DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

ELSA — Going up against the Rio Grande Valley’s seventh-best defense, per yards allowed, in Mercedes, Edcouch-Elsa’s primary M.O. on Friday night will be to keep dual-threat quarterback Marco Aguinaga clean and free to make plays for the Valley’s second-best offense.

That means the offensive line of center Elijah Sanchez, guards Ricky Estimbo and Erick Rodriguez, and tackles Rigo Cardona and Justin Ortiz has a central role in the 64th meeting of the two mid-Valley rivals at Mercedes.

“It’s discipline. It comes down to that,” E-E coach Joe Marichalar said of the key for the O-line tonight. “I don’t necessarily mean it in the sense of not making mistakes or doing all the right things. What I mean is knowing what your job is and doing it effectively. There are going to be errors, there are going to be mistakes. It’s about being disciplined enough to move on and fight for the next play.”

So that means doing what the O-line has done all along to this point.

The Yellowjackets (4-2, 2-1 District 32-5A) have relied on an offense that features the district’s top quarterback in Aguinaga and its top two wideouts in J.J. Flores and A.J. Rodriguez. The offense averages 39 points on 454.7 yards per game. Aguinaga has rushed for 537 yards and four touchdowns and thrown for 1,345 yards and 18 touchdowns.

However, the senior has had plenty of room and time to work. Aguinaga has only thrown two interceptions in 185 pass attempts and been sacked three times. That’s a credit to his front five.

“These guys have improved a lot and I’ve gained a lot more trust in them throughout this season,” Aguinaga said. “It’s really about trust. These guys are very disciplined in how they block and they do a great job of letting me make plays.”

Offensive coordinator Gene Garza said the O-line is aggressive and smart. Marichalar said the linemen are able to handle the diversity the position calls for.

The Yellowjackets are generally a pass-heavy unit, so the linemen have to be mobile and able to “kick-back and sink those hips and lock on to people,” Marichalar said. But with the recent emergence of the running game, they’ve also played more with their hands on the ground and attacking downhill.

“The big keys for this offense is being in great shape and being great with our footwork,” Estimbo said. “We’re uptempo, we’re fast. We play that way, but we also practice and train that way. It’s really fun.”

They also know if they mess up, Aguinaga is there, more often than not, to make up for it.

“We take on the basics, which is the in pocket, but having Marco gives us more freedom,” said Sanchez, one of Aguinaga’s best friends since the fifth grade. “Whenever one of us messes up, he can still make a play out of it. But it still comes down to being more physical than our opponent.”

Mistakes have been few and far between this season. Discipline is a strength of the offensive line, and that comes from experience and practicing whistle to whistle.

Under the direction of O-line coaches Frank Martinez and Jesus Garza, the ball is snapped on a whistle and the play is blown dead on a whistle, just like in a game, so the linemen are trained to never stop competing until the right time.

“These guys are well tuned in that the play is over when they hear the whistle, not when they see people running or see other guys let up,” Marichalar said. “Sometimes we’ll see on film a run to the right side, our left side is blocking and engaged and they don’t even realize the ball hasn’t been run to their side. It’s good stuff.”

Four starters return from last season; only the 6-foot-3 left tackle Ortiz is a newcomer. The line is not the biggest — Ortiz is the tallest, followed by the 5-11 Estimbo and Cardona, 5-10 Rodriguez and 5-9 Sanchez — but they are deceptively fast and “tree-trunk strong,” as Marichalar calls it.

During the offseason, the linemen work on their core and mobility. They spend a lot of time in the weight room, but just as much time on the track working on explosion and speed.

“They bond well together, they work well together and they’re very disciplined,” Aguinaga said. “We have high expectations for this offense, and they keep improving game by game. We’re not even close to what we’re capable of being.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

MERCEDES — By the numbers, Mercedes’ defense is orchestrated through the linebackers. Roger Adame III, Sebastian De Leon, Bryan Smith and Eric Hinojosa account for 48.8 percent of the Tigers’ tackles per game and 66 percent of their total sacks.

But in truth, it’s the play of the defensive line that dictates that success. It’s the basic job of the three linemen — seniors Rolando Rincon and Ivan Zapata, and junior Jose Villarreal — to engage offensive linemen, allowing the linebackers to run free toward the quarterback.

Heading into this season, however, there was some unknown with a defensive line returning just one starter (Rincon). But over time, through a 0-3 start and now a 3-0 District 32-5A standing, the line has played above and beyond what was expected.

“Up front, we’ve been very fortunate that, even against double teams, they’re able to get off blocks,” coach Roger Adame Jr. said. “Physicality and speed to the ball is what we preach, and that starts with the D-line.”

Mercedes (3-3, 3-0 32-5A) finished last season as the best defense in the Rio Grande Valley, per average yards allowed. And while seven starters return from that unit, there was a big hole on the line at nose guard.

Not surprisingly, the Tigers looked at their linebackers for an answer and found Zapata, already a strong, brute attacker. Zapata refined his speed and quickness during the offseason, hungry to play a key role on the line. Under Adame, the nose guard requires an explosive athlete who is a good runner, someone who gets off blocks and has a knack for the ball after making initial contact.

“His background as a linebacker and his athletic ability led to that knack,” Adame said. “He’s powerful and strong. He had good speed for a linebacker, but now he has really good speed as a nose guard.”

The rest was easy to fill in. Villarreal had an impressive junior varsity season last year and simply needed more experience. Rincon had to grow into a leadership role, but already had proved his talent.

The Tigers’ line is faster, though not as big as last year’s. But Rincon, Villarreal and Zapata execute what Adame demands: they take on blocks, get off blocks and make plays when the opportunity approaches. They can play up-field on passing downs or take on blocks to open lanes for the linebackers.

“As soon as last season ended, we hit the weight room hard,” Villarreal said. “We were running sprints every day. We knew this would be a year to prove ourselves. We knew we had to earn the coaches’ trust.”

They’ve done that, and more. Adame has his line involved more in containment. The line has more coverage responsibilities instead of playing with hands on the ground.

“Last year, we’d take the blocks and the linebackers would move in,” Rincon said. “Now we’re doing more. We have to make more reads and make more decisions based on formations. It’s fun. It means more tackles and making more plays.”

Through Mercedes’ 0-3 start — against Calallen, McAllen Rowe and Weslaco High — the line went through baptism by fire.

“The No. 1 thing is they learned to make the play, not just wait for someone else to make the play,” Adame said.

Adame added they learned to get off blocks, running up against quality offensive lines in Calallen and Weslaco High that boast sound technique. They learned to recover from bad spots.

“Last year going into district, I felt like we weren’t hit hard,” Rincon said. “Our intensity and aggressiveness wasn’t right. Only Calallen gave us a run. But this year, we had Calallen, we had McAllen Rowe which is a lot better, we had Weslaco. We had to get our minds right quick.

“We’re all together now. We’re all on the same page. Teams know we have a good defense, we hear them say it. But they don’t really know. They think they do. But we’re coming and we’re going to hit them.”

The Tigers allow 15.3 points on 251.3 yards per game. They are not quite the best defense in 32-5A — Brownsville Lopez is — but they’re confident they will end up where they expected to be all along.

“We have faith,” Villarreal said, “that we’re getting back on track to being the best defense in the Valley.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

After two straight District 31-5A losses, Mission Veterans Memorial readjusted its priorities.

“Now our goal is to get to the playoffs,” Patriots coach David Gilpin said. “After losing to Harlingen (in Week 1), we were talking about winning nine in a row. Then it was about a district championship. And now it’s not really a possibility, so we want the playoffs, starting over 0-0.”

The Patriots (4-3, 3-2 31-5A) lost to Sharyland Pioneer and Laredo Nixon the last two weeks; the latter was a 71-45 setback in Laredo.

After a couple of games in which the inexperienced defense, featuring 10 non-returners, appeared to take steps forward, Mission Vets allowed 607 yards last week as Nixon scored on 10 of 10 possessions.

“There’s no ‘we’re young anymore,’” Gilpin said. “But it’s still a brand new defense we’ve had to put pieces into place. That continues to be a work in progress. It’s not an exact science. It’s a matter of constant evaluation. It’s been tough, because we felt we were a really good defense last year and the pieces we’ve had to replace we’ve had high expectations for.”

The Patriots, while No. 2 in the district in offense, rank next-to-last in defense, allowing 32 points on 382.9 yards per game.

Mission Vets particularly struggles against the run. Tackling, execution of alignments and understanding of responsibilities are weaknesses. The Patriots do fine swarming to the point of attack, but have trouble finishing plays.

“We’re grinding and trying to come up with answers,” Gilpin said. “We’re not satisfied. The defense is not where we want it to be, and at the end of the day it’s all about results.”

NEXT MAN UP

By its standard, this season is already a success for Donna North. The three-year-old Chiefs have a program-best win total (2) and notched their first home win earlier this season.

But the playoffs remain a realistic goal. It will take some doing — coach Matthew Rokovic said the Chiefs have to at least win all of their remaining four games — but a foundation is starting to be put in place.

“We played together as a team,” Rokovich said of last week’s 46-16 win over Brownsville Porter. “Our defense played very well, three turnovers for touchdowns, and that was special. Those things are few and far between. It was a great pick-me-up game for our kids. We’ve got better consistency on offense and the kids played well. Everything fell together.”

The Chiefs are 2-4 overall, 1-2 in 32-5A. And they’ve had to go about it while attempting to establish a consistent lead back.

First, it was senior Dominic Ochoa. Ochoa was the Valley’s leading rusher when he suffered a season-ending injury during the district opener against Edcouch-Elsa; though he hasn’t played since Week 4, Ochoa is still fifth in rushing yards in the district.

Now it’s on to junior Tony Gomez. Gomez rushed for 192 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries last week.

“He’s getting better every week,” Rokovich said. “He’s come in and done a great job. He’s a junior, so this is a valuable, valuable time for him.”

Gomez has good speed and slashes well. His vision is getting better and Rokovich is hoping he puts on at least 20 more points in the offseason as he matures into the feature back role.

Overall, Gomez has 420 yards this season and averages 7.5 per carry.

A NEW DYNAMIC

A different element for Sharyland High’s offense this year compared to most is the bruising running back.

Generally, the Rattlers have mostly had shifty, quick and elusive backs. This season, however, Jowan Payton, Fernie Perez and Abraham Ruiz are physical brutes that get yards the old fashioned way.

“We’re able to get those third-and-short downs and block the edge on sprint-outs and get more protection,” Rattlers coach Ron Adame said. “In the past, we had good shifty backs, but these guys are a different downfield dimension.”

Payton, in particular, has been a revelation. A transfer from Chicago, Payton gives the Rattlers size and power in the backfield.

This season, the senior has 226 yards and a touchdown on 35 carries.

“He’s a bruiser,” Adame said. “He gives you those tough yards inside, and the last few years we haven’t really had that. This year we’ve got about three of them.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

MISSION — For the second consecutive week, Sharyland Pioneer’s defense stole the show against a District 31-5A playoff contender.

After producing a second-half shutout of Mission Veterans Memorial in a 30-14 win last week, Pioneer enjoyed a riveting encore, blanking upstart Rio Grande City in the second half of Friday’s 27-10 win at Richard Thompson Stadium.

Trailing 10-7 at halftime, Pioneer (4-2, 3-1 31-5A) forced four Rio Grande City (5-2, 3-2) turnovers in the second half, five in all. The Rattlers mustered just seven second-half yards on 19 plays.

“We thought they’d run the ball a little bit more to start, but they threw,” Pioneer coach Jason Wheeler said. “So we had to hit them up more, be aggressive, play some man and not play soft coverage. The bottom line is we were able to get to the quarterback.

“They were picking us apart in the zones and we just had to come at them.”

Rio Grande City indeed played well offensively in the first half, compiling 176 yards via nice balance of run and pass. Quarterback Jason Perez picked and chose his spots with ease, completing 11 of 17 passes to six different receivers.

But the second half was a totally different story. Perez threw an interception on the opening drive, setting up a tying field goal for Pioneer’s Edgar Lozano. After two straight RGC three-and-outs sandwiched a Pioneer touchdown that gave it the lead for good, Perez threw another interception that led to another Lozano field goal and a 20-10 Pioneer lead.

Pioneer defensive back Anthony Jimenez, who collected one of three interceptions for the Diamondbacks, said “stemming” was big for the defense. “Stemming” is a pre-snap defensive motion when the defense changes from one formation to another to confuse the quarterback.

It worked. Perez rushed throws and the offense never had time for anything to develop after the snap.

“We had to come out fast and bring the pressure,” Jimenez said. “We played as fast as possible. We did a better job disguising coverage and we did a better job making open-field tackles.”

The Rattlers completed just 2 of 12 passes in the second half, one fewer completion than interceptions. The running game was non-existent as well. Rio Grande City amassed negative-8 yards on seven carries in the second half, and had just 37 on 26, respectively, overall.

“They brought a lot of pressure,” RGC coach Aaron Garcia said. “There was no timing for us. The quarterbacks were pretty much on the ropes the whole time.”

Garcia used two quarterbacks in the second half, removing Perez for Armando Gonzalez in the fourth quarter. Nothing worked, and the defense, which played well all night, eventually wore down.

The Diamondbacks’ 5.1 yards per play were fine, but because they had more possessions, it was only a matter of time before an athletic, quick offense capitalized — like on a 38-yard scoring catch by William Proctor and 63-yard score by Alec Garcia, both in the second half.

“Our goals are still in front of us,” Aaron Garcia said. “We’re not out of it by any means. We just have to get ready for Nixon and go one game at a time like we’ve been doing all season.”

The Diamondbacks now get Sharyland High. The Rattlers are 4-0 in 31-5A, 5-1 overall, and on a five game winning streak after taking care of Laredo Cigarroa on Friday.

“We’re super hyped for that game,” Pioneer defensive end Luis Castillo said. “We love that school and we’re happy they’re doing good, too. But we really want it. It’s our time right now. It’s just time.”

Pioneer is hoping it can get into the district title conversation with a win over its big brother next week.

“This win wasn’t make-or-break, but I told our kids if we win this game our percentages of making the playoffs just went up dramatically,” Wheeler said. “Now if we beat Martin and Valley View, we’re in. Now we can relax against Sharyland and go after them because it won’t break or make us.

“That’s going to be a show and we’re looking forward to it.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

Nobody knew what to expect out of Rio Grande City this season.

Even with a new head coach and new offensive coordinator implementing a new culture and ideas, the Rattlers did not have spring football and did not participate in 7-on-7 football.

The Rattlers had an idea of who they were, however, and they weren’t about to let others in on the secret. New coach Aaron Garcia was satisfied with what he saw during workouts in the football class to not hold spring ball, and new offensive coordinator Paul Reyes felt 7-on-7 offered nothing for an offense built off the threat of the run, facing defenses that looked nothing like what’s seen on Friday nights.

Six games into the season, Rio Grande City is apparently doing something right. The Rattlers are 5-1 overall, 3-1 in a demanding District 31-5A, and already surpassed last season’s win total by two games. What the Rattlers are is a team that Garcia and Reyes already suspected: a physically strong and speedy defensive unit with an able, versatile offense that has made the most of opportunities.

Not many saw the Rattlers getting off to a hot start. The Rattlers did. Kind of.

“I expected to be 6-0,” junior quarterback Jason Perez said. “I don’t think we should have lost that game (an underwhelming 20-16 loss to Laredo Martin three weeks ago). But coming in, and seeing the attitude everyone had and how hard we worked during the preseason, it was great. You knew something special would happen.”

So far, it’s happened. The defense has been dominant, allowing 11.5 points on 267.3 yards per game. The front is as physical and fast as any in the Rio Grande Valley, and the secondary full of juniors has matured fast under coordinator Kevin Whaley, a holdover from the previous regime.

The offense, meanwhile, may hold the key.

Reyes brought a spread offense, the same foundation used by coach Carlos Longoria in years past, but with one major difference: instead of a fullback/tight end, Reyes opts to use another receiver.

That extra weapon on the perimeter has opened things for Perez, the Rattlers’ second-year starting quarterback. Perez has grown into his own as a crucial piece in Reyes’ QB-driven attack.

“He’s gotten a lot more comfortable in the offense, he’s making very good decisions,” Garcia said. “He’s a quiet guy and he’s always absorbing information. He’s always getting better.

“His presence alone commands respect.”

Perez has completed 63.6 percent of his passes for 887 yards and eight touchdowns to three interceptions, and he’s rushed for 580 yards and six touchdowns. The passing numbers are good for second-best in 31-5A and the rushing numbers are the best in the district.

It’s that running dynamic that has been a boon for Rio Grande City. The Rattlers’ projected No. 1 running back, Casimiro Olivarez, has been a non-factor all season. Perez’s ability to run is key for an offense that doesn’t have pure athleticism, but boasts gritty playmakers, like the receiving duo of twin brothers Diego and Javi Garcia, who play tough and physical.

It also helps that Perez has the size to run over people. He stands 6-foot-1, 183 pounds.

“He’s a very tough runner,” Reyes said. “He’s physical. He’s not shy about contact, and I knew he was a good runner, but I didn’t really know how physical and how tough he is. That was a pleasant surprise.”

It didn’t take long for Reyes to hand over complete control of his offense to Perez. Perez is given freedom to audible at the line of scrimmage if the defensive coverage calls for it. As the season has gone on, his reads have gotten stronger.

The learning curve of a new offense has been a trying one for Perez, but he’s intelligent. Perez is ranked in the top 1 percent of his class academically and is part of the health science program at Rio Grande City.

Picking up on new things is as easy for Perez as throwing a screen pass.

“We took it step by step,” Reyes said. “In the beginning, it was about getting comfortable in the offense. Then we started playing out what he could and couldn’t do and what he could change. The last couple of weeks, we’d watch film against our scout defense and now he’s the one asking questions and dictating what he should or shouldn’t do. I said, ‘Good, now you’re seeing the bigger picture.’ He’s starting to really understand the ins and outs and knows he can go to something different and still be effective.”

Friday night, the Rattlers face their toughest opponent so far in Sharyland Pioneer. Rio Grande City’s remaining four games are against 31-5A heavy-hitters: Pioneer, Laredo Nixon, Mission Veterans Memorial and Sharyland High.

The Rattlers are still looking for that signature district win (or two) to secure their playoff bid. An emotional win over Roma a couple weeks ago might be one. Friday could be another.

“It’s definitely huge,” Perez said. “If we can get this win, it means a step closer to getting that playoff spot. Coach (Garcia) emphasizes just to keep doing what we’re doing and not worry about anything on the outside.

“Right now, everybody has a winning mentality. Everybody’s working hard and every single player on this team is doing the best he can.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

Willard Lara was an all-state linebacker at Edcouch-Elsa during the early 1990s. Now his son is following in his footsteps.

Joseph Lara, a junior middle linebacker, has emerged as a consistent playmaker for the Yellowjackets’ defense this season. Lara is third on the team in total tackles (54) and second in “big hits.”

He also has a sack.

“The game comes easy to him,” said E-E coach Joe Marichalar, who said Lara’s greatest skill is his ability to recover and still make plays. “He reacts and the ball seems to find him. We love that his motor is crazy, almost like Joel’s.”

“Joel” is the Yellowjackets’ star linebacker, Joel Cardoza. Cardoza leads the team in total tackles (79). Strong safety Nate Rodriguez is second (72).

But because of Lara’s encouraging play, Marichalar has employed Cardoza more in the offensive backfield — last week, Cardoza rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Cardoza has the strength and quickness to be an efficient short-yardage back, and the more Lara can help man the defense, the more Cardoza can help offensively.

“Joe is a youngster coming up through the cracks and he had an outstanding season last year with the JV,” Marichalar said. “Coaches got wind of it, and in due time he’s making all the right decisions, he’s fully committed and what he’s doing now is not surprising. We know he’s this type of player, even if he’s still getting used to game speed on Friday nights.”

COMING ALONG

Heading into this season, Rio Grande City’s secondary was a concern for coach Aaron Garcia.

Every player in the defensive backfield is a junior and played on the junior varsity last season.

“It was a big question mark,” Garcia said.

But the group has thrived so far. The Rattlers are allowing just 112.5 passing yards per game, thanks in large part to the secondary’s precocious playmaking ability.

The secondary — free safeties Israel Lambert and Joel Lopez, cornerbacks Abraham Benavides and Mariano Reyes, and strong safety Nick Cantu — has grown up quickly for the No. 3 overall defense in District 31-5A.

“Collectively, they play pretty good as a group,” Garcia said. “I’m proud of everyone.”

Benavides had two interceptions last week against Laredo Cigarroa and has three total. He is one of the fast risers of the defense and has a knack for being in the right place at the right time.

“He’s gotten better every game,” Garcia said. “A night like (Friday) can do a lot for his confidence. He’s rangy, he’s got some good size. He’s aggressive and physical.”

MORE TO THE RUN

Mercedes’ running game is still not the dominant engine coach Roger Adame Jr. would like it to be, but it’s closer now than it was weeks ago.

The Tigers are averaging 131.7 rushing yards over the last three games. That’s worlds better than the 35 they were averaging the first two games.

Junior running back Fabian Ledesma is finding his groove, but the Tigers also may have found a key ingredient last week when Matt Gracia ran well against Brownsville Veterans Memorial.

Gracia, little-used before last week, ran 10 times for 64 yards and a touchdown. Before that game, he had just eight carries for 35 yards in two games.

“He gave us a spark,” Adame said. “That first half (against Brownsville Vets), we were struggling to move the ball. The second half, we made some adjustments.

“He’s got quickness, good vision, some explosiveness. He’s hungry. When he gets the ball, he’ll make the most of it.”

Adame said Gracia is a perfect complement to Ledesma. Ledesma is “speed and power,” Adame said, while Gracia is “shifty and a tough runner.”

“During his JV years and 7-on-7 and 2-a-days, he ran the ball well,” Adame said. “We were looking at him as a complement to Fabian. He’s coming around and working hard and he’s getting his opportunities.”

Going forward, Adame said he intends on using Gracia more while Ledesma remains the No. 1 back.

“Those running backs plays are built for either,” Adame said. “We feel confident in both. They complement each other well, and whatever is working that game, that play is what we’re going with.”

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RGVSPORTS.COM

For the fifth consecutive week, San Benito is RGVSports.com’s unanimous No. 1 high school football team.

The Greyhounds passed a big test last week, surviving fellow top-10 member Weslaco East, 25-19, to go to 5-0 heading into Week 7. All seven of RGVSports.com’s voters picked San Benito No. 1.

The seven voters are writers who cover RGV high school football for AIM Media’s three newspapers (the Monitor, Valley Morning Star and Brownsville Herald).

San Benito hosts Brownsville Rivera this week.

The Nos. 2 and 3 teams in the poll remain the same.

Edcouch-Elsa is comfortably in second place, improving to 4-1 with last week’s 53-14 rout of Donna High. The Yellowjackets host Brownsville Veterans Memorial in a marquee District 32-5A matchup Friday.

No. 3 is Edinburg Vela. The SaberCats had a controversial Week 5 as four players, including their star running back, were suspended for vandalizing Edinburg High property. But Vela responded with a resounding 42-14 win over the Bobcats to improve to 4-1.

Vela plays PSJA Southwest this week.

PSJA North jumped three spots to No. 4 after beating PSJA High 34-9 last week to go to 5-0. The Raiders own the best defense in the Rio Grande Valley and host Edinburg North on Thursday.

Weslaco East and Harlingen High tied at No. 5, each earning 36 points apiece from the voters. The Wildcats fell to San Benito last week, while Harlingen High dominated Brownsville Rivera on Saturday, 62-7.

Each team is 3-2 so far. Weslaco East hosts Los Fresnos on Friday, and Harlingen High hosts Weslaco High.

McAllen Memorial is No. 7 in this week’s poll, going to 4-2 after its 45-6 romp of Mission High.

The Mustangs play McAllen High in a big rivalry game Friday night.

Weslaco High moved up two spots to No. 8 after its 21-0 win over Brownsville Hanna last week. The Panthers have a significant challenge this week when they travel to play Harlingen High.

Los Fresnos dropped four spots to No. 9. The Falcons fell to 2-3 after a 21-14 loss to Harlingen South last week, but star quarterback Mark Mata did not play.

The Falcons travel to Weslaco to play Weslaco East on Friday.

Port Isabel is No. 10 in this week’s poll. The Tarpons are 5-0 and had a bye last week. They host Rio Hondo this week to begin district play.

Other teams receiving votes in this week’s poll: Sharyland High, Harlingen South, Edinburg Economedes and Brownsville St. Joseph.

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WEEK 7 RGVSPORTS.COM TOP 10 POLL

The following are the teams in RGVSports.com’s Top 10 poll, with first-place votes in parentheses and total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through 1 point for a 10th-place vote. The seven voters are writers who cover RGV high school football for AIM Media’s three newspapers (the Monitor, Valley Morning Star and Brownsville Herald).

Team – Record – Points – Prev.

1. San Benito (7) 5-0 70 1

2. Edcouch-Elsa 4-1 60 2

3. Edinburg Vela 4-1 55 3

4. PSJA North 5-0 38 7

T-5. Weslaco East 3-2 36 4

T-5. Harlingen High 3-2 36 6

7. McAllen Memorial 4-2 25 8

8. Weslaco High 3-2 15 10

9. Los Fresnos 2-3 14 5

10. Port Isabel 5-0 12 9

Other teams receiving votes: Sharyland High (9), Harlingen South (7), Edinburg Economedes (5), Brownsville St. Joseph (3).

DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

MISSION — Sharyland High coach Ron Adame talked to his team at halftime of Friday’s game against Roma about coming out “like a ball of fire.”

Easy enough for the Rattlers. They’ve been playing that way since Week 1.

This time, the Rattlers turned loose against District 31-5A’s No. 2 defense, ripping apart the Gladiators 49-20 at Thompson Stadium. The win extended Sharyland High’s streak to four games and improved it to 3-0 in district, one of two undefeated 31-5A teams (the other being Laredo Nixon).

Up 21-13 at halftime, the Rattlers (4-1, 3-0 31-5A) had a big stop on 4th-and-1 at midfield on Roma’s opening drive. A couple of plays later, receiver Edgar Alanis caught a 25-yard scoring pass from Alan Alvarez, and that opened up the floodgates.

Roma (2-4, 0-4) threw an interception on its next possession, the Rattlers scored again and Sharyland scored 14 points in 61 seconds early in the third quarter to put this one away.

“Our defense rose to the occasion, and it was a sudden change that we practice every day,” Adame said of the fast scoring spree. “In the middle of practice, we have moments about being ready at the drop of a hat. We decided to take a shot (on Alanis’ score) and it worked out in our favor.”

The Rattlers compiled 534 total yards and seven touchdowns against a defense allowing just 15.8 points on 251.8 yards coming in. Alvarez had a tremendous outing, completing 9 of 15 passes for 192 yards and four touchdowns and running eight times for 141 yards and two more touchdowns.

“From the O-line to the receivers, I have a great group of people on my team,” Alvarez said. “Everything is about execution and it starts with the O-line. I have five beasts up there that open up holes and protect very well.”

In all, four Rattlers scored. Alanis scored three times. Blake Klein scored on a 47-yard pass to open the game. Backup quarterback Edgar Longoria found Miguel Pena on a 70-yard score early in the fourth quarter.

“Their quarterback did an excellent job distributing the ball,” Roma coach Max Habecker Jr. said. “He got it to the backs, to the receivers. He did a good job getting rid of the ball in the pass game and their option game.”

Offensively, Roma moved the ball well, especially in the first half, but couldn’t keep up with Sharyland High’s tempo. The Gladiators totaled 316 yards, but averaged 4.7 yards per play. The Rattlers, meanwhile, averaged 11.4 yards per play.

All of this efficient production has been in line with what Sharyland High has done during this win streak. Over the last four games, the Rattlers are averaging 38.5 points and giving up 14.3.

“We’re a young team, honestly, and our chemistry is building compared to years past,” defensive end Christian Salinas said. “It’s a strength in bond. I’ve never had such a strong bond like I do with a team like this.”

Roma, meanwhile, is on the brink of missing the playoffs, a shocking realization considering the Gladiators were heavy preseason favorites to take the district title.

But Roma is on a four-game losing skid to its top-heavy start to district play and now finds itself in an unenviable spot.

“We have to win the next four games,” Habecker said. “That’s what it comes down to, and we have to do it the way we’ve always done it. That’s one game at a time. We’ve been unfortunate this year. Right now, we’re in a very tough position.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

MISSION — During three seasons of varsity football, Sharyland Pioneer has desperately searched for that marquee win that could not only earn it some respect, but also help it turn the corner toward its goal of the postseason.

Thursday, the Diamondbacks may have gotten it.

Pioneer outplayed and roughed up Mission Veterans Memorial in a big District 31-5A showdown, taking an intense 30-14 win at Tom Landry Stadium. The Diamondbacks (3-2, 2-1 District 31-5A) handed the Patriots (4-2, 3-1) their first loss in district and put themselves in the title picture in the process.

“We feel this is a win that can put us over the top,” senior linebacker Jesus Sanchez said.

The win didn’t start well because of Sanchez and the defense, but it certainly finished well because of it.

The Diamondbacks gave up a 42-yard touchdown reception by Jacob Guerrero on the game’s first play from scrimmage. But Mission Vets, averaging 30.4 points on 424.4 yards per game coming in, was held to one touchdown the rest of the way and finished with 286 total yards.

The Patriots turned the ball over five times, including three times in the second half when the Diamondbacks held Vets to 77 yards and scoreless. Sanchez and cornerback Anthony Jimenez collected two interceptions, and Mission Vets lost three fumbles.

“The turnovers were key, because we’re not going to shut that offense down,” said Pioneer coach Jason Wheeler, who was confident his 3-4 scheme would be a perfect matchup for Vets’ spread attack. “They’ll get their yards. We didn’t give up any more big plays after that opening drive. We tackled better, ran to the ball more.”

Offensively, the Diamondbacks manhandled the Patriots. Pioneer totaled 449 yards, 342 on the ground. If it wasn’t quarterback Jacob Rosales using his size and speed to run over and through defenders, it was junior running back Michael Benavides and sophomore running back Christian Rivera having their way.

Rosales completed 15 of 29 passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns, but ran 13 times for 139 yards and a score. Benavides ran for 124 yards. Rivera ran for 84 yards and a touchdown.

The Diamondbacks attempted just eight passes in the second half as they wore down the Patriots, running the ball 37 times, and 60 in all.

“This was a big game,” said Rosales, a sophomore. “We’ve never really felt we’ve played to our full potential. We called this our ‘pump game.’ We’ve been looking forward to it. This really showed how fast we are, how physical we are, how good we are.”

While Rosales and company were sustaining drives, moving the chains and chewing clock, the Patriots never got much going.

If Vets wasn’t turning the ball over during the second half, it was going three-and-out four times as the Diamondbacks kept receivers blanketed and forced quarterback Diego Hernandez into scramble after scramble after scramble.

“They shut us down,” Mission Vets coach David Gilpin said. “Give them credit. They got pressure on us and we weren’t able to get guys open and get separation. They have some good athletes. I feel they’re the most athletic team in the district and they showed it.

“We just didn’t have the flat-out speed Pioneer has.”

Wheeler called it the best defensive effort he’s seen during his three years at the helm of Pioneer. He’s hoping to also call it the turning point for a young program hungry for the playoffs.

“This shows how good we are,” Wheeler said. “We have a chance to be really good. This will be a huge confidence-builder. To be good you have to beat someone good, and we did that.”

The Patriots, meanwhile, now prepare for Nixon, which is undefeated in district at 3-0. Nixon already has a win over Pioneer.

“It’s a disappointing loss, but we’ve got to get ready to go down to Laredo next week and stay in that district championship hunt,” Gilpin said. “Our goals are still in place. So, yeah, it’s tough tonight, but they deserved to win. They played with more passion than we did.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

MISSION — When Sharyland ISD introduced Pioneer High School in the fall of 2014, there were repercussions for Sharyland High.

The primary consequence was a dip in numbers for the Rattlers’ football team. So development at the lower levels was accelerated, and because of that the Rattlers have been able to stay steady on the field.

An example of that is the linebacking corps on defense. Coming into this season, Sharyland High had just one returning starter there. Of the Rattlers’ four starting linebackers, two are seniors who played on JV last year and another is a sophomore who played on the freshman team.

That group, so essential to coordinator Craig Krell’s 3-4 scheme, has transitioned seamlessly because of the work put in during the previous few years.

It starts with the middle school, where varsity coaches spend mornings overseeing a program that runs the same schemes as the high school. It goes on to the freshman and JV teams, where kids play a lot of snaps running the exact schemes the varsity employs.

“We haven’t had many returning starters the last few years, but our kids rise,” Sharyland High coach Ron Adame said. “A big part is the development. They’re running our schemes and they’re comfortable in it by the time they reach varsity. In January every year, you start to see those juniors about to be seniors who start to rise in their roles as leaders because they’re so entrenched in what we do and what we’re about.”

So the Rattlers’ linebackers have not missed a beat, though their responsibilities are extensive. They have to be as comfortable turning the edge on the blitz as they are dropping back into coverage. They have to do it fast.

They are the anchors of a defense allowing 14.8 points on 256 yards per game.

“The expectations are always the same,” said junior captain Tyger Brigmon, the lone returning starter. “Coaches don’t expect anything less than success. We play with what we have and make the most of it. We have a lot of guys stepping in, filling their roles and doing what’s asked of them.”

Brigmon’s athleticism and quickness allow Adame to mix and match on defense. His skill and experience take pressure off precocious sophomore Javo Lopez, whom Adame said he knew would be special since seeing him as a middle schooler, and seniors Cesar Zecca and James Harris.

Zecca averages a team-best 10.8 tackles per game and has 3.0 sacks. Harris, too, compiles 7.8 tackles per game to go with 3.0 sacks. Lopez averages 7.5 tackles.

Brigmon has two fumble recoveries and two fumbles caused.

“Right now, we couldn’t ask for anything more,” Harris said. “Everybody’s doing their job, everybody’s responsible in their coverages and everybody is finishing tackles. We’re doing pretty good for a young group.”

Krell keeps his players’ job descriptions simple: don’t overstep your boundaries, tackle, tackle, tackle, and play hard.

“The main thing is that you’ve got your space to cover and you’re accountable for it,” Harris said. “If someone else happens to get the tackle, that’s great. It’s a team effort. It’s not necessarily about being an individual and you getting the tackle yourself.”

Adame calls it “coming together.” It’s always been the team’s M.O., but more so since enrollment started splitting two years ago. This year, it’s definitive in the linebackers, a position group that had some uncertainty coming in. That especially bode true when Brigmon initially left the Valley to Georgia because of family reasons, but ended up returning.

“They’ve taken it upon themselves to step up,” Adame said. “You look at someone like Tyger, he was selected by his peers as a captain and he’s a junior. James is someone who stopped playing in the band to concentrate more on football. Cesar invested a lot of time in the summer in the weight room and strength and conditioning.

“You can see the time they’ve invested surfacing in their play on the field.”

During practice Wednesday afternoon, Adame watched as the junior varsity competed with the varsity. This is typical for the Rattlers (3-1, 2-0 District 31-5A), with the exception of Mondays, when the varsity goes “good on good” during practice.

Otherwise, however, Zecca, Harris and Brigmon, among other stalwarts on the varsity team, compete with tomorrow’s Rattler playmakers.

Like Zecca and Harris last year, those junior varsity kids are just a year away. And come next season, they will be ready to assume their spot, just like Zecca and Harris were this year.

“By the time teams get to us at the varsity level, they know what success is, they know what past teams have done and they’re familiar with what we do,” Adame said. “I think all those things factor in as far as overcoming a low number of returners year in and year out.”

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