Mustangs, SaberCats set for 16-5A DI showdown

EDINBURG — No. 2 Edinburg Vela and No. 3 McAllen Memorial have combined to win 13 district championships over the last 10 years — six for the SaberCats and seven for the Mustangs. Neither team has captured a district title since 2021, however.

That will change this season as the Vela SaberCats (7-0, 4-0) and Memorial Mustangs (6-1, 4-0) are set to battle for the District 16-5A DI championship at 7 p.m. tonight at Richard R. Flores Stadium in Edinburg in a special RGVSports.com Game of the Week triple-header. The winner will take sole control of first place in the district standings with just two weeks remaining.

MUSTANGS IN MOTION

McAllen Memorial has put together its best start in three seasons and is in position to compete for another district title, which would be the program’s 12th all-time.

“We have our goal every year to be the best team in the history of McAllen Memorial and we feel like they’ve worked hard this offseason and they have a chance to hopefully do that,” McAllen Memorial fourth-year head coach Moses Patterson said. “It’s all day by day, step by step. We need to get better and better.”

The Mustangs have only dropped one game this season — a non-district road contest against San Antonio Johnson. With that loss included, the Mustangs have outscored opponents 270-136 for an average of 38.6 points per game offensively and are allowing 19.4 points per game defensively.

McAllen Memorial’s JP Garza, right, drags Mission defenders Caleb Cantu and Elian Garcia, left, into the end zone for a touchdown during a game at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium Friday Sept.25, 2024 in McAllen . (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

McAllen Memorial has established itself as one of the top rushing teams in South Texas and they’ve run wild this season behind a solid offensive line. The Mustangs’ ground game is led by a three-headed monster formed by senior running back JP Garza (368 yards, five touchdowns in four games), junior running back Jayden Soliz (568 yards, five touchdowns) and sophomore running back Braxton Speights (500 yards, eight touchdowns).

“It’s really exciting because we know when the run works, the pass is going to work, too,” Garza said. “We trust each other and everyone is going to do their jobs, do their assignments, and if everyone does that, we’re going to succeed.”

McAllen Memorial’s Jaydin Soliz, middle, gets past McAllen High’s Symon Pardo, left, and Oliver Schwartz, right, during a game at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium Friday Oct.11 2024 in McAllen. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

“We’ve put in a lot of work and every day spent together is another day that we’re stronger,” senior offensive lineman Rene Gomez said. “We’re prepared for anything.”

Junior quarterback Kane Coy and junior receiver Michael Alaniz have added a downfield passing element this season that’s resulted in big plays through the air for the Mustangs, an offense traditionally known for pounding the rock.

Coy has run for 244 yards and five touchdowns and thrown for 761 yards, 13 touchdowns and no interceptions. Alaniz has 16 catches for 565 yards this season. Ten of his grabs have gone for touchdowns, showcasing his big-play ability.

McAllen Memorial’s Kane Coy, right, runs past McAllen High’s defender Oliver Schwarz , left,during a game at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium Friday Oct.11 2024 in McAllen. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

“It’s great to have that option because if the run isn’t working, we can go to the pass and if the pass isn’t working, we can go to the run. It’s great to have both of those dynamics working for us this year,” Coy said.

Defensively, the Mustangs are a battle-tested group that will be tasked with slowing down a balanced SaberCats offense, but Memorial is up for the challenge with a pair of shutouts under their belt this season.

McAllen Memorial’s defenders Erick Guajardo, right, and Corbin Disque, left, chase down Mission High’s quarterback Diego Salinas during a game at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium Friday Sept.25, 2024 in McAllen . (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

“It’s been a tough road but we’ve been preparing for this. We’re built for moments like this,” senior defensive end Erick Guajardo said. “It’s going to be a physical game, but it’s not my first physical game and it won’t be my last.”

The Mustangs are scheduled to close the regular season with matchups against crosstown rival McAllen Rowe (3-4, 3-1) in Week 10 and at home against La Joya Palmview (5-2, 2-2) in Week 11. A win against the SaberCats puts them in position to claim the 16-5A DI title.

SABERCAT STRONG

The SaberCats are no strangers to big games and tonight’s clash against the Mustangs will be no different.

Vela sets its sights on competing for district titles and playoff runs each season and first-year head coach Ernie Alonzo has come in and upheld the strong, winning tradition the program has become known for. The SaberCats are one of two undefeated teams left in the Rio Grande Valley entering Week 9.

Edinburg Vela quarterback Geoffrey LeFevre looks to get the ball downfieldduring the RGVSports.com Game of the Week against Harlingen High on Friday at Boggus Stadium in Harlingen. (Andrew Cordero | Special to RGVSports)

“For us, we take a 1-0 mentality. We don’t worry about the past, we don’t worry about the future, we focus on this week,” Alonzo said. “Our kids do a tremendous job blocking out the noise and channeling all their energy into that one opponent that week. In regards to the things we do, the standard is the standard and they understand what it is to be in big games. They’ve been in big games before, they’ve got the experience and they relish that opportunity.”

Edinburg Vela’s defense has played lights out this season. The SaberCats have surrendered 20 points just once and are holding opponents to an average of 12.1 points per game.

“This year, we’ve been really disciplined and we try to be as physical as we can,” senior defensive end Nicholas Guevara said. “I know (Memorial) is a fast team, but we’ve always been a fast team, too. We need to go out there and be more physical. … It’s a big game but it’s just the next one. We gotta stay hungry and keep moving on.”

Edinburg High’s JT Santa Maria, left, is brought down by Edinburg Vela’s Luis Garcia, and Sergio Briones, right, during the first half of action at Richard R Flores Stadium Sept. 6, 2024 in Edinburg. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

The SaberCats have playmakers and experience on every level of their defense. This week against Memorial, the focus is being disciplined while defending the Mustangs’ rushing offense.

“This is a team game and everyone has to play their part and do their 1/11th,” senior safety Derek Rodriguez said, referencing all 11 defenders doing their job defensively.

Offensively, the SaberCats are scoring 36.6 points per game and have one of the area’s most balanced attacks with the ability to beat defenses on the ground and through the air. 

Edinburg Vela running back Jonathan Flores (20) carries the ball against Mission High in a District 16-5A D1 game at Tom Landry Stadium on Friday, Sept. 20 2024, in Mission. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])

Alonzo said it all starts up front for the SaberCats with an imposing offensive line led by three-year starter Ronnie Ramirez, who has shifted from tackle to center this season. They’ve been one of the best groups all year and the production of senior running back Jonathan Flores reflects that as the RGV’s third-ranked leading rusher with 1,035 yards and 12 touchdowns through seven games.

“It’s a big role we take on but I love my group,” Ramirez said. “We’re experienced, we know what defenses we’ll face and we come out here and attack every game like it’s a Super Bowl. We know it’s another game and we know what the stakes are.”

Vela also possesses a lethal passing attack with the potential to turn any completion into six points. Senior quarterback Geoffrey LeFevre can hit any throw on the field and has completed 64.6% of his passes for 1,654 yards and 15 touchdowns to go with three scores on the ground.

“It’s a new offense from what they had last year so early in the year we struggled a little bit, but once district started, we started rolling,” LeFevre said. “It’s been a blessing. These kids are hungry. I’m hungry. We all want that gold football.”

Edinburg Vela’s June Garza Jr, right, with a catch and run for a touchdown in front of Edinburg High defender during the first half of action at Richard R Flores Stadium Sept.06, 2024 in Edinburg. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

His top target, senior receiver June Garza Jr., leads the SaberCats with 31 catches for 503 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s one of multiple threats on the perimeter for Vela, making it hard to focus on just one receiver in the passing game.

“We come out here everyday, me and Geoff, even in our off time and practice. It’s fun having that chemistry with him because if no one’s open, he knows to look for me and I’m down there looking for the ball,” Garza said. “We’re all just hungry. We’re all connected and going for a gold ball.”

If Vela can get past Memorial, the SaberCats will control their own destiny with two games left in the regular season. Still remaining on the SaberCats’ schedule is a road game against La Joya Palmview (5-2, 2-2) in Week 10 and a home test against Rio Grande City (0-7, 0-4) in Week 11.