Mission Veterans and Sharyland High split last season’s District 16-5A DII title three ways along with Mercedes.
The Tigers moved on to District 15-5A DII thanks to the latest UIL realignment, which left the Patriots and Rattlers to battle and defend their titles in 16-5A DII this season.
Mission Veterans (4-3, 1-1) and Sharyland High (3-4, 2-0) are set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday night at Richard Thompson Stadium in Mission.
“Mission Vets, Coach (David) Gilpin does a great job with those kids. They’re always ready and fired up and ready to play; they’re a great team,” Sharyland High head coach Craig Krell said after last week’s 38-14 win over PSJA Memorial. “What I want to see us do is see us improve. Week by week, we’ve gone through our rough spot, and right now we need to keep improving, and if we can keep on improving we’ll have a shot at that title.”
Both squads enter their Week 9 rivalry matchup fresh off their biggest wins of the season.
The Patriots defeated PSJA Southwest 35-7 last week as quarterback Vince Abrego threw for 165 yards, ran for 31 and scored two total touchdowns. Braden Luedeker threw a touchdown pass and caught one, and running back Jose Garcia scored two rushing touchdowns.
The Rattlers took down PSJA Memorial 38-14 last week with playmakers Alek Gonzalez and Alan Guerrero leading the charge. Gonzalez posted 162 total yards and a score, and Guerrero ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. Quarterback Bo Krell connected with Jose Garcia for a touchdown and receiver Cole Gerlach ran for another.
The winner between the Patriots and Rattlers will take a step forward in their pursuit of defending the District 16-5A DII championship.
AIRING IT OUT
The Edinburg Vela (6-1, 3-1) offense has taken to the air since its return from a Week 6 bye.
During the first five weeks of the season, which included three non-district games and two District 15-5A DI contests, SaberCats quarterbacks completed 36-of-64 passes for 582 yards and seven touchdowns. Their season-high in passing during the first half of the season was 186 yards in a season-opening 50-14 win against Edinburg North.
In their two games since the bye week, SaberCats quarterbacks Bobby Garcia and Myles Lopez have combined to throw for 569 yards on 32-for-40 passing with 10 touchdowns.
Garcia, a senior, has thrown for 686 yards and 11 touchdowns to just one interception this season. Lopez, a sophomore, has thrown for 450 yards, six touchdowns and one interception.
With its passing getting busy, so have Vela playmakers Justin Navarro and Jaxson Shupe, joining teammate and District 15-5A DI’s leading receiver Carlos Tamez.
Tamez leads SaberCats pass-catchers with 29 receptions, 433 yards and five touchdowns. Navarro is up to 21 receptions for 320 yards, six receiving touchdowns and 97 yards and four scores rushing. Shupe has shown big-play ability with 315 receiving yards, four touchdown catches and one carry that went for a 47-yard touchdown.
The fourth-ranked SaberCats are back in action at 7:30 p.m. Friday with a home game against La Joya Juarez-Lincoln.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES
McAllen Memorial running back Sebastian Aleman posted 151 rushing yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns, and caught one pass for 19 yards and another score in a 53-7 win against La Joya Juarez-Lincoln.
Roma running back Isaac Lozano ran for 219 yards and four touchdowns on 34 carries during a 43-35 double overtime loss against Sharyland Pioneer.
PSJA North linebackers Steven Garza (16 tackles, one forced fumble), Mikey Gonzales (nine tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one interception return for touchdown), Jesse Montes (13 tackles, one tackle for loss) led the Raiders in a 63-14 over McAllen Rowe.