BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
CORPUS CHRISTI — From non-district play to the postseason, Weslaco High looked to test itself against the speed of its opponent. Coach Tony Villarreal knew his team’s season would continue as long as it could handle the athleticism on the other side of the field.
During Friday’s area round game against Laredo United at Cabaniss Stadium, the Panthers appeared over matched from the get-go. The taller, faster, stronger Longhorns torpedoed their way up-and-down the field for much of the night, handing Weslaco a 48-14 loss.
The defeat ends a seven-game winning streak for the Panthers, who finished the season with a 9-3 overall record and won the District 31-6A championship for a second-straight season.
“That’s football,” Villarreal said. “It’s a 50-50 chance every time. You could win or you could lose. They’re a very good football team, and we didn’t help ourselves any. … I thought we had enough speed. I just don’t know if our schemes were better.”
Friday found Weslaco playing its worst level of football of the season. While the Panthers’ slot-T offense amassed a 400 yards per-game average, they were out-gained by United 433 yards to 253. Weslaco also lost three fumbles with two coming in the red zone when the game was still in reach.
“We changed the tempo up at that point,” Villarreal said. “We had them on their backs, we were doing what we needed to do. If we punch it in twice, it’s a tied game.”
Things appeared in Weslaco’s favor during the first quarter when United quarterback Ignazio Tellez went down with an injury to his lower left leg. He was assisted off the field and would not return.
Tellez is the focal point of the Longhorns offense, totaling 3,402 yards and 42 touchdowns before Friday. He was replaced by David Sanchez II, a wide receiver and son of United coach, David Sanchez.
Sanchez II was responsible for United’s first four touchdowns. The junior capped a seven-play drive with a 2-yard scoring run to put the Longhorns up 7-0 with 4:35 left in the first quarter. Though Weslaco answered with a 10-yard touchdown run from Jonathan Martinez to even the game after the first 12 minutes, the second quarter was all United.
The Longhorns (11-2) displayed their potent passing attack with three touchdowns through the air before halftime. Sanchez II found Daniel Ruiz twice in the quarter, the first coming from 23 yards and the next coming from 39. Sanchez II finished the first half with a 44-yard lob to Jorge Murillo to make it 27-7.
“A lot of those plays came on third and short or second and short,” Villarreal said. “You have to respect their running game, so we played a lot of man, and guys just got beat. They made good moves.”
CHANGING THE DEFENSE
Facing a three-score deficit, the Panthers changed their defensive scheme, adding an extra defender in the secondary and playing with five men in the box.
“That’s not what we want to do,” Weslaco defensive coordinator Ross Moore said. “It’s not your base defense, but we had to make some adjustments to try and slow them down and limit their passing game. We just got out-athleted. They came and ran their sets, and they were the better team.”
FINISHING FUMBLE
The game was effectively put out of reach during the third quarter when the Panthers fumbled on United’s 8-yard line. Defensive end Oliver Rodriguez scooped up the ball and returned it for the score to put Laredo up 34-7.
CHEAP SHOT
Late in the second quarter, Desi Rodriguez was hit in the head on a quarterback keeper. Rodriguez tried to get up under his own power, but needed assistance. Rodriguez returned for one play in the second quarter and played the entirety of the third before being sat in the fourth.
Villarreal says he thinks Rodriguez was deliberately targeted.
“The defender extended his arm as he left the turf and hit him right under the jaw,” he said.