McALLEN – The McAllen Rowe Warriors claimed a 25-13, 25-21, 25-15 win over the Brownsville Lopez Lobos on Friday to advance to the second round of the UIL Class 5A state playoffs.

In a season that has presented its share of ups and downs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pregame message was clear and simple from Rowe head coach Magda Canales as the Warriors looked to continue rolling in a season where they finished second in District 32-5A with a 10-4 record.

“All that hard work, dedication, leave it all on the court,” Canales said. “Don’t finish the game thinking, ‘What if I would have done this, I should’ve done this, I should’ve done that.’ Just leave it all on the court.”

The seniors took the message to heart and found the perfect balance between playing loose and free, but aggressive and accurate as Rowe jumped to a quick 20-9 first set lead. It set the tone for the rest of the match.

“The fact that we have six seniors in the group has a lot to do with,” Canales said. “They bring experience and they are very good about making sure that the rest of the team is following, doing what they’re supposed to do.”

The Lobos did their best to earn points, scrapping and hitting the floor constantly to keep rallies alive from the powerful and coordinated Rowe attacks, showing their passion and determination to keep their season alive.

Lopez head coach Daya Venegas said she was proud of what her team was able to accomplish in a season like no other.

“It was a tough loss as the goal is to continue advancing,” Venegas said. “However, I wanted the girls to understand that they’ve showed tremendous effort and grit though this season, especially because of our global circumstances. Being kept out of the gym and weight room during the offseason didn’t hinder their ability to continue to work out, rather it showed their tenacity and perseverance to continue to work toward their season goals. “

Senior outside hitter Anna Honrubia continued her season of dominance for the Warriors having a hand in nearly every rally.

“A lot of practice,” said Honrubia on her commanding performance. “It helps that the whole team is helping me out too. Passing the ball, setting me up and everybody having confidence in me, that also helps a lot.

Rowe will face a tall team and task in the second round against Victoria West.

“We’re very, very excited to play a really good team,” Honrubia said. “It’s good competition. We’re going to practice really hard and see what happens, but I think it’s going to go well, we’re very excited.”

EDINBURG — The PSJA North Raiders stunned the Edinburg North Cougars with a late 6-yard touchdown run from running back Isaac Gonzalez to earn a 20-13 victory Thursday at Richard R. Flores Stadium.

The first quarter was a defensive showdown, as both the Raiders and Cougars’ defenseS held each other scoreless.

“Edinburg North did a great job of keeping the ball away from our offense,” PSJA North head coach Marcus Kaufmann said. “That first drive, they took 7 or 8 minutes off the clock and then we drove the ball down the field and missed the field goal and then again they took the ball the rest of the first quarter and we only had the ball three times on offense. It was one of those games where they played ball control and kept the ball away from us.”

During the second quarter, the Cougars’ offense came to life scoring two touchdowns to go up 13-0. Both scores came from Edinburg North quarterback Robert Gonzalez on a 27-yard pass to wide receiver Ricky Gonzalez and a 6-yard quarterback draw to cap off a 40-yard drive with 5:26 to go in the first half.

After giving up two first-half touchdowns to the Cougars, the Raiders’ defense buckled down and held the Cougars scoreless the rest of the game and its offense, which scored 48 points last week against Edinburg Economedes, came to life.

With 37 seconds remaining in the first half, Raiders freshman quarterback Sergio Aparicio led an impressive 62-yard drive that was helped by a 15-yard defensive pass interference penalty, by finding junior running back Isaac Gonzalez for a 6-yard touchdown as time expired in the first half.

“That was a big play from our quarterback,” Kaufmann said. “He grew up and we started leaning on him pretty heavy and he started making some plays at the very end (where) it was just him. We had a play and he goes and runs around and throws a touchdown pass… he did a heck of a job. It’s one of those growing things, he’s a freshman and he grows up before our eyes.”

The Raiders blocked a 28-yard field goal in the third quarter to keep the score at 13-7.

It wasn’t until late during the fourth quarter with 8:08 remaining that the Raiders went 60 yards down the field in nine plays and scored on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Aparicio to junior wide receiver Jack Lugo to tie that game at 13 after a missed PAT.

After holding the Cougars to a three-and-out and forcing a punt with 3:51 left, the Raiders held all the momentum and were looking to capitalize on it with a late game-winning touchdown.

The Raiders drove 61-yard down the field and with 1:09 left, Gonzalez bounced off of several Cougars defenders for a 6-yard touchdown to give the Raiders a 20-13 lead and victory.

“He ran, he was cramping up and he ran,” said Kaufmann. “He broke like eight tackles and it was a great run and it was one of those (that) makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.”

PSJA North next faces PSJA High, while Edinburg North will battle Edinburg Economedes.

McALLEN — The Harlingen High Cardinals defense stuffed the McAllen Memorial Mustangs at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium in a 21-6 victory to start the 2020 season in the winning column.

In an offseason marked by the novel COVID-19 pandemic, both teams were excited to get back and return to some sense of normalcy under some Friday night lights.

“Well, for one, it was a win-win for both teams because you never know what’s going to happen tomorrow,” Harlingen High head coach Manny Gomez said. “It’s important that we take every opportunity that we can, so I was ecstatic when Coach [Bill] Littleton called the other day, actually last night around six-ish and we made this happen. Any time you can come out here and see kids play and perform and have fun it’s a win-win.”

As expected, due to the long offseason and the limited number of practices leading to the game, both teams struggled early in the first quarter as the Mustangs picked up a quick first down and then were forced to punt. Cardinals wide receiver Justin Galvan then fumbled and gave the ball to the Mustangs.

“Throughout the whole Valley, throughout the whole state of Texas — even the college ranks — you are not going to get the best production because it’s pivotal the offseason and the spring ball,” Gomez said. “Everybody is on the same page when it comes to this so it’s not an excuse, so you got to be able to come out here and fire. We started off a little slow but eventually, the defense picked up the pace.”

The Cardinals’ defense was the key to the game as they held the Mustangs scoreless through three quarters until allowing a 4-yard touchdown to running back Max Alaniz-Choy up the middle at the 11:57 mark of the fourth quarter.

The Harlingen High defense caused a lot of trouble for the run-heavy offense of McAllen Memorial by recovering two fumbles and getting key stops on fourth down to give the ball back to the offense in favorable field position.

“I was proud of them (Cardinal defense),” Gomez said. “They almost held them scoreless but almost don’t count. I’m super proud of them and super proud of this team.”

Offensively for the Cardinals, quarterback Joe Zuniga kept the offense moving with a healthy mix of short and intermediate passes alongside some backbreaking runs and scrambles.

Zuniga was able to find the end zone three times hitting his receiver, Tristian Vasquez, twice for 27-yard touchdowns in the first and third quarters, and his running back, Izaiah Bell, out of the backfield for a 10-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

The McAllen Memorial run-heavy offense struggled with starting senior running back Andrew Salinas and senior fullback Michael Lewis. Yet, after Salinas, Lewis and the rest of the offense stalled early the backfield turned into a committee with Choy and junior Ethan Garcia all trying to jumpstart the offense.

“I don’t know about more touches next week,” McAllen Memorial head coach Bill Littleton said. “But Ethan Garcia looked pretty good tonight.”

Questions at running back is a new dilemma for Littleton as he has been able to enjoy the Division I talents of Trevor and Campbell Speights since 2011 and is looking to see who will step up this 2020 season.

The Mustangs will head back to the drawing board as they prepare for a showdown against the McAllen High Bulldogs next Friday at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium. Harlingen plays district rival Harlingen South at J. Lewis Boggus Stadium.