RGVSPORTS.COM
Mercedes had not won a playoff game since 2009. The Tigers had never won a playoff game, ever, on their home field.
Until Friday night.
Alex Ramos rushed for a touchdown and Richard Urbina caught a touchdown as the Tigers won a rematch of last year’s bi-district playoff game against Sharyland High, 17-7.
“We were a young team last year,” said Mercedes coach Roger Adame Jr., whose team consists mostly of juniors. “Last year, they had the experience and this year we felt we had the experience.”
Junior quarterback Zach Gomez managed an efficient game for the Tigers, taking care of the ball and making big play after big play.
The defense shut down a Rattlers offense that had averaged 31.3 points on 388 yards per game this season.
“Mercedes is a blue-collar team, football-oriented and these kids come to work every day,” Adame said. “When they do that, good things happen. They know games are won during the week and they wanted to be a part of history.”
Mercedes advances to play Calallen in the Class 5A, Division II area round of the playoff next week. The teams play 7:30 p.m Friday at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville.
Calallen beat Mercedes 20-7 in Week 1 this season.
“We’re looking forward to the matchup,” Adame said. “We had our opportunities to win that game and we had a shot at taking the lead in the third quarter. We’re familiar with them, and we’re going to be ready for a good game.”
CLASS 6A
SAN BENITO 47, EDINBURG HIGH 10: At San Benito, the Greyhounds scored on five of six first half possessions and completely overwhelmed Edinburg High in their 6A Division-II bi-district game.
The bi-district crown is the second straight for San Benito (10-1), which will now take on Laredo United South, a winner over La Joya Palmview for its first playoff win in 17 years, next Friday night at the United ISD Student Activity Center in Laredo.
Edinburg, which had a marvelous turnaround under first-year coach J.J. Leija, finishes at 7-4, the seven wins more than the past three seasons combined.
Quarterback Erick Retta was masterful against Edinburg, going 17-of-23 passing for five touchdowns.
While the ‘Hounds’ offense appeared to be on the highway to the area round, the defense stymied the Bobcats, who could not muster much against San Benito’s aggressive front. Edinburg had just 51 yards of total offense in the first half and did not get on the scoreboard until a 30-yard field goal with 1:23 left in the third stanza. Nathan Marez scored Edinburg’s only TD on a 1-yarder late in the game.
LAREDO UNITED 52, McALLEN MEMORIAL 21: At McAllen, Longhorns quarterback David Sanchez threw for four touchdowns and ran for another to end the Mustangs’ season.
United built a 28-0 lead early in the second half before Memorial got on the board. Campbell Speights scored on runs of 69 and 2 yards, and Angel Almaguer also scored on a 36-yard run for the Mustangs.
Memorial finishes the season 9-2 overall after going 6-0 in District 30-6A. The Mustangs have won just one playoff game in the past five seasons.
District 30-6A teams went 0-4 against District 29-6A on Friday, losing by a combined margin of 100 points.
LAREDO UNITED SOUTH 47, LA JOYA PALMVIEW 27: At La Joya, the Lobos scored first, but the Panthers responded with 34 unanswered points to put the game away by halftime.
The Lobos end the year 5-6 overall after posting a 4-2 mark in district play.
SAN ANTONIO SOUTHWEST 33, LA JOYA JUAREZ-LINCOLN 17: At San Antonio, pulled away with 19 unanswered points in the second and third quarters to end the Huskies’ season.
For Juarez-Lincoln, quarterback Andrew Rodriguez scored a 1-yard run and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Albert Martinez. Armando Razo also kicked a 45-yard field goal.
The Huskies the year 4-7 overall after going 2-4 in District 30-6A.
DEL RIO 40, McALLEN ROWE 7: At Del Rio, Hector Ramirez scored a 2-yard touchdown to give Rowe a 7-0 second-quarter lead, but from there it was all Del Rio.
The Rams led 14-7 at halftime and scored 20 points in the final 5 minutes of the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
Rowe finishes the season 7-4 overall, having produced a 3-3 record in District 30-6A in the first year under new coach Bobby Flores.