MARK MOLINA | Staff Writer
Since clinching a share of the District 32-6A title last week, the Hanna Golden Eagles made it known that they had no intention of sharing the crown.
Now they won’t have to.
The Golden Eagles’ defense and a bruising running attack owned the night as they paved the way to a 30-7 victory over the Harlingen South Hawks, securing Hanna’s first outright district crown since 2009 on Friday night at Sams Memorial Stadium.
“It’s overwhelming right now because it’s such a tough challenge to win a district championship in any district,” Hanna coach Mark Guess said. “Then you throw in District 32-6A and it becomes even tougher. It’s been a lot of hard work by this coaching staff and these kids. We knew if they believed in themselves, believed in each other and believed in the coaches that the sky’s the limit for this team.”
“When I got here our goal was to win a district championship, and here we are two years later and we got it.”
Hanna (8-1, 5-0) will play host to Weslaco East in bi-district play. The teams were scheduled to play earlier in the season but called the game due to weather.
Harlingen South (4-6, 2-3) dropped its third district game in a row and will now meet Edinburg Vela. South coach Brian Ricci said the Hawks are down but not out heading into the postseason.
“That’s the one thing we’re going to do,” the Hawks coach said. “We’re going to come out and play hard. I can say that about our kids, I don’t have to worry about that. That’s what I like about this group, you don’t have to worry about them playing hard. I’m sure next week we’re going to show up and be ready to play.”
Leading by just two points heading into the final quarter, Hanna put up 21 fourth-quarter points to gain the separation it needed.
Hanna’s Aaron Frausto scored on a 2-yard run early in the quarter to put a bow on what was a 96-yard, 18-play drive that lasted more than 10 minutes to make it 16-7 with 10:13 to play in the game.
On the ensuing possession, defensive back Bryan Duran jumped a route, intercepted Harlingen South quarterback David Torres and returned it 58 yards for the score to make it 23-7 with 6:49 to play.
The Hawks had some success in the short passing game, which led to Duran adjusting for the pick.
“That was killing us the whole night, and we found something to figure it out,” the Hanna defenseman said. “I was spying (the receiver) the whole time to come up with that pick. We made our adjustments, the defense communicated and I’m just so proud of these guys right now. I’m speechless.”
Torres had a rough night, going 8 of 17 for 103 yards and two interceptions.
South had three fourth-quarter drives, resulting in the pick and the ball going over on downs.
“I’m proud of our kids,” Ricci said. “We played hard, hung in there and grinded it out. We had a couple of turnovers there, but I’m proud of the effort. Now we just have to get healthy.”
Hanna’s Cesar Mancias put the finishing touches on the night with a 13-yard run with a little more than two minutes to play.
Mancias rushed for 136 yards on 23 carries for two touchdowns to lead the Golden Eagles. Frausto rushed 12 times for 72 yards and a score. As a team, Hanna rushed for 253 yards.
“We knew we had to pound the ball all week long,” Mancias said. “We knew it would be a running game. Harlingen South has a great defense and they are a great team, we knew we would have to win on the ground.”
Hanna starting quarterback Victor Campos did not play, giving way to Miguel Payan, who managed the game and dropped back to pass just three times.
Guess gave little explanation for the move after the game.
“(Payan) was just our guy,” he said of the decision.
Harlingen South’s offense opened the game with an 11-play, 75-yard drive, culminating in an Emilio Quiroz 1-yard touchdown run to put the Hawks up 7-0 early in the first quarter.
Quiroz finished the night with 11 carries for 43 yards.
Mancias broke off a 62-yard run three plays into the ensuing possession to tie the game with 6:41 to go in the first.
That was the longest play for either team on the night, with the only other score coming on a Harlingen South offensive holding call that resulted in a safety after the team was pinned at its own 1.