By KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

SAN BENITO — Last season was undoubtedly a banner year for the San Benito Greyhounds. Most fans will refer to it as the “Super Team” loaded with talent, a perfect district season; along with a playoff run most will remember for a long time.

For senior defensive end Nick Perez, he was all a part of it, but was only able to watch the historic season unfold from the sidelines.

Perez had high hopes entering his junior year, until September 8th 2017. It was the second game of the season at San Antonio East Central when Perez went down with an injury on the first play of the game.

Perez’s junior season was cut short due to a broken ankle with torn ligaments.

“It was painful to go through the injury, but I had so much support from my family, coaches and our training staff did a good job on helping me recover.” Perez said.
Although the recovery process was long and hard, it was never in question on if Perez would return, but a matter of when he would return.

“Nothing can take this sport away from me,” Perez said. “I love this game and it was never a doubt in my mind. It was not if I was going to play, I knew I was going to come back stronger, it was just a matter of when I would come back.”

In February, Perez was cleared and ready to continue his recovery.

“I just took it one step at a time,” said Perez. “I wanted to play already, I really did but I understood the process and took it day by day.”
Against Calallen in their season opener, it was an emotional return to the field that has given Perez so much.

“It was an emotional night for all of us,” Perez said. “We wanted to go out there and show people that we haven’t gone anywhere. As for myself, there was a lot of emotion, with it being my first game back and right now I’m doing everything I can to help my team.”

Since the injury, Perez has made a full recovery and has provided first year defensive coordinator Johnny Garza with another elite pass rusher alongside fellow senior AJ Garcia.

Garcia and Perez have provided a strong 1-2 punch with both collecting 12 sacks each this season.

“We all work together,” Perez said. “We make each other better as a unit. AJ is doing a great job, Nick Castaneda and Albert Mercado, all those guys do their job extremely well, I’m blessed to be a part of it.”

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

SAN BENTIO — Like many other kids, Senior Albert Mercado has grown up around San Benito football, hoping and dreaming of the day he gets to play football under the majestic Friday night lights.

Mercado, who is a three-year member of the varsity, has taken in his senior year and is making the most of it.

“I have been playing football since I was a kid,” Mercado said. “Once I was able to play, I joined and I played other sports, but I love football it is my sport.”

On the field, Mercado is a team captain and is one of the harder hitting outside linebackers in the area. Mercado is teamed up with fellow seniors AJ Garcia and Nick Perez as the anchors in the middle of the defense.

The defense this year has carried the torch from last year’s defense that included guys like Ryan Reza, Pedro Gomez and Payne Guajardo to name a few.

“I feel like we have carried on the tradition and we have great leaders on this team,” Mercado said. “I can’t exactly name one specific guy, because we all together do a great job as a unit. We have plenty of guys who can make plays and know where to line up. That has helped us a lot this season and our coaches do a great job on preparing us.”

Mercado is third on the team in tackles with 81 and has two tackles for loss, three pass breakups and one blocked field goal.

Along with the physicality of a linebacker, Mercado is a rare talent that can also drop back in coverage and even play safety when needed.

Off the field, Mercado has seen himself grow as a young man and it is a reflection of the Greyhound program with quotes like “Sharpen The Axe and Hold The Wall.”

Those quotes carry weight around the field house and are something the players, including Mercado, have bought into.

“I found that I can work hard through football,” said Mercado. “It shows how to build character and has helped me become the person I am today. Coach Gomez leads us and the rest of the coaching staff; they are all like fathers to us. Fortunately for me, I have a dad, but these coaches are like a second dad to me and they teach us not only about football, but about life. For those guys who don’t have a dad, these coaches serve as a father figure and that means a lot.”

Mercado and the Hounds will meet Converse Judson in the class 6A regional quarterfinals Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Bobby Morrow Stadium.

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

SAN BENITO — Senior defensive back Nick Castaneda is no stranger to the big stage.

The Greyhounds are back in the third round of the playoffs for a second straight year and will meet their toughest challenge in Converse Judson. Castaneda was a part of last year’s playoff run and has plenty of big-game experience as he and the ’Hounds prepare for the Rockets.

Castaneda has recorded 85 tackles and leads the team with two interceptions this season. The ’Hounds will play host to the Rockets at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bobby Morrow Stadium.

The Valley Morning Star had a chance to catch up with Castaneda.

Q: Playing in triple overtime against PSJA North, what was that game like?

Nick: It was a great experience, both crowds were going crazy, it was intense. It was fun to be a part of. I have never been a part of it as a player, you see games like that on TV, and to be a part of it and winning was great.

Q: What were the emotions like after the game?

Nick: My emotions went wild, I ran to my friend, Hector Avalos, and gave him a hug. It was a great feeling.

Q: Was it the craziest game you have been a part of?

Nick: Yes, it is the craziest game I have played in. We went in confident, and (PSJA North) played tough and gave us a great game.

Q: You all are back in the third round of the playoffs. What does that mean to you?

Nick: It means a lot to me, for us to be able to keep the tradition going and knowing that the seniors before us left a mark and for us to continue that tradition.

Q: Hosting a third-round playoff game against a team from outside of the Valley is a rare thing. Talk to us about that.

Nick: It is fun, and playing a tough team like Judson coming into town, we are excited and ready for the challenge.

Q: What is the preparation like during a game week?

Nick: It is work. We get prepared and we wake up early in the morning and get our practices in, then go to school. It is a grind and if you love this sport, it is not work.

Q: You were elected as a team captain, what does that mean to you?

Nick: It is a lot of work preparing, and preparing my teammates, it’s a responsibility. I like it and I like pumping up my teammates, and pushing them to be their best.

Q: Who is your favorite superhero?

Nick: It has to be Bruce Wayne, Batman. He doesn’t exactly have super powers, but he is a cool guy.

Q: What is your favorite sports moment?

Nick: It would have to be the Odell Beckham Jr. one-handed catch against the Cowboys. I remember us watching the game and my entire family, they are Cowboys fans. I just remember being in awe of what he did, it was crazy.

Q: What is the most expensive thing you have broken?

Nick: My friend’s flat-screen TV, it was brand new, too. We were messing around in the living room and the box to the charger flew off, and it hit the TV and broke it.

Q: Tell us something about yourself that we might now know?

Nick: I like to free style rap!

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — Anytime Harlingen High and McAllen Memorial meet on the hardwood, the intensity and physicality rises.

Their second meeting of the regular season was no different.

Harlingen High needed every ounce to grind past McAllen Memorial 65-56 on Tuesday night. Ariel Leal and Bianca Rodriguez each scored 16 points to help guide the Lady Cards to their 12th win of the season, improving their record to 12-3.

“It is always hard to beat a team twice, but what it comes down to is how well you prepare for it,” Lady Cards coach Ashley Moncivaiz said. “The way we have our schedule set up, is to where we are playing tough teams every night, there is not one easy team on our schedule, and every team we have played has been competitive.”

After winning the first matchup, Harlingen High managed to set the tone early by jumping out to 20-14 lead early and was backed by Leal’s five first-quarter points. Leal hit a 3 at the buzzer to help give the Lady Cards the momentum they needed.

“It helps us big time,” Leal said. “When you make a shot like that at the buzzer, it gives us momentum and confidence heading into the next quarter.”

The Lady Cards led 40-29 at the half, with the Lady Mustangs cutting into the lead 30-25 midway through the second quarter.

Tani Talamantez netted 13 points for McAllen Memorial, which battled back during the third quarter and took advantage of Harlingen High’s miscues to trim the lead to 50-44. Valeria Garcia finished with a game-high 23 points and helped fuel the big third quarter for Memorial.

“I think we set the tone early this time around,” Moncivaiz said. “The first time we played we did not set the tone, we got off to a slow start and it was in a tournament. This time we came in more prepared.”

Like Leal’s 3-pointer to end the first quarter, Rodriguez hit a 3 during the final seconds of the third quarter, once again swinging the momentum back in Harlingen High’s favor, 55-44.

“It makes a huge difference, if we can score from the outside it then opens up the lanes for us to go to the basket,” Moncivaiz said. “That is something that (Ariel) did not have last year and is something she has improved on.”

Harlingen High’s defense clamped down during the final minutes and helped seal the win for the Lady Cards. Along with setting the tempo early, their defense was something Moncivaiz was pleased with.

“Our defense and the way we attacked to the basket, those two things helped us down the stretch,” Moncivaiz said. “We have to be aggressive on the fast breaks, and we did that tonight and our defense made some stops.”

Up next for Harlingen High is the Border Olympics. The Lady Cards will tip off Thursday against San Antonio Edison. McAllen Memorial (8-2) will play host to Sharyland Pioneer on Dec. 4.

FREDDY GONZALEZ | Staff Writer

The La Feria Lions are headed to the third round of the Class 4A Division I playoffs for the first time in 10 years after defeating Needville 49-34 on Friday evening in Mathis.

In 2008, the Lions reached the regional round of the postseason, but dreams of a fourth-round berth were derailed by a tough Cuero team.

While La Feria does not have to worry about a state-ranked Cuero team in the third round this year, the Lions do have to worry about a tough La Vernia squad that defeated Lampasas 28-21 in the area round.

Like Needville, the Lions have to contend with another fully loaded offense that has produced more than 5,500 yards through 12 games. Quarterback Clayton Chadwick has passed for 2,597 yards and 28 touchdowns, and rushed for another 1,442 yards and 23 yards.

The game is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Buccaneer Stadium in Corpus Christi.

Also, the San Benito Greyhounds are in the third round of the playoffs for a second straight year, and for the third time under coach Dan Gomez.

After a thrilling triple overtime win against PSJA North on Saturday, the ’Hounds next take on Converse Judson.

The kicker? The ’Hounds will play host to the Rockets on Friday at Bobby Morrow Stadium, with the kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.

The Rockets were scheduled to make a trip to Harlingen earlier this year to meet the Cardinals, but the game was canceled due to weather.

In other regional games involving Rio Grande Valley teams, Edinburg Vela meets Austin Westlake in a Class 6A Division II game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Corpus Christi’s Buccaneer Stadium.

On Saturday, three Valley squads play at the Alamodome in San Antonio. First, Brownsville Hanna battles Northside Brandeis in a Class 6A Division II game at noon, and then Weslaco High takes on Austin Lake Travis in a Class 6A Division I matchup at 4 p.m. Finally, at 8 p.m., Mission Veterans Memorial plays Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial in a Class 5A Division I affair.

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

RIO HONDO—For a second straight year, the Rio Hondo Bobcats will be enjoying their Thanksgiving along with preparing for their class 4A DII area round match up.

While the order is tall, Rio Hondo will square off against the number five ranked team in the state in the Cuero Gobblers today at 7:30 at Phil Danaher Field at Wildcat Stadium in Calallen.

“I feel this has been one of our better practices we have had, said senior running back Danny Vasquez. “Not just today, but this week has been good for us, especially with our next challenge in Cuero. They are a great team and our focus has been there all week.”

Cuero took down Wimberly 73-14 in the bi-district round last week, while Rio Hondo won their second straight bi-district title with a 37-20 win over Ingleside.

“We are all working hard and going through certain game plans and schemes on defense,” said senior Troy Macias. “They have a tough offense and we feel we have prepared and are ready for the challenge. It is a different offense for sure, last year we played Navarro and this year is another tough offense.”

Vasquez has had a strong senior season and continues to run harder as the season goes on. After leading the district in rushing yards with 1,430 yards on 155 carries and 12 touchdowns, the Bobcats will need Vasquez to keep the train rolling heading into their match up with the Gobblers.

The hard-nosed runner did not slow down against Ingleside as Vasquez helped spark the offense with 230 yards on 25 carries and found pay dirt four times. The 25 carries was a season high for Vasquez.

“We have been working on our game plan and we together are executing and preparing,” said Vasquez. “We have made some adjustments, so come game time we will be ready.”

This year’s senior group is made up of 26 players after bidding farewell to household names like Tyler Bush and Erick Pizarro, this year’s class has carried the torch in 2018.

“It is special for us to continue what they started,” Vasquez said. “It is a cool thing, I was able to be a part of that team and us being seniors it is great for us to carry that torch and it is great for this program and it shows that there is plenty of talent here in Rio Hondo.”

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

SAN BENITO — Its Thanksgiving week and the San Benito Greyhounds are alive and well in the playoffs. The Hounds are fresh off their bi-district win against Edinburg High and will now square off against PSJA North in the class 6A area round Friday at 2 p.m. at PSJA Stadium.

For senior wide receiver Mitch Guajardo, the playoffs are something he has become accustomed to. His playoff experience has helped him down the stretch in his senior season.

On the year, Guajardo has 24 catches for 316 yards and two scores. The Valley Morning Star had a chance to catch up with Guajardo earlier in the week.

—

Q: What is the best part about playing on Thanksgiving?

Mitch: It is everyone’s goal to be playing on Thanksgiving, not a lot of teams get this opportunity.

Q: What are you most Thankful for?

Mitch: It has to be my family, they are always pushing me to be better and they support me.

Q: What is your best Thanksgiving memory?

Mitch: We go to Laredo, we will all go to our aunt’s house that is where we spend our Thanksgiving. Depending how cold it is, we will jump in the pool or play basketball.

Q: What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish?

Mitch: My favorite food is the turkey, my favorite part is the turkey leg and I love pumpkin pie.

Q: Winning back to back bi-district titles, what does that mean to you?

Mitch: It means a lot, we have what it takes to make another run this year.

Q: This year’s senior class has continued the winning tradition, talk to us about carrying it on?

Mitch: I feel we have carried it on this year with our senior class and we are going to continue giving it our best each week.

Q: Why do you wear the number 12?

Mitch: I wore number 1, but when I got to varsity I was given 12 so I just stuck with it.

Q: Who is your favorite NFL Wide out?

Mitch: It is Atlanta’s Julio Jones, he can do everything.

Q: Tell us something about yourself that we might not know?

Mitch: My dad is in Houston right now and I don’t get to see him much and sometimes he can’t make my games. I’m thankful for our fan page Puro Greyhounds Baby and Rio Sports Live for putting our games on You Tube so my dad can watch me play when he can’t make it.

Q: How much does your playoff experience help?

Mitch: It is always good to have experience and you get used to playing in the big games.

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

HARLINGEN—Harlingen South trailed by double digits on more than one occasion. The young Hawks managed to cut into the Bulldog lead led by the sharp shooting of Grant Lowery and got help of the bench from Teyo Turrubiates.

Despite a 19-point performance from Lowery and Turrubiates (a piece), McAllen’s Matthew Ibarra led the Bulldog offense with 18 points and helped the Dogs hold on for a 77-68 win Tuesday afternoon.

“I was really proud of the kid’s effort,” said Harlingen South coach Brian Molina. “I always tell the kids to be better than they were the day before and today I think we grew up and I felt we played a very tough McHi team to the end and that is all I can ask from the kids.”

In the loss, four Hawks finished in double figures. Mark Becerra scored 10 and Joe Cortez netted 14 points.

“I wanted the kids to leave it on the court and they did. We got a lot of open looks in the first half,” Molina said. “I told the guys, give me those open looks and we will be fine and for sure enough our shots started falling in the second half.”

South fell behind early 15-4 in the opening quarter led by a five point quarter from Ibarra, in the second quarter went on an 8-2 run and cut into the lead 27-17 late in the first half.

In the third quarter, Turrubiates hit back to back 3s and trailed 54-48 with 1:28 left, but that was as close as South got with McAllen sealing the win with a strong fourth quarter.

“Most of the defenses are designed to stop Grant, but what he does so well is, he is a great passer and a great screener.” Molina said. “He did a great job today passing the ball and finding guys. We had guys come off the bench and gave us a lift.”

The challenging non-district schedule continues for Harlingen South, as they will now host Laredo United today at 3:30 p.m.

“The type of schedule I put together was designed to get us ready for district play,” said Molina. “We also want to play probable opponents and McHi is a team we might see in the postseason and United has a rich tradition and we are excited to host them, it will be a tough task.”

MARK MOLINA | Staff Writer

WESLACO — The Harlingen High Cardinals opened the fourth quarter trailing Weslaco High by two points with the ball and a bit of momentum.

Then the wheels came off, as a Cardinals turnover and multiple miscues opened the door for the Panthers to score nine fourth-quarter points and pick up a 25-14 Class 6A Division I bi-district victory Friday night at Bobby Lackey Stadium in Weslaco.

Trailing 16-14, Harlingen High looked to be on the move again with the lead on its mind, but Weslaco High defensive back Axel Camarena intercepted Cardinals quarterback Jaime Galvan.

The Panthers then had to kick the ball away, but a muffed punt set Weslaco High up at the Harlingen High 4, leading to a Jacob Cavazos jump pass to tight end Isaac Villarreal to make it 23-14 with 8:25 to play.

“Our defense bails us out of a lot of situations and has helped us out in every game we’ve played this year,” Cavazos said. “Hats off to them. They keep us in a lot of games that our offense probably could have messed up. It’s a team effort and we came together.”

The miscues continued on the ensuing possession for the Cardinals, when Galvan picked up a Rayden Berry fumble in the end zone and was sacked for a safety to make it 25-14.

“Sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way,” Harlingen High coach Manny Gomez said. “It is what it is, but you have to give credit to Weslaco. They made the plays when they had to, and my hat’s off to them.”

Weslaco High (10-1) moves on to face Laredo United in the area round. Harlingen High is sent home after winning three straight games to get into the postseason following a down 2017 season.

“The kids showed a lot of resiliency … it was definitely a great fight,” Gomez said. “Unfortunately, it didn’t go our way.”

After the Cardinals forced a three-and-out on defense to open the game, the offense mounted an eight-play, 81-yard drive, culminating with a 22-yard touchdown from Galvan to put his team up 7-0 at the 7:58 mark of the first quarter.

Harlingen High continued to move the ball consistently but didn’t do much else the rest of the first half, as its next four drives ended in an interception, a turnover on downs and a pair of missed field goals.

“It’s football and you have to be able to execute in the red zone,” Gomez said. “We didn’t, they did, and my hat goes off to Weslaco and I wish them well.”

Cavazos got the Panthers’ offense going and answered the Cardinals’ score with an 11-yard touchdown to Devin Dena to make it 7-6 after a missed extra point.

Cavazos finished the night with 123 yards rushing and one touchdown, and he threw for 107 more yards on 7 of 9 passing and two scores.

That was the first of three consecutive scoring drives from Weslaco High, as it added a 76-yard Cavazos touchdown run and a George Martinez 27-yard field goal to make it 16-7, the score at the break.

“We had a good plan coming into this game, and that was to execute,” the Panthers’ quarterback said. “We started off pretty fast and died out a bit in the second half, but an ugly win is a win to us. We’re just getting ready for next week.”

Galvan pulled the Cardinals within two after catching a throwback pass for a 19-yard score from Damon Cantu late in the third before the disastrous fourth quarter.

Galvan had a big night, throwing for 278 yards with two interceptions, completing 26 of 37 passes. He also rushed for 59 more yards and recorded rushing and receiving scores.

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — The Harlingen Cardinals are back in the playoffs and all is now right in the world. Big Red will meet a familiar opponent in the Weslaco Panthers tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Bobby Lackey Stadium in the Class 6A area round.

After a 0-2 start in district play, the Cardinals have found their footing and have the momentum they need by winning three straight heading into the playoffs.

“Every year is different, believe me, you have different episodes and different scenarios but every day is a blessing and we are ecstatic to be back in the playoffs,” said Harlingen coach Manny Gomez. “I think we have picked up some momentum and we are playing with confidence and the kids are having fun and that is the important thing and we are all up beat; I love it.”

The Cards and Panthers are well familiar with each other as the two were district opponents the last two years and the last time the two met in the postseason was in 2014 when the Panthers squeezed passed Harlingen 3-0.

“The game speed you can’t simulate that, as an ex-player I haven’t lost that feeling, it will take a few series to get caught up with the game speed,” Gomez said. “Early on I think that’s what it will be, both teams adjusting to the game speed and they (Weslaco) have gotten a lot better as a team and so has every team in the Valley and in the state, it is Week 11 and it is something every team prepares for.”

A key to Harlingen’s success this year has been the play of junior quarterback Jaime Galvan. In his first year under center, Galvan led the district in passing with 1,690 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The southpaw also has the ability to make defenders miss.

Along with the passing attack, Galvan ran for 491 yards on 111 carries and sniffed the end zone nine times.

“This is what we wanted, thought about, and worked for,” Galvan said. “Since last year when things didn’t go the way we wanted we got right to work.”

Galvan feels over the summer he fine-tuned his accuracy along with getting acclimated with his receivers through the summer 7on7 leagues and gained a stronger grasp of the offense.

“I learned my reads and learned to let the play develop rather than me rushing into a play,” said Galvan. “Here in practice this is where it happens, we game plan and prepare. We pay attention to coach and we go out there and do what we are taught.”

Galvan, who has his brothers Jesse and Justin on the team, all saw their older brother play for the Cardinals, it is something the Galvan’s have grown up loving and wanting to be a part of.

“The thing about the Galvan brothers is that they are all competitors,” Gomez said. “That is the thing about these kids is they compete and that is what you want and that is why they are able to compete. I guess they compete at home too, but it is a great brotherhood literally.”