By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
There’s a little more importance to a majority of this week’s games.
The contests hold a little more weight as district play begins for 32-5A and 32-6A, among others with the first chance to take a step toward the postseason.
Brownsville Veterans Memorial plays host to Pace as the teams clash in the District 32-5A opener for both teams in The Brownsville Herald’s Game of the Week at 7 p.m. Saturday at Sams Memorial Stadium.
The Chargers (2-1) are returning to the field after a loss to Edinburg Vela in Week 3. Brownsville Veterans had a bye last week. The Vikings (1-2) have lost two straight contests, including a 27-14 setback to La Joya Palmview in Week 4. Both teams hope to get back on track with a win in the district opener.
“It’s a big game … it’s always important to get off to a good start,” Brownsville Veterans coach David Cantu said. “We have a great deal of respect for Pace, they’re on the right track to being a force again … I think they have all the right parts to make a run themselves for a district title or the playoff opportunity. The bye helped us rest up and improve individual techniques and the kids are very hungry to get back on the field and play another football game.”
Pace is happy to get back into a routine and hopes it will help the team get on a winning track.
“Opening district is big, that’s the real season for us,” Pace coach Danny Pardo said. “We just need to correct what we did wrong this past week and try to get a little more fluency in the game … correct our mistakes and improve every day, every week. Unfortunately we’re playing one of the best teams in our district … that’s our goal (to win), but it won’t be easy, those guys are pretty talented over there, they’re well-coached … we have to do the best job we can getting our kids ready to play.
“Starting district play with a win is big for anybody, no matter who it is.”
Both teams have an offense that is capable of putting points on the scoreboard. Brownsville Veterans averages 34 points and 345 yards per game while Pace averages 23 points and 309 yards.
The Chargers have a powerful ground game led by a pair of seniors in quarterback Gustavo Vasquez (340 yards and five touchdowns) and running back Abel Martinez (288 yards and four touchdowns).
Pace knows its defense will have its hands full with their run game.
“Their quarterback is probably by far the best athlete in Brownsville,” Pardo said. “We have to do as much as we can to slow him down … I think the key for us will be to try and keep their offense off the field. We have to limit the time he’s on the field.”
The Vikings counter with a dynamic passing game — also led by a pair of seniors — led by quarterback Randy Aguilar, who has thrown for 494 yards and six touchdowns, and wide receiver Gabriel Zapata, who enters the game with 19 catches for 328 yards and three scores.
Brownsville Veterans knows that Vikings offensive coordinator Rodney Morales will have a game plan to try and take advantage of its defense.
“They’re tough to stop,” Cantu said. “They have a very experienced quarterback, a three-year starter in Randy Aguilar. They have a tandem of running backs that can make plays and receiver Gabriel Zapata is one of the most dynamic playmakers, not just in our district, but in the Valley. He’s tremendous.
“We’ve challenged our secondary to rise up, so to speak. That’s an area we think Pace will try to exploit.”
Cantu said the Chargers’ defense has to find ways to help its secondary, particularly in the pass rush. But he said the key might be which offensive line plays better.
“The play of the offensive line, ours and theirs,” he said. “Who can move the chains. … Coach Morales’ offense has a knack of picking up first downs. We have to match them or try to do a little bit better, hopefully. The play up front is going to be critical because both defenses are similar.
“It’s a really good matchup … the game will probably come down to the final minutes in the fourth quarter.”
Pardo feels his team needs to control the clock to control the game, limiting the number of opportunities Brownsville Veterans has offensively.
“We have to slow down their quarterback and get the ball back,” he said. “Limit his touches … if you take him out of the equation, they’re a different team. But it’s easier said than done.
“We have to play a complete game, get after it and play as error free as we can and give ourselves a chance.”
Both Brownsville Veterans Memorial and Pace have offensive units that can put the points on the scoreboard. The Chargers and Vikings defensive units will have their hands full, but whoever can give their offense the most opportunities to score will probably come out on top. Brownsville Veterans and Pace are nearly equal in team defense as the Chargers allow 305 yards per game and the Vikings allow 304. With similar numbers on both sides of the ball, this game could come down to a late score or turnover that decides the game.
PREDICTION: Brownsville Veterans 31, Pace 24
Thursday
District 32-6A
HANNA AT RIVERA
WHEN: 7 p.m., Thursday
WHERE: Sams Memorial Stadium
RECORDS: Hanna (2-1, 0-0); Rivera (1-2, 0-0)
GAME NOTES: Crosstown rivals coming off a bye week hope to get District 32-6A started on the right foot when the Hanna Golden Eagles face the Rivera Raiders. … The 2-1 Golden Eagles are led by defense this year. Hanna is third in total defense, holding opponents to 272 yards and 18 points per game while forcing six turnovers. … The Golden Eagles are sixth in the district offensively, averaging 340 yards per game. Their ground attack averages 231 yards per game. Cesar Mancias leads the team with 275 yards on 28 carries and 2 touchdowns. Aaron Frausto has 171 yards on 20 carries and three scores. … Rivera quarrterback Nico Blanco leads the Rivera offense with 427 yards on 33-of-64 passing this season with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. He also has ran for another 77 yards and two cores, leading the fifth-best offense (344 ypg) so far in 32-6A. … The Raiders have had some problems on defense as they are seventh in the district, allowing 358 yards and just over 31 points per game. … Blanco can cause fits when on the move and get the ball downfield while out of the pocket, but that will prove tough against the Hanna’s defense. Look for the Eagles to try and run with Mancias and Frausto as the Raiders have given up a district-worst 588 yards on the ground this season.
PREDICTION: Hanna 31, Rivera 21
— Mark Molina
Friday
District 32-6A
LOS FRESNOS AT SAN BENITO
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Friday
WHERE: Bobby Morrow Stadium
RECORDS: Los Fresnos (2-1, 0-0); San Benito (3-0, 0-0)
GAME NOTES: The schedule may say Week 5, but its Week 1 of district play … Los Fresnos travels to the friendly confines of Bobby Morrow Stadium where the undefeated San Benito Greyhounds await … Last season, the Greyhounds thumped the Falcons 36-24 at Los Fresnos … This year, the Falcons are riding high after their Week 4 upset victory over McAllen Memorial … Look for the up-tempo offense of the Greyhounds to make plays through the air, as quarterback Erick Retta enters the game with 364 yards and five touchdown passes. … The Greyhounds’ ground game is also potent, with tailback Tyrone Harper paving the way with 445 yards and four scores … Los Fresnos counters with an effective passing game behind the arm of Charles Chapa, who has 428 yards and three TDs … This game could wind up being a shootout, as San Benito averages just under 33 points per contest, while Los Fresnos posts a perfect 30. … The Greyhounds’ defensive unit is surrendering just 15 points per game so far this season … Los Fresnos comes in slightly better with 12 points allowed. … San Benito enjoyed a bye in Week 4 … The Greyhounds upended McAllen Memorial 31-7 in McAllen in Week 3 … Los Fresnos has won back-to-back games after a tense 24-21 road loss to Edcouch-Elsa in Week 1.
PREDICTION: San Benito 35, Los Fresnos 31
— Kevin Narro
Friday
District 32-5A
LOPEZ AT PORTER
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Thursday
WHERE: Sams Memorial Stadium
RECORDS: Lopez (3-0, 0-0); Porter (0-3, 0-0)
GAME NOTES: The 20th edition of the “Battle of Southmost” rivalry series between the Cowboys and Lobos opens this season’s 32-5A competition for both teams. Lopez won 39-10 a year ago to take a 10-9 edge in the overall series that began in 1996 with Porter winning 27-0. The Cowboys’ most recent victory in the series came in 2015 with a 21-16 triumph over the Lobos during Porter’s last playoff season as the Cowboys finished with a 6-5 record … Both teams are coming off a bye week … In Lopez’s last game, the Lobos captured a 61-7 victory at PSJA Memorial on Sept. 15 to stay unbeaten. Porter’s last game resulted in a 40-14 loss at McAllen Rowe on Sept. 14 … Lopez also has beaten Port Isabel (35-13) and Edinburg High (28-24) … The Lobos are 32-5A’s top team on offense (406 yards per game) and top team on defense (167 yards allowed per game). Conversely, Porter is averaging 205 yards per contest on offense and giving up an average of 395 yards … A player to watch is Lopez’s Jose “Chevy” Echavarria, a senior RB/WR who is definitely a big-play performer. He leads 32-5A in rushing with 478 yards on 36 carries for an impressive 13.3-yard average per carry and has scored three TDs. Porter’s offensive leaders include senior RB Jose Villalon, who averages 3.8 yards per carry and has scored one TD.
PREDICTION: Lopez 24, Porter 7
— Roy Hess
Friday
Non-District
ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY AT PORT ISABEL
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Friday
WHERE: Tarpon Stadium
RECORDS: St. Joseph Academy (1-3); Port Isabel (1-2)
GAME NOTES: St. Joseph Academy lost to Raymondville 17-12 in Week 4. … The Bloodhounds’ offense averages 396 yards and 35 points per game. The unit is led by senior quarterback Kai Money who has 883 yards and 10 touchdowns through the air and 349 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground. … The defense allows nearly 29 points per game, but has three sacks, recovered a pair of fumbles and has two interceptions on the season. … Port Isabel lost to La Feria 45-13 at home in Week 4. … The Tarpons’ offense has been bitten by the injury bug, three quarterbacks have been lost to injury this season. The unit averages 261 yards and 19 points per game. Sophomore running back Bryan Medina leads the way with 191 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground. … Port Isabel’s defense allows 31 points per game, but they have five sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception on the year. … This has turned into a rivalry game and been back-and-forth for the past couple years. Both teams have had its struggles this season on both sides of the ball at times, but with the firepower that St. Joseph has, especially with Money, that could be the difference for the Bloodhounds.
PREDICTION: St. Joseph Academy 28, Port Isabel 21
— Andrew Crum