DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

David Duty coached Abel Gonzalez III decades ago as an eighth grader at Ringgold Middle School in Rio Grande City.

Duty coached defense and the offensive line. Gonzalez was the quarterback who also played outside linebacker on third downs.

Duty said Gonzalez is the “hardest-hitting eighth grader I ever saw.”

“People told me I was a linebacker who played quarterback,” said Gonzalez, who went on to star at quarterback at Texas A&M-Kingsville and professional arena football leagues. “But Coach Duty was a great motivator and you wanted to play hard for him and go out there and hit somebody.”

Years later, in 2001, the two met again, this time working together on the same staff at PSJA Memorial. Duty was the offensive coordinator and Gonzalez coached the quarterbacks.

“I know what kind of job he does,” Duty said. “He’s a darn good coach. I knew he was going to be a good one right away.”

Now the two friends meet up yet again Friday night, this time as head coaches. Duty’s Hidalgo team hosts Gonzalez’s Grulla team at 7:30 at Pate Stadium in Hidalgo.

As if their history wasn’t enough of a storyline, there’s this: the winner likely assures itself a playoff spot in District 16-4A, Division I, where four of five teams make the postseason. That was the case last year when Grulla, despite finishing with a 1-8 record, still made the playoffs because it beat Hidalgo, 19-7.

Grulla is 2-4, 0-1 in district. Hidalgo is 2-5, 0-2.

“After this weekend, someone in 16-4A has one (district) win and someone has zero, and the one that has one has a better chance of making the playoffs,” said Duty, in his first year as a head coach. “That’s the bottom line.”

Grulla’s read-option offense is potent, led by junior quarterback Fabian Anzaldua. Anzaldua has rushed for 499 yards and seven touchdowns and thrown for 575 and 6, respectively.

“He’s one of the best dual-threat QBs,” Duty said. “He doesn’t make bad decisions, and it will come down to if we can slow him down and eliminate our mistakes.”

Hidalgo’s pistol offense is directed by senior quarterback Peter Quiroz, who has ran for 714 yards and three touchdowns and thrown for 685 and 7, respectively. But more than that, Gonzalez, in his fourth year at the helm of Grulla, said the Pirates are fundamentally sound.

“They’re athletic, play hard and are hardly ever in the wrong position,” Gonzalez said. “They play sound football.”

Duty admitted the winner Friday has the inside track to the playoffs.

“We’re going to have kids fighting and playing for their lives,” he said. “They realize the gravity of the game. Kids are smart. They know what’s at stake.”

Gonzalez, meanwhile, is taking the “next game up” approach. He said the kids understand the situation, but he’s emphasizing playing better, particularly coming off a bye week following losses to Rio Hondo (23-7) and La Feria (27-7).

Those were games Grulla was in at halftime — down 10-7 against Rio Hondo and 13-7 against La Feria — before things got out of hand in the second half.

“We need to worry about finishing,” Gonzalez said. “In a small district, every game is magnified. A win goes a long way and we can’t look ahead or behind. We’ve been struggling and now we had a bye to get ourselves re-focused.”

Friday will be intense, Gonzalez said. That’s because of what the game means and “I’ve got a buddy coaching across the other side of the field.”

Though the tension may be thick on the field, it won’t be on the sidelines. When scouting Hidalgo last week at La Feria, Gonzalez and his family sat with Duty’s family in the stands.

“It’s amazing how time flies,” Gonzalez said. “It doesn’t feel that long ago that he was my coach, and in the blink of an eye we’re head coaches going against each other.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

Playing receiver in Donna High’s power-I offense is not for everyone. Instead of catching touchdowns, Redskin wideouts block for other guys who score them.

“When you play receiver here, you know you’re not going to get the ball,” Donna High coach Ramiro Leal said. “You’re blocking 75 percent of the time. It takes a selfless, humble young man to play receiver here.”

That’s why Leal, who also coaches receivers, can’t talk enough about senior wideouts Bo Barrera and Jonathan Sandoval, who also happen to be cousins. Whenever Redskin playmakers Amonte Bowen, Edward Dougherty or Paul Guerra find the open field for long runs, it’s often Barrera and/or Sandoval, who have combined for just 17 catches and one touchdown, leading the charge.

Barrera and Sandoval have the agility, understanding of angles, and sound technique to clear the way for touchdowns.

“We tell our backs that if they see the receiver’s back, that’s the angle they take,” Leal said. “They read off the blocks of the receivers. You find the receiver’s outside shoulder and take him where he wants to go.”

After not attempting a pass two weeks ago in a win at Mercedes, Donna, which averages 4.2 carries for every pass attempt, threw 12 last week at PSJA High. As the playoffs near, Leal knows smart teams will load the box and play the run. Against the Bears, Leal called for a deep post to open the game, which almost resulted in a timeout from Barrera because he thought the offense had the wrong play call.

This season, Donna has completed 45.6 percent of its 68 passes for three touchdowns to one interception. Barrera averages 14.1 yards per catch and Sandoval averages 11.2.

“It’s a schematical issue,” Leal said. “We have to be able to throw. We can’t just sit there and force something against someone when they have more guys going at you than you can block. We are going to throw the ball more, and we’ll need to.”

GETTING IT TOGETHER

During last week’s 40-0 rout of Donna North, PSJA Southwest (2-2 32-5A) finally played like many expected it to all season. But the Javelinas have dealt with injuries most of the year, so it’s no coincidence they produced their best offensive effort of the season with the return of right guard Angel Valdez and offensive tackle David Rodriguez, who had missed the previous two games.

“It was the complete package, from offense to defense to special teams,” Southwest coach Jesus Reyes said of the game. “There was very little thinking and more reacting. The kids were quick off their feet.”

Reyes simplified things last week. He had the defense line up in base formation almost exclusively all night against Donna North. As a result, the defense flew to the ball like it hadn’t all season.

“We had at least 8-10 helmets around the ball at all times,” said Reyes, whose team gave up just 105 total yards.

The return of Valdez and Rodriguez, seniors with good size, was vital, as is the improving confidence of Jesus Acosta. Southwest’s big-time playmaker is still dealing with a broken bone in his hand, but he’s running more aggressively and is not as tentative as when he was first playing with the injury three weeks ago.

THE RIGHT ATTITUDE

Edcouch-Elsa’s offense has received a lot of attention this year because of a passing game that has lit up the Valley. But the defense has been just as impressive, though that’s more the norm.

The Yellowjackets (3-1 32-5A) are the second-best defense in District 32-5A, giving up 16.3 points on 253.9 yards per game. Three times, they have allowed 10 or fewer points.

“We don’t look too much into the stats,” E-E coach Joe Marichalar said. “What we do concentrate on is that we’ve always been known for defense, and we put that challenge to our kids year in and year out. It’s about an attitude.”

Marichalar said his defense is playing well right now because “our kids are at that point where you can throw anything at them and they know how to react.” It also helps that his linebacking corps of Sammy Alaniz, Rigo Ayala and Joel Cardoza is full of athleticism and strength.

“They’re one of the best I’ve ever coached,” said Marichalar, who coached E-E’s linebackers before taking over the program in 2013.

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

ELSA — Mercedes’ shot at redemption. Edcouch-Elsa’s hope of remaining a leader in the District 32-5A title race.

It all rode on the leg of Aldo Garcia when the senior lined up for a 49-yard field goal attempt with the game tied with seven seconds left Friday night during the 63rd meeting between the rivals.

Garcia’s kick was clean, with yards to spare, as it sailed perfectly through the uprights, giving Mercedes a 17-14 win at Benny Layton Sr. Memorial Stadium.

The kick put the Tigers (4-3, 3-1 32-5A) back into district title contention after an emotional loss to Donna High at home last week, while bringing the Yellowjackets (5-2, 3-1) down a notch in the process. Donna High remains in front at 4-0.

“At first, I thought it was going to go out,” said Garcia, who had not attempted a kick all night. “I’m just happy it went in. I was nervous. I felt a big responsibility to the team and I’m just thankful I could handle it.”

Though the game was close, Mercedes thoroughly outplayed a discombobulated Edcouch-Elsa team.

The Yellowjackets, averaging 33 points on 340 yards entering the game, mustered just 273, 128 after halftime. Much of that was because of the Tigers’ defense swarming quarterback Andrew Segura at any and every chance.

Segura, the district’s leading passer in yards, touchdowns and completion percentage, completed 21 of 33 passes for 176 yards, very few for big plays. He often was forced to leave the pocket and rarely had clean looks downfield.

“Segura’s a great quarterback, but he’s only started three games,” Mercedes coach Roger Adame Jr. said. “We knew if we’d come after him, we’d rattle him. We have playmakers that all came at him.”

Offensively, the Tigers weren’t spectacular, but they did what they needed to, making all of their 257 yards count. They got big plays when called for, and sophomore quarterback Zach Gomez led the charge.

Gomez completed 8 of 15 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown and rushed 16 times for 82 yards, carrying the offense like a veteran.

Gomez said E-E’s defense “threw everything” at the Tigers. He was ready.

“We know how big this is for our fans, ourselves and this city,” Gomez said. “We just knew we had to come up with a win tonight.”

Trailing 14-7, Segura, who rushed for two touchdowns, ran one in from 16 yards out to knot the game with 3:23 remaining. From there, however, Mercedes was cooly methodical. Gomez and Isaac Vela ran for first downs, and Brandon Gutierrez caught a long pass for another first down.

With seven seconds left, following a 10-yard holding penalty that made a long field goal try even longer, Adame still didn’t hesitate to call Garcia’s number.

“We know when we need a long field goal, he gives us the opportunity,” Adame said. “The problem with him is he can take too long, and it can be blocked. But we knew he had the leg and I knew we were going to go for the win.”

They did just that.

“I was expecting a lot more from us, that’s for sure,” E-E coach Joe Marichalar said. “Their better kids stepped up, and when they needed to make plays, they did. We needed to win the big-play ratio, and they made more than we did.”

STRAYING FROM THE NORM

Normally a pass-happy offense, E-E came out Friday set on establishing the run, particularly with Segura as the ballcarrier. The Yellowjackets rushed for 97 yards, but just 3.6 per carry in a strategy that even surprised Adame.

After the game, Marichalar did not address the early change in philosophy.

“(Mercedes) came to play and there were times we could have done a better job and we didn’t,” Marichalar said. “The result is what we got.”

HEATED RIVALRY

E-E leads the all-time series 32-30-1, but has dropped the last two meetings.

Friday’s game had a heavy police presence and both teams were not permitted on the field at the same time afterward.

UP NEXT

Mercedes hosts PSJA High next Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Bears fell to Donna High 63-0 on Friday and remain winless.

Edcouch-Elsa goes to Pharr to play PSA Southwest next Friday at 7:30 p.m. Southwest is 2-2 in district after a 40-0 win at Donna North on Friday.

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

For Friday’s 63rd chapter of their historic rivalry, Edcouch-Elsa is looking to get one step closer to a District 32-5A title, while Mercedes is hoping for a rebound back into title contention.

They meet at 7:30 p.m. at Benny Layton Sr. Memorial Stadium in Elsa.

“You always want to come into it with new intentions, but we’ve been playing each other for so long that they know us and we know them,” E-E coach Joe Marichalar said. “It’s just a fun football game to be a part of.”

The Yellowjackets (5-1, 3-0 32-5A), who lead the rivalry 32-29-1, are winners of four straight this season, but their recipe for success is different than from years past.

E-E employs a spread, pass-happy offense under first-year offensive coordinator Gene Garza. It has worked, even with the Yellowjackets going through two starting quarterbacks. E-E is averaging 260.3 passing yards and passing touchdowns have accounted for 39 percent of its offense.

“They’re doing tremendous job running the routes,” Mercedes coach Roger Adame Jr. said. “Their receivers have good hands and speed and they have the timing of their system down. They have all the elements.”

With starting quarterback Marco Aguinaga sidelined with a finger injury and probably out for the season, backup Andrew Segura, normally the No. 1 receiver, has transitioned seamlessly into the role. In three starts, Segura has thrown for more than 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s also rushed for five touchdowns and completed 62.8 percent of his passes.

“He’s accurate and he has a quick release,” Adame said. “That’s huge. You add that he’s mobile too, and he’s got some great qualities.”

Overall, with receivers J.J. Flores, Tey Valdez and A.J. Rodriguez, Marichalar said his offense has “big-play ability.”

“It’s a level of confidence that our kids have in the offensive coaching staff,” Marichalar said. “There’s a lot of trust that they’ll be put in the right spots. The playmaking ability of our receivers comes into play. When the ball is up in the air, they do a heck of a job of timing and going up to get it.”

The Yellowjackets’ newfound fondness for the aerial attack provides a different test for Mercedes’ defense, statistically ranked as 32-5A’s best. The Tigers allow 18.2 points on 204.5 yards per game, but they’ve played one true pass-heavy team all season in McAllen Rowe. That came in Week 2.

Mercedes goes from game-planning for a power I-team last week in Donna High, which did not attempt a pass, to trying to solve an Edcouch-Elsa team that throws almost 30 times a game.

“As a defensive coach, you adjust every week,” Adame said. “You do the best you can. It’s an adjustment. We go against each other in practice as well, and we pass too, but it is something you have to prepare for.”

Marichalar said reigning district champ Mercedes (3-3, 2-1) is just as explosive as it’s ever been, but is more athletic. Most of that can be attributed to a core of playmaking sophomores, including quarterback Zach Gomez, running back Fabian Ledesma and linebacker Roger Adame III.

But with a team still trying to learn its way, there will be some downs. The Tigers lost 28-21 to Donna last week in a game that ate at them well into the night. As with any young team, tonight will be about how it rebounds, in yet another big game against another formidable opponent.

A second district defeat would significantly hinder Mercedes’ hope of defending its title.

“That Donna game was one of the biggest games they’ve been in and they fought and didn’t back down,” Adame said. “I was proud of them, and all I want is to see that same effort and play. These kids are ready and looking forward to it.

“They still have that bad taste in their mouths, and they’ll be ready.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

Edcouch-Elsa has gone through two starting quarterbacks this season and the offense has not skipped a beat. In spite of a drastically different scheme than what’s been used in years past, the Yellowjackets are one of the most productive offenses in the Valley, no matter who’s calling the shots.

A big reason for that is the offensive line. Quarterbacks Marco Aguinaga and Andrew Segura, each of whom has passed for more than 300 yards in a game this season, have hardly been touched this season, and that’s because of the protection.

The anchor has been senior Jared Cantu. He leads a deep and talented offensive line that features center Elijah Sanchez and stalwarts Joe Prieto, Rigo Cardona, Mike Castaneda, Miquel Quintana, Ricky Estimbo, Andy Olivo and Alvaro Cortez.

“Jared’s been playing tremendously this past couple of weeks,” E-E coach Joe Marichalar said. “He said he wanted to do something special his senior year and he’s living up to it. The entire offensive line has been really solid. They’re all doing their jobs well.”

The Yellowjackets (5-1, 3-0 District 32-5A) have successful transitioned from the ground-and-pound ways of the past to a free-flowing, pass-happy style. E-E averages 33.7 points and 413.3 yards.

In six games, the Yellowjackets have thrown for 13 touchdowns after throwing for nine all last season.

“The offensive coaching staff has done a good job getting the passing game up to par and the kids have a lot of confidence in it,” Marichalar said. “We’re going to build off it, and as they get more comfortable they’ll get better and better.”

BEARS GROWING UP

A win this season has eluded PSJA High so far, but that doesn’t qualify it as a failure.

The Bears, with only three returners from last season, knew this season would be tough. It was about finding answers to uncertainties, and they’ve done just that. Particularly, sophomore Joachim Almaguer has been a revelation, and the Bears may have found their quarterback of the future with the recent emergence of freshman Trey Guajardo III.

Guajardo stepped in two weeks ago for then-injured Andrew Castaneda and completed 12 of 18 passes for 162 yards and a TD and interception in a loss to PSJA Southwest.

“I like his character,” PSJA High coach Steve Marroquin said. “He’s got great leadership skills. He’s an even-keeled young man and he’s a hard worker. He’s soaking up everything right now and showing he’s a fast learner.”

Castaneda returned last week, but Guajardo still saw some reps. Marroquin said he will get more playing time over the new next few games, but Castaneda is still the starting quarterback.

“Our team’s gotten a lot better, games have become a lot closer and we’re becoming a lot more competitive,” Marroquin said. “We have 10 sophomores and the youth that we have is really starting to grow up. The sky’s the limit for us.”

Marroquin said Guajardo is the only freshman on varsity “right now,” implying that more call-ups could be made before the season ends.

“We want to win a football game,” Marroquin said. “Not just a football game, but football games. We’re not out of the mix just yet, and anything can happen these last four weeks of the season. We’re still practicing and playing hard.

“Our approach is still the playoffs, and while it may seem like a long shot, it’s not a long shot to us.”

SHOWING OUT

Coming into this season, Mercedes’ receiving corps was its strength offensively. But because of a conservative approach taken with sophomore quarterback Zach Gomez early, opportunities to showcase receivers like Brandon Gutierrez and Daniel Martinez were limited.

That may be changing. During last week’s 28-21 loss against Donna, Gutierrez had 118 yards and a touchdown off four catches. As coach Roger Adame Jr. gets more comfortable letting Gomez loose within the offense, expect more of that production as the Tigers look to defend their district title.

“I tell myself that no one can cover me,” Gutierrez said after the game. “That’s my mentality. I try and make plays and do the best I can.”

On the season, Gutierrez is fifth in 32-5A in receiving with 241 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 20.1 yards per catch.

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

HIDALGO — The change is subtle for Hidalgo football these days, but that doesn’t make it any less meaningful.

On the field, the Pirates still have more downs than ups. Hidalgo is 2-4 heading into this week’s District 16-4A, DI, game at La Feria. That’s still one win better than all of last season. But that’s not the point.

The point is when you look up in the stands.

“The crowd is the difference,” senior defensive end Lee Roy Barrientos said. “Games are packed for us, and it hasn’t been that way in a few years. I think they see us players who are excited and they get excited. We’ve asked for their support, and they’ve come.”

During this first year under coach David Duty, the vision has been about more than the product on the field. It’s about getting the community and school to embrace football.

The Pirates still lack numbers, but that’s partly because of Duty’s ambition. Yes, the depth is not there, so Hidalgo tends to get worn out late during games, but that’s also because Duty has committed to having full freshman and junior varsity teams.

Duty boasts that his freshman and JV teams have not missed a game and are playing a full schedule. Ideally, more kids in the program means more parental support, which means more interest.

“What’s been great is the fan support,” Duty said. “We’ve had just as many people at the away games as the home games. People come up to me surprised, like, ‘Hey, Coach, we finally have a student section now!’ It’s been really good. The kids are buying in and the community is buying in.”

On the field, the Pirates are better, but nowhere near where they’d like to be. They have been more competitive and players like the direction of where things are headed.

Duty’s offense is the pistol, a read-option scheme that keeps defenses on their toes. The defense is the untraditional 4-3, which the Pirates played two years ago before moving to the 3-4 in 2014.

All of this makes sense to the players.

“I know we have something we can work with,” senior quarterback Peter Quiroz said “It’s not just with the wins, but in the losses we’re competitive. We’re close. It’s all something we can build on, and when you look long-term it will only benefit us.”

During practices, Duty and his staff are always moving and talking. They pick apart plays. They talk individually with kids. They are demanding without being insulting and relentlessly positive when it calls for it.

“He does a lot of coaching,” senior right tackle Jesus Ramos said. “He literally takes us play by play. We know exactly how stuff is supposed to be run. I think you see guys who are really committed. We’re tired of losing.”

The Pirates have lost by an average of 7.7 points, an improvement on last season’s 13.5 point differential. Last week’s game against Zapata was an example of Hidalgo’s progress. The Pirates lost by 14 to the district favorite, but had two touchdowns called back because of perceived questionable calls.

“He brings an offense and defense that benefits us,” Quiroz said. “It’s completely different. I feel like when you play something like the pistol, you’re telling teams you can either run or throw it. As players, that just gives us more confidence that other teams won’t know what’s coming.”

Duty said it’s all a process, whether it’s on or off the field. He talks glowingly about how Hidalgo’s baseball and basketball programs are encouraging their athletes to play football, and how that has already helped add more kids during a time of season when depth is essential. Barrientos talks about how the offensive and defensive lines meet before or after practices to discuss schemes.

“We gave coach our trust,” Barrientos said. “We believe in him because he gave us something to believe in. He talks to us, he motivates us. It’s the small things with him, but the small things work.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

As the chase for the District 32-5A title winds down, The Monitor’s Game of the Week between Mercedes and Edcouch-Elsa at 7:30 Friday night in Elsa looms large.

Not only is it the 63rd chapter of the historic rivalry, which Edcouch-Elsa leads 32-29-1, it is a chance at redemption for Mercedes and a chance to further stake a claim as a district favorite for E-E.

Mercedes, the reigning district champ, can’t afford another loss after falling 28-21 to Donna last week if it wants a shot at defending its title. And Edcouch-Elsa wants to stay out in front, a shiny 3-0 through district so far, and remain as the league’s only undefeated team along with Donna

“Games like this, we don’t have to get our kids up,” Edcouch-Elsa coach Joe Marichalar said. “They get up themselves. It’s a long rivalry that’s talked about for years in the homes of these two communities.

“We know the kids will come and play, that’s for sure.”

The Tigers (3-3, 2-1 32-5A) won last year’s meeting as they rolled to a district championship. This year, they have few returners, but boast plenty of dynamic talent in sophomores Zach Gomez (quarterback), Fabian Ledesma (running back) and linebacker Roger Adame III (linebacker). That’s a nice budding core to put alongside senior playmakers Brandon Gutierrez (receiver), linebackers Fabricio Quintanilla and Adrian Noriega, and Damien Ledesma (defensive back).

And Mercedes will be motivated as well after the heartbreaking loss to the Redskins at home that was determined with 43 seconds left.

“Games like that turn kids into men,” Mercedes coach Roger Adame Jr. said. “I told the kids I was proud of them. They fought and they battled.

“You could tell (the loss) hit the kids when we were in the locker room afterward, but right after they left they were focused and ready to move on to Edcouch-Elsa.”

The Yellowjackets’ (5-1, 3-0) only loss this season came at Los Fresnos in Week 2. They’ve dealt with a bout of key injuries on both sides of the ball all season, and are still doing so with starting quarterback Marco Aguinaga and starting safety Victor Valdez sidelined.

But the play of young players like defensive lineman Seth Garcia and junior receivers A.J. Rodriguez and J.J. Flores have helped steady matters, and the spectacular performance of senior backup quarterback Andrew Segura has kept E-E moving right along.

In just three games as starter, Segura has thrown for 1,022 yards and nine touchdowns and rushed for 326 yards and six more touchdowns.

“He’s playing at another level,” Marichalar gushed.

In general, E-E has a passing game unlike any other team in 32-5A. Under first-year offensive coordinator Gene Garza’s spread attack, the Yellowjackets average 260 passing yards. Mercedes has played just one pass-heavy team this season in McAllen Rowe, a 26-20 double overtime loss for the Tigers in Week 2.

On the other side of the ball, however, will be a Mercedes defense ranked No. 1 in the district, statistically, allowing 204.5 total yards per game.

“It starts when they’re young,” Adame said. “We put into their heads about defense and the physicality part of the game. It means flying to the ball and getting stops.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

MERCEDES — In what Donna High considered a statement game Friday night, its defense said the most.

Defensive linemen Jorge Ibarra and Robert Garza combined for a game-sealing forced fumble and recovery late in the pivotal contest to lead the Redskins past reigning District 32-5A champ Mercedes 28-21 at Tiger Stadium.

The big defensive play came only seconds after Amonte Bowen scored on a 3-yard touchdown run with 47 seconds left to give Donna the lead.

While Donna High (4-2 overall, 3-0 district) was potent against the Tigers’ No. 1 defense, its defenders were no slouches either. The Redskins held the Tigers to 229 total yards, including just 31 rushing yards on 28 carries, and 4.9 yards per play.

“Defensively, we knew we had to make a statement,” said Ibarra, who also had three sacks. “Everybody’s been saying that our defense is the reason we might not be able to win district, and how we can’t defend the run. We set out [thinking] that they were not going to run the ball on us.

“We knew this game would come down to defense, and we were going to win it.”

While Donna High amassed 328 total yards against a Tiger defense that was surrendering an average of 178 yards this season, it had two turnovers that kept Mercedes in contention.

The teams were tied at 14 at halftime. Donna quarterback Edward Dougherty opened the second half scoring with a 45-yard zig-and-zag touchdown run. Mercedes receiver Brandon Gutierrez, who caught four passes for 128 yards and a score, countered with a 15-yard catch off a nice flare pass to the left corner of the end zone from Zach Gomez.

With seven minutes left, Donna tore up clock, chewed up yards and then gave it to Bowen, who had 182 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.

“Coming into that last drive, we told ourselves it was going to be the winning drive,” Bowen said. “We came out victorious. It feels really good, but we have to keep working.”

On second down of the ensuing drive, Gomez, a sophomore, never saw Ibarra beat the tackle off the edge. Ibarra pummeled into the quarterback, jarred the ball loose and Garza fell on it to seal the win.

“He saw something that was developing downfield and I just think (Ibarra) made a great play off the edge,” Mercedes coach Roger Adame Jr. said. “Had he had a split second longer, the play was there. Give credit to that Donna defense.”

For a young team like Mercedes, which has a slew of key players that are underclassmen, it was a learning experience.

“It was crazy there at the end,” Gutierrez said. “We all fought and we gave it all we got. We tried our best.

“We have to use it as momentum and a learning tool. This is a young team still and it was good for us to see the big lights, the intensity, the big crowd. We have to use this, learn from it and move forward and win some more games.”

And for Donna, the win kept it on the right track, a journey that began last season when the Redskins were embarrassed 37-7 at home by the Tigers.

“We’ve had this game circled since last year,” Ibarra said. “Last year we didn’t play very well against them. Through the whole offseason, we knew we were going to be the favorites, at least on paper. The pressure is on us to perform, and we want to make sure everyone knows what Donna is made of.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

It’s easy to look at Friday’s game between Donna High and Mercedes as having significant district title implications.

Mercedes (3-2, 2-0 32-5A) is the reigning District 32-5A champ, still a considerable designation despite only a few returners from last year’s team. Donna High (3-2, 2-0) is said to be the favorite in 32-5A. Edcouch-Elsa will have something to say about all of this when it’s all said and done, but Friday’s game at Tiger Stadium in Mercedes is a crucial step in determining the district’s best of the best.

No matter what the situation holds, however, each coach is sticking to the P.C. line that Friday is just the next game up.

“It’s the next opponent,” Mercedes coach Roger Adame Jr. said. “We haven’t mentioned being district champs or them being favorites or whatever. But the kids understand the magnitude. They know it’s a big one.

“What matters is the kids put a lot of effort to put themselves in a situation like this, and this is what makes football fun.”

Donna High coach Ramiro Leal buys into that thinking.

“It’s a real delicate balance,” Leal said. “If I was to say a victory (Friday) makes it easier for us to win a district title and then we lose, it can feel like we failed or had a letdown. Yes, (Mercedes) is a very good team. But there’s a lot of football to be played.

“For me to say it’s a must-win, I can’t say. There’s a lot left.”

Friday’s game is not the end-all, be-all for a district championship. But it’s a lengthy stride toward that final step.

Donna High is 32-5A’s No. 1 offense, averaging 36.2 points on 442.4 yards. Mercedes is the district’s stingiest defense, allowing 16.2 points on 179.8 yards per game.

“I don’t know if we can stop them,” Adame Jr. said. “But we’re going to try and slow them down. We just have to play sound defense. Keep our gaps, play good coverages, play solid technique and we can’t miss tackles. We cannot miss tackles.”

The Redskins have an athletically gifted trio in the backfield in seniors Amonte Bowen, Edward Dougherty and Paul Guerra. But the Tigers counter with linebackers Fabricio Quintanilla, Adrian Noriega and Roger Adame III.

“They’ll send people from all different angles, and we have to be careful with our role blocking because they cause so much havoc,” Leal said. “The good thing is our (offensive) line is experienced. We just have to catch their blitzes and execute.”

The goal for each team is simple: wear out the other. For Donna, that means ball control, chewing clock and keeping Mercedes’ defense on the field. For the Tigers, it means the same, but with more of a hurry-up pace to limit defensive substitutions and promote fatigue for the opponent.

While Mercedes has impressive team speed, it is young. Its top playmakers on offense are sophomores, quarterback Zach Gomez and running back Fabian Ledesma. Ledesma has been a dynamo, and Gomez, who has not committed a turnover in 64 pass attempts and 54 carries, has improved each game, particularly in reading coverages and knowing when and where to deliver the ball.

“He’s a mobile guy, and he can make things happen with his legs,” Adame said. “Being a quarterback though, he’s had to trust himself and his teammates, and he’s exactly where he should be right now.”

All of this makes for what should be a classic contest, though perhaps not quite as big as some may like it to be.

“All games are the same, but this is probably the biggest test in district for us right now,” Leal said. “We have to bring our ‘A’ game. But we can’t tell ourselves one game is bigger than another. In theory, the motivation can be playing a team perceived to be as good, or maybe better.

“But our job is to stay as humble as we can, because we don’t want our worst enemy to be ourselves.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

Barring any surprises, Thursday’s game between PSJA Southwest and Brownsville Porter will likely determine the fourth-place team in District 32-5A.

With Edcouch-Elsa (2-0), Donna High (2-0) and Mercedes (2-0) looking a step above the rest and almost assured a postseason berth, that leaves one spot open for a district playoff representative. And seeing how things have played out so far — with Southwest (1-1) and Porter (1-1) in contention, while PSJA High, Brownsville Pace and Donna North are all winless — that makes Thursday’s game at PSJA Stadium between the Javelinas and Cowboys vital.

“It’s a big game for us and big for them,” Southwest coach Jesus Reyes said. “It’s going to be one step forward going to the playoffs. The kids understand that.”

Last season, it came down to PSJA Southwest and PSJA High for the final playoff spot. PSJA High won 27-0 in the second district game for each team. That meant Southwest had to beat a top-3 team (again, either Mercedes, Edcouch-Elsa or Donna) to get in, and it didn’t. The Javelinas finished a game out of the playoffs.

Winning Thursday would give Southwest a leg up.

“Our goal is to be 2-1 in district,” Southwest coach Jesus Reyes said. “We want to control our own destiny.”

Porter and Southwest have similar styles. Each boasts an elite running back (Jesus Acosta at Southwest and Jorge Gutierrez at Porter). Gutierrez is the district’s top running back with 1,003 yards and 13 touchdowns, and Acosta is fourth (609 yards, 5 TDs) despite playing the last two games with a broken bone in his hand.

Each team has an offense that can sustain drives and kill clock. And each has a defense that leaves a lot to be desired.

While Porter and Southwest are two of the top three rushing teams in 32-5A, they are also the worst in stopping the run.

“Our boys were determined and showed the will to win last week (a 27-13 win over PSJA High),” Reyes said. “They wanted that game bad. Now we need it again this week.”

GARCIA EMERGES FOR ‘JACKETS

Despite a slew of injuries to key players on both sides of the ball, Edcouch-Elsa has still managed to post 32-5A’s best overall record (4-1) and tie for the best district record at 2-0.

That is because of the play of some emerging talent, one of the primary sources being junior defensive tackle Seth Garcia. It was Garcia who helped steady the Yellowjackets’ defensive front early in the season when stalwarts like Julio Contreras and Elias Munoz were struck with injury.

Garcia has been a pleasant surprise. He is third on the team in total tackles with 78 and leads in sacks with 9.0 He also has two forced fumbles and nine “big plays,” defined as big situation stops (i.e. sacks on third-and-long) and/or outstanding effort (when Garcia is lined up on one side of the field and makes a play on the opposite side).

“That kid’s a player,” E-E coach Joe Marichalar said. “He’s quick as a cat and he’s ridiculously strong. He’s real flexible and has great balance. He’s been a pleasant surprise the way he’s played.”

Garcia looks more like a linebacker than a lineman, but his experience in martial arts and powerlifting gives him agility with strength.

Because of Garcia’s play, Marichalar was able to give more time to Contreras, E-E’s top defensive playmaker on the line, in returning from a knee injury.

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