EDINBURG — Quarterback Jesus Sanchez and McAllen Rowe’s playmakers only needed a few drives to settle in. Once they did, it was business as usual for the green and gold.
The Warriors jumped out to an early lead and didn’t look back, winning 30-9 over Edinburg High on Thursday night at Richard Flores Stadium.
Rowe has had a long break since its last game action, as the team’s only preseason scrimmage was canceled due to concerns with Hurricane Harvey.
“It’s awesome, especially since we missed last week due to the weather. We didn’t get to scrimmage Edinburg Vela,” wide receiver Adrian Bernal said. “I believe everyone was excited to come out tonight and perform the way we did.”
Bernal scored one of three offensive touchdowns for the Warriors on a slant route on Rowe’s first drive after halftime.
Facing players in different uniforms for the first time since last fall, Rowe had a lot of pent-up energy saved for Week 1. Coach Bobby Flores feels it was worth the wait.
“They were pushing through practice, and we were just hungry to hit another team and get after it,” Flores said after winning the season opener over Edinburg for a second straight season. “And just like anything else, competition brings out the best in you.”
The best of the Warriors was on display early. They followed up a long but fruitless first drive with an equally long, bruising trip to the end zone on their second. Running back Raudel Garcia punched the ball in for the score, finishing what he started.
Sanchez, who tossed for a TD and ran for another, credited his running back’s effectiveness as a key to keeping Edinburg guessing.
“Raudel’s a great runner. He’s going to open up a lot of things for us as far as passing,” Sanchez said before praising his offense from coordinator to receivers. “We were just getting looks. (Offensive coordinator Shaun Tarantola) did a great job planning ahead for the plays. He knows what’s going to get open, and I just have to trust myself and my reads.”
The path to the blowout was cemented when Rowe intercepted Edinburg’s Matt Cruz in the end zone in the early going. Shortly after that turnover, Rowe’s Hector Ramirez broke open a punt return for 60-yard touchdown.
The Warriors defense never let the Bobcats get close, holding Edinburg to 3 points until the waning moments of the fourth quarter.
Bernal said watching the defense contain Edinburg was exciting but expected.
“You’re talking about a defense that hasn’t hit anyone else in four weeks, I think, now,” Bernal said. “I bet you they were excited to come out here and finally hit someone else. We don’t let them hit us, so I’m sure they were looking pretty mean tonight.”
Rowe will next host a Mercedes team that was picked No. 5 in the RGVSports.com preseason top 10 on Sept. 8. Last year’s meeting was a 24-21 nail-biter that the Warriors won on the road.
Edinburg High will look for vengeance in Brownsville next week with a visit to Lopez. The Lobos contained the Bobcats to just 15 points in last season’s meeting. Questions will again be asked about Edinburg’s quarterback situation. Starter Matt Cruz was 5-of-13 passing for 57 yards and an INT, while his backup, Danny Shawnee, completed two passes on five attempts, one of those being Edinburg’s only TD.
“Well, we’re going to have to go back and bring our lunch pails and go back to work,” Edinburg coach J.J. Leija said. “Offensively, we didn’t look too bad. There were some times we needed to fix some things. And on defense, we need to fix some things.”