STAFF REPORTS

The final week of the regular season is here and will provide a clear-cut playoff picture.

Harlingen High remains the top team in District 32-6A. The Cardinals are 4-0 in district play and clinched a playoff berth and at least a share of the district title last Friday. A win this coming Friday against Rivera will give Harlingen High the district title outright for the first time since the 2016 season.

Cards running back Rayden Berry ran well against Harlingen South. Berry ran for 137 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries. Berry’s 137 yards rushing was the fifth time he has ran for more than 100 yards in one game.

Through the air, Justin Galvan hauled in a season-high 10 catches and 180 yards, along with a 5-yard touchdown catch.

San Benito continued to roll with a convincing win against Brownsville Rivera last week. The Greyhounds clinched a playoff berth with the win and are still alive for a share of the district crown.

The ’Hounds will need a win against Los Fresnos and a Harlingen High loss to Rivera in order to get a share of the district title.

Smiley Silva led the rushing attack with his eighth 100-yard rushing performance. Silva ran for 128 yards and one touchdown on seven carries.

In the passing game Jermaine Corbin and Juan Constante gave the Raiders’ secondary fits. Corbin hauled in five catches for 100 yards and one touchdown. Constante led the receiving corps with six catches, 117 yards and two scores.

The case for Harlingen South is simple: win and get in. The Hawks lost Friday’s Bird Bowl for an 11th straight year.

However, there is still light at the end of the tunnel for Brian Ricci’s Hawks.

For a second straight year, Ricci has the Hawks in the playoff picture. The same can be said for Mark Guess and the Brownsville Hanna Eagles.

The winner will seal the fourth seed of the playoffs. With San Benito and Los Fresnos in the playoffs as Division I teams, Harlingen High and either South or Hanna will enter the playoffs as the two small schools.

The winner between South and Hanna will face either Edinburg Vela or Weslaco East. San Benito likely will face Edinburg North, and Los Fresnos will meet Weslaco High.

SUB-5A RANKS

After beating Hidalgo 28-12 in its final regular season game to capture its third straight District 16-4A Division I championship, La Feria will have a bye week while it awaits its bi-district opponent in the University Interscholastic League Class 4A Division I playoffs.

The top-seeded Lions (10-0, 4-0 16-4A DI) will face the fourth seed in District 15-4A Division I. The winner of the regular-season finale between Pleasanton (6-3, 0-3 15-4A DI) and La Vernia (4-5, 0-3 16-4A DI) at 7:30 p.m. Friday will earn an opportunity to play La Feria to open the postseason.

Rio Hondo defeated Port Isabel 27-15 last Friday to secure the second seed in District 16-4A Division II behind district champion Raymondville.

The Bobcats (5-4, 2-1 16-4A DII) likely will face Orange Grove, the third seed in District 15-4A Division II, in the bi-district round. Orange Grove is scheduled to travel to play at second-seeded Sinton at 7:30 p.m. Friday, and the Pirates and Bulldogs are both 3-1 in district play.

The third-seeded Tarpons (3-6, 1-2 16-4A DII) will play the winner of the Orange Grove-Sinton matchup.

The Bearkats (8-1, 3-0 16-4A DII) are slated to play the fourth-seed in 15-4A Division II, which also will come down to the regular season’s final week. Ingleside (2-7, 1-3 15-4A DII) will visit West Oso (3-6, 1-3 15-4A DII) to decide which program will face Raymondville in bi-district play.

Coming off of a 20-7 win over Santa Gertrudis, Lyford has won four of its recent District 16-3A Division I contests, including a 27-21 victory over San Diego.

The Bulldogs (4-5, 4-2 16-3A DI) hold the tiebreaker over San Diego for the third seed if each team wins its final regular-season game. Thus, Lyford’s most likely bi-district opponent will be second-seeded Marion of District 15-3A Division I, which has an overall record of 6-3.

A Lyford loss combined with a San Diego win would result in a playoff tilt with top-seeded Jourdanton, the only team to defeat Marion in district play this season.

Santa Rosa, meanwhile, saw its postseason hopes dashed after back-to-back losses to Taft and Corpus Christi London in its last regular season game. Three other District 16-3A Division II games remain on the 2019 calendar, but the Warriors (5-5, 2-4 16-3A DII) are locked into fifth place.

In District 16-2A Division I, Santa Maria will decide its playoff seeding when it travels to play Freer at 7:30 p.m. Friday. If the Cougars (6-2, 2-2 16-2A DI) win, they would earn the third seed and play Weimar, and if they lose, they would fall to fourth place and face off against District 15-2A Division I champion Shiner.

La Villa has won its past three District 16-2A Division II games, having most recently dispatched Woodsboro 43-0. The Cardinals (3-6, 3-1 16-2A DII) would retain the second seed in the district with a win, and cede their position to Bruni with the combination of a Bruni win and La Villa loss. The Cardinals would play the winner of the game between D’Hanis and Runge if they finish in second place. If La Villa finishes in third, it would take on La Pryor.

GOOD TEAM OUT

Brownsville Veterans Memorial coach David Cantu said last week that it was a shame that one very good team out of District 16-5A division I would have to miss the playoffs.

Unfortunately for Cantu, it will be his Chargers sitting at home when the playoffs begin after his team lost to Pace 26-21 and La Joya Palmview handed Mission Veterans Memorial a 37-35 loss in a late comeback Friday night.

Brownsville Veterans can finish 6-3 in the district (7-3 overall) with a win over Palmview this week.

The Chargers will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014, when they played in District 32-6A.

The 6-2 Vikings, who are in the playoffs for a third straight season under coach Danny Pardo, will face 7-1 Rio Grande City to end the regular season, with hopes of earning a third seed.

STAFF REPORTS

Santa Rosa running back Jose Diaz-Mendez rushed for 141 yards on 18 carries and one touchdown during the Warriors’ 32-7 loss Friday at Taft.

Mike Bermea was Santa Rosa’s leading receiver with one catch for 51 yards on a pass from Bobby Saldivar.

The Warriors (5-4 overall, 2-3 district) are on the outside looking in at a District 16-3A Division II playoff berth, behind Hebbronville at 2-2 in district and 4-4 overall. The Warriors conclude the regular season when they play host to district co-leader Corpus Christi London at 7:30 p.m. Friday. London is sharing the top spot with Odem, the only other unbeaten team in 16-3A DI.

In District 16-3A Division I, Lyford saw its three-game win streak come to an end at the hands of Mathis in a 29-7 road defeat. Osmar Martinez was Lyford’s leading rusher, with 84 yards on 23 carries. Devon Mendoza had two catches for 27 yards and a touchdown.

Despite the loss, the Bulldogs moved to 3-2 in district play and maintained possession of the final 16-3A Division I playoff spot due to Lyford’s earlier win over Falfurrias, which is also 3-2. The Bulldogs conclude their home schedule with a matchup against Santa Gertrudis Academy at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Santa Maria also suffered a setback with a 59-13 loss to District 16-2A Division I, allowing a season-high 460 yards on defense. The Cougars (5-2, 1-2 16-3A Division II) are clinging to the fourth seed in the district playoff picture.

Quarterback Nathaniel Rodriguez led Santa Maria through the air with 134 passing yards and on the ground with 33 rushing yards on six carries. Rodriguez tossed two touchdown passes and completed eight of his 18 attempts.

Bernie Castellanos was the leading receiver for the Cougars with two touchdown receptions and four total catches for 114 yards.

Santa Maria plays host to Kaufer at 7:30 p.m. Friday, before visiting Freer the following week at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8 in the Cougars’ regular-season finale. Santa Maria is one game behind third-place Freer.

TIGHTENING UP

The District 32-6A race is starting to take shape with two weeks left in the regular season.

Harlingen High remains atop the district with a 3-0 record after a road win at Los Fresnos in Week 9.

Despite the chilly and windy conditions, Cardinals QB Jaime Galvan picked up where he left off. Galvan ran for 139 yards on 17 attempts and one score, and the lefty threw for 148 yards and two scores, going 12-for-16.

Galvan hit his brother Justin Galvan on five passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, Rayden Berry ran for 75 yards on 12 carries.

Harlingen High will meet crosstown rival Harlingen South at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

San Benito picked up its second straight win and did it with a bang. The Greyhounds avenged last year’s loss to Hanna and leaned on senior QB Smiley Silva, who ran for 221 yards on 16 carries and found paydirt four times.

Silva’s 221 yards and four scores are season-highs. Junior running back Kyler Castilleja checked in a 14-carry, 58-yard, two-score performance in the win.

San Benito is 2-1 in district and in a comfortable spot for a postseason berth. The ’Hounds play host to Brownsville Rivera on Friday.

Harlingen South kept its playoff hopes alive with a win against Rivera last Friday. South is 1-2 and tied with Rivera, Hanna and Los Fresnos, who all have 1-2 records.

Sophomore running back Marcos Gonzales continued to roll in Week 9. Gonzales ran for 132 yards on 26 carries and three scores. He has eight touchdowns during the past three games and has provided the Hawks with a strong option out of the backfield.

“(Marcos) is a very strong runner,” South coach Brian Ricci said following Friday’s game. “He runs hard and is hard to tackle, and I wouldn’t wanna tackle him, I’ll tell you that.”

The Hawks’ defense forced four turnovers and pitched a shutout during the second half.

South seeks its second straight win Friday when it meets Harlingen High. The Hawks are looking to snap a 10-year skid against their crosstown rival.

GOOD TO GO

As the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers put the bow on a 29-0 shutout of PSJA Southwest and a third straight win, quarterback Liam Longoria watched from the sidelines after sitting out the second half with an ankle injury.

The senior quarterback had been battling some bumps and bruises, but coach David Cantu said it isn’t a long-term worry and Longoria should be back near full strength for Friday night’s game against Pace.

“He’s definitely going to start the football game, and he’ll be near 100 percent,” Cantu said. “And he’ll do all the things he can do. He has played through some pain, and we admire him and we’re proud of him for that. He really sets the example by being a tough kid.”

Cantu said Longoria has steadily gotten better after every day this week.

Longoria’s absence during the second half was mostly precautionary as the Chargers were in control of PSJA Southwest throughout.

Running back and backup quarterback Marlon Montelongo took the second-half snaps and was 2 for 2 for 18 yards through the air and one touchdown. He also rushed for 165 yards and two more scores to lead the way.

Watch the full video interview of the Sharyland High Cross Country District 31-5A championship team at 3 p.m. Wednesday here at www.RGVSPORTS.com

Watch the full video interview of the Sharyland High Cross Country district championship team at 3 p.m. Wednesday at https://t.co/0zstAgMej8 pic.twitter.com/0uNt446uiw

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STAFF REPORTS

Lyford senior running back Abel Gonzalez ran for 117 yards on 17 carries en route to a 27-12 win over Aransas Pass last Friday night.

Last week’s rushing output was a season-high for both Gonzalez and Bulldogs (2-4, 2-1 District 16-3A Division I), who tallied 335 yards on the ground during their second straight win.

Through six games, Gonzalez has accumulated 202 rushing yards in 2019 and is averaging 6.9 yards per carry. He recorded 2-, 3- and 5-yard touchdowns during the victory Friday.

Freshman running back Osmar Martinez was another major contributor for Lyford, running for 146 yards on 15 carries.

Quarterback Brenden Nunez completed six of eight pass attempts for 68 yards. His top targets were Devon Mendoza (two catches for 35 yards) and Matthew Sanchez (three catches for 27 yards).

’KATS BACK

Raymondville is slated to return from its bye week with a trip to play District 16-4A Division II rival Rio Hondo at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The Bearkats (5-1) boast the most explosive offense in the district, with nearly 2,500 total yards through six games.

The player responsible for a large chunk of that yardage and the 16-4A DII scoring leader, ZaRavion Armendarez, has been instrumental to Raymondville’s fast start this season.

The junior running back/wide receiver is the team’s leading rusher and leading pass-catcher, with 1,247 all-purpose yards. He also has scored 17 total touchdowns, 13 of which have come on the ground.

Most recently, he rushed for 133 yards and four touchdowns and caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from Jayson Cantu in a 49-6 win over Orange Grove on Oct. 4.

RUSHING FALCONS

The Los Fresnos Falcons opened the District 32-6A season 1-0 after dismissing the Harlingen South Hawks 24-3 Friday night, and it was thanks in large part to running back Chris Resendiz.

Resendiz led the Falcons’ ground game with 147 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries.

It was an all-around good game for the Falcons, who also had Nico Valencia rush for 91 yards and Adrian Longoria, who stepped in at quarterback for an injured Matthew Padilla, pick up 88 more.

As a team, the Falcons rushed for 359 yards on 53 attempts.

The Falcons will look to have the same success when they face Rivera on Thursday for a chance to go 2-0 in district.

ON FIRE

Harlingen High stayed hot Friday night, earning their 60th win against the San Benito Greyhounds to now lead the series 60-25-5.

The Cards are 5-1 and have won three straight. While the offense continues to roll, the defense has gotten better each week and is yielding 11 points per game during the current streak.

Against San Benito, senior linebacker Gabriel Martinez collected three of the team’s six sacks and finished with 15 total tackles.

Big Red will play host to Hanna on Friday. The winner could be in the driver seat for the district title.

SLOWING ’HOUNDS

On Friday, San Benito lost its third straight game after a 2-1 start to the season. The loss to Harlingen High snapped a two year win streak against the Cards.

The Greyhounds took an early 7-6 lead on a Kyler Castilleja touchdown during the first quarter. After that, the Greyhounds never led again.

Senior QB Smiley Silva threw for a season-low 51 yards, going 5 for 11. On the ground, Silva had a mediocre night with 70 yards on 15 attempts. The 70 yards was his second-lowest total of the year.

San Benito struggled to get any offense going against the Cardinals’ defense, putting up 257 yards.

San Benito will meet Harlingen South on Friday at home. Last year, San Benito picked apart the Hawks 49-14.

HOPING TO REBOUND

Harlingen South also will look to bounce back after its Week 6 loss at Los Fresnos, its second straight. The offense took a step back by putting up just three points, a season low.

South and San Benito will be in search of their first district win of the season Friday.

STAFF REPORT

La Feria’s 49-28 win against Rio Hondo came at a cost Friday night, as senior quarterback Dorian Hernandez suffered a broken radius bone on his left forearm.

Hernandez is expected to miss three weeks.

The Lions are 6-0 on the year and begin district play this week at Kingsville King. The Lions then face Zapata and Grulla. Hernandez is hopeful to return during the final week of the regular season, when La Feria takes on Hidalgo.

La Feria will hand the keys of the offense to junior quarterback Dario Sanchez. In the win over Rio Hondo, Sanchez tossed a pair of touchdowns.

While all eyes were on Hernandez, the Lions snapped a seven-year losing streak to Rio Hondo. The last time La Feria beat Rio Hondo was in 2012, and ironically enough that game also was played in Rio Hondo.

NOTED RIVALRY

The Battle of the Arroyo between then San Benito Greyhounds and Harlingen High Cardinals again will be highlighted as part of the Great American Rivalry Series.

The series, now in its 16th year, “celebrates the passion of high school football,” according to a press release, which also stated that the series has covered 859 rivalry games across 44 states since 2004.

The series awards the winner a trophy and recognizes a most valuable player after the game. A senior scholar-athlete from each team will receive a college scholarship based on academic and athletic performance, the release noted.

ROUGH RIDING

The Porter Cowboys dropped their second straight game and dropped to 1-4 in District 16-5A Division I after losing to Brownsville Veterans Memorial 34-17.

The Cowboys have faced district undefeated Mission Veterans Memorial (5-0) and Brownsville Veterans (3-2) in consecutive weeks, and will take on Rio Grande City (4-1) after this week’s bye to end a grueling three-game stretch.

Cowboys coach Carlos Uresti is hoping this stretch will build character and spark some momentum, as his team hasn’t mathematically been eliminated with four games to go.

“I think this (stretch) is just building character,” Uresti said. “We had a very rough game against Mission Veterans to start off, but we have to correct mistakes and just get better. We will face Rio Grande City next and then three teams after that who are going to be fighting for the playoffs themselves.”

After playing host to Ro Grande City, Porter will be at PSJA Memorial, at Donna High and then close out the season at home against PSJA Southwest.

GROUND GAINER

Port Isabel senior running back Brayan Medina has rushed for more than 100 yards in four of his five games this season, including 156 yards on 28 carries and three touchdowns during the Tarpons’ 35-34 loss Friday at Grulla.

He recorded 100 yards on the ground for the second time in as many weeks, and it was his third multi-touchdown game of the season.

Medina has rushed for 791 yards on 128 carries and eight touchdowns in 2019 for an average of 6.2 yards per rush. His 10 total touchdowns are good for second-best in District 16-4A Division II behind quarterback Joey Krieghbaum’s 11 touchdowns.

Medina is also Port Isabel’s leading receiver, with 236 yards and two touchdowns on 15 catches.

STAYING HOT

Santa Maria won its fourth straight game Friday night. The Cougars took down Progreso 21-7 and head into district play this week, when they take on Three Rivers at home.

The Cougars’ offense racked up 264 yards. Nathaniel Rodriguez ran for 60 yards on 11 attempts and one score. Rodriguez threw for 108 yards and one touchdown on 4-of-10 passing.

Bernie Castellanos led the receiving corps with four catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns.

BREAKTHROUGH

Lyford snapped a four game losing streak, picking up its first win of the season by a score of 20-14 on Friday night at Falfurrias.

The Bulldogs entered the fourth quarter trailing 7-6 and outscored Falfurrias 14-7 in the fourth quarter. Lyford’s rushing attack helped seal the win, gaining 199 yards.

The Bulldogs are 1-1 in district play and travel to Aransas Pass next week.

Kevin Narro, Mark Molina and Stefan Modrich contributed to this report.