BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR
LA JOYA — Once La Joya High’s Eddie Villarreal got going, there was nothing La Joya Palmview could do to slow him down.
The sophomore had 120 yards and a touchdown by halftime as the Coyotes took a 28-point lead to the locker rooms.
“Eddie is a workhorse,” La Joya High coach Reuben Farias said. “He always runs the ball tough and works hard. I am real happy for him.”
La Joya High (6-4, 3-3) beat La Joya Palmview (2-8, 0-6) 49-14 on Friday at La Joya ISD Stadium to clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2014.
“This feels great,” Villarreal said. “Not being able to go to the playoffs for three years, and finally achieving it, it’s a big step for the program and the community.”
Villarreal came out of the halftime break on crutches and was unable to play in the second half.
“My Achilles is hurt,” Villarreal said. “The coaches didn’t want to risk it, so they rested me for the second half.”
Farias said his staff thinks the injury is a minor sprain. Villarreal said he could have played if it were a playoff game, and that he will be ready for next week.
La Joya High will face San Antonio Southwest at 7:30 p.m. next Friday in San Antonio in the bi-district round of the Class 6A Division I playoffs.
“This win was super important,” senior quarterback Irving Garcia said. “It was especially big for all the seniors who take care of the team and make sure that we make it to the playoffs and succeed.”
Garcia was the perfect compliment to Villarreal on Friday. He rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns and completed 5 of 10 passes for 108 yards and three TDs.
“He showed a lot of character,” Farias said. “He’s a three-year letterman. He threw the ball really good and worked hard. I’m very proud, because he put a lot on his plate to try to excel and be successful.”
Garcia started the scoring with a 5-yard run to give the Coyotes an early 7-0 lead.
On the next drive, Garcia passed to junior JR Rodriguez for an 18-yard touchdown.
Villarreal picked up his first score of the game in the second quarter. Then, Garcia added another rushing TD, this one from 1 yard out.
Palmview finally got on the board with just more than three minutes left in the second quarter, with a 36-yard run from senior Eric Vasquez on a sweep play.
The Coyotes responded with a 6-yard pass from Garcia to senior wide receiver Mariano Resendez.
The 35-7 halftime lead pretty much signified the end of the game. The Coyotes ran the ball well in the second half, draining the clock. Sophomore Horacio Hinojosa and senior Orlando Leal came in to fill the void left by Villarreal’s injury, and they produced, combining for 59 yards.
“They have been working at it really hard, every day,” Farias said. “Throughout the season, they haven’t had much opportunity, because we have a workhorse. Today, they showed a lot of work and a lot class. So we know we can depend on them.”
This is Farias’ first trip to the playoffs as the head coach at La Joya High.
“We were close last year,” Farias said. “We are really excited for our boys, because they have worked hard. And we were so close last year, we just didn’t get to finish. So, all offseason, we focused on finishing. Finishing ball games, finishing drives and finishing the season. Today, great job from our boys. I am really proud of them and grateful for their commitment to the football program.”