By ADAM KUJAWSKI, Staff Writer
For the second year in a row, the Rivera Raiders sent the McAllen High Bulldogs home from the playoffs.
Rivera’s Danny Elizondo scored the lone touchdown in overtime to defeat McAllen High 36-29 in a Class 6A Division II area-round match Friday at Sams Memorial Stadium.
“It was an awesome playoff game, and our guys just keep fighting,” Rivera coach Tom Chavez said. “They’re not as big as everyone else, but they just hang in there and keep making the plays enough to win.”
With the game tied at 29 and seconds remaining, the Bulldogs’ Adrian Rodriguez missed a 22-yard field goal to force overtime.
The Raiders elected to play on offense first during overtime, and it took them six plays to find the end zone. Of the six plays, Elizondo rushed five times for 20 yards, including a 3-yard drive for a score.
McAllen High then gained possession with an opportunity to respond, but a strong Rivera defensive effort prevented the Bulldogs from gaining any yards on four plays.
Trailing 29-21, the Raiders were given the chance at forcing overtime after McAllen High missed a 40-yard field goal with just more than four minutes remaining.
A one-handed grab by Edward Rubio on a pass from Danny Elizondo and a two-point conversion by Elizondo knotted the game, prompting a 17-play drive by the Bulldogs that ended with the missed kick.
With the game on the line, Rubio said he knew he had to “go up and make a play.” The catch certainly caught the attention of his quarterback.
“That was an unbelievable catch,” Elizondo said. “(Rubio) is something else. It seems like everything I throw to him, he comes down with it. I saw 1-on-1 coverage and knew I was going to him the whole way.”
The teams were tied at halftime, and McAllen High jumped ahead with a 17-yard pass from Fred Hover to Ricky Rodriguez. But the Raiders outscored the Bulldogs 14-7 during the fourth quarter to clinch a chance at overtime.
The Bulldogs started the game fast, forcing Rivera into a three-and-out on its first possession. McAllen High drove downfield on the ensuing drive, scored on a 10-yard pass from Hover to Mike Garcia and followed it with a two-point conversion to set the tone.
Elizondo answered, though, as he capped a six-play Raiders drive with a run from 10 yards out.
Rivera took command near the beginning of the second quarter when Elizondo’s 29-yard pass found Edward Rubio on fourth down. Kicker Chelin Martinez successfully executed the fake PAT by racing to the pylon, putting his team ahead 15-8.
The Bulldogs’ Rodriguez returned the favor, though, running for a 7-yard score — also on fourth down — and the teams ended the half knotted at 15 points apiece.
With the Bulldogs’ season now over, McAllen High coach Kevin Brewer couldn’t help but look back on the impact the senior class had on his program.
“All year, this senior class has led this team with tremendous poise, tremendous character and tremendous leaders,” he said. “We took a step forward with this group with a bi-district championship. I’m speechless about our senior class. It’s a great group of kids.”
The Raiders will face San Antonio Brandeis in the regional round at 7 p.m. next Friday at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville.
Adam Kujawski covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @adamkujo1.