RGVSports.com
When UIL realignment was finalized across the state of Texas eight months ago, several six-team Class 6A districts were in a scheduling quandary. Districts 2-6A and 32-6A needed an extra game to carry them into district competition, so five teams from each met on the football field during Week 5.
Out of the five matchups against teams from the Odessa, Lubbock, Midland and Amarillo areas, Brownsville Hanna was the only Valley squad to win a game. The Golden Eagles faced a much bigger and athletic opponent in Amarillo Tascosa, but they defeated the Rebels convincingly 35-19 Saturday in San Antonio.
The Golden Eagles went 3-1 during their difficult non-district slate, nabbing wins over No. 5 McAllen Memorial, District 16-5A DII favorite Sharyland High and Amarillo Tascosa while losing to No. 1 Edinburg Vela in Week 2. Brownsville Hanna’s Week 3 game against Weslaco East was canceled due to the threat of heavy rain. The Wildcats received nine votes this week after their blowout of Donna North.
As the Golden Eagles rise to No. 2, Mission Veterans drops down to a tie for third following their fourth district win in four games.
The eight voters are the writers and editors who cover RGV high school football for AIM Media’s three newspapers: The Monitor, The Valley Morning Star, and The Brownsville Herald.
Weslaco High moved up to No. 3 with Mission Veterans after taking care of Edinburg Economedes. The 4-0 Panthers are off this week before hosting the top-ranked SaberCats in Week 7.
McAllen Memorial’s last-minute comeback over Mission High helped the Mustangs jump three spots to No. 5. Coincidentally, the Eagles fell from No. 6 last week to No. 9 this week.
Los Fresnos checked in at No. 6 despite losing its 2-6A matchup with Odessa Permian 56-0. Odessa Permian, of course, is one of the most established football programs in the state.
Thanks in part to the strong right arm of senior quarterback Trey Guajardo and his seven touchdown passes in Week 5, PSJA High vaults into the rankings at No. 7. The Bears’ victory over La Joya High bounced the Coyotes out of the top 10.
Like Los Fresnos, San Benito was shut out by a 2-6A school in their final non-district test of the regular season. The Greyhounds have the No. 8 slot.
Replacing the Coyotes, who were the 10th-ranked team in the Valley last week, is Brownsville Veterans. The Chargers are still considered the top challenger to Mission Veterans in District 16-5A DI despite suffering a head-to-head loss to the Patriots in Week 3.
The following are the teams in the RGVSports.com 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 eight voters are the writers and editors who cover RGV high school football for AIM Media’s three newspapers: The Monitor, Valley Morning Star, and Brownsville Herald.
Team Record Points Previous
1. Edinburg Vela (7) 5-0 79 1
2. Brownsville Hanna (1) 3-1 60 3
T-3. Mission Veterans 4-1 56 2
T-3. Weslaco High 4-0 56 4
5. McAllen Memorial 2-2 41 8
6. Los Fresnos 2-3 27 7
7. PSJA High 2-2 23 NR
8. San Benito 2-3 22 5
9. Mission High 3-1 21 6
10. Brownsville Veterans 4-1 19 NR
Other teams receiving votes: Edinburg High (14); Weslaco East (9); Rio Hondo (5); McAllen Rowe (3); La Feria (2); Valley View (2); Brownsville Pace (1).