By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
CORPUS CHRISTI — Edinburg Vela’s Fabian Pedraza had practiced the play several times as part of the team’s red-zone package.
With a 4th-and-3 at the Victoria East 6-yard line, the SaberCats quarterback was supposed to hit Michael Arguelles as he curled toward the right sideline. But once the play broke through, Pedraza scrambled, shook a defender and found an opening as he scored the insurance touchdown Saturday to lift Vela to a 42-33 victory over Victoria East at Buccaneer Stadium.
The senior ran 17 times for 165 yards and two touchdowns, though none bigger than his scamper with 16.6 seconds left to play in their Class 5A, Division I area round game. Pedraza delivered on a night in which he had two interceptions to dent an otherwise big outing, completing 18 of 24 passes for 178 yards.
“I’m proud of him for staying with it,” coach Michael Salinas said. “Anybody who goes out and throws two picks as he did, it’s easy to hang your head. He’s only thrown (two) all year. So for him to battle back, that’s what I’m proud of.”
Vela (12-0) advances to the regional quarterfinals for the first time in the program’s four-year history. It takes on Vandergrift, which beat San Marcos 63-14 on Friday, on Nov. 27 at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio.
The SaberCats’ fended off a pesky Victoria East team that found more success throwing the ball in the second half Saturday. After coming up empty on 6 of 8 passes, the Wildcats (7-5) finished the night with 206 yards on 10-of-24 attempts to go with two picks.
They used a 30-yard touchdown pass to come to within 28-26, after missing on a two-point conversion, with 5.8 seconds left in the third quarter. And with 6:08 remaining, their quarterback, Bailey Zappe, punched in a 4-yard score to cut the East deficit 35-33.
Pedraza then engineered a 13-play, 75-yard sequence that ate up most of the game clock.
“They came out today, and at any point in this ball game they had an opportunity to fold,” Salinas said. “But we talked to them about their resiliency, and tonight they just continued to battle and stay the course and overcome some bad things, and luckily we came out victorious.”
MIRROR IMAGE
Victoria West shared many similarities with Edinburg Vela this season, from a spread offense to their defense to their infractions. On Saturday, West racked up 445 offensive yards, while Vela totaled 465. The Wildcats racked up 10 penalties for 81 yards to the SaberCats’ 12 infractions and 85 yards.
Both quarterbacks also threw two interceptions. But it was the SaberCats’ defense that made the bigger plays Saturday, picking up Zappe with 10:35 to play in the third quarter. Defensive end Felix Reyes picked off his pass and returned it for a 35-yard touchdown, as Vela opened a 21-6 advantage.
“It was a tough ball game the whole way through, but it all goes back to our defense,” receiver Elijah Reyna said. “Our defense created separation for us tonight.”
Reyna hauled in 91 yards on six carries, and Arguelles finished with 49 after the same number of attempts. Johnny Davila, who also played receiver this season, came up big on the defensive side, too, intercepting a pass with 1:09 left in the opening half, as the SaberCats held a 14-6 edge.
“Hats off to our defense for making key stops,” Salinas said. “I’m just proud of our defensive performance, proud of our coaches staying with it, and offensively just figuring out a way to find first downs and grind it out.”
WORKHORSE
Robert Guerra scored three touchdowns Saturday for 1, 9 and 5 yards, boosting his season total to 26.
The junior back helped carry the load with 111 yards on 28 carries. He put his team up 14-6 in the second quarter, 28-6 in the third and 35-26 in the final period.
VALLEY GET-TOGETHER
Edinburg Vela will join Edcouch-Elsa on Nov. 17 at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio. The SaberCats are scheduled to play Vandergrift at 1:30 p.m., while the Yellowjackets are set to face Cedar Park at 7:30 p.m.
E-E beat Somerset 21-14 on Friday.