DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

DONNA — Early during last week’s regular season finale against Edcouch-Elsa, Amonte Bowen found himself coaching teammate and best friend Edward Dougherty.

“I’m telling you, man, just pull (the ball),” Bowen said prior to the offensive snap. “They’re going to go with me.”

It was a familiar position. Last season, Bowen found himself mentoring Dougherty when he broke his collarbone during the last series of the last scrimmage. Dougherty listened Friday night just like he listened then.

Dougherty, the quarterback, held the ball to an oncoming Bowen at tailback and then pulled it back and raced the opposite way. Like Bowen thought, the defense followed him, leaving Dougherty with nothing but green carpet on the way to the end zone.

“We’re always telling each other stuff,” Bowen said. “The play he scored was on a regular zone and the outside linebacker was about to blitz. Before he snapped the ball, I told him he could pull the ball. He took it and scored.”

It’s been like that all season for Bowen and Dougherty as they’ve led the Redskins to their first district title since 2007. If it’s not Dougherty weaving around a defense, it’s Bowen gashing through it.

Bowen has rushed for 1,780 yards and 21 touchdowns. Dougherty has rushed for 1,098 and 13, respectively. Bowen averages 10.3 yards per carry; Dougherty averages 10.1.

And it’s plays like the one against Edcouch-Elsa, which have been by the dozens, that define the team as much as Bowen and Dougherty.

“That unselfishness of these kids … that’s special,” Donna High coach Ramiro Leal said. “It’s always about the team with them. You have your leaders as kids like that, and that’s why we’ve been successful.”

FOR A REASON

Bowen and Dougherty met in the seventh grade. Bowen had just moved to Donna from Indiana, where his mother Ruti worked as a migrant. Ruti returned her family home to the Valley after her mother passed away.

Bowen and Dougherty became good friends. But it wasn’t until they were going into their junior year of high school that they became really close.

Bowen’s late preseason injury sidelined him for all but the final two games of the 2014 season. Dougherty was forced in as the starting quarterback.

The two had entered August camp competing for the spot, a position Leal said Bowen had won going into the regular season. But Bowen never got there.

“I’m not a religious person, but things work out for a reason,” Leal said. “There was a plan there. Dougherty ends up the quarterback for a reason. Had it not been that way, and Amonte doesn’t get hurt and ends up our quarterback, maybe we don’t really find out how good Dougherty is.”

Bowen was at every practice that season, almost always near Dougherty. Dougherty asked questions. Bowen offered answers.

“During practices early in camp, he didn’t get many reps,” said Bowen, who said he felt “being injured really helped my character in being appreciative for what I have.” “But when I went down, he didn’t wait long to show he could do it. He worked just as hard as I did in the summer, and I didn’t want people to hang their heads just because I got hurt. He can produce just like I can produce.”

The Redskins went 6-4 and lost to Mission Veterans Memorial in the first round of the playoffs. But in the process, Leal found another complement to Bowen in Dougherty, who was going to play slot receiver and back up Bowen at quarterback had things worked out.

“I think Amonte knew he had to push Edward to get him to be where he needs to be,” said senior right tackle Troy Billman, a good friend of both. “To be honest, some of the guys thought our season had gone down the drain. But I gathered the guys and told them it’s not a one-man team. Edward had the breakout game against Brownsville Vets (in Week 1), and we were all like, ‘Damn, he can really play.’

“Since then, we all had our faith in him. He really found himself.”

NO REGRETS

Dougherty is now experienced and confident at arguably the most demanding position on the football field. Bowen is 20 pounds lighter than last season, having spent all summer working out with Billman and watching his diet.

“I’d eat all the calories for him,” Billman said. “My mom would make pasta and salmon and I’d eat the pasta and he’d eat the salmon. We’d do a lot of leg workouts because those burn stomach fat.”

Leal has been at Donna High 27 years. He compares this year’s team to those of 2000, 2001 and 2007, some of the best Redskins teams he’s seen. Leal said a lot of that has to do with Bowen and Dougherty.

“They entered their junior year as competitors for starting quarterback and it ended up being a friendship instead of a rivalry,” Leal said. “Their camaraderie really took off from there. The relationship they’ve made, it’s going to last a lifetime.”

Before their junior year, Bowen and Dougherty talked about winning a district title. They fell short. Before this season, they talked, again, about winning district, but also about going a few rounds deep in the playoffs.

They won district, rolling through District 32-5A unscathed at 7-0. But business is still unfinished as Mission Veterans awaits for a rematch Friday in their Class 5A, Division I bi-district playoff in Donna.

“This year, we’re just a lot closer team, and guys like me and Edward, we’re competitive and we really make ourselves better,” Bowen said. “We don’t want any regrets. We don’t want to be saying we could’ve worked harder or done whatever more. We just want to play our best, and to our best, and let the rest decide itself.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

As the season has developed, Mercedes has benefited from players getting more comfortable in bigger roles.

One of those players is junior receiver Joe Garcia.

“What I really like is his knack to block,” Tigers coach Roger Adame Jr. said. “He wears out those (cornerbacks). That’s what initially caught my eye; he does a great job mixing it up. He’s slowly made some headlines here in Mercedes.”

Garcia caught five passes for 95 yards and a touchdown the last two games. Adame said Garcia’s route-running has provided space for inside receivers Brandon Gutierrez and Daniel Martinez.

“Anything you throw him, he’ll catch,” Adame said. “He knows the importance of going up for every ball. (Quarterback) Zach (Gomez) is getting real comfortable with him and we’re looking for him more.”

Garcia is one of many Tigers playing better as the season goes on. Others include defensive linemen Rolando Rincon, Isaias Vasquez and Marcos Mendoza, and offensive linemen Ernan Borrego, Martin Cano, Danny Melendez, Frank Sierra and Jesus Barrientes.

“This team has come a long way,” Adame said. “We weren’t supposed to be doing this well this early. But we have the team to go in and compete and play with anybody.”

REBIRTH FOR ’JACKETS

Edcouch-Elsa could be getting healthier at the right time.

Running back Tey Valdez is day-to-day after missing the last four games with an injury. And starting quarterback Marco Aguinaga is a possibility, albeit slim one, to play Friday’s bi-district playoff game versus Roma after missing the last seven games because of a finger injury.

“We won’t get any news on Marco until Thursday,” E-E coach Joe Marichalar said. “It doesn’t look like it will happen, but I guess anything can happen from now until then. The finger looks good, seems fine. I don’t know what the hold-up is, it’s just a matter of someone saying he can go.”

Valdez and Aguinaga are two vital cogs to a Yellowjacket offense that has been abysmal the last four games, averaging 14.8 points.

At relatively full health earlier this season, E-E boasted arguably the top offense in District 32-5A. But injuries and a lack of discipline have contributed to its downfall lately.

“What matters is the effort and execution. That’s what makes it go,” Marichalar said. “You go out there and encourage and motivate and try and get everything out of them, but when they’re on that field it’s them in a one-on-one situation. They have to be up for that. A season of ups and downs, you’re going to have moments where that effort isn’t where it’s supposed to be.”

This week, Marichalar has stressed to his players that the playoffs offer a rebirth. E-E’s three-game losing streak to end the regular season? Irrelevant.

“The Lord gave us another opportunity to start a new season,” Marichalar said. “The playoffs are 0-0. We can still show people who we are.”

FINALLY GOOD NEWS FOR BEARS

PSJA High avoided a winless 2015 season by beating Donna North 27-9 in its finale last week.

With just three returning starters from last season, the campaign was a trying one for the Bears.

“Perseverance is what helped us,” coach Steve Marroquin said. “Our kids have stuck it out all year long and they’ve worked. They never put their heads down and never quit on themselves or each other. We knew we were going to get better by the end of the season and we did that.”

The Bears established a new quarterback, freshman Trey Guajardo III, and running back, sophomore Joachim Almaguer, moving forward. Both showed promising flashes of talent, particularly Almaguer, who rushed for 554 yards and three touchdowns.

Marroquin also credited the improved play of an offensive line that consisted of three juniors and two sophomores: Nathaniel Vela, Orlando Huerta, Nick Salazar, Jacob Gonzalez and Michael Portillo.

PSJA High will return 25 kids next season.

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

DONNA — Donna High took care of business Friday night.

It secured the District 32-5A title outright with a demonstrative 31-10 win over Edcouch-Elsa at Bennie La Prade Stadium, leaving a packed Homecoming crowd dancing and singing along to Queen’s “We are the Champions” well into the evening.

The Redskins (8-2, 7-0 32-5A) had clinched a share of the district title with last week’s win over Donna North. But a win Friday made it theirs alone, and they were in no giving mood.

“We wanted to come out and hit them in the mouth,” said senior Edward Dougherty, who rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns. “We wanted to win that district title outright. We didn’t want to share with anybody.”

Just as it has been all season, Donna High was workmanlike.

The Redskins ran the ball at will, the defense hardly bended and never broke until E-E scored a late touchdown with 4:18 left, and they controlled possession. The only difference was this particular win — their eighth in a row — resulted in a complete grasp of their first district championship since 2007.

“As soon as the season ended last year, we had one goal and that was to be district champs,” senior defensive lineman Jorge Ibarra said. “Every huddle, we broke ‘District champs!’ We put in the work and it paid off.”

Now comes the real deal. Donna High hosts Mission Veterans Memorial for its Class 5A, DI bi-district playoff game next week, a rematch from last season when the Patriots sent the Redskins home with a 17-14 win.

“When we found out we were going to play them, the first thing that came up in our heads was redemption,” said senior Amonte Bowen, who rushed for 137 yards and a TD. “It’s going to be an amazing game next Friday.”

Donna High was hardly threatened all night. A slumping Edcouch-Elsa (6-4, 4-3) team that lost its third straight game was once again in shambles.

The Yellowjackets, who turned the ball over once and committed 12 penalties for 75 yards, did not score until there was no time left in the first half, gifted an untimed play after a Donna penalty. Abraham Castilla drilled a 47-yard field goal.

But by then, Donna High had already built a 17-0 lead, and the length of Castilla’s laser kick was only 34 yards short of the Yellowjackets’ entire first half total of 81 yards from scrimmage.

Edcouch-Elsa rotated seniors Andrew Segura and Moses Gomez at quarterback, but neither produced efficiently. The Yellowjackets managed 264 total yards and committed six false start penalties.

“We knew if they came out with Andrew Segura at quarterback, they were going to pass,” said senior defensive back Jarrod Garza, who intercepted Segura on E-E’s third offensive possession. “Anyone else out there, they were going to run that nasty slot offense. We were prepared for both and we executed.”

The Redskins weren’t statistically dominant, but they were in dictating tempo. Donna High rushed for 320 yards and scored on five of eight possessions.

“Those big games we played early really set the tone for the rest of the year,” Donna High coach Ramiro Leal said of the team’s 0-2 start against RGVSports.com Top 10 teams Brownsville Veterans Memorial and Weslaco High. “It got us mentally and physically prepared and everything just flowed.

“We never changed what we did, we just got better at what we did.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

Donna High has already clinched a share of the District 32-5A title, but a win over Edcouch-Elsa on Friday awards it to them outright.

For the Redskins, that means everything.

“I can downplay it as much as possible, but the kids want this thing outright,” coach Ramiro Leal said. “They know what’s at stake. They’re excited. Everybody’s excited.”

The Redskins have a share of their first district title since 2007. Since 2000, Donna High has won the district title in 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007 and now 2015. A loss to Edcouch-Elsa and a Mercedes win over Brownsville Porter means the Redskins and Tigers share the title.

“It’s our turn,” Leal said. “Basketball had one last year. Volleyball had one. In 27 years, this can be our fifth one. They don’t just hand these out.”

The Redskins are pretty much the same team as last year’s version, when they finished second in district and 6-4 overall. But good health has been a theme this season, and in that regard it means senior Amonte Bowen is on the field instead of on the sideline like he was for most of 2014. Bowen is a difference-making talent, having amassed 1,644 yards and 20 touchdowns this season.

“Execution is always key, and we’ve had that because of good health, knock on wood,” Leal said. “As the saying goes, it’s not about the X’s and O’s, it’s about the Jimmies and Joes.”

Leal said this year’s team is similar to the one in 2007 that last won the district title. That team lost two of its first four games, but had a group of talented athletes that stayed humble, worked hard and was selfless.

This year’s Redskins lost their first two games — they’re on a seven-game win streak — but the character and talent has kept it in stride.

“The team concept is big,” Leal said. “It’s one thing to have talent, it’s another for that talent to come and play to their potential. It takes talent, dedication, perseverance and sacrifice.”

A NEW ROLE

The past couple of years, Isaac Vela has been Mercedes’ workhorse back. But coming off a leg injury last season, Vela had to work hard to return to the same elusive talent that once made him a force.

Just recently, coach Roger Adame Jr. said he’s seen the vision and cutting return for Vela. And while Vela’s role has changed — he now finds himself in a talented backfield that includes sophomores Zach Gomez and Fabian Ledesma — he still remains a constant of the Tigers’ attack.

“The offense changed up because of the quarterback, but he’s done a tremendous job,” Adame said. “He’s taken the offense on his shoulders. He wants the ball and he’s a great leader and mentor in that huddle. His role here has expanded even if he’s not getting the ball as much.”

Vela has five touchdowns in his last three games. Prior to that, he had four in six, respectively.

“I don’t see the reluctance anymore,” Adame said. “It was evident early on, but not anymore. He still stops on a dime and cuts back. He’s running with a chip on his shoulder.”

Because of the crowdedness in the backfield, Adame has used Vela more as a receiver out of the backfield. He’s caught six passes for 158 yards. And while he may not get as many carries as he used to, Vela is still efficient, averaging 6.3 yards per tote.

Adame also said Vela’s blocking has been vital. Whenever Gomez or Ledesma burst off for a long run, it’s often Vela using his strength and speed to lead the way.

PLAYOFFS

If Donna High loses this week to Edcouch-Elsa and Mercedes (5-1) beats Brownsville Porter, then Donna High and Mercedes share the district title despite the Redskins beating the Tigers earlier this season. That understanding abides by 32-5A regulations.

The four playoff seeds are set in 32-5A. Donna High and Brownsville Porter (4-2) are Division I representatives, with Donna High taking the No. 1 seed. Edcouch-Elsa and Mercedes are 32-5A’s Division II representatives. Mercedes will be the No. 1 seed, with Edcouch-Elsa No. 2.

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

ELSA — The doctor laughed when 16-year-old JJ Flores asked whether he would be able to play the next week’s high school football game.

“Ay, mijo,” he told Flores. “The things you’re thinking about.”

A shirtless Flores had arrived Sept. 6 at Knapp Medical in Weslaco needing staples on his head and multiple stitches on his ear and lip after he was pistol-whipped during a home invasion at the family’s six-acre ranch seven miles outside of Elsa.

“I was wide awake,” said JJ, a junior receiver on Edcouch-Elsa’s varsity football team. “It wasn’t a blur. I didn’t feel anything. When we left for the hospital, I even checked my hair. I hadn’t gotten a haircut in awhile.”

JJ was asleep that Sunday night when the attack happened. He remembers his mother, Jennifer, waking him up. He started to get up, and he guessed he started to go at the intruder, who had a gun and had followed Jennifer into the bedroom.

“He hit me and I fell. He started asking for money, and I said I don’t know what he was talking about,” JJ said. “He kicked me a couple of times, and he was hitting me, and the next thing I knew I was on the floor. He told me not to look at him or he’d shoot.”

JJ’s father, Jorge, said he thinks the intruder might’ve just been in the wrong house.

“I was getting ready to watch the news, sitting on the couch, and (Jennifer) was laying down there next to me,” said Jorge, who added police are still working on the case. “Next thing I heard was the dogs start growling. I got up and looked through the peephole. But he had kicked the door down. I left to go get my gun, because I had hidden it, and by the time I’m looking for it, he’d followed my wife and did what he did.”

Jorge said the intruder told JJ to hurry up and give him the money because “they’re waiting for me outside.”

CLEAR MIND

JJ started the high school football season strong, catching nine passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns as the Yellowjackets split their first pair of games. When he went to bed early two nights after Edcouch-Elsa’s Week 2 loss at Los Fresnos, it was because he wanted to be at school early Monday morning to work out.

But when he woke up a bit before 10 p.m., JJ was wiping blood from his eyes instead of sleep. By the time Jorge arrived after his finding his gun in a room on the opposite end of the house, it was too late. Jennifer had already dialed 911 with JJ curled on the floor and younger brother Justin Jacob hovering and protecting younger sister Jaelynn Justine.

In the ambulance ride to the hospital, the first words out of JJ’s mouth were: “Am I going to play Friday? Am I going to be alright?” The responders laughed politely.

When he was with the doctor, JJ asked the same thing. The doctor laughed, and then asked JJ to put a shirt on.

“Yeah,” JJ gushed, “we don’t want all the girls falling in love with me.”

Though he was in good spirits, others close to JJ were not.

“It was tough on me,” said A.J. Rodriguez, JJ’s best friend and also a receiver on the Yellowjackets’ team. “I consider him my brother. It took me a long time to function and get through my head what happened. I just was there for him and tried to do everything I could to make him get through it all so he could get back on the field with me.”

Throughout the night, JJ made jokes and seemed anything but scared.

“There’s nothing you can do about it,” he said. “It already happened. It’s still in the back of my mind, but when I’m on the field it’s just about football. Sports, in general, just let me clear my mind, especially from something like this.”

JJ was on the Yellowjackets’ varsity football roster last season, but hardly played.

“I had a senior in front of me,” he said.

This season was going to be a big one for him, however.

“JJ’s not just a talented receiver, but a talented individual,” Edcouch-Elsa coach Joe Marichalar said. “We knew he was going to be something special. He’s blessed with the ability to catch a football. Just throw it up, and JJ’s going to get it. That’s the mentality we have.”

JJ stands only 5-feet-8, 160 pounds. But Marichalar praises his impeccable timing, athleticism and balance that allow him a knack for pursuing passes at the right exact time.

“I’ve been playing football since the third grade,” JJ said. “I don’t really know what it is, it just all comes naturally. Teams put their best guy on me sometimes, but I’ve still managed to be successful.”

BACK AT IT

JJ only missed one game because of the incident (he never did play that next week’s game). Through the first six games of the season, he led District 32-5A in receptions (32), receiving yards (665) and was tied for the lead in touchdowns (6). He averages 20.6 yards per catch.

“I was worried more about his train of thought than anything physical,” Marichalar said about Flores returning to the field in Week 5 against PSJA High. “Going through something so traumatic like that … how is he going to bounce back? Is he going to be thinking about it? Will it affect how it goes about his life?

“But JJ is a very tough individual. He’s yet to even bring it up. It’s like nothing ever happened, and that’s a testament to his mental toughness.”

Marichalar credits the environment the coaching staff tries to emphasize and family upbringing for a kid’s mental toughness. When seeing JJ’s response to the situation, Marichalar was not at all surprised.

He’s seen a similar reaction this season in senior quarterback Andrew Segura, who lost his brother in a car accident less than a month before August training practices started.

“It’s something we try to install in our kids,” Marichalar said. “Life is about ups and downs, and the more mentally tough you are the better percentage you will have overcoming adversity. Even though to us on the outside, we look at situations like those and see a huge, traumatic event. To them, it’s like they’re being built this way. They’re supposed to overcome this.”

Jorge has since moved his family to his mother’s house a few blocks from Edcouch-Elsa High School. In the meantime, he is having a fence, burglar bars, security system and cameras being installed at the ranch.

“I’m more aware,” he said. “Real angry. Upset. I wish I knew who it was, and I wish we could catch him. He’s a good kid, and he’s always been a good kid.”

JJ is still wary of coming home late at night after practices, asking his parents to open the door before he gets home. But other than that, little else has changed.

“He’s come back even stronger than he was before,” Rodriguez said. “Playing football helped him a lot. He just wanted to get back on the field, and that’s what he wants most.”

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RGVSPORTS.COM

At McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium, Rowe scored twice in the fourth quarter to pick up a 14-7 win against La Joya High on Friday night.

Raudel Garcia scored a rushing touchdown on fourth-and-long for Rowe, and then Raul Juarez gave the Warriors the lead on a screen pass. The game went to halftime scoreless before the Coyotes struck first in the third quarter.

“We did a good job executing when we had to on the offensive side,” coach Paul Reyes said. “Defense, they played very well the whole game. They came through with some big stops for us. That was huge for us.”

Rowe moves to 2-6 overall and 2-4 in district in Reyes’ last game as coach, while La Joya falls to 3-5, 2-3.

WESLACO HIGH 28, EDINBURG ECONOMEDES 0: At Edinburg, the Panthers shut out the Jaguars to win their fifth consecutive game. During their winning streak, Weslaco has outscored opponents by a combined score of 231-37.

WESLACO EAST 64, EDINBURG HIGH 7: At Weslaco, the Wildcats enjoyed victory for the sixth-straight week, the longest winning streak in District 31-6A. In their last six games, Weslaco East has outscored opponents by an average margin of 31 points.

The Wildcats remain unbeaten in district play at 5-0, and will face an unbeaten Weslaco High next week in a showdown for the 31-6A title.

HARLINGEN HIGH 48, BROWNSVILLE LOPEZ 0: At Harlingen, receiver Michael Allen Gonzalez had a field day, racking up 212 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns as the Cardinals easily rolled against Lopez.

“Everybody has to rise to the occasion. If your name is called, produce and Michael Allen produced for us tonight,” Harlingen coach Manny Gomez said. “We’re getting better every week and we want to finish this season off with a bang at the Bird Bowl next week.”

Harlingen (7-2, 5-1) is in the lighter part of the district schedule to end the regular season.

The Cardinals had nine total possessions on Friday night and scored on seven of them. Harlingen’s average starting field position was its own 36-yard line, which Lopez (1-7, 1-5) coach Jason Starkey considered the most daunting stat of the night.

SAN BENITO 17, HARLINGEN SOUTH 13: At San Benito, the Greyhounds, spurred by excellent defense that forced three Hawk turnovers, got a not-easy-but-we’ll-take-it win to clinch a playoff spot heading into the regular season finale.

The win puts the ‘Hounds (7-2 overall, 5-1 district) in a position to at least share the District 32-6A title with a win at Brownsville Rivera next week. However, the triumph was by no means pretty, or easy for that matter.

“Our kids did a great job of staying in the game and focused,” San Benito coach Dan Gomez said. “But we’ve got a lot of things to clean up. We’ll get to work real fast and look at what we did wrong. It’s a district win and it puts us closer to our goal, which is a district championship.

We know Rivera will be ready to play. Everybody’s getting ready to play San Benito now.”

The Hawks (3-5, 3-3) committed 14 penalties, two that wiped out touchdowns, to cool down their spirited effort to upset the ‘Hounds for a second straight season.

CLASS 5A

SHARYLAND HIGH 42, VALLEY VIEW 10: At Pharr, Manny Campos threw four touchdown passes as the Rattlers secured their eighth consecutive playoff berth.

Campos found Edgar Alanis, Seth Carter, Blake Klein and Sergio Tornero for scores as Sharyland (5-4, 3-2) won its second straight game.

“Our boys played solid all the way around,” coach Ron Adame said. “First half, we played our style of football and stopped them on defense (to take a 28-3 lead). They got in the red zone but our defense buckled down and forced them into a half goal.”

Jaylen Williams also scored on a pick-6 as the Rattlers look ahead now to Rio Grande City in their regular-season finale. Valley View dropped to 0-9 overall, 0-5 in district.

DONNA HIGH 41, DONNA NORTH 7: At Donna, the Redskins clinched at least a share of the District 32-5A championship with a rout of the Chiefs.

Donna High can win the title outright with a win next week over Edcouch-Elsa. If the Redskins lose, and Mercedes beats Brownsville Porter, Mercedes and Donna High share the title despite Donna beating Mercedes earlier this year. That is the determination by the District 32-5A executive committee’s rules.

Friday night, Edward Dougherty ran for a touchdown and threw a touchdown pass to Jonathan Sandoval. Amonte Bowen rushed for two touchdowns. Paul Guerra and Bo Barrera each had TD runs.

Donna High improved to 7-2, 6-0 in 32-5A, heading into next week’s regular season finale against the Yellowjackets. The Redskins will play the loser of next week’s Mission Veterans Memorial-Edinburg Vela matchup in the bi-district round of the playoffs.

The Chiefs dropped to 1-8, 1-5 in district. Richard Gomez scored the lone touchdown for Donna North.

BROWNSVILLE PACE 17, EDCOUCH-ELSA 14: At Elsa, Brownsville Pace recovered a fumble on its own 45-yard line and then drilled a 41-yard field goal with less than a minute left to upset the Yellowjackets’ Homecoming night.

The Yellowjackets dropped to 6-3 overall, 4-2 in district. Pace won its second game of the season, improving to 2-7, 2-4 in district.

CLASS 4A

KINGSVILLE KING 17, GRULLA 14: At Rio Grande City, the Gators fell victim to a furious rally by King, which drilled a game-winning field goal late to lift the Brahmas to the victory.

King improved to 5-4 overall, 2-1 in district. Grulla fell to 3-5, 1-2.

CLASS 3A

HEBBRONVILLE 28, MONTE ALTO 0: At Monte Alto, the Blue Devils dropped their third consecutive game.

Monte Alto (3-6, 0-3) was shut out for the third time this year against a Hebbronville team (3-6, 3-0) that has won three in a row since losing its first six games.

CLASS 2A

BEN BOLT 40, LA VILLA 30: At La Villa, the Cardinals lost their second consecutive game.

La Villa (3-6, 2-2) closes out the regular season against Santa Maria next week.

DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

Mercedes coach Roger Adame Jr. is looking for one thing out of every game this District 32-5A season.

“We just want to make sure we keep rolling,” Adame said.

So far, everything’s going as planned.

The Tigers are 5-1 since starting the season 0-2. They are 4-1 in district. It’s been a natural progression for Adame’s team, which returned just 10 starters from last season and has a starting backfield of sophomores Zach Gomez (quarterback) and Fabian Ledesma (running back).

But as Mercedes has evolved, it’s no coincidence that senior receiver Brandon Gutierrez has found his rhythm as well. Over the last three games, Gutierrez has caught 11 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns, giving the Tigers the consistent outside threat they need to complement a stable running game.

In all, Gutierrez is second in the district in receiving yards, with 413 and four touchdowns, averaging 19.7 yards per catch. Because of the play of seniors like Gutierrez, receiver Daniel Martinez and running back Isaac Vela, the offense has progressed enough to elevate the Tigers into the district title race.

“We know every game is a learning experience for the young guys, and every game we learn from our mistakes and move on,” Gutierrez said after Mercedes fell to Donna High earlier this month. “But we also know we have enough to win games.”

It’s that mentality that has driven Mercedes. True, the Tigers boast one of the top defenses in the Valley, but if the offense didn’t at least hold its weight, Mercedes would be fighting for a playoff berth instead of a district title. It was a concern coming into the season, but Mercedes has been smart with its play-calling and rarely turns the ball over.

Gutierrez, Adame said, has made sure everyone has fallen in line and worked just as hard, if not harder, than last season, when the Tigers won the district title. Adame’s philosophy is games are won during the week. It’s that standard Gutierrez demands from his teammates.

His intensity is a godsend for a team that has found substantial success through what was supposed to be a reloading process.

“He’s one of those kids that give you full effort, no matter what,” Adame said. “In the spring, summer or fall, he’s going all-out. He’s a competitor. He doesn’t like getting beat and he doesn’t like getting tackled. That’s good. Everything’s a competition for him.”

Adame often talks of players who are about practice or players who are about the game. Gutierrez is both.

“He makes practices game-like with his intensity and fire,” Adame said.

Gutierrez is also Mercedes’ punt returner (averaging 16.5 yards per return), and Adame said he has entertained the thought of playing him on defense as well.

But there is no question that Gutierrez’s worth comes as a release for Gomez. Whenever Gomez scrambles, which is often, the quarterback’s eyes immediately turn to Gutierrez.

Gutierrez has a knack for reading defenses and finding the holes to get open. And once he gets the ball, he said, he knows what to do with it.

“My mentality is that no one can catch me, that I’m the best receiver on the field,” Gutierrez said. “I want the ball.”

During two-a-days in August, Gutierrez said making Gomez’s life easier would be key.

Gutierrez said his main objective was “doing everything in my power to get open and make his job as easy as possible.”

He’s done that.

“When he gets on that field and he gets that ball, he’s gone,” Adame said. “He wants the ball and loves the big play.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

After 17 games and well into its second year as a varsity football program, Donna North notched that elusive ‘W’ in convincing fashion last week.

The Chiefs accomplished the feat on the road, at Brownsville Pace. They won, 17-7, and the win doubled as the program’s first in district play as well.

“No doubt about it, the kids are more excited,” Donna North coach Tommy Sauceda said. “The win was further due than what we expected, but our kids have always worked to get better and we’ve been close.”

Donna North was successful in executing what Sauceda hopes it can become: a run-dominant, defensive-minded group that can grind out games against any opponent.

Dominic Ochoa ran for 144 yards and a touchdown. Richard Gomez caught another touchdown.

Neither team scored during the second half, but Sauceda credited Raymundo Galarza’s 47-yard field goal with nine seconds left in the first half as a big play that gave his team needed breathing room.

A defense ignited by Manuel Lerma (25 tackles) and Carlos Hurtado (17 tackles, 1 sack) won the second half by forcing Pace to work east-west. Donna North’s defense has been a strength all season.

“I’ve said all along that whatever plan we put together, the kids need to see the reward at the end of the day,” Sauceda said. “You work all week to get a paycheck, and we want it to be a good paycheck.

“Saturday was a good one and we look forward to our last two games.”

The Chiefs close the season against Donna High this week and winless PSJA High next week.

SEGURA O.K.

Edcouch-Elsa avoided potential calamity when senior quarterback Andrew Segura returned to practice Monday after missing the second half of Friday’s win against PSJA Southwest.

Segura was held out because of “wooziness,” but was evaluated and nothing serious was found wrong.

“Andrew’s good,” E-E coach Joe Marichalar said. “He told me he’s good and he told me just felt light-headed that day. Even the trainers said it wasn’t a concussion. We just held him out for safety measures.”

Segura is the second-string quarterback, and had he been forced to miss some time the ‘Jackets would have had to go to fourth-stringer Moses Gomez. Third-stringer Tey Valdez is out with injury.

Starters Marco Aguinaga (quarterback), Valdez (running back), A.J. Rodriguez (receiver), Norby Fuentes (defensive tackle) and Miguel Quintana (offensive lineman) are still hurt and not expected to play this week against Brownsville Pace.

REDSKINS CAN CLINCH

With a win against inner city rival Donna North on Friday, Donna High can clinch a share of the District 32-5A championship.

The Redskins, winners of six games in a row, have not won a district title since 2007.

“That’s our approach. I know we have a big game against Edcouch-Elsa coming up, but we’re not looking past Donna North,” Donna High coach Ramiro Leal said. “We know we can get a share of the title if we take care of business.”

Donna High is 5-0 in district, 6-2 overall, and ranked No. 8 in the latest RGVSports.com Top 10 poll.

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

PHARR — The defense and the play of some unsung heroes were good enough. The four turnovers and slew of penalties were not, but that didn’t harm Edcouch-Elsa.

As the Yellowjackets kneeled on the ball following a last-minute gasp from PSJA Southwest on Friday night, the bottom line was they remained in the District 32-5A title chase with a 21-15 win at PSJA Stadium in Pharr.

“We came out of here with a victory and we’ll take it,” E-E coach Joe Marichalar said. “A win is always good no matter how you get it.”

It was far from pretty for either team, and it was perhaps more troubling for the ‘Jackets despite the result.

Quarterback Marco Aguinaga, running back Tey Valdez, receiver A.J. Rodriguez, defensive tackle Norby Fuentes and offensive lineman Miguel Quintana were all sidelined with injuries heading into the game. Things got worse when senior quarterback and current starter Andrew Segura joined them after suffering a hit late during the second quarter.

That forced into action Moses Gomez, the fourth-string signal-caller after Aguinaga, Segura and Valdez, but by then E-E had a 14-7 lead and it was enough.

Marichalar said trainers told him Segura “felt woozy” and he held him out after he got hit for precautionary reasons. Segura will be re-evaluated Saturday.

“It’s a big blow to our offense when you see a guy like Andrew go out, but we had guys who stepped up and that’s what we needed,” said E-E receiver JJ Flores, who caught two passes for 97 yards and a TD. “We were able to come together when it mattered.”

Aside from Flores, it was impressive play from the likes of Gomez (nine carries, 45 yards, TD) and Cristian Garza, among others, who helped keep the ‘Jackets ahead during the second half.

Edcouch-Elsa (6-2, 4-1 32-5A) turned the ball over four times during the second half, but there was no real consequence. Southwest (3-5, 2-3) only turned one of those turnovers into points, and two more times in E-E’s red zone it failed to score.

Three of Southwest’s four turnovers came during the second quarter after it ended the first with a 7-0 lead.

“We had opportunities,” Southwest coach Jesus Reyes said. “We just didn’t make the plays when we had them. We had our chances.”

And it likely cost the Javelinas a shot at the playoffs with two games left.

“It makes it tough,” Reyes said. “We’ve just got to stress playing better.”

The E-E defense, ignited by junior defensive lineman Elias Munoz, kept Southwest’s offense under wraps.

The Javelinas had 290 total yards, but averaged just 3.8 yards per play. Seventy-five of those yards came on Southwest’s opening drive of the game that resulted in a 1-yard TD plunge from Jesus Acosta, Southwest’s star back who had 117 yards on 28 carries.

Reyes praised the relentlessness of Munoz, who invaded Southwest’s backfield early and often.

“We just couldn’t block him,” Reyes said.

But while E-E had spurts of dominance, it almost wasn’t enough.

The Yellowjackets only survived after Southwest turned it over on downs with 21 seconds left on E-E’s 44-yard line.

The Yellowjackets often committed untimely penalties and the offense sputtered for the second straight game, even when Segura was in there.

E-E had 10 penalties for 65 yards and completed just 6 of 24 passes for 125 yards. The run game wasn’t much better, producing just 4.5 yards per play on 29 carries.

In short, the Yellowjackets escaped more than they won convincingly.

“We know we have a lot of things to clean up,” Marichalar said. “As a head coach, I have do a better job of making sure our kids are prepared to face all situations that will happen in a game. We have to have guys ready to go.

“It’s a collective group unit push we’ve got to do as coaches.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

Friday’s District 32-5A bout between Edcouch-Elsa and PSJA Southwest in Pharr bears significant consequences for both teams.

The Yellowjackets need a win to keep their district title hopes alive. The Javelinas need a win to simply stay alive in the playoff race.

“The kids know it’s big,” E-E coach Joe Marichalar said. “They know Southwest is trying to get in the playoff hunt. We’re trying to get back on our path to our destiny. We understand there will be a lot at stake.”

E-E is 3-1 (5-2 overall) in district and coming off a disappointing loss to Mercedes. Southwest is 2-2 (3-4 overall), but the Javelinas are the healthiest they’ve been all season since Week 2 against Grulla.

“We’ve got three games left and this one is huge,” Southwest coach Jesus Reyes said. “They’re coming off a loss and they want to play better and we need to play great to survive Edcouch-Elsa. We stress Edcouch-Elsa more than the playoffs. Play tough, play error-free and play emotional. That means more than anything else.”

The 17-14 defeat to Mercedes last week was tough on the ‘Jackets. Though the Tigers made the big plays at big times, the Yellowjackets were partly responsible for their demise as well.

E-E employs a read-and-react system, particularly on defense and even on offense. The run game is not a strength, but if a defense is giving up the run, the ‘Jackets will take it. That’s what happened early during the game against Mercedes, and it cost E-E.

By the time E-E turned to its passing game fulltime, it was too late. Penalties and poor effort during situational downs only stymied the offense more so during the game’s closing moments.

Tonight’s game will provide the same temptation. Southwest surrenders 246 rushing yards per game, and if that’s what it gives E-E, that’s what E-E will take.

“We want to establish ourselves offensively early,” Marichalar said. “Whatever they’re giving us, we’re going to expose that.”

The flip side is E-E’s read-and-react philosophy has been a success over the bigger picture. The Yellowjackets have fought through a plethora of injuries this season, and continue to do so with running back Tey Valdez (high Achilles strain) and starting safety Victor Valdez (knee) expected to sit out tonight, but that read-and-react way of playing allows others to step in seamlessly.

“It’s the mentality that if other teams do something, we know what to do,” Marichalar said. “Our kids tend to play better and more comfortable reacting and not thinking as much. So we just let them make plays.”

The ‘Jackets will need all the playmaking they can get against a Javelinas team coming off their best game of the season, a 40-0 rout of Donna North. Reyes said he saw a complete effort for the first time this season. Better yet, he returned two starting offensive linemen to the field, and running back Jesus Acosta, playing with a broken bone in his hand, is getting more confident and comfortable every week.

But Southwest’s defense will be put on the spot Friday. Both teams are strong offensively, but E-E’s defense ranks second in the district and Southwest’s ranks fifth. The Javelinas give up 28 points on 323.1 yards per game.

“You can’t make mistakes,” said Reyes, who added his defense must stay in its lanes and force E-E quarterback Andrew Segura to make quick reads and go to his second and third options. “They have that 7-on-7 mentality on offense. They have good skill position players and they just go at you. We’ve got to have the same effort and production we had last week.”

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