By MARK MOLINA | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
With both teams already set for the state playoffs, the Hanna Golden Eagles and the Weslaco East Wildcats pulled no punches.
As momentum swung back and forth throughout the District 32-6A game, the Wildcats landed the final shot, holding the Eagles scoreless and putting up two scores in the fourth quarter to pick up a 42-35 win in both teams’ regular-season finale Friday night at Sams Memorial Stadium in Brownsville.
The Wildcats’ 42 points against Hanna marked the third straight week scoring 40-plus despite several injuries earlier in the year, which Wildcats head coach Mike Burget knew would be no easy task against the Eagles and head coach Mark Guess.
“We played a great Hanna team that beat Los Fresnos, Harlingen and they had a great run,” Burget said. “Hanna will do good in the playoffs because he’s a great coach and a great man. I can’t even tell you how proud I am of our players, coaches and administration. The next man up only goes so far and our (sub-varsity) teams have stepped up and helped us.
“It’s been a great ride, but it’s not done — we’re going to the playoffs next week.”
Hanna forced two turnovers in the third quarter and used two touchdown passes to Christopher Cardenas — one from Victor Campos and the other from Joe Cavazos III on a trick play — to take a 35-29 advantage into the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats would retake the lead with a 47-yard touchdown pass from Quarterback Richard LeFevre to Alvaro Medrano early in the fourth. LeFevre would put the game away with a 27-yard rushing touchdown with 9:31 remaining.
Hanna (7-3, 5-2 32-6A) touched the ball just twice in the final quarter, punting both times and Weslaco East (7-3, 5-2) and LeFevre’s legs salted the game away.
“We knew coming in that this would be the toughest game we played all year,” Guess said. “They’re East and they play hard-nosed football and we’re learning how to play hard-nosed football. We put ourselves in position to get a stop and try for a score, but we just couldn’t get them off the field.”
Both offenses took methodical approaches Hanna drove for more than four and a half minutes on its opening drive, which ended in a 2-yard Cesar Mancias run to give the Golden Eagles a 7-0 lead.
Weslaco East quarterback Richard LeFevre answered on a wild play which started with him scooping up a low snap and ending with a 22-yard touchdown run. LeFevre punched in the two-point conversion to give Weslaco East an 8-7 lead after a Hanna penalty put them a yard out from the end zone.
Fireworks would follow by both teams, starting with a 102-yard kickoff return by Christopher Cardenas on the ensuing kickoff to put Hanna back on top 14-8.
LeFevre dumped a pass off to Jaime Banuelos moments later and took it to 69 yards to put the Wildcats a 15-14 lead with 29 seconds left in the first quarter.
Now down 22-14 after LeFevre’s second touchdown rushing score, Hanna cut the lead to one after Joe Cavazos III broke off a 29-yard touchdown run to finish off a 75-yard drive that lasted six minutes.
The Wildcats would score once more before the half to make it 29-21 at the break.
After and exchange of punts, the Wildcats started their second drive on the 50, but could not extend their lead after a LeFevre interception.
Campos hit Cardenas for a 25-yard strike five plays later to make it a 29-27 game after a failed conversion.
Weslaco East fumbled on the following possession, setting Hanna up on the Weslaco 49, leading to a Cavazos trick pass to Cardenas for a 27-yard touchdown and a 35-29 lead with 21 seconds to play in the third.
LeFevre and company scored on the next two possessions and held the ball for the final 7:21.
On the night, LeFevre ran the ball 30 times for 167 yards and three scores and passed for another 191 yards and three touchdowns on 6-of-7 passing with a pick.
“I’m proud of Richard LeFevre,” Burget said. “He’s taken the offense and put it on his back. This man was told he was too big to play quarterback, too slow and couldn’t throw the ball. I think he’s proving people wrong.”
In addition to the 102-yard kickoff return, Cardenas caught five passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns.
“My number was called to execute and that’s what I did,” he said. “My teammates and coaches expect me to be great and that’s what I gave them — my best. I’m proud of our guys and we did what we could do. Despite the loss, I’m just very proud of what we did. We never let down and we kept fighting.”
Hanna will play Edinburg Vela in bi-district, while Weslaco East will face PSJA.