MARK MOLINA | Staff Writer
It stands at 20.
On more than one occasion during the final 4:28, the Rivera Raiders looked like they were on the verge of snapping a 19-game losing streak, but it was not meant to be as the hosting Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers snatched the game late.
Down by one, Chargers quarterback Liam Longoria rolled to his left and hit a wide open Mauricio Garza down the sideline for a 70-yard touchdown to secure a 26-21 victory and push Rivera’s losing streak to 20 on Friday night at Veterans Memorial.
Garza getting more reps at receiver was a big topic around camp, but the winning play showed why the team made the move as his speed got him past the Rivera defense.
“I got the corner, and on any play like that I feel I can outrun any corner,” he said. “Liam put the ball perfectly. it was the perfect play played perfect by Liam and perfectly executed. Rivera put it on us in the first half, but we knew we couldn’t let them beat us in our house and we would do anything to beat them.”
Longoria was 12 for 22 for 248 yards and two total scores, and Garza also scored on an 8-yard run during the second quarter.
The game saw three lead changes, but among the late fireworks, Chargers coach David Cantu saw a rejuvenated Raiders team.
“It felt like one of those Rocky I and Rocky II movies, just back and forth there at the end,” Cantu said. “Most importantly, we have to say how impressed the community is with Beto Leal and what he’s doing at Rivera. It’s fantastic. But this is what a high school football game is supposed to be about, lots of drama, excitement and kids making big-time plays.”
The Raiders led 15-14 with less than five minutes to play and drove deep into Chargers territory before quarterback Chito Perez was picked off by BVM’s Jose Moreno at the 17.
BVM took its first lead six plays later on a Longoria 16-yard run, making it 20-15 with 2:29 to play.
Rivera answered with a 2-yard sneak by Perez five plays later, set up by a 70-yard run by Ramiro Vega to make it 21-20 with 52 seconds to play before Longoria hit Garza on the ensuing drive to seal the game.
“I’m real proud of these kids. They’ve been busting butt,” Leal said. “They’ve been busting butt in the spring, during the summer and this week. The loss is a disappointment for the kids. We know what Veterans is, that’s a darn good football team that is well-coached. Our coaches do a good job, and we’re going to keep working. Like we tell the kids, it’s adversity.”
Vega rushed for 194 yards and two touchdowns, with one fumble.
The Raiders had big plays all night long from a stingy defense and special teams. The Raiders’ defense allowed just one score through three quarters and forced a pair of turnovers.
On special teams, the Raiders converted two fake punts and recovered a Veterans fumble late in the game that almost proved costly with just more than six minutes to play.
The Chargers kept the game close to open the second half when Thomas Pena returned a blocked punt 59 yards for a score to make it 15-14 before the offensive put up two touchdowns in the fourth.