By MARK MOLINA
Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — Right out of the gate, the Harlingen Cardinals will face arguably their toughest test this regular season as the San Antonio Reagan Rattlers visit Boggus Stadium tonight.
The Rattlers (1-0) are one of the top programs in the region this year, and will give Harlingen a chance to self evaluate.
“Without a doubt it’s a measuring stick for not only our team, but for our program,” Harlingen head football coach Manny Gomez said. “Anytime you come across this kind of opponent, it’s always a measuring stick of where you’re at game-wise, conditioning, mental focus and every intangible.”
Reagan is coming off a 42-19 win over San Antonio O’ Connor, while the Cardinals have only one scrimmage worth of live play so far this season, which was a 10-6 loss to Sharyland.
With all the playmakers on the Rattlers side of the ball, will have the Cardinal defense to get all they can handle and much more tonight.
“You cannot simulate speed in practice and these guys are extremely fast,” Gomez said. “The first couple of series we have to become immune to that and be able to match that. You can’t coach speed, but after a while we have to slow them down with angles and hitting them.”
The Rattlers exploded for 35 second-half points and compiled 399 yards of total offense last Friday.
The Cards defensive line, led by DT Travis Barnes and DE Edwin Gasca, will have to put on the pressure if they hope to contain QB Kellen Mond (193 yards passing and 2TDs in week 1) and running back Marquis Duncan (104 yards, 2TDs). The Rattlers did lose two fumbles in Week 1, which gives the Cards confidence heading into the matchup.
“We’re a smaller bunch, but we play with a lot of heart,” said linebacker Charlie Moreno. “We play pretty hard and we’re confident we can take some of those guys from Reagan down.”
On offense, the Cardinals are definitely confident despite a shaky scrimmage against Sharylad in which they didn’t find the end zone.
Running back Leo Tienda (875 yards and 9TDs in 2014) and quarterback Jesse Castro will be looked at to provide offense and help move the ball this season, but it will be tough this week against a Rattler offense which surrendered just 42 yards on the ground to O’Connor.
Senior offensive lineman Davis Ericksmoen, Bobby Melendez and center Michael Noyola will have their work cut out for them as they try to create running lanes and protect their backs.
“It’s going to come down to effort and execution. We can control effort and our toughness,” Gomez said. “We have to see that from start to finish and have each other’ back while we live up to that never quit, never die spirit.”
SOUTH TAKES ON VELA
The Harlingen South Hawks will continue their tough pre-district schedule this week as they visit RGV No. 2 Edinburg Vela.
South fell to Weslaco 28-24 in Week 1 after getting into a double-digit hole by halftime.
Their defense will need to play much like they did in the second half against Weslaco if they wish to even slow down the SaberCat offense, which put up an whopping 72 points against Brownsville Pace, and avoid falling behind in Week 2.