend the lead to eight points. Los Fresnos was sending over free balls and tips too often instead of showcasing its powerful hitters, and Rivera’s back row took advantage with efficient passing. Chavez and Morales came up big to clinch the second set.

The Lady Falcons showed fight late in sets, killing off three set points in the first and trimming the deficit to three points in the second. Smith and every-rotation player Olivia Parra were solid in both scoring runs.

“We’re a young team that hasn’t really been on this platform before, so the more we’re here, we’ll learn. We wanted them to fight for every point, and I was proud they did that,” Los Fresnos coach Anissa Lucio said. “(Smith is) a sophomore and she’s coming into her own, and seeing her play with more confidence is great for us.”

Trailing 2-0 in the match, Los Fresnos played its best volleyball of the night during the third set. Lucio made a lineup change, switching to a 6-2 system and using Jennica Leal as a second setter when the starter, Jenna Rios, rotated to the front row.

The move paid dividends as Rios notched kills and contributed on the block in the third. A block from Jones, a kill from Parra and an ace from Rios helped Los Fresnos open an 11-7 lead and force a Rivera timeout.

“I was proud of our effort in that third set,” Lucio said. “We made a couple changes, and it helped. Offensively, we wanted to try some different things, and it worked out well. I think that was good for us to see.

“We just have to control ourselves better. One play here or there would’ve made a difference, but I was proud of their effort.”

Rivera cut the lead to two points behind Ibarra and Garza, but the Lady Falcons opened up things again, going up 22-16 as Smith dominated at the net and libero Caydence Castillo anchored a solid defensive effort.

An ace from Longoria, who served tough all night, and kills from Morales got Rivera right back in it. Three straight points off Ibarra’s powerful swing and a nicely placed second-touch tip from setter Clarissa Olivares killed off a set point and sealed the victory for the Lady Raiders.

“They were telling each other, ‘We’ve been here before. Let’s keep fighting.’ It shows a lot of heart and a lot of spirit for them to keep fighting,” Avelar-Guerra said. “They were behind, and they just kept pushing. They never rolled over. I’m so proud of the way they fought back.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

The Harlingen South Hawks are the final undefeated team in the East Valley, headlining a big Week 7 with another impressive win.

The Hawks took a big step toward clinching a District 32-6A title by defeating San Benito 28-21. South leaped into the No. 2 spot in the RGVSports.com poll after defeating Harlingen High and the Greyhounds in consecutive weeks, improving to 6-0, 3-0 and taking sole possession of first place in district.

Hawks coach Israel Gonzalez was named the Class 6A coach of the week by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football following the victory. He also received coach of the week honors from the Hispanic Texas High School Football Coaches Association.

Harlingen High picked up a 52-17 victory over previously unbeaten Weslaco High (4-1, 2-1). The Cardinals (4-2, 2-1) are ranked No. 3 after the bounceback win and will face No. 4 San Benito (5-1, 2-1) in the Battle of the Arroyo on Friday. Los Fresnos tabbed a 39-6 victory over Brownsville Rivera, joining the four-team tie at 2-1 in district. The Falcons are 3-2 overall.

Brownsville Hanna (2-4, 1-2) picked up its first district win of the season, taking down Donna North 35-15. The Golden Eagles shook things up offensively, playing junior Joshua Villafranca at quarterback. He was 9-for-15 with 105 yards and two touchdowns in the air, and added one score and 24 yards rushing. Senior defensive back Anthony Ambriz recorded two pick-sixes to aid the win.

Brownsville Rivera (2-4, 0-3) and Donna North (1-4, 0-3) are still chasing their first 32-6A victories.

The Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers (4-2, 4-1) are in a three-way tie for second in District 16-5A Division I, sitting one game behind No. 7 McAllen Memorial (5-1, 5-0). The Chargers defeated Brownsville Lopez (0-6, 0-5) 42-0 on Thursday. Brownsville Pace is 2-4, 2-3 after losing to McAllen Memorial 34-20, and Brownsville Porter is 1-5, 0-5 following a 22-16 loss to La Joya Palmview.

The La Feria Lions (4-1, 1-0) defeated Zapata 56-29 to open their District 16-4A DI title campaign on a strong note.

In District 16-4A DII, the Raymondville Bearkats (3-3, 1-2) picked up their first win, defeating Robstown 54-6. Senior quarterback Jayson Cantu threw for 125 yards and two touchdowns, and Diego Gutierrez added three rushing touchdowns and 114 rushing yards on 16 carries. Port Isabel (5-1, 2-1) suffered its first loss of the season, 61-6 to Sinton, and is tied for second in the 16-4A DI standings. Rio Hondo (2-4) fell to 0-3 in district after a 63-21 loss to Rockport-Fulton.

The Lyford Bulldogs (5-2, 2-1) defeated Santa Gertrudis 39-22 and sit in third in District 16-3A DI. Junior quarterback Osmar Martinez accumulated 227 passing and 150 rushing yards, and scored two touchdowns. Alex Rosas added 127 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Senior Justin Vela and junior Oscar Martinez both eclipsed 100 receiving yards in the contest.

Santa Rosa (1-5, 0-2) lost 30-6 to Taft in a District 16-3A DII contest, and Santa Maria (3-3, 0-1) was beaten 7-0 by Ben Bolt in its District 16-2A DI opener. Brownsville St. Joseph (3-3, 2-1) dropped its first TAPPS DII District 3 game 62-7 to Boerne Geneva. The Bloodhounds are in a four-way tie for second in the eight-team district standings.

Marine Military Academy earned a shutout win over Houston KIPP Generations Collegiate, 48-0, to begin the Texas Charter School Academic and Athletic League district season.

By EDWARD SEVERN, Special to RGVSports.com

LA FERIA — The La Feria cross country teams dominated the District 32-4A meet Monday at La Feria High School.

The boys and girls teams won first place, and individually La Feria swept the podium.

It was a cooler morning than the runners are accustomed to. The hot and humid mornings of the summer are fading, and it was a good morning to go on a long distance run, especially if they were wearing maroon.

In the girls race, Liana Navarro cruised out to an early lead in the first mile. Only her teammates could keep pace, but even they finished a minute behind Navarro in the end. Navarro finished the race in 11 minutes, 51 seconds.

“I felt good, last year we did not compete with hills, so having that was a little harder, but I pushed through,” she said. “It was a personal record for me, beating my time from last week. It feels good going back to regionals. This is my second time.”

The Lionettes rounded it out the top five. Mia Trevino, Leandra Fernandez, Lindsey Cantu and Cierra Garcia all finished one minute better than the next school.

“The girls ran really well, they hit their paces,” Lionettes cross country coach Graciela Campos said. “They did a good job, they have been performing well all season long, and they came out and did what they were supposed to do.

“The last time they ran in Corpus, they won. They liked the course, and they performed well. Only time will tell, but we feel good about regionals. All my girls work hard and are ready.”

Hidalgo’s Leslie Prevot finished sixth with a time of 14:28, and as a team Hidalgo came in second place, Mayte Toledano (10), Victoria Martinez (11), Aymee Martinez (12) and Aylin Saucedo (14) contributed to the team finish.

Hidalgo’s finish was mixed with some runners from Grulla, which took third. Grulla’s Ayleen Perales (7) and Rebekah Hernandez (8) were the team’s best performers, finishing around 14:50. All three teams will advance to the regional meet.

It was the same thing for the boys. The Lions’ runners unleashed a strong pace. Julian Dominguez, Evan Torres and Joshual Marquez began the race together, and Christopher Velazquez and Brandon Salinas not far behind. All finished in the top five.

“We had a good showing, I am proud of what they have done,” Lions cross country coach Luis Zuvieta said. “We have some things that we probably want to work on overall. We have some gaps to close between our runners. As long as we keep those gaps closer to our top three, we have a good chance at regionals.

“We want to thank all the parents for the support doing the season and all the coaches, board members and trainers who make it possible for us to compete.”

Dominguez ended up out running everybody with a time of 16:09. Dominguez ditched his teammates after the first mile and beat his closest teammate by 52 seconds.

“It has been a goal of mine since last year. After losing in state last year I made running my dedication, to come back this year stronger and faster,” Dominguez said. “The weather played a key role since I am one that does not drink too much water. Today it felt good with clouds, no humidity … it was good.

“We came in this season with one goal, and that was to make it to state, and we have been doing that.”

Hidalgo finished second. Mike Banda (8), Diego Setien (9), Luis Rios (11), Santiago Hernandez (13) and Andres Ruiz (17) contributed to the finish. Banda had a time of 19:05, three minutes behind Dominguez.

Cleveland Smith (6) was the closest to the Lions, finishing the race in 18:35. Oscar Arona (10) and Smith helped the Port Isabel Tarpons to a third-place finish and a qualification for the regional meet in a couple of weeks.

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

BROWNSVILLE — The Los Fresnos Falcons showed how impactful special teams can be Saturday at Sams Memorial Stadium.

Los Fresnos (3-2, 2-1 in District 32-6A) cruised to a 39-6 victory over the Brownsville Rivera Raiders (2-4, 0-3). The win was fueled by two huge special teams plays that led to the Falcons scoring 18 points during a two-minute span just before halftime.

“It was great. These coaches put together a great game plan for us, and everybody executed and we came out victorious,” Falcons senior quarterback Matthew Padilla said. “Those (special teams) guys are just as important as first-team offense, first-team defense. They made big plays for us, and it gave us momentum for the rest of the game. … We’ve been fighting hard for one another. It’s great to be a part of this team.”

Both teams started slow and struggled to find a rhythm on offense, exchanging punts after short drives. Los Fresnos took the lead with 2:58 on the clock in the first quarter, capping a 78-yard drive with a 22-yard rushing touchdown by Padilla. Early in the second, Falcons senior athlete Hector Muniz extended the lead behind a strong run for a 10-yard touchdown.

During the final three minutes of the second quarter, Los Fresnos scored three times — all because of special teams. First, sophomore kicker Jose Contreras nailed a 42-yard field goal. Then, the Falcons spoiled back-to-back kickoff return attempts by Rivera, giving Los Fresnos’ offense the ball on the 21- and 19-yard line to start possessions.

Padilla connected with Muniz for a 15-yard passing touchdown following the first possession, and on the PAT, senior holder Rex Halford took the snap to the end zone for the two-point conversion. Padilla cashed in the second turnover with a 6-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Edsson Picazo, making it 32-0 at halftime.

“Coach Greg Pena, our special teams coordinator, put a lot of little new things in there and the kids executed. That was big,” Falcons coach David Cantu said. “Offensively, we got our run game going, which was nice. We did just enough in the pass game to keep it balanced, so I’m pleased with that. It feels like (we’re finding our rhythm).”

The Raiders made solid adjustments at halftime and played lights-out defensively during the second half, holding the Falcons to just one late score that came when both teams had backups in.

Junior Eric Arevalo and senior Arnold Rodarte were dominant as they anchored Rivera’s defensive line. Arevalo busted through the Falcons’ O-line and found himself in the backfield often, recording tackles and knocking down or deflecting several passes. Juniors linebacker Abel Campos and defensive back Alek Guzman contributed to the strong defensive performance during the second half.

“The first half, we had a tough time setting that edge. They were getting around on us. Our (defensive coordinator) Hugo Ramirez did a good job with halftime adjustments. They started setting that edge, slowed them down and held them,” Raiders coach Beto Leal said. “Our defense is our catalyst. We hang our hat on our defense. I’m glad they didn’t quit.”

Even with the defense shutting down Los Fresnos, the Raiders couldn’t put together a comeback attempt because of inconsistency on offense. Senior quarterback Ramsey Rocha played well, but he was rushed out of the pocket far too often as the Falcons’ defensive line manhandled Rivera’s offensive line.

When he had time, Rocha delivered nice passes to top targets senior Adrian Arriaga and junior Devin Parker for big gains. Junior running back Luis Reyes ran hard but didn’t have a block to follow or lane to bust through often enough.

Rivera scored during the third quarter on a 10-yard pass from Rocha to Parker, who reeled in the reception despite pass interference. Again, Los Fresnos’ special teams had a signature moment as senior linebacker Jayden Moreno blocked the PAT.

“We got to get something going (on offense),” Leal said. “Ramsey’s doing everything he can, but our O-line, it was a bad night for our O-line. We’re going to fix it.”

Moreno had a huge game for Los Fresnos. He was influential in both kickoff return blunders, recovering the loose ball after the first stop. He added an interception to his highlight reel during the fourth quarter. Junior defensive lineman Vicente Rocio and junior linebacker RJ Limon played well to help lead the Falcons defensively.

On Los Fresnos’ last possession, Halford took over at quarterback and led a 70-yard scoring drive that was helped by penalties against the Raiders. Halford’s 11-yard passing touchdown to senior Cody Taylor spoiled the second-half shutout.

The Falcons did have issues with false start penalties, but overall they put together a second straight solid performance in a district contest.

“We got to control our emotions and fix the penalties. And we have to get healthy. We’re pretty banged up, so hopefully the kids can bounce back,” Cantu said. “I’m proud of the kids tonight.”

Editor’s note: The article was corrected to detail Rex Halford’s passing touchdown, not rushing.

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

The district certification deadline for volleyball is three weeks away, and district races are heating up as the postseason nears.

The District 32-6A race got a bit more interesting this week after Brownsville Rivera handed Harlingen High its first district loss Tuesday.

On Saturday, No. 16 Harlingen High (8-1) bounced back to earn a sweep over Harlingen South (4-5), and the Los Fresnos Lady Falcons (8-1) traveled to Donna North and picked up a 25-7, 25-15, 25-9 victory. The Rivera Lady Raiders are one game behind the leaders at 7-2 after defeating Weslaco High 25-16, 25-12, 19-25, 25-16. Rivera travels to Los Fresnos on Tuesday for a massive district match.

San Benito (3-6) defeated Brownsville Hanna (3-6) at home Saturday, avenging a first-round loss to the Lady Eagles.

In District 32-5A, the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Lady Chargers continued their dominance and improved to 9-0 with a 25-12, 25-12, 25-11 victory over Brownsville Lopez (3-6) on Saturday. Brownsville Pace remains in second place at 8-1 after defeating Donna High (5-4) 25-17, 23-25, 25-12, 25-15 on the road Saturday.

Brownsville Porter (4-5) defeated Weslaco East (1-8) behind another solid effort from middle blocker Brianna Franco (17 kills, three blocks) and setter Andrea Perez (41 assists, 10 digs, four aces). The Porter Cowgirls are in the playoff hunt, one game behind fourth-place Donna High. Edcouch-Elsa is in third at 6-3 after sweeping Mercedes (0-9) on Saturday.

The Rio Hondo Lady Bobcats maintained their perfect record in District 32-4A with a comeback victory Saturday at La Feria. After dropping the first set 25-18, Rio Hondo came back to take the next three 25-15, 25-14, 30-28 to improve to 6-0. La Feria falls to 3-3.

Raymondville (4-2) beat Port Isabel (0-6) 25-13, 25-10, 25-17, and Hidalgo (2-3) took on Grulla (2-3) on Saturday.

Brownsville IDEA Frontier swept Brownsville Jubilee on Friday to remain in second place in District 32-3A at 5-1. The Lady Chargers are one game behind Progreso (6-0).

Santa Rosa (2-4), Jubilee (2-3), and Brownsville IDEA Riverview (2-3) are in the 32-3A playoff hunt with the district season coming to a close. Brownsville Harmony is 0-6 in district play.

Lyford improved to 14-1 in District 31-3A with a sweep of IDEA College Prep on Friday. The Lady Bulldogs are ranked No. 18 in Class 3A by the TGCA.

Also Saturday, in District 32-2A/1A San Perlita defeated Bruni 25-5, 25-7, 25-12. San Perlita is 8-1 in district, behind only No. 9 San Isidro. Santa Maria and Lasara were scheduled to face off at 3 p.m.

In TAPPS 5A District 6, Brownsville St. Joseph (3-2) lost 25-13, 25-19, 19-25, 25-7 to Laredo St. Augustine.

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

SAN BENITO — For the second straight week, competing in another colossal District 32-6A game, the Harlingen South Hawks found themselves trailing after a slow start during the first quarter.

Again, the Hawks rallied and earned a hard-fought, thrilling victory. No. 4 Harlingen South (6-0, 3-0) defeated the No. 3 San Benito Greyhounds (5-1, 2-1) 28-21 on Friday at Bobby Morrow Stadium in another impressive win.

“We weren’t ourselves the first few drives, but after that I went up to the guys and I said, ‘We got this. This is our game.’ And we went out and did it,” Hawks senior quarterback Xander Casarez said. “32-6A is a meat-grinder, and we were playing one of the toughest teams in the district. Much respect to San Benito, they’re a great ball club. We’re thankful and just want to give glory to God. We’re letting the Valley know who Harlingen South really is.”

San Benito forced a turnover on downs and a three-and-out on South’s first two possessions during the opening quarter. The aggressive and quick Greyhounds defense swarmed Hawks runners and did well in the secondary to keep South’s playmakers covered and contained. The linebacker duo of Mauricio Padilla and Armando Bonilla made their presence known early.

The ’Hounds used a fast offensive start and an efficient opening drive to take a 7-0 lead. Sophomore running back Fabian Garcia made an immediate impact, slipping tackles and picking up first downs. Senior receiver Jermaine Corbin pushed through for a 2-yard touchdown run.

South’s defense, led by senior Levi Ince and junior Caleb Anaya, adjusted to slow down the run. The Hawks forced a turnover on downs to start the second quarter, setting the tone for the comeback.

The Hawks opened up the field and Casarez shined to give South a 14-7 advantage at halftime. Casarez completed seven passes to four different targets to get the Hawks rolling during the second quarter. He found sophomore Jacob Cano on third down for a 20-yard touchdown pass midway through the frame. Just before half, Casarez pitched to Jeremiah Rivera, and the senior do-it-all weapon delivered an 18-yard touchdown pass to senior Elias Ledesma for the lead.

“It helps a lot just to know when the defense is covering up our guys, it’s not just one guy, I can throw to whoever I want, hand the ball to whoever I want to, and we’ll make plays,” Casarez said. “I want to thank the O-line for everything they do.”

San Benito’s halftime adjustments immediately paid dividends. The ’Hounds controlled the third quarter, stifling South’s offense and scoring 14 points to regain the lead. Junior quarterback Rodney Rodriguez, running back Atticus DeLeon and Garcia moved the Greyhounds steadily down field. Rodriguez reached the end zone twice, first on a 4-yard keep around the edge and then after showcasing his speed on a breakaway 53-yard touchdown run.

Casarez led a quick South response with two huge passing gains to senior Fidencio Mesa and Ledesma, setting up a 1-yard rushing touchdown for Rivera in the fourth quarter. The PAT was missed, keeping the ’Hounds on top 21-20.

Rene Reyna, Gilbert Lerma and Jayden Galindo helped South’s tremendous defensive effort during the final frame. After forcing a three-and-out, South marched down the field behind tough runs from Marcos Gonzales. The senior running back escaped a tackle on a 26-yard rushing touchdown, then junior Ethan Garza converted the 2-point attempt for the lead.

San Benito punted and turned it over on downs on its next two possessions, failing to take advantage of a fumble recovery. But the defense came up with a huge stop on South’s last possession, giving the Greyhounds one chance with less than one minute remaining to tie or win.

“‘Defense, please do it again. Jesus Christ, help us out,’ that’s what was going through my mind,” South coach Israel Gonzalez said.

South’s defense did indeed get another stop, using heavy pressure to rush the quarterback and a great effort in the secondary to prevent big plays, maintaining the perfect record.

“It feels amazing. These young men deserve it. They’ve grown up so much, they’ve worked so hard. This coaching staff has put in so much time and effort. It’s tremendous. I can’t explain the feeling in words,” Gonzalez said. “They’re learning to finish, learning to be tenacious and to have some grit, and they’re showing true Hawk character. I’m so proud of these guys.”

Next week, the Hawks will take on Donna North. San Benito has another big game, with the Battle of the Arroyo against Harlingen High looming.

“Hat’s off to (South). It was exactly what we thought it was going to be. It was a competitive ballgame, both teams played their hearts out,” Greyhounds coach Dan Gomez said. “I’m proud of our boys (for) not giving up all the way to the end. That’s all we ask these kids to do, play hard and give it all on the field, and that’s what they did tonight. Learn from it and move on.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

There are 26 unbeaten teams in Class 6A midway through the Texas high school football season.

Two of those teams will clash at 7 p.m. today at Bobby Morrow Stadium. The No. 3 San Benito Greyhounds (5-0, 2-0) will be playing host to the No. 4 Harlingen South Hawks (5-0, 2-0) in a massive District 32-6A matchup.

“When we look at our schedule, 32-6A, any given Friday night is a meat-grinder type of game. There’s a lot of great teams in our district, and San Benito’s one of them,” Hawks coach Israel Gonzalez said. “We had a great week of practice. They’re a very well-coached football team, and we prepared as such. We know it’s a really big challenge going into San Benito, and we’re excited about it. I think the atmosphere is going to be electric.”

Said Greyhounds coach Dan Gomez, “The team is focused. Locked in. We understand South is a very much improved program, and they are playing really good football right now.”

Along with their identical records, there are several similarities between the Greyhounds and Hawks.

Both defenses have been dominant this season. San Benito has only given up 48 points to opponents. Harlingen South has only allowed 49. Each team has recorded one shutout victory and held three opponents to less than 10 points scored. Forcing turnovers is a strength for both defensive units.

Offensively, the Greyhounds and Hawks are each led by an efficient quarterback that has a handful of weapons at his disposal. Junior Rodney Rodriguez directs San Benito’s offense and has passed for 503 yards and six touchdowns. Senior Xander Casarez holds the reins for South and has tossed for 743 yards and nine touchdowns.

Both squads run the ball well and have each scored 15 rushing touchdowns.

When they air it out, the Hawks and Greyhounds each have a pair of troublesome receivers.

Senior Jeremiah Rivera leads South’s ground game, which has accumulated 969 yards, with 405 yards and six touchdowns. Rivera and senior Elias Ledesma have emerged as the top targets for Casarez, combining for seven receiving touchdowns. Rivera has 286 yards on 22 catches, and Ledesma has hauled in 23 receptions for 282 yards.

San Benito boasts a whopping 1,233 rushing yards, and the Greyhounds aren’t afraid to lean on sophomore Fabian Garcia to lead the way. Garcia averages 134.2 yards per game and has rushed for six scores. Senior Jermaine Corbin (16 receptions, 249 yards, three TDs) and junior Ricky Perez (14 receptions, 195 yards, four TDs) are the go-to receivers that pick up plenty of yards after a catch.

So, what will set one team apart and help one of these squads maintain its perfect record when the final whistle blows?

Gonzalez believes South’s maturity level and desire to turn the program around are helpful qualities. The Hawks have 40 seniors on the roster leading the program’s best start since 2013.

“Our team’s hungry,” Gonzalez said. “They’re excited about the success they’ve been having. At the same time, they know that rent’s due every day, so they show up and they work, and I’m blessed to have a group of kids that understand that.”

San Benito’s tradition of success inspired a young group to grow up quickly. The Greyhounds tested themselves with a tough non-district slate and came out unscathed, building the program’s confidence. They’re loaded with playmakers on offense and defense, and can show teams a different look with rising junior quarterback Andres Villagran leading some series during games.

Gonzalez said the Hawks have emphasized limiting San Benito’s offensive weapons, mainly Garcia and Corbin. He knows South will be facing “a very aggressive defense.” The ultimate goal for the Hawks is playing a clean game and handling their business to walk out with a win.

“It’s us against ourselves,” Gonzalez said. “We have to go out and execute. If we can limit penalties, if we can limit turnovers, if we can execute in all three phases of the game, then we give ourselves an opportunity to be successful.”

Gomez expressed his appreciation for the job the new Hawks staff has done and expects a competitive game. A packed house is expected, and the spirited San Benito home crowd could provide an advantage.

“Their coaching has been impressive to study. We are expecting nothing less than the best from them,” Gomez said. “They will get theirs, and we will get ours. When the dust settles, we will see who is left standing.”

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

The Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers notched their first shutout victory of the season, 42-0, on Thursday over the Brownsville Lopez Lobos at Sams Memorial Stadium.

The Chargers improved to 4-2 and 4-1 in a loaded District 16-5A Division I with the win, staying in the playoff and title hunt. Lopez falls to 0-6, 0-5 despite a good effort from the resilient squad.

“We had some mistakes, self-imposed, in the first half, and we cleaned that up in the second half and were able to make the most of our opportunities. I was pleased with our four quarters of football tonight,” Chargers coach Kelley Lee said.

Brownsville Veterans took its opening drive 56 yards for a quick lead. Freshman running back Storm Montoya and junior running back Jay Valdez breezed through the Lopez defense to move the chains on first down and get the Chargers in rhythm. Senior RB/linebacker Jorge Alvarado scored on a 12-yard carry, zig-zagging through defenders and out of tackles.

“All our running backs ran really hard, had a lot of yards after contact. And they’re doing a great job of blocking for each other as well,” Lee said.

After forcing a punt, the Chargers stalled in the red zone, slowed down by penalties. Senior kicker Jose Medrano extended the lead with a 29-yard field goal. On the ensuing Lopez drive, sophomore defensive back Gilbert Trillo read the quarterback and snagged an interception.

The Chargers used almost half of the second quarter as they conducted an 80-yard scoring drive. Penalties hurt Brownsville Veterans on the possession, negating two rushing touchdowns from Valdez. After being helped by a pass interference call against the Lobos, junior quarterback Reece Sampayo completed a 7-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Zachary Dennis.

Brownsville Veterans recovered its own onside kick after the score, but Lopez responded by forcing and recovering a fumble, courtesy of senior defensive lineman Andrew Hernandez. The Lobos’ offense struggled during the first half and didn’t build on the turnover, quickly going three-and-out.

“We worked really hard on (BVM’s) scheme, it’s a very complicated scheme that they run,” Lopez coach Armando Gutierrez said. “(Our defense) had a great effort. They were making stops when they needed to deep in their own territory. Offensively, it took us a while to get going, and that’s what killed us in the end.”

The Chargers closed the second quarter by scoring 11 points during a span of 11 seconds. Lopez’s defense, led by Hernandez, Manuel De La Cruz and Jesse Garcia, came up big to keep BVM out of the end zone. Medrano nailed a 33-yard field goal, then on the first play of Lopez’s possession, sophomore linebacker Jaime Martinez took an interception 40 yards to the house. BVM converted a 2-point attempt to make it 28-0 at half.

The third quarter went by quickly as both teams pounded the ball in slow, methodical drives. The Lobos’ running back committee of junior Jesus Castillo, senior Omar Cervantes, sophomore Pablo Lopez and senior Diego Sixtos had success on the ground, but the Chargers’ defense kept Lopez from reaching the red zone.

“When we come out of the slot … we have a few guys we can go to (as running backs), and it helps us set up the passing game. All those kids run hard,” Gutierrez said.

Brownsville Veterans started the fourth quarter with a 3-yard rushing touchdown by Montoya to cap an efficient 59-yard drive. Sampayo hit junior running back Michael McHale in stride for a 45-yard gain to get things started.

Midway through the fourth quarter, the Chargers added their final score of the night on Montoya’s second rushing touchdown, this one from 7 yards out. Montoya was operating the offense at quarterback, his natural position, on the drive.

“I played quarterback my whole life, I’m new to fullback actually, but I’m a good runner. I just got to find the hole, push through, and like (Lee) says, ‘Hit it hard and get a yard,’” Montoya said. “People tell me that I’m slippery and stuff during the game, and it makes me laugh. Being shifty (helps my game). … We have a lot of momentum. We can win district, we just have to fix our mistakes.”

Lopez used backup senior quarterbacks Matthew Compean and Juan Jaramillo under center, and each had one big passing play. Compean found Sixtos, who made a great grab on a low ball, for a 37-yard gain. Jaramillo hit senior receiver Johnny Munoz for 22 yards. Munoz finished with two catches for 31 yards.

“What I started seeing was we started getting blocks up front, we picked up their blitz and it gave us a little more time to make some throws. It’s just a matter of being consistent,” Gutierrez said.

Defensively, De La Cruz and senior defensive tackle Juan Guerrero spearheaded a hard-hitting effort from Lopez.

At full strength for the first time since preseason, the Chargers’ defense played lights out. Martinez, senior linebacker William Wassen and junior linebacker Gary Bardales had productive days to lead BVM’s defense.

“We had two of our starting defensive linemen back (Bryan Chavez and Manny Lerma) that we haven’t had since the scrimmage. Those guys are forces inside, which will help our defense moving forward,” Lee said.

By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer

The home stretch of the District 16-5A Division I season begins this week, and the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers are ready to make a strong final push toward a playoff berth.

Brownsville Veterans is 3-2 overall and sitting in a four-way tie for second in the district standings at 3-1 with five games left on the schedule. Playing in a new “Ground Strike” offense introduced by first-year coach Kelley Lee has changed the identity of the squad, which has fully bought into the “relentless effort” mindset the new coaching staff demands.

“It changed our whole team’s mentality. We’re working a lot harder,” junior quarterback Reece Sampayo said. “There’s a stereotype for spread teams where they’re not as aggressive, and (moving away from the spread) definitely changed the aggressive mentality for the team.”

Sampayo doesn’t have to throw often, but he likes that the run-heavy offense opens up the passing game and allows big plays in the air. He has only completed 20 passes this season, but seven have gone for touchdowns and he boasts 432 passing yards. Along with averaging 21.6 yards per pass, Sampayo has accumulated 185 yards and one score on the ground.

He enjoys the responsibility that comes with conducting the option offense and credits the coaching staff for preparing the Chargers to execute the detailed attack.

“There’s no off plays at all, really. Every play I’m reading something. There’s a lot going on,” Sampayo said. “The team’s bought in. We trust each other, and that’s what we need in this offense. … I believe we have the best coaches in the Valley. They always set the game plan, and whatever they say we do and we’ll see if we can win.”

The new scheme has allowed two unexpected Chargers to become key contributors to the offense.

Senior Jorge Alvarado made a name for himself as a hard-hitting linebacker, and this season his role expanded to include running back. Alvarado has tallied 270 yards and three rushing touchdowns. His powerful running style has him averaging 10 yards per carry.

“It’s been exciting getting to run the ball. I love doing more for the team, and not only being part of the defense but also help out on offense, and not only running but with blocks,” Alvarado said. “At first it was kind of surprising, but once I got into it, I started loving it more. (Being a defensive player) takes the fear out. (It helps with) toughness, getting into that defense and hitting bigger guys.”

Storm Montoya is only a freshman, but he headlines a stacked backfield with a team-high 461 rushing yards on 75 carries and has scored two rushing touchdowns. He shocked himself and his coaches with his emergence into the lead back role. The youngster battles some pregame jitters, but once the ball is snapped his confidence and training take over.

“It’s been crazy, like really crazy. This pace is much faster, and I got used to it pretty fast. I even surprised myself,” Montoya said. “Whenever kickoff happens, I’ll start to get nervous, then once the first play happens it’s gone and I start getting in rhythm. Teams know who I am now. … I was here over the whole summer, I didn’t miss a day and just got reps, reps, reps, and it got easier and easier.”

Montoya said he wasn’t expecting to be a starter, or even to play at all in BVM’s season-opener. His dedication and hard work throughout the offseason impressed the coaching staff, and those qualities have kept him consistently improving in his rookie season.

“We expected him to be on varsity. Playing this big of a role, we didn’t quite expect that,” Lee said. “He’s just done a phenomenal job. He’s got good vision, he’s really hard to tackle in the open field, he’s deceptively strong. But what makes him able to compete as a freshman is he’s very mature. He comes to work, he watches film, he corrects his mistakes and gets better every day.”

Brownsville Veterans has a slew of young playmakers stepping up this season. Of the six players with more than 100 rushing yards at the midway point, only two are seniors. Junior running back Jay Valdez accounts for 365 yards of offense (181 rushing, 184 receiving) and five total touchdowns, and leads the team with 10 receptions.

Lee sees BVM’s youth as a positive. He believes the Chargers are trending in the right direction at a good pace, leading to them being confident as they prepare to close out the season strong. Brownsville Veterans starts the second half of its season today with a 7 p.m. bout against Brownsville Lopez at Sams Memorial Stadium.

“We’re young, so as you’d expect we make some silly mistakes, but because we’re young and we have a good attitude to learn, we’re getting better every week. That’s a good quality because if we continue to do that, we can be pretty good by the end of the year,” Lee said. “They’ve got some confidence and … we feel like we’re healthier than we’ve been in a long time, so we’re ready to make a big push.”