HARLINGEN — Heading into Harlingen’s Class 6A Division I area round matchup last week, a lot of the buzz was about McAllen Memorial running back Trevor Speights and the Mustangs’ potent offense.
By Friday night’s end, the attention was about the clutch play of Harlingen running back Leo Tienda and quarterback Jesse Castro.
Tienda finished off the night with 233 yards and five touchdowns, while Castro compiled 364 yards and a rushing score to keep the Cards in the lead.
Still, neither went in listening to the opposing hype.
“It starts with practice like our coaches say,” Castro said. “We are going to practice hard, play fast, win during practice and ignore the negativity.”
Even after coming out on top, the Cardinals’ pair continues to keep its humble stance.
“Memorial had playmakers on their side of the ball, so much respect to those guys,” Tienda said. “Knowing that we were coming into a big game, we had to be mentally and physically prepared. We have a great coaching staff and chemistry is building every day with them too and it keeps getting better and better.”
The big numbers were impressive, but what was most impressive was the timely scoring.
Down two in the first half, Castro’s 15-yard run gave the Cardinals an 18-14 lead.
When Memorial began to come alive in the fourth quarter, Tienda’s runs of 58 and 13 yards sealed the deal for Harlingen.
For Castro, conditioning for fourth-quarter runs all season long was to thank for the clutch fourth-quarter play.
“It started last year when we lost in bi-district to Weslaco,” Castro said. “It starts in the offseason when we come in and work as a team, and as a family. We just push in the fourth quarter and go that extra mile.”
It’s also about trust.
“It’s all chemistry with these guys — my second family,” Tienda said. “In practice, we work hard. When the fourth quarter comes, those extra sprints we run in practice and the offseason really kicks in.
“We knew we needed big plays on the offensive side of the ball like the defense does.”
During this postseason, Tienda and Castro have helped lead the Cards to 109 points in two games.
They’ll need another big game to take down a bigger, speedy Smithson Valley team to head back to the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2011.
The hope around the Harlingen locker room is that the Cards’ work ethic will lead them to where they need to be.
“Size is all hype. They can measure whatever they want, but they aren’t out here with us,” Tienda said. “Whatever happens will happen, but for now we’re getting prepared physically and mentally. We’re going to do what we need to do.”