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Eddie Luna scored four touchdowns to power Edinburg Vela to a 37-7 victory over La Joya High on Thursday at Cats Stadium in Edinburg.
The senior wide receiver scored three times during the second quarter, including a reception off a punt fake from teammate Elijah Reyna, to help the SaberCats close the half with a 28-7 lead.
“He had a good game tonight,” Vela coach Michael Salinas said. “We felt he had the potential to have a big night, and it worked for us.”
Luna, who scored five touchdowns all of last season, was scoreless heading into Week 3, before a 5-yard pickup put him and the SaberCats on the board during the first quarter with a 7-0 lead. It sparked a four-TD scoring output for Edinburg Vela once again, after Robert Guerra matched that production during a 70-40 win over Harlingen South in Week 2.
The SaberCats defense had its best effort of the season, forcing La Joya into a safety and holding the Coyotes to just one TD. Vela hadn’t held a team to such few points since facing La Joya last year in a 59-7 victory.
“I’m just really proud of them,” Salinas said. “I think our guys did a better job of running to the football. They were going to try to establish the run and limit possessions, and I just thought they did a good job of executing (on defense).”
The SaberCats, who forced and recovered four fumbles, also got a 31-yard scoring pass from backup QB Nate Garcia to Reyna late in the fourth quarter.
LAREDO CIGARROA 17, VALLEY VIEW 9: At Laredo, the Tigers fumbled the ball five times as they lost their third straight game to start the season.
Kicker/punter Mario Gomez drilled three field goals, including one from 45 yards out, to keep Valley View in the game. But the miscues were too much for the Tigers to overcome as Cigarroa picked up its first win this year.
“It was just too many turnovers. They weren’t even forced,” Valley View coach Carlos Saenz said. “It was easy stuff. Dropping snaps, pitching the ball too hard to the running back.
“I mean, the kids played hard. The defense keeps us in ball games and it gives us an opportunity (to stay competitive) at the end.”
The crushing blow came during the fourth quarter, when the Tigers dropped a pass in the end zone from 20 yards out.
“It’s part of the learning curve,” the first-year coach said about his players adjusting to new positions. “They’re having to learn fast.
“Hopefully our offense starts clicking. We’re going to have to tweak some things going into district.”
GRULLA 35, PSJA SOUTHWEST 26: At Pharr, Grulla quarterback Fabian Anzaldua scored three rushing touchdowns and threw for another to Miguel Flores in leading the Gators to their first win this season.
Anzaldua played just three quarters – the first, second and fourth – and sat out the third for rest from an injury. Anzaldua scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter in rallying Grulla from a 12-point third quarter deficit.
“He’s just a smart player, very composed,” Grulla coach Abel Gonzalez III said. “He has great leadership skills and the kids follow him.”
Behind an offensive line that controlled the trenches, Grulla had a strong night on the ground behind Anzaldua and tailback Diego Mata. The defense held the Southwest offense to six points in the second half.
“It was a great team win,” said Gonzalez, whose team has fallen to 2-0 Port Isabel and 2-0 Raymondville this season. “We’ve played two very good teams tough, and tonight, down at halftime and down 12 in the third, our guys were resilient and pulled out a great win.”
PSJA Southwest running back Jesus Acosta missed the game because of injury.