MARK MOLINA | STAFF WRITER
Heading into Week 10, it is looking more probable that a District 16-5A Division I team with a winning record will be on the outside looking in when the postseason begins.
Two of those teams are the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers and the Pace Vikings, who will square off tonight in the Brownsville Herald’s Game of the Week, slated for a 7:30 p.m. start at Sams Memorial Stadium.
The matchup is a pivotal one as the Chargers (6-2, 5-2) and Vikings (5-3, 5-2) are tied for fourth place in the standings with two games to go.
Veterans comes in on a roll since losing 36-13 at Rio Grande City, reeling off three games in a row.
“That was a difficult loss and ever since then, we really have played better football,” Chargers coach David Cantu said. “It took a lot of soul searching, reflection and unselfish attitude. It’s sad that when this is all said and done, that out of our district, all 10 teams are solid, but there are five really good ones and one will stay out of the mix. We don’t want to be that one.”
Pace, which has struggled a bit as of late and has dropped two of their last three, began the season with a young team, but head coach Danny Pardo said his squad has done enough this season expect nothing but a push to the postseason.
“We have enough games under our belt already,” he said. “We may be young, but we’re not inexperienced anymore. These kids are playing at a high level now and they’re doing a lot better. We’ll see if we can match up with what (Veterans) has.” They have good receivers and real good running back. “They are something that gives us problems. We’ll see what happens; we’ll put our speed out there and see what happens.”
The Pace defense against the Veterans offense will highlight this matchup as the Vikings defense has allowed 321 yards per game (numbers through seven games) and will face a Chargers offense averaging 350 yards and 33 points per game.
The Chargers are led by a speedy offense, starting with quarterback Liam Longoria (1,317 passing, 433 yards rushing, 17 total TDs) and receivers Elijah Masten (30-461, 4 TDs) and running back/receiver Mauricio Garza (392 yards receiving, 184 yards rushing, 9 TDs).
“We respect Pace tremendously; they play fast on defense,” Cantu said. “They aren’t the biggest defense size-wise, but it doesn’t matter. Their hearts are huge and we know that. Offensively, we just have to try and take advantage of that. They’ll take chances and seven guys at you and hopefully, we’ll have the answers.”
Pace’s offense has picked up their production as of late and that’s thanks in large part to quarterback Jose Banda and running back Dylan Barron.
Barron has run well this season and has recorded 803 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. Meanwhile, Banda has passed for 1,160 yards for six touchdowns to go with for 423 yards rushing and four scores.
“Offensively, I think if we can keep from making mistakes and killing ourselves, we’ll be alright,” Pardo said. “I think last year we wanted to do some things that we weren’t able to, but I think we match a little better this year as far as offensively.”