MIKE GONZALEZ | STAFF WRITER
The Weslaco High-Donna High football rivalry is arguably the Valley’s best. There’s history, bad blood and bragging rights when these two teams collide Friday at Bobby Lackey Stadium in Weslaco.
Although both school districts have added high schools in recent years, that hasn’t put a damper on the rivalry.
“They always bring their best,” Weslaco coach Tony Villarreal said. “They always take it to us.”
The rivalry dates back to the 1920s. Only a few years ago, the two teams did not schedule each other for four years because the two coaches did not see eye-to-eye. Since they started scheduling the game again, both have won one each on the road. Weslaco’s 20-17 victory in 2013 was its first in Donna since 1992.
Donna, though, holds a 46-30-4 lead all-time vs. Weslaco.
“Every year, you throw out the records,” Donna coach Ramiro Leal said. “We’ve played them in district, non-district and it’s bragging rights for a year.”
The Redskins (1-0) rallied in from a 21-6 halftime deficit in Week 1 to beat Brownsville Veterans. In that game, quarterback Edward Dougherty found the confidence needed in a varsity quarterback.
After suffering through first-game, first-start, first-everything jitters, the junior put together a solid game going 7-of-12 for 119 yards and a touchdown pass.
Dougherty was named the starter only a few days before the first game after Amonte Bowen went down with a broken collarbone, which may keep him out the entire season.
“I’m not going to lie, this stuff, you don’t put on a stat sheet, but it was a character builder,” Leal said. “Practice will now be different this week.”
As for Weslaco, the squad got off on the wrong foot against an inexperienced Harlingen South team. The Panthers (0-1) fell behind and could not dig themselves out of the hole. Villarreal pointed two first half turnovers and errors on special teams as culprits for the loss.
“We played most of the game on our side of the field,” Villarreal said. “We were always in bad field position.”
A win over their rivals, should help the Panthers erase the painful memories from last week. A win for Donna would give it early momentum.
“It’s always a brawl,” Leal said. “If you’re going to see a game, this is it.”