BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
WESLACO — For one half, Weslaco High stood toe-to-toe and slugged it out with 2015 state champion Richmond George Ranch.
Though the Panthers trailed 10-0 after 24 minutes, their defense had mostly kept the Longhorns in check. George Ranch had found the end zone only on a fumble return.
Then, after halftime, George Ranch began an offensive onslaught. The Longhorns scored four touchdowns in six minutes, turning Friday’s season opener at Bobby Lackey Stadium into a 38-0 runaway.
“At least we know we can hang with teams up North,” linebacker Jordan Nichols said. “There’s no more of this, ‘Valley teams can’t play with teams up North.’ We showed it in the first half. The score says otherwise, but being here and watching the game, we see that Valley teams can hang.”
At halftime, Weslaco High had limited George Ranch, last season’s undefeated Class 5A Division I state title winner, to 115 yards and 3 offensive points.
Nichols and a defensive line highlighted by tackle Sam Posadas were consistently able to penetrate and stifle the George Ranch run game, holding the Longhorns to five negative rushes in the first quarter and a 3.4 yards per carry average at halftime.
“We got them out of their comfort zone, running the ball, which tells us we were going a pretty good job on defense,” Nichols said. “Until they started launching it.”
In the third quarter, George Ranch picked up the tempo on offense and connected on touchdown passes of 85 and 42 yards. The Longhorns also started to find more on the ground in the second half, rushing 20 times for 153 yards after the break.
“They surprised us with that no huddle,” safety Diego Rodriguez said. “We had to adjust, and I’m so proud of my guys. I told them, ‘No matter the score, as long as you played with your heart and give it all you got, that’s all I want from you.’”
Weslaco’s offense was never able to get any kind of traction. The Panthers gave seven different players a chance to run the ball but amassed just 57 yards on 32 carries, an average of 1.8 yards per rush.
The passing game was equally ineffective, as Weslaco completed only 3 of 8 passes for 26 yards.
“They were really, really fast. They stunted really well. They did everything well,” quarterback A.J. Gonzalez said. “I don’t think we’ve ever played a team like that. It’s a good learning curve. Because I don’t think anyone in the Valley will be as fast as that.”
Weslaco players said they entered the game confident they could play with George Ranch regardless of the perception the reigning champs would roll. Despite the setback, the Panthers took solace in keeping the game close for a time.
Weslaco High will travel to play San Antonio Marshall next week, host Mercedes on Sept. 9 and then begin a grueling District 32-6A slate.
“It hurts that the score was like this, but we’ll get over it,” Rodriguez said. “We’ll regroup as a team and play lights out next week with a chip on our shoulder because losing sucks, man. We have a bitter taste in our mouth, and we have to spit it out.”
NOTE: Justice Free was not listed on Weslaco High’s roster and was not with the team for Friday’s game.
Free and one of his friends are accused of breaking into another student-athlete’s home and stealing almost $15,000 worth of possessions.
A projected returning starter at defensive end, Free had 37 tackles and tied for the team lead with four sacks last season.