KEVIN NARRO AND MARK MOLINA | Staff Writers
Harlingen High will be at a crossroads this Saturday when the Cardinals travel to face the Brownsville Hanna Golden Eagles.
Big Red’s comeback fell short in Week 7 against San Benito in a 42-28 losss. Harlingen High is now 0-1 in district and will continue its gauntlet of a schedule, playing host to Los Fresnos in Week 9 and, in Week 10, meeting crosstown rival Harlingen South.
The time is now for the Cardinals to get things going and set up a potential playoff push.
Against the ’Hounds, junior QB Jaime Galvan ran for 136 yards on a season-high 24 carries along with four rushing touchdowns, also a season high. Joe Reyna caught six passes for 90 yards.
DOING IT ALL
While the Golden Eagles’ 4-1 start has been a team effort, it’s hard to find another player with more fingerprints on the team’s season than Miguel Payan.
Payan is a jack of all trades as he catches, runs and kicks every week for the Golden Eagles. The senior receiver has scored a touchdown in each of Hanna’s last three games and is the team’s leading receiver with 14 catches for 296 yards and five scores.
He caught five passes for 83 yards and one score during a 48-0 win against Rivera. It was his best night since hauling in four passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1 against McAllen Memorial.
On the ground, Payan has rushed for 93 yards and is second on the team in all-purpose yards with 403.
As far as kicking goes, the Hanna senior is perfect on extra points. He’s 21 for 21 on point-after attempts and leads District 32-6A in scoring with 53 points.
STATEMENT MADE
For the second year in a row, San Benito will have yearlong bragging rights against longtime rival Harlingen High. The ’Hounds now shift their focus to Harlingen South in Week 8.
San Benito received some late-game heroics from quarterback Jacob Cavazos. The senior converted on a crucial fourth down and scored the go-ahead touchdown, and later found the end zone again to seal the win for the Hounds.
Cavazos ran wild for 181 yards on 25 carries. The last time Cavazos had 20 or more rushes was in Week 4 against Laredo United, when he posted 30 carries.
On the year, Cavazos has run for 792 yards and seven touchdowns on 101 carries.
LEGGING IT OUT
Against PSJA North is Week 2, Harlingen South kicker Jose Lerma booted a game-winning field goal to give Hawks their first win of the season.
On Friday, the Hawks needed Lerma again, and he delivered. He went 3 for 3 on field goals from 43, 40 and 36 yards to help South win over Los Fresnos in the teams’ district opener.
South’s defense was another key to the win. The Hawks’ defense yielded 166 yards, allowing 53 yards through the air.