By MARK MOLINA
Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — The Harlingen Cardinals’ roll and four-game winning streak came to an abrupt end following an emotional 22-21 loss to San Benito last week.
With the undefeated Los Fresnos coming to town, the Cardinals have spent this week eliminating outside distractions in hopes of regaining focus and avoiding a two-game skid.
Head coach Manny Gomez described it as giving his team “tunnel vision,” but assured that nobody is dwelling on the loss.
They just need to clean things up.
“We didn’t capitalize on certain things, but our team isn’t broken,” Gomez said. “We just need to work on a few things that we have to prepare for against Los Fresnos. You just have to go out there, overcome and adapt every week.”
As far as morale goes, Gomez says that his team has responded well with the understanding that a district title is not out of the question, but the road there begins with the Falcons.
“It’s just something that’s in their heart. The bottom line is that they came in Monday ready to work,” Gomez said. “I told them after the game that we won’t be undefeated district champions, but we still have an opportunity. The only opportunity is to get after Los Fresnos in a 48-minute game.
“We understand that in this district it’s like district championship every week, but we’ve geared up for this since the offseason; we’re going to fight to the end.”
Harlingen has their work cut out for them this week and the next.
They follow this week’s game with Los Fresnos with a road game against undefeated Brownsville Veterans.
If the Cardinals want to repeat as a district champion, getting by these two weeks with victories can go a long way in making that happen.
But they’ll just take it one week at a time.
“It’s what I consider a meat grinder with a lot of stiff competition, which will help prepare you for playoff time,” Gomez said. “However, we’ll worry about next week next week.”
The schedule eases up for the Cards in the final two weeks with games against Brownsville Lopez and Harlingen South.
BETTER STARTS
Harlingen has made it a habit of slow starts and last week against San Benito was no different as they scored 14 of their 21 points in the fourth quarter.
One came after a San Benito muffed punt which gave them the ball on the Greyhound 10.
They hope to come out firing early this week.
“I hope we have a better start, but it’s part of the preparation,” Gomez said. “If’s not about hoping and praying; we have to go out there, execute and take care of the football.”
Quarterback Jesse Castro and running back Leo Tienda each found the end zone last week against San Benito to continue their strong play for the Cardinals, but will be tested against the district-best Los Fresnos defense, which has allowed less than 300 yards a game to opponents.
BALANCED FALCONS
The Harlingen defense will have their hands full as well this week.
The Falcons present the district’s most-balanced offense, as they are the only team to have more than 1,000 yards on the ground and through the air.
Falcons quarterback Rene Ortega has passed for more than 1,200 yards and a district-best 17 touchdowns, while also becoming one of the district’s top-eight rushers with more than 400 yards rushing this year.