HARLINGEN — The Harlingen South Hawks secured a spot in the UIL Class 5A DI playoffs Thursday night. It was easy lifting for the Hawks in a 71-0 District 16-5A DI win at Boggus Stadium against the Brownsville Lopez Lobos.
“We wanted to come out here as a program and secure a playoff spot,” Harlingen South head coach Israel Gonzalez said. “That was the goal tonight, we were able to come out and do that. I am extremely proud of the fact that we got to generate playing time for the guys, because when you come out and work every single day like our players do, you deserve to touch the field as much as possible.”
An easy win and an extra day off for Harlingen South because of the game being Thursday is pivotal for the Hawks. Especially with their next game being against the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers.
“We have a huge week coming up, we celebrate tonight, and we go back to work tomorrow. We have a great Brownsville Vets team that we have to go to their place and play. Obviously, some district title implications in that game. We just want to go out, be prepared, put this one away after tonight and concentrate on the week ahead,” Gonzalez said.
The Hawks jumped on the Lobos on their first possession. Running back David Sanchez picked up 10 yards and a first down on the Hawks’ first play from scrimmage. Sanchez followed up the nice run with a 43-yard touchdown run. Downfield blocking helped Sanchez glide by Lobos defenders for the long score.
On the next Hawks possession, Ethan Garza stretched out at the goal line, scoring with a 6-yard run.
Harlingen South quarterback Dylan Anaya scored the first of two long touchdowns runs early in the second quarter. Anaya hurdled a defender and broke multiple tackles for the 38-yard touchdown.
Anaya’s second touchdown run, another designed run for the quarterback, found the edge of the Lobos defense and then the end zone for the 62-yard touchdown.
A safety put the Hawks up 30-0. Sanchez scored his second touchdown run from 4 yards to give Harlingen South the 37-0 halftime lead.
It was hard to find some positives from the Lobos, but head coach Shaun Tarantola did.
“That team was the most physical team defensively we have played, by far,” Tarantola said. “They set the tone against us and we did not respond well to that physicality. The lesson there is, we got to get to that level.”
Harlingen South scored on the first play of the second half. Alvin Edwards burst through the Lobos defense for a 75-yard touchdown run. Edwards continued to look impressive in the second half, the sophomore again breezed by the Lobos defense, this time from he scored from 43 yards, giving the Hawks a 51-0 lead with seven minutes left in the third quarter.
The Hawks defense came up with four interceptions. Joaquin Romero, Chris Martinez, Marcus Jasso and Carlos Cano had the picks. Harlingen South has 12 picks on the season. Cano’s pick led to a 3-yard touchdown run by August Wilson.
Ethan Hernandez also punched in from 3 yards on the next Hawks possession, putting the Hawks up 64-0. Wilson finished the scoring with another short touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.
Harlingen South (6-2, 4-0) faces Brownsville Veterans Memorial (5-2, 2-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Brownsville Veterans game field. Brownsville Lopez (1-8, 1-4) will be on a bye.