Author: Mario Aguirre

by Mario Aguirre

Mustangs survive late scare to beat Bulldogs

In a simulation, the odds of a 4-1 team beating a 1-4 team would overwhelming favor the proven squad. That is, of course, until one critical variable is accounted for: are the teams rivals?

That was precisely the case when the McAllen High Bulldogs and McAllen Memorial Mustangs squared off in their District 15-5A DI showdown Friday — a game featuring three lead changes, missed extra-point attempts, two-point conversions, an interception, fumble and a recovered onside kick — almost all of it during the final quarter of play.

McAllen High’s Joaquin Valdez, left, is pushed out of bounds by McAllen Memorial’s Ozzie Cardenas, right, during a game at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium Friday Oct.11 2024 in McAllen. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

When it was all said and done, the outcome fared as one would have predicted, with the Mustangs winning, but not without some dramatics down the stretch as Memorial hung on for a 32-29 victory at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.

“My big speech to the kids all week was, records and stats are all out the window when you play a rival school, and that was true tonight,” Mustangs coach Moses Patterson said.

“We’ve been in this rivalry where we’ve been up (as far as team records go), and we’ve been on it where they’ve been up. It’s a good ol’ fashioned rivalry.”

McAllen High’s Tristan Keith right, with a catch and run gets past McAllen Memorial’s Javi Izaguirre, left, during a game at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium Friday Oct.11 2024 in McAllen. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

A fourth lead change was very much in play with one minute remaining, after the Bulldogs scored a touchdown, converted the two-point attempt and recovered an onside kick, which they used one play later to advance to the opposing 38-yard line, needing only a field goal to tie matters.

That’s when Ayden Stauffer intercepted McHi quarterback Joaquin Valdez with 14 seconds remaining as the Mustangs (5-1 overall, 3-0 in district) secured their third consecutive victory.

“Coach (Patrick) Shelby had his kids ready to play tonight,” Patterson said. “Kind of threw everything at us. We were fortunate to persevere and be able to come out with a win.”

McAllen Memorial’s Kane Coy, right, runs past McAllen High’s defender Oliver Schwarz , left,during a game at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium Friday Oct.11 2024 in McAllen. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

All told, it was one of the better performances of the year for a 1-5 Bulldogs squad the faces an uphill battle with a 1-2 district record now. They scored first but wound up yielding the next three touchdowns — each PAT missed, drawing the unusual score of 18-7 in favor of the Mustangs.

They responded by scoring three straight times themselves, though two of those were field goals. Still, the latter of those scores put the Bulldogs ahead 21-18 with 11:05 to play after Andres Garza’s 2-yard TD run and a two-point conversion from Valdez to Finn Hernandez.

The Mustangs, ranked No. 3 in the latest RGVSports.com 6A/5A Top 10 poll, responded with Kane Coy’s second TD pass of the night — and perhaps just as importantly their first successful extra-point kick. JP Garza then scored on a 27-run, giving Memorial a 32-21 lead with 1:43 left.

McAllen MemorialÕs Michael Alaniz,left, with a catch and run past McAllen High defender during a game at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium Friday Oct.11 2024 in McAllen. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

Valdez responded with a 2-yard TD to Cinco Jones with 43 seconds remaining, before finding Joseph Rivas in the end zone for a two-point conversion to bring it within 32-29. But McHi was unable to complete the comeback after the Stauffer interception, the second turnover of the half for the Bulldogs.

“McHi came out fired up, ready to complete, and we answered the call late,” Patterson said. “But we did answer the call.”

He added: “Proud of where this team is going. The ability to overcome some things and move past it, get it out of their mind, that kind of proactiveness is going to help carry us the rest of the season.”

Up next, Memorial takes on La Joya Juarez-Lincoln on Thursday, while McHi looks to avoid a three-game skid when it faces La Joya Palmview the following day.

by Mario Aguirre

Bears show versatility in district-opening win over Bobcats

Through the first half of the season, PSJA High fielded one of the best aerial attacks in the Valley. Nearly three-quarters of its offense came in that fashion, which is why it came as little surprise to coach Lupe Rodriguez that teams would begin to force the Bears to demonstrate a little more versatility.
That’s precisely what happened Thursday, as PSJA High scored two of its four touchdowns on the ground en route to a 28-6 victory over Edinburg High in both teams’ District 31-6A opener at Richard R. Flores Stadium in Edinburg.
PSJA High’s Alek Flores, right, looks for running room against Edinburg High during a game at Richard R. Flores stadium Thursday Oct.10 2024 in Edinburg. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])
Quarterback Myles Lopez accounted for three touchdowns, including one on the ground, as the Bears (4-2 overall, 1-0 in district) opened a 21-6 first-quarter lead and never looked back.
“Myles did a great job of taking care of the football, taking what they give him, just being patient tonight,” Rodriguez said. “He found open receivers and he ran the ball whenever he needed to.
“A lot of teams drop a lot of defenders back and try to take away the pass. So we’ve got to complement that with our runs and force teams to play us.”
during a game at Richard R. Flores stadium Thursday Oct.10 2024 in Edinburg. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])
Leading up to Thursday’s matchup, PSJA had averaged 323.8 rushing yards per contest and 95.2 yards passing. Trying to strike the right balance has not come without its challenges, given injuries. With Jorge Alanis — the team leader in carries and rushing yards despite sitting out the previous game due to a shoulder injury — sidelined, the Bears turned to another formidable back in Gabriel Ramirez to step in.
Ramirez scored twice during the opening quarter — first on a 4-yard pass from Lopez to make it 14-0, then on a 6-yard run for a 21-6 cushion.
Two scoreless quarters followed before Lopez connected with Aleksander Flores on a 7-yard touchdown for the final margin.
It was a decisive showing for the reigning district champion Bears, who lost to Brownsville Veterans 35-23 in their previous outing before a league-wide bye ahead of the district opener. Following the loss, PSJA dropped from No. 3 to No. 7 in the RGVSports.com Top 10 6A/5A poll.
PSJA High’s Joshua Castillo , left, takes down Edinburg High’s JT Santa Maria, right, for a sack during a game at Richard R. Flores stadium Thursday Oct.10 2024 in Edinburg. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])
Rodriguez was encouraged his defense held the opposition scoreless for the third time this season. In fact, the only touchdown the Bears allowed Thursday came on an 89-yard return from Oscar Jasso in which the sophomore running back found the end zone seemingly untouched.
“Defensively, they had a lot to prove, giving up a lot of yardage (lately),” said Rodriguez, whose team yielded a combined 59 points the previous two games. “They were playing with a chip on their shoulder.”
PSJA faces Edinburg Economedes in another short week next week, before taking on Weslaco High, Edinburg North and La Joya High, respectively.
Edinburg (3-3, 0-1), which lost 38-14 to Los Fresnos in Week 5, looks to avoid a three-game skid next week when it takes on La Joya High. Remaining on its district schedule is Edinburg Economedes, Weslaco High and Edinburg North, respectively.
by Mario Aguirre

Wildcats drubbed in district showdown against Flour Bluff

The outcome had long been decided before Weslaco East entered the fourth quarter of Friday’s District 15-5A Division I contest against Corpus Christi Flour Bluff. About the only thing left to determine was whether the Wildcats could avoid their first shutout loss in six years.

That was, in fact, the case when they scored two touchdowns inside of the final four minutes of play to ease the sting from a 49-14 loss at Bobby Lackey Stadium in Weslaco.

Jianni Ortiz scored on an 8-yard run with 3:46 to play, and Malachi Rodriguez added another on a 4-yard touchdown with 1:43 remaining to add to his team-high eight rushing TDs this year.

PSJA North, Edinburg Vela and Weslaco East entered the week not only as the top three teams in the latest RGVSports.com 5A/6A Top 10 poll, respectively, but also as the only undefeated teams on that list. That changed, of course, when Weslaco East (4-1, 2-1) surrendered its first loss of the year.

PSJA North beat Harlingen South 42-17 on Friday to improve to 5-0 overall, including 3-0 in district. Edinburg Vela (5-0, 2-0) stood pat this week with a bye.

It took all of 67 seconds for the Hornets (6-0, 4-0) to go up 14-0, scoring twice on the first three plays of the game. Quarterback Jayden Paluseo found Andre Mimms on a 67-yard strike to break open a scoreless tie. And following a fumble on the ensuing kick, Flour Bluff recovered at the 20 and Paluseo found James Porter in the end zone.

Flour Bluff, the No. 1-ranked team in the latest RGVSports.com Coastal Bend Top 4 poll, went up 28-0 by the end of the first quarter and added another score going into halftime.

Paluseo finished with five touchdown passes, two to Mimms. Paluseo also scored on a 5-yard scramble. He connected with Cameran Dickson on a 53-yard strike for the team’s final touchdown. Dickson has reportedly committed to play for Vanderbilt next season.

The two fourth-quarter TDs assured Weslaco East that it would avoid its first shutout since Nov. 8, 2018, when it lost 21-0 to Edinburg Vela as part of a three-game skid to close out the year. Aside from that, the Wildcats’ lowest-scoring output had come Nov. 10, 2022, when they fell 49-3 in the bi-district round of the playoffs, also to Vela.

Friday’s contest marked the first time since 2008 that both teams collided. That year, the Wildcats lost 28-26 in bi-district. The year before, the Hornets also ousted them from the opening round of the playoffs following a 31-27 decision.

by Mario Aguirre

Bloodhounds bounce back with blowout win over Jags

On paper, Brownsville St. Joseph and Edinburg Economedes shared quite a few similarities heading into Friday’s non-district contest at Canales Stadium in Brownsville.

Both teams started the season 3-0 before losing their respective contests last week. At home (2-0) and on the road (1-1) both had posted identical records. And as far as their offensive approach, each has overwhelming favored the run this year.

That’s where the commonalities ended, however. St. Joseph opened the game Friday with two unanswered touchdowns and never looked back on its way to a 51-21 victory — its highest scoring output of the season, so far.

“When you suffer a loss like we did last week, it’s all about the small victories,” coach Tino Villarreal Jr. said. “Trying to line up right, trying to get first downs, trying to force three-and-outs — just small victories. I think that was the big theme tonight.”

On the heels of a 54-14 loss to Austin Regents last week, the Bloodhounds dropped from No. 1 to No. 2 in this week’s RGVSports.com Sub-5A Top 4 poll, relinquishing the top spot to Port Isabel, which took its first loss of the year Friday to No. 9 Edcouch-Elsa.

Given those outcomes, it’s difficult to tell how next week’s poll will shake out. But the Bloodhounds certainly did their part to wipe away the residue from their first loss of the year in Week 4.

Junior quarterback Gavin Cisneros was the catalyst Friday, rushing for two scores and throwing for another as the Bloodhounds improved to 4-1 with two more non-district contests left — against La Feria and Port Isabel — before they begin TAPPS Division II, District III action Oct. 25 against Victoria St. Joseph. They later face San Antonio Christian and Victoria St. Anthony, respectively.

The Bloodhounds also benefitted greatly from the return of two big playmakers in receivers Andre Cristiano and Claudio Torres, both back from injuries.

“Andre opens up offense,” Villarreal said. “Right off the bat, we knew were going to be able to move the football. We didn’t have to punt tonight, and that was a big difference-maker.”

As for Torres, he’s carried the ball 58 times for 479 yards and eight touchdowns heading into Friday despite limited action. During his return Friday, he made his presence felt again.

“He’s been a workhorse for us,” Villarreal said. “He gets all the touches, he gets most of our stats.

“For us, our job is to get creative and get him the football.”

For Economedes, this marked the final tuneup before beginning a five-game District 31-6A slate against Edinburg North on Oct. 11. It has a bye next week.

Without Johan Nunez, its leading back, Economedes struggled to get much going offensively. The Jaguars brought it within 30-21 during the third quarter before the Bloodhounds responded with three unanswered touchdowns to finish.

Through four games, Nunez has rushed 44 times for 431 yards and four touchdowns.

The Jags lost 31-17 last week to Brownsville Pace, which entered this week 4-0 and ranked No. 8 in the latest RGVSports.com 5A/6A Top 10 poll. It has been a strong showing so far for the Jags, who have finished each of the past two seasons 1-9 overall.

by Mario Aguirre

Ramirez carries Lobos past Pirates in non-district finale

At no point during the previous six seasons has Brownsville Lopez been this encouraged about its potential.

The Lobos are 4-1 after defeating a short-handed Hidalgo squad 28-14 on Thursday at Sams Memorial Stadium in Brownsville — the final tuneup before a bye next week and the District 16-5A Division I opener Oct. 10 at PSJA Southwest.

Through the first four weeks alone, Lopez laid claim to its highest-winning season since 2017. It beat La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, La Joya High and Grulla — losing only to La Joya Palmview.

Not since 2017 have the Lobos won more than two games. That year, they posted an 8-3 overall record, including 5-2 in district to finish third. It marked coach Jason Starkey’s fifth and final season with the program.

One coach since removed, Tarantola has Lopez in position to have its first winning season since ’17. Two wins in the final five games would secure that, though the Lobos have their sights set much higher than that. They have PSJA Southwest, Mercedes, Brownsville Porter, Brownsville Pace and Edcouch-Elsa, respectively, left on their schedule — all district games.

As Tarantola sees it, his players are willing — and more importantly, capable — of contributing in ways that were much more unlikely when they were underclassmen. They’re able to win one-on-one battles, he said, and play to their strengths.

“They’ve been through the ringer, they’ve been through adversity and in tough situations in terms of fielding a competitive program,” said Tarantola, now in his third season. “They stuck with it and now they’re more mature, mentally and physically, and they have the talent.”

That was evident, for one, with Lupe Ramirez, who threw for three touchdown passes Thursday — two to Gabriel Rios — to ignite the Lobos’ 28-0 run. Ramirez also found Eliazar Iruegas on an 18-yard scoring strike. And during the ensuing two-point conversion, Ramirez connected with Rios once again.

Teammate Sebastian Hernandez scored on a 1-yard run to help Lopez regain the lead, 7-6.

Brownsville Lopez receiver Eliezar Iruegas hauls in a catch during a non-district win over Hidalgo on Thursday at Sams Memorial Stadium in Brownsville. (Miguel Roberts | Brownsville Herald)

“Both of them are dynamic players,” Tarantola said of the Ramirez-Rios connection. “Lupe, he can throw the ball and put it in a lot of tight windows. He’s grown a lot as far as his understanding of the game. He’s been calm and collected. And Gabe Rios is an extraordinary talent. … He can catch the ball and is extremely fast, quick. He’s capable of making a big play at any moment.”

Not all is rosy for the Lobos, however. Like any team, they are dealing with injuries to key players. Eddie Slovak, the team’s lead running back the past three years, is nursing an injury from a Week 3 game against La Joya Palmview. His status remains uncertain.

The same holds true for Adal Garza, the team’s leading tackler who hurt his shoulder the previous outing.

As such, the respite comes as a much-needed time for the Lobos, who played their third Thursday game in a row. The short week, Tarantola explained, has taken Lopez away from fundamentals and drills, instead focusing on that week’s game plan. The week off should also help them find a long snapper, an area that hampered them Thursday with field goals and punting situations.

“I’m very happy right now, but tomorrow it’s ‘how do we get better?’” Tarantola said. “I’m proud of our guys so far, but there’s a challenge ahead. The toughest road is still ahead, but we’re excited.”

Hidalgo (0-4), which fielded 21 players Thursday, remains in search of its first victory since Oct. 5, 2022, when it defeated Kingsville King 41-7. It finished that year 5-5, including 2-4 in district.

After going 0-10 last year, the Pirates opened this season with losses over Brownsville Pace (44-21), La Feria (27-14) and Rio Hondo (53-22). Last week’s contest against Port Isabel was called off due to lightning.

Next week’s game against Rio Grande City marks the Pirates’ final non-district tilt before their District 16-4A DI opener against Tuloso-Midway on Oct. 11. After that, they face Zapata, Corpus Christi Calallen and Valley View, respectively.

Among the bright spots was Ian Szczuroski connecting with Ethson Fonseca for a 10-yard score to open the game. That was the Pirates’ only lead at 6-0.

Then with the game out of reach, Anthony Warren scored on a 4-yard run and then caught a two-point conversion from Szczuroski for the final margin.

by Mario Aguirre

Sub-5A Football Notebook: Warriors enter district with four-game win streak

For the first time in at least 20 years, Santa Rosa is 4-0. And while the second portion of its schedule could look completely different after district gets under way Friday, coach Joe Marichalar is encouraged by how his team has looked during the first month of the season.

“Our confidence is very high right now, and we want to carry that with us,” Marichalar said. “We have that momentum, that winning mindset, where we believe anything is possible.”

At quarterback, Riley Fonesca has been a dual threat returning to his natural position. JJ Anaya, another senior, has been a workhorse, sharing ball-carrying duties with Carlos Medrano and Fonseca. At the center of it, however, Marichalar said, is an offensive line that’s been steadily progressing going into his fourth year at the helm.

Just as vital has been the Warriors’ stifling defense, which has kept UAT-Tamaulipas (Mexico), Pettus, La Villa and Brownsville Porter down by a combined score of 140-26.

That was non-district.

The next (real) test comes comes Friday when they open District 16-3A Division II action at Banquete.

“We know the records go out the window now,” Marichalar said. “It’s back to 0-0.

“We know it’s a tough challenge.”

Marichalar refers to the four Fs — focus, fearlessness, finish and faith — as the catalyst for the Warriors’ perfect start, earning a No. 3 ranking in the latest RGVSports.com Sub-5A Top 4 poll, along with No. 1 Port Isabel (3-0), No. 2 Brownsville St. Joseph (3-1) and No. 4 Santa Maria (4-0).

For the third straight game, Santa Rosa is on the road. And given the geographical makeup of their district competition, the Warriors are hardly phased by it. They have George West, Hebbronville, Odem and Taft in their district, with Monte Alto serving as its only Valley competition in 16-3A DII.

On one hand, the travel can be challenging, Marichalar said. But, on the other, it’s helped the Warriors focus a little more on the task at hand.

The Warriors beat Banquete 16-12 last year, and Marichalar expects the Bulldogs, who are 2-2 so far this year, to be just as competitive.

“It’s a big game,” he said. “They’re very, very explosive. They have a lot of talented kids. We know we have to be ready from the first play to the last play. But we’re eager to get district going, and God-willing our kids execute and play like they’re supposed to. If they do that, I think we’ll be fine.”

ALSO PERFECT

To date, Santa Maria is undefeated after facing La Vila (15-14), Bruni (42-0), Monte Alto (64-26) and Woodsboro (58-7).

It, too, begins district this week at Riviera Kaufer — a rematch of last year’s 55-0 win. After that, the Cougars face Refugio, Freer, Skidmore-Tyan, Three Rivers and Premont.

Through four games, junior quarterback Michael Alaniz has completed 19 of 31 passes for 339 yards and three touchdowns against one interception. His favorite target has been Luis Otero (11 receptions, 284 yards, 3 TDs).

Alaniz has also rushed 20 times for 148 yards and two scores. He’s received support in the backfield from Daniel Martinez, who has amassed 475 yards on 59 carries (8.1 average) for 11 TDs.

After the opening week of the season, the Cougars tied with Santa Rosa for No. 4 in the RGVSports.com Sub-5A Top 4. Since then, the Cougars have held that distinction by themselves.

Members of the 2024 Santa Maria football team. (Andrew Cordero | Special to RGVSports)

BOUNCING BACK NICELY

Rio Hondo opened the season ranked No. 3 and held that through its 73-20 season-opening win over Valley View.

After losing 27-24 to Port Isabel, then ranked No. 2, the Bobcats fell off the top 4.

Rio Hondo (3-1) has made strides since the narrow loss, beating Hidalgo 53-22 and then last week defeating San Diego 42-29 in the 16-3A DI opener. Its second district game is against Bishop on Friday.

Bishop (1-3) is coming off its first win of the season — a 28-7 victory over Lyford — after opening the year with three straight losses.

Members of the 2024 Rio Hondo football team. (Andrew Cordero | Special to RGVSports)
by Mario Aguirre

Pace beats Economedes, nets first 4-0 start since 2011

Adrian Sauceda’s ascension in 2024 comes as little surprise to anyone at Brownsville Pace.
As a junior, he was the team leader in carries, rushing yards and tied for the lead in touchdowns on the ground, while providing himself a capable receiver when needed.
Now a senior, the workhorse has been even more devastating to the opposition. He had scored all eight of the Vikings’ touchdowns on the ground heading into Friday’s non-district matchup against Edinburg Economedes, and he added two more to stat line to carry the Vikings to a 31-17 victory at Sams Memorial Stadium in Brownsville.
It marked the first 4-0 start for Pace since 2011, when it finished 9-3 overall, including 5-2 in district for a fourth-place finish. It advanced to the area round of the playoffs, where it lost to Laredo Alexander 35-6.
“Is that true?” David Pardo, the eight-year coach, said. “I don’t keep track of that stuff; I’m not much of a historian guy. But we’ve had a pretty good start, so far.”
Pace Viking Saul Saldivar running back (5) hustles with the ball Friday night against Edinburg Economedes Jaguars at Veterans Memorial High School football field in Brownsville. (Miguel Robrerts/The Brownsville Herald)
The start includes wins over Hidalgo (44-21), Bishop (23-17) and La Joya High (44-42). Through three weeks alone, Pace had matched its win total from each of the previous three seasons. (It went 4-2 in 2020.)
Now, it remains in pursuit of its first postseason appearance since 2019, when it lost to Corpus Christi Miller 28-21 in bi-district.
If the Vikings hope to end that drought, they will rely on Sauceda and an offensive line that features sophomores Sebastian Garza, Cesar Martinez and Samuel Palomino. Along with returning seniors Albert Gonzalez and Michael Salazar, who Pardo credits for keeping the team together, the Vikings have averaged 305.3 rushing yards per game heading into Friday’s collision of previously unbeaten teams.
Sauceda scored on runs of 6 and 4 yards, respectively, to help the Vikings regain the lead at 14-10 during the second quarter and then build a 24-10 cushion during the third, capping a 17-0 run.
In between, Jovanny Chavez booted a 35-yard field goal in the waning moments of the opening half — a drive set up after Osvaldo Muniz recovered a fumble at their own 42-yard line.
Edinburg Economedes Jaguar quarterback (3) John Carreon hustles with the ball Friday night against Pace Vikings at Veterans Memorial High School football field in Brownsville. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)
“We’ve been riding him pretty hard,” Pardo said of Sauceda, who had carried the ball 78 times for 697 yards heading into this contest. “He worked so hard in the offseason. He was already good, but he put in the work to get stronger and it’s paying off for him.”
The Vikings look ahead now to next week’s non-district finale at Roma, before starting District 16-5A DII action against Brownsville Porter, PSJA Southwest, Edcouch-Elsa, Brownsville Lopez and Mercedes, respectively.
With wins over Donna North (31-13), Brownsville Porter (49-0) and La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (42-0), Economedes had gotten off to its best start at 3-0 since 2016, when it also won three straight to open the year. Now, the Jaguars take a 3-1 record into next week’s non-district closer at Brownsville St. Joseph. The Bloodhounds (3-1), who lost their first game of the season 49-14 to Regents on Thursday, entered this week ranked No. 1 in the RGVSports.com Sub-5A Top 4 poll.
After a bye, Economedes kicks off its District 31-6A slate against Edinburg North, PSJA High, Edinburg High, La Joya High and Weslaco High, respectively.
Through three weeks this season, Economedes had eclipsed its season win total from each of the past five years.
by Mario Aguirre

Fonseca powers Santa Rosa to 4-0 start

For the first time since middle school, Riley Fonseca finds himself in his natural position at quarterback.

And despite the three-year gap, it’s almost as if he never stopped playing under center.

That’s because the 5-foot-7, 165-pound senior has been electric in his new role for the Warriors. A dual threat, he scored twice on ground Thursday, fueling Santa Rosa to a 27-7 victory over Brownsville Porter at Sams Memorial Stadium in Brownsville — marking their first 4-0 start in at least 20 years.

A wide receiver last season, Fonseca ran six times for 97 yards and scored twice on runs of 22 yards Thursday, while also completing 8 of 11 passes for 81 yards, finding five different receivers in the process.

“He’s getting more and more comfortable as each game goes by,” coach Joe Marichalar said. “And then he has a game like tonight.”

Fonseca has remained a dynamic playmaker since taking over for the since-graduated Bryan Rojas. He’s led Santa Rosa, the No. 3-ranked team in the latest RGVSports.com Sub 5A Top 4 poll, to decisive wins over UAT-Tamaulipas (Mexico), Pettus and La Villa, respectively. And next Friday, it opens District 16-3A DII action at Banquete (2-1).

“We’re extremely proud and blessed to be in this position,” Marichalar, the fourth-year coach, said. “As coaches and players, we all got together and said this is something that we can accomplish, but it’s going to require a lot of work and sacrifice. And the kids committed to it. It’s only going to get tougher, but the kids are going to keep working and take it as far as they can.”

The Warriors’ district schedule features Hebbronville, Taft, George West, Monte Alto and Odem, respectively. They’re hoping to improve from their 4-2 district record and third-place finish in each of the past two seasons.

“It’s just a matter of climbing the ladder little by little and doing better than the previous year. And this year is no exception,” Marichalar said. “We have high standards and we work really hard. We have coaches that are very committed to perfecting their craft. And we’re going to continue to do that and ride the wave as long as we can.”

Porter (0-4) has one more non-district game next week, against Sharyland Pioneer, before a bye. The Cowboys then begin District 16-5A DII play against Brownsville Pace before facing Edcouch-Elsa, Brownsville Lopez, Mercedes and PSJA Southwest, respectively.

Porter was winless in 10 games last season. Its last victory came Sept. 14, 2022, when it beat PSJA Southwest 35-21 to wrap up a four-game non-district slate undefeated. It went on to go 0-6 in district.

Joseph Moreno was the bright spot for Porter on Thursday, scoring on a 10-yard run during the third quarter to cut the deficit 20-7. The workhorse running back carried the ball nine times for 44 yards on the game’s opening drive, before the Cowboys fumbled 4 yards from the end zone.

That gave Santa Rosa its first drive, which resulted in JJ Anaya, a two-way player, completing the series with a 1-yard run up the middle to get on the scoreboard.

Carlos Medrano capped the Warriors’ scoring output on a 62-yard run — a single-play drive that gave Santa Rosa a 27-7 lead to close out the third quarter.

by Mario Aguirre

Jasso powers Bobcats to bounce-back victory over Golden Eagles

Sophomore Oscar Jasso scored two first-half touchdowns to lead Edinburg High to a 28-20 victory over Brownsville Hanna on Thursday at Sams Memorial Stadium in Brownsville.

The first-year varsity player scored on a 57-yard touchdown pass from JT Santa Maria and later on a 7-yard run to help the Bobcats (2-1) atone for a 44-13 Week 2 loss to Edinburg Vela, the No. 4-ranked team in this week’s RGVSports.com 5A/6A Top 10 poll.

“He’s got great vision,” coach Rene Guzman said of Jasso. “Once he gets the ball, he could do anything in a split second — cut right, cut left. Great things come from him.”

Hanna Golden Eagle Esteban Rodriguez (20) hustles with the ball Thursday night against Edinburg Bobcats at Coach Joe A. Rodriguez Field at Sams Memorial Stadium in Brownsville.

Jasso’s first score gave Edinburg a 14-7 first-quarter lead after exchanging scoring drives with Hanna (0-3) to start the contest.

After the Golden Eagles’ Esteban Rodriguez responded with a 3-yard run to tie it, Jasso scored on the ground to regain the advantage at 21-14 heading into halftime.

“The kids bounced back great,” Guzman said. “The coaches executed well tonight. Proud of them.

“Sometimes, coming off a big loss like that (to Vela) — the game was hyped — I told them to take it one game at a time. … It’s hard to shake off the hangover. But the kids did it tonight. And Hanna, they’re no slouches. Hats off to (coach) Mark Guess.”

Most of Edinburg’s offense came through the air Thursday, a stark contrast from its loss to Vela the week before in which both Bobcats quarterbacks combined to complete 2 of 11 passes for 18 yards. Against Hanna, Santa Maria would have connected with three different receivers for touchdowns during the opening half, if not for a penalty wiping away the third reception.

It was the first of two penalties that negated Edinburg scores. The other was called back during the third quarter, when linebacker Moises Hernandez returned an interception for a 44-yard TD.

Hanna Golden Eagle Esteban Rodriguez (20) hustles with the ball Thursday night against Edinburg Bobcats at Coach Joe A. Rodriguez Field at Sams Memorial Stadium in Brownsville.

Instead, Santa Maria was credited with two first-half scores, including an 11-yard strike to Jude Vega on the game’s opening drive.

“He came out throwing the ball a lot more,” Guzman said. “That was the game plan.”

After next week’s matchup against Edcouch-Elsa, the Bobcats wrap up non-district play against Los Fresnos. Following a bye, it will take on PSJA High in its district opener Oct. 10.

This marks the first time since 2014 that Brownsville Hanna has dropped three games in a row to open the season. The Eagles lost to McAllen Memorial 37-13 in Week 1 and 35-14 the following week to Sharyland High. They face Sharyland Pioneer, La Joya High and Mission Veterans, respectively, to close out non-district. On Oct. 11, they travel to San Benito to begin a four-game district schedule.

by Mario Aguirre

Alaniz helps Mustangs win shootout over Panthers

Virtually every time Michael Alaniz has caught the ball this season, the McAllen Memorial receiver has cashed it in for a touchdown.

Such has been the case six times in two games this season, including four times Friday night during the Mustangs’ 45-38 non-district victory over Weslaco High in their home opener at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The junior scored on receptions of 80, 44, 44 and 68 yards, respectively — all from quarterback Kane Coy, the third-year starter — to help keep McAllen Memorial undefeated heading into a Week 3 matchup against San Antonio Johnson on neutral ground. It marks the final tuneup before kicking off a seven-game District 16-5A Division I schedule Sept. 20 at Rio Grande City.

“He’s a special talent,” coach Moses Patterson said. “He’s doing a great job for us, being able to mature this year and stepping in to fill a void. He has great chemistry with Kane, and they’re complementing each other well.”

Alaniz’s only two receptions last week during a 37-14 win over Brownsville Hanna resulted in touchdowns — of 35 and 11 yards — as the Mustangs (2-0) improved one spot from their preseason ranking to No. 7 in the latest RGVSports.com Top 10 poll.

After a 42-28 season-opening loss to Harlingen High, the Panthers (0-2) again found themselves in a shootout. They trailed 14-0 before narrowing the deficit 21-14 at halftime.

Weslaco High running back David Perez (20) carries the ball during a non-district contest against McAllen Memorial on Friday at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium in McAllen. Photo by Emmanuel Ruiz | Special to RGVSports.

Weslaco tied the game at 38 on a 33-yard field goal by Francisco Trevino, the starting quarterback, with 3:06 to play, before Alaniz scored his fourth TD of the night on a 68-yard catch from Coy off a screen pass.

Trevino’s field goal capped what was otherwise a big night for the senior, who moved under center after playing receiver last year. He accounted for four touchdowns Friday, three on the ground. He ran for 10-, 39- and 12-yard scores, respectively, and completed 9 of 13 passes for 173 yards and a TD — a 27-yard strike to Chris Luna that brought the Panthers to within 21-14 with 0:33 seconds to play during the opening quarter.

“That Weslaco quarterback is real special,” Patterson said. “He’s going to take them very far this year.”

Trevino also tallied three interceptions — a notable statistic for a Mustangs team that scored on five of six possessions during the opening half. It helps that four of their six captains are seniors this year, all on the defensive side.

McAllen Memorial running back Jayden Soliz (1) is met by a pair of Weslaco High defenders during a non-district game Friday at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium in McAllen. Photo by Emmanuel Ruiz | Special to RGVSports.

Patterson, the fourth-year coach, described a group that took their lumps in the beginning of his tenure but is now beginning to see the fruits of their labor in qualifying for the playoffs in two of his first three seasons.

“I just like how our team went out and competed,” Patterson said. “We knew they were a tough squad. Coach (Roy) Stro(man) does a heck of a job. They’re a 6A school; we’re 5A. We knew we had our work cut out for us. But the big message going in was that we were going to finish the fight.”

Weslaco, which went 10-0 in the regular season last year, remains in search of its first win in 2024.

Last year the Panthers earned their first bi-district victory since 2015 by beating Mission High, losing in the next round to San Antonio Jay.

Weslaco High running back David Garcia (23) carries the ball during a non-district contest against McAllen Memorial on Friday at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium in McAllen. Photo by Emmanuel Ruiz | Special to RGVSports.

Next week, they play host to Laredo LBJ in their home opener.

Braxton Speights — the youngest of three Speights brothers to play for the Mustangs — was responsible for scoring the only other Memorial touchdown that didn’t feature Coy to Alaniz. The sophomore back broke open a scoreless tie with 10:48 to play during the opening quarter, muscling his way 44 yards to end zone.

Braxton’s oldest brother, Trevor, was the Valley’s all-time leading rusher by the time he graduated in 2016, before moving on to Stanford. Their middle brother, Campbell, graduated in 2010 before going to the U.S. Naval Academy.