MARK MOLINA | Staff Writer
The Harlingen Cardinal defense looked like they would carry the load after some turnover on offense from the year before left them as the least-experienced of the two units.
Now, after a couple of weeks, the Cardinals have the offense running on all cylinders.
“We’ve got what every coach in America wants and that’s production. We’ve been getting better and it’s the will that these kids have to play football and the way we calibrate these practices; it’s a well-balanced machine,” Harlingen head coach Manny Gomez said.
During scrimmage play, the Cards had problems finishing drives and ball control, but a few weeks and two games later, it’s all becoming a memory.
“It’s why we practice and show the video tape back to our players. I tell the guys that the eye in the sky doesn’t lie. You watch, see what you did right and focus on what you did wrong,” Gomez said “Monday we learn, Tuesday we work, Wednesday we fine tune and Thursday we focus. At Harlingen we’re going to aim for perfection and practice not to get it right, but not get it wrong. We can’t be perfect, but we can execute to excellence.”
In their first two games, however the Cardinal offense has looked impressive, posting 74 points in two games, including 46 in their win over the McAllen Bulldogs last Thursday night.
More impressively, they’ve done it with multiple weapons.
Running back Leo Tienda lit up the field during the Cards’ loss to S.A. Reagan in Week 2 with three scores and more than 200 yards rushing, but this past week it was quarterback Jesse Castro and running back Michael Allen Gonzalez leading Harlingen to their first victory.
Castro threw for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns, two of which went to Kanyon Funk.
Gonzalez also ran for 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
HAWKS PATIENTLY WAIT: By the time the Harlingen South Hawks see the field again; it will have been 21 days since their loss to Edinburg Vela on Sept. 5.
The Hawks had their last game against Weslaco East called due to the weather without a make-up date and now sit through their bye week before facing Brownsville Veterans Memorial next Friday to open District 32-6A play.