RGVSports.com
After facing tough early tests from out-of-Valley competition, McAllen High and Harlingen High return home for a battle of two of the region’s oldest and most successful programs.
The clash, which will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium, is The Monitor’s Game of the Week.
While McAllen High was trounced 70-14 by Odessa Permian in Week 1, Harlingen High gave San Antonio Reagan a scare Friday before ultimately falling 42-28.
A year after being shutout 42-0 by Reagan, Harlingen took a 21-7 lead in the second quarter. But with three defensive starters and quarterback Jesse Castro missing time due to cramps, Reagan scored 35 unanswered points to secure the win.
Still, the Cardinals’ Leo Tienda left the game looking like one of the Valley’s top backs, rushing 27 times for 224 yards and three touchdowns.
Castro and Tienda have the benefit of working behind a strong offensive line that includes seniors Davis Ericksmoen, Bobby Melendez and Michael Noyola.
Defensive tackle Travis Barnes, defensive end Edwin Gasca, linebacker Charlie Moreno and corner Robert Castillo highlight what figures to be a strong defense.
While Harlingen High will be looking for a rebound, McAllen High found one in Week 2, taking down Edinburg High 28-0 on Friday.
McAllen High’s young but athletic defense pitched a shutout, allowing the Bulldogs to overcome a slow start on offense.
In the second half, Isaiah Gonzalez scored twice on the ground, and Caleb Youngblood and Josh McGowen found the end zone once each.
Youngblood has been solid in his first season as McHi’s full-time starter at quarterback, and McGowen has looked like a dynamic threat in his first year with the Bulldogs after transferring from Overhills High (Spring Lake, North Carolina).
When McHi and Harlingen met last season, the Bulldogs pulled out a 21-14 win as wind and rain led to turnovers and sloppy play for both sides. Trailing 14-13, McAllen High converted a fourth-and-7 on its final drive, setting up Ricky Rodriguez’s game-winning 1-yard touchdown run with 23.4 seconds to play.