HARLINGEN — Edinburg Vela’s Jonathan Flores entered the 2024 season with big shoes to fill. The senior running back was tasked with replacing now UTRGV running back and 2023 All-Area running back Jamal Polley.

Through two weeks of play Flores has more than filled those shoes, ranking sixth in the RGV in rushing and tied for fifth in scoring heading into Week 3.

He continued to establish himself as one of the top backs in the area Friday, erupting for over 200 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns to lead the No. 3 Sabercats past the No. 2 Harlingen High Cardinals 34-16 in the RGVSports.com Game of the Week.

“Those are some big shoes he’s filling,” Edinburg Vela head coach Ernie Alonzo said. “He’s not a pleasant surprise like some people think he is though. We knew what he could do and he’s very capable of it. But also, the guys up front. They do a tremendous job. We know we have an experience O-line, and we ride those guys.”

Flores looked like a threat to play every time he touched the ball Friday, finding his way through any small crease he could find.

His elusiveness led to touchdown runs of 4, 6 and 13-yards during the first three quarters. He finished the game with 31 carries for 138 yards and three scores on the ground.

His biggest play, however, didn’t come from the backfield but rather on special teams, taking back a kick 90 yards with less than nine minutes remaining to put his team up by two possessions.

“I didn’t feel no pressure,” Flores said. “I don’t mind what people say. I play my own ball and do what I do best. Anytime I touch the ball I feel like I can’t be stopped. Every time I touch that ball I’m trying to score. If you want to stop me, try and stop me. I’m going to try and get that touchdown.”

Flores work on the ground was complemented by a lockdown defense, which picked off Harlingen High quarterback Jonas Serna three times during the second half, including a pair of drive-killing interceptions during the third and a pick to all but seal Harlingen’s fate during the fourth.

Harlingen High running back Noah Huerta was the lone bright spot in an offense that struggled most of the night, eclipsing the 100-yard mark and find the end zone at least twice for a third straight game.

His 8-yard touchdown run during the third brought the Cardinals within one after a missed extra point, but Harlingen High would get no closer, with a pair of fourth-quarter field goals by Edinburg Vela kicker Robert Gonzalez putting the SaberCats in the driver’s seat down the stretch.

Huerta finished with 19 carries for 195 yards and two touchdowns, adding two catches for 14 yards.

Edinburg Vela quarterback Geoffery LeFevre turned in a solid showing through the air, completing 19-of-32 passes for 240 yards. Derek Rodriguez, Sergio Briones and Luis Garcia each recorded an interception.

“We knew it was going to be a tough test for us,” Alonzo said. “Coach (Manny) Gomez does a great job with his team. There is great tradition here in Harlingen. To be on the road and win in this playoff type atmosphere, it is a great learning experience.”

The victory improves Edinburg Vela to 3-0 against the Cardinals all-time, also moving them to 3-0 to close out non-district play. Harlingen High falls to 2-1 with the loss.

The SaberCats (3-0) kick off District 16-5A DI play against Mission High (2-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at Tom Landry Stadium in Mission.

The Cardinals (2-1) will look to get back in the win column at 7 p.m. Friday, hitting the road for the first time all season to take on Laredo United South at the Student Activity Center in Laredo.

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Every two years, district realignment reshapes the RGV football landscape. Old matchups get bumped in favor of a more fluid schedule, and sometimes, new matchups emerge. Sharyland Pioneer took charge of the third edition of this matchup with a 31-14 win over Edinburg North on Thursday night in a non-district football game.

“We schedule teams like this, they’re a quality ball club… we have a long preseason, and we want to schedule teams that will get us better for our district season. They’re a well coached and tough team, and a long preseason allows us to get quality reps,” Pioneer head coach Eddie Galindo said.

With a month until their first district game, the Diamondbacks looked sharp. They have a plethora of weapons led by quarterback, William Goodloe. Goodloe, a former receiver, commanded the offense with confidence. His 35-yard strike to Matthew Maldonado set the Diamondbacks up first-and-goal at the 10. On the next play, Goodloe bounced his way through the Cougars’ defense with a 10-yard touchdown for the first score. It capped a 7-play, 62-yard drive. Two possessions later, Goodloe and Maldonado connected again, but this time Maldonado found the end zone on a 68-yard catch. Despite the tight coverage, Maldonado was able to win the one-on-one matchup and outrun his defender.

“We worked for this all week, it was a team effort. The line was blocking, the receivers were catching, everything just flowed together,” Goodloe said.

Everything was flowing for the Diamondbacks. Running backs Marcus Perales and Dylan Tijerina added to the rushing threat already imposed by Goodloe. Weapons-a-plenty, Goodloe connected with Luis Orozco on a 51-yard touchdown as he streaked through coverage virtually untouched.

“It was just a great team victory, I’m proud of them. I’m proud of my defense too,” Goodloe said.

The Diamondbacks’ defense cannot go unnoticed. They had their hands full with the Cougars backfield, quarterback Jose Ramirez and running back, Angel Rodriguez. The Diamondbacks were like weeds in the wind, bending but never breaking. They allowed an early score, but then proceeded to shut down a 15-play, 78-yard drive short of the goal line. Cornerback Evan Rodriguez stymied Adrian Maldonado at the edge of the goal line on fourth and goal for a momentum-killing stand that may have led to a Cougars 14-13 lead. The Diamondbacks defense held tough and shut the Cougars offense two more times on fourth down.

“The defense is the heart of our team, we have a lot returners…I’m proud of them, they’re playing hard,” Galindo said.

The Cougars kept pushing the Pioneer defense to its breaking point. Osmar Alanis drew the game even at 7 when he shot around the right side for a 66-yard jet sweep that landed him in the end zone. Alanis was an all-around threat for the Cougars. Alanis returned kicks and was the go-to receiver for Ramirez; he consistently found holes in the defense and converted third downs that kept drives alive.

“Offensively we moved the ball, but things weren’t running on all cylinders. They did a job of doing things that put us in bad situations,” Cougars head coach Damian Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez also has a month before his first district matchup, so the lessons found in such losses are not lost. Gonzalez found solace in his young quarterback’s passion at the end of the game as Ramirez addressed the team.

“He’s done an admirable job of stepping in and leading his team…he’s learning. He’s learning how to read defenses, he’s learning how to lead young men and learning how to own up to the mistakes he’s making…it’s says a lot about him,” Gonzalez said.

 

LA JOYA — La Joya Palmview fullback Kyle Bazan scored twice and the defense forced three takeaways as the Lobos defeated the Brownsville Lopez Lobos 42-27 during a non-district contest Thursday at La Joya ISD Stadium in La Joya.

The victory sends Palmview into the start of district with a 3-0 mark, picking up wins over PSJA Southwest (35-14), Roma (28-14) and Lopez.

“I think going 3-0 in non-district sends a message to everyone in district that we’re ready to play,” La Joya Palmview head coach Margarito Requenez said. “We’re going to line up against anybody. We’re not afraid of nobody.”

Bazan set the tone for Palmview from the opening drive, barreling into the end zone from 16 yards to put the Lobos up 7-0 just four minutes into the contest.

With Lopez clawing back into the contest with back-to-back touchdowns during the third, it was Bazan sparking Palmview again, breaking off a 42-yard touchdown run minutes into the fourth to put his team back up by two scores and never looking back.

“I just wanted to step up for the team and set the tone for this defense and offense,” Bazan said. “It went great tonight though. Shoutout to the defense and the line for stepping it up.”

Trailing 28-7 at the break, Lopez roared to life during the third quarter. A turnover on downs by Palmview opened things up for Brownsville, with wide out Diego Guerra taking it in from 11 yards out to make it a 14-point game.

A successful onside attempt gave the ball immediately back to Lopez, with senior running back Eddie Slovak punching it in from two yards to cut Lopez’s deficit down to seven.

Bazan’s long touchdown run put Palmview back up by 14, but the Lobos wouldn’t back down, making it a one possession game on a four-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Guadalupe Ramirez to Gabriel Rios with 22 seconds left.

That would be as close as they’d get, with Mario Blanco taking the ensuing kickoff to the house to seal Palmview’s victory.

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“We knew that they were explosive,” Requenez said. “They’re a good ball club. Like I said, they’re explosive. We saw that the last two weeks on film, so we were ready for battle. We came out throwing punches, but I guess we turned off the light switches too early and it almost cost us. It feels nice to be 3-0 going into district play. We just have to make sure we correct our mistakes from tonight and we’ll be ready to play.”

Ramirez finished the game with 25-of-35 for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Rios led all receiver with seven catches for 105 yards and two scores, while running back Eddie Slovak added 106 yards and one touchdown on 27 carries.

Bazan led Palmview with 11 carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Joe Esparza and Cristian Martinez each added touchdown runs of their own, while Joseph Martinez and Max Solis each snagged one interception each.

Lopez (2-1) looks to bounce back at 7 p.m. Thursday against Grulla at Joe R. Sanchez Stadium in Rio Grande City.

Palmview (3-0) turns its attention to their first district game of the season, kicking off 16-5A DI play against McAllen Rowe (0-2) at 7 p.m. Friday.

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Brownsville St. Joseph’s Claudio Torres made an impact at every level during Friday’s 41-21 upset over the No. 2 Brownsville Veterans Chargers, earning him the RGVSports.com Week 2 Player of the Week honors.

Torres, who opened the season at No. 9 in the RGVSports.com Top 30 player rankings, finished the night with 24 carries for 203 yards and four touchdowns, and added seven catches for 76 yards, seven tackles, two forced fumbles, one tackle for loss and one interception.

The senior Swiss army knife has been critical to the Bloodhounds’ 2-0 start to the year, helping his team outscore its first two opponents 76-27.

Torres and the Bloodhounds will look to continue their hot start to the 2024 campaign at 7 p.m. Friday, taking on Corpus Christi Carroll at Canales Stadium in Brownsville.