By ROY HESS | The Brownsville Herald
Many times, the deeper into the football season a team goes, the more important the games become.
The Pace Vikings know the feeling.
Pace is one of three Brownsville-area teams involved in a key matchup between district unbeatens this week. The other two are Hanna and Port Isabel.
In District 16-5A Division I, the Vikings (6-1 overall, 6-0 district) play host to Mission Veterans (6-1, 6-0) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Sams Memorial Stadium.
The matchups between district unbeatens for the other two squads find Hanna (5-1, 2-0) at San Benito (4-3, 2-0) in District 32-6A and Port Isabel (4-3, 1-0) at Raymondville (6-1, 1-0) in District 16-4A Division II. Both of those games kick off at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
This week’s schedule for Brownsville-area squads starts at 7 p.m. today as Rivera (0-7, 0-2) plays host to Harlingen South (3-4, 1-1) at Sams in a 32-6A matchup and Brownsville Veterans Memorial (6-1, 5-1) goes to PSJA Southwest (2-5, 2-4) for a 16-5A Division I contest.
Also, including other area teams playing at 7:30 p.m. Friday, it’s Los Fresnos (3-4, 1-1) at Harlingen High (2-4, 0-2) in 32-6A, plus it’s PSJA Memorial (1-6, 1-5) vs. Porter (1-6, 0-6) at Sams and Lopez (2-5, 1-5) at La Joya Palmview (4-3, 4-2) in a pair of 16-5A Division I contests.
On the schedule as well, St. Joseph Academy (1-6, 0-1) plays host to San Antonio Christian (1-5, 0-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at Canales Field in a TAPPS Division II District 4 matchup.
The Vikings have won six games in a row, all in district, and are aware they’ll be facing their biggest test to date against the Patriots, who also have captured six straight victories and are ranked No. 3 in the Valley by RGVSports.com. Pace is ranked 10th.
“They’re good,” Pace coach Danny Pardo said of Mission Veterans. “There’s a reason why they’re ranked so high. They’re explosive on offense and solid on defense.
“Mission Veterans has a very good quarterback (in Landry Gilpin),” Pardo added. “Everyone knows about him. He’s a good passer (1,949 yards, 19 touchdowns this season) and even a better runner (985 yards, 19 TDs). He makes things happen with his feet. He’s legit.”
The Vikings welcome Saturday’s challenge and feel good about their chances for two main reasons, Pardo said.
“First of all, we’re healthy (and at full strength),” the Pace coach said. “Secondly, our team is playing with confidence. The guys feel good about what they are doing.
“We have a sophomore quarterback (Jose Banda) who is just getting better and better,” Pardo added. “Our defense (ranked first in the district and allowing only 210.6 yards per game) is making plays. Our players are reacting and running to the ball. We’re keeping it simple and operating out of our base alignment, and the guys like that. They just react and run.”
The Pace-Mission Veterans winner takes over sole possession of the lead in 16-5A Division I, a 10-team district.
“No one has even mentioned the Brownsville Veterans game next week,” Pardo said of his team. “Our guys are taking this game (with Mission Veterans) to heart and they’re focused on it.”
Meanwhile, Port Isabel just opened 16-4A Division II action last week with a 46-9 triumph at Progreso. It was the Tarpons’ third win in a row.
Just like Jose Banda at Pace, Port Isabel’s Cesar Aguilera, a senior, is coming into his own as a standout QB by making some big plays with his arm and his legs. Aguilera passed for four TDs and ran for two scores against the Red Ants. He was coming off a five-TD game with 270 yards rushing during a 48-21 non-district victory against Grulla on Oct. 5.
“We’re practicing hard, and I feel that we have a lot of confidence,” Aguilera said after the Progreso win. “We’re all going hard, and there’s no slacking. That’s how it’s going to be for us. I’m proud of this team.”
Regarding his squad’s next two crucial games against Raymondville and then at home against Rio Hondo on Nov. 2, Tarpons coach Jason Strunk said, “We’ve positioned ourselves for a fun two weeks. We’re playing meaningful football down the stretch of the (regular) season, and we’re 1-0 in district at this point, which was the goal. The district title is up for grabs. The next two weeks are going to be exciting and fun for us, I know that.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess