By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
What a difference a year makes.
Last season, the Lopez Lobos and Pace Vikings were playing for a playoff berth in the season finale. This season, both teams enter Week 11 having already clinched a playoff spot, so this year’s finale will be a battle for pride and act as a tune-up for next week’s bi-district playoff round.
The two teams battle in The Brownsville Herald’s Game of the Week tonight at 7 p.m. at Sams Memorial Stadium.
Lopez (7-2, 4-2 in District 32-5A) clinched its berth with a 23-14 win over Edcouch-Elsa, while Pace (5-4, 4-2) earned its spot with a 35-31 comeback victory over Donna High.
Even if there isn’t as much on the line one year later, both teams still want to win.
“The playoff spots are wrapped up so this game has nothing to do with seeding, all that has been set,” Lopez coach Jason Starkey said. “It doesn’t matter to us … as Herm Edwards once said, ‘if you put the ball down, you play to win the game’ … and that’s what we plan on doing (tonight). Any time you put a football down, Lopez is going to show up and play their tails off and do whatever we can to win the game … and I’m sure they are too.”
It’s the same view on the other sideline.
“There’s not a lot of meaning except for pride,” Pace coach Danny Pardo said. “We’re going to get some kids some more playing time. We don’t any more injuries going into the playoffs, I’m sure Lopez doesn’t either. We’re going to go out there and try to make it a game … like any game, we want to win.”
The Lobos’ offense averages 323 yards and nearly 32 points per game. Senior running back Jose Echavarria leads the team with 976 yards and seven touchdowns and junior running back Christian Gamez has added 418 yards and seven scores.
But Lopez scored in all three phases last week and Starkey would like to see more of that.
“They do some things well offensively, defensively and on special teams,” he said. “We’re preparing to do what we do … run the football … seek and destroy on defense and special teams and score in all three phases like we did last week. We need to do that again this week and it could be key for us to be successful against Pace.”
The Vikings’ offense averages 367 yards and 29 points per game. Junior running back Brandon Zapata has rushed for 590 yards and senior quarterback Randy Aguilar has thrown for 1,568 yards and 17 touchdowns. Their balanced attack has been a strength, as their defensive play has as well during the three-game win streak.
“We know what to expect from Lopez and try to match up to what they do,” Pardo said. “We have four backs, so each will get a chance. Defensively, we’re getting back to form, we want to polish it up.
“We’re still going to keep trying to get better, especially on defense.”
On the other side of the ball, Lopez is near the top of the district at 228 yards and less than 17 points per game. Pace, who is further down the list, allows 366 yards and less than 29 points. It seems though when two Brownsville schools play one another, stats, records and the like don’t matter.
“When Brownsville plays Brownsville, you don’t need anything else on the line rather than pride,” Starkey said. “I love watching these kids compete against each other … I think it’s going to be a fun environment that night and I’m excited for our chances.”
Don’t expect much difference from what either team has done all season, other than two strong teams with the postseason in the back of their minds, trying to finish the season strong before another challenge awaits next week.
“We’re still going to run the ball and throw the ball like as much as we need to,” Pardo said. “Defensively, we’re trying to get the guys we just got back (from injuries) some reps and get a little momentum. Just play polished and get ready for next week.”
For the Lobos — win or lose — they want to keep getting better, every week.
“We’re just trying to play our best football and we’ve yet to play our best football this year,” Starkey said. “Our focus is on what we do, not what they do. That won’t change next week … we’re focused on being the best version of ourselves.”
Since Lopez and Pace have both earned postseason berths already, this game becomes more about pride than anything else. But regardless, both teams want to win and take that momentum into the playoffs next week. The Lobos and Vikings are similar on offense in yards and points per game, although Lopez prefers to run the ball more and Pace has a balanced attack. The game could hinge on the way the defense plays. The Lobos allow fewer yards and points than the Vikings do, but both teams will try to win the turnover margin and get the offensive units more opportunities. The defense that plays better could be the edge in this game.
PREDICTION: Lopez 27, Pace 20
Friday’s Games
District 32-6A
WESLACO EAST AT HANNA
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Friday
WHERE: Sams Memorial Stadium
RECORDS: Weslaco East (6-3, 4-2); Hanna (7-2, 5-1)
GAME NOTES: With both teams already locked into a playoff spot, Hanna and Weslaco East play for seeding and a possibly more. Weslaco East can go into the Division II bracket with a win. Hanna will do the same with a win, but could clinch a share of the District 32-6A title if San Benito falls to Harlingen. … Hanna is coming off one of the program’s biggest wins, defeating Harlingen 32-6. … The Eagles’ offense ranks fourth in 32-6A, averaging 316 yards and 28.5 points. … Hanna running back Cesar Mancias is looking to get to the 1,000-yard mark this week as he sits second in the district in rushing with 957 yards on 126 carries and eight touchdowns. … Hanna’s defense held Harlingen to just one score and 195 yards of offense in last week’s win. That was Harlingen’s lowest total of the season. The Eagles are fifth in the district in total defense (315 ypg) and have forced 19 turnovers and sacked opposing quarterbacks 38 times.
PREDICTION: Hanna 24, Weslaco East 21
— Mark Molina
RIVERA AT HARLINGEN SOUTH
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Friday
WHERE: Boggus Stadium, Harlingen
RECORDS: Rivera(1-8, 0-6); Harlingen South (1-8, 0-6)
GAME NOTES: Rivera gave Los Fresnos a run for its money in Week 10, playing the Falcons to a tie through three quarters before falling 28-14. … Raiders quarterback Nico Blanco is looking to wrap up his high school career with a win. … Blanco threw for two touchdowns against Los Fresnos and went 7 for 19 through the air. … Both Harlingen South and Rivera haven’t won since Week 1 and are winless in district play. … South, meanwhile, looks to build on its young stars in sophomore QB David Torres, sophomore tight end Brady Bennett and junior running back Emilio Quiroz. … Look for the Hawks rushing attack to pick up the pace and Torres to have another solid outing through the air. … Seniors Brandon Bennett and Sky Tatum have anchored the defense all season, look for the duo to end their prep careers with a bang.
PREDICTION: Harlingen South 33, Rivera 26
— Kevin Narro
LOS FRESNOS AT WESLACO HIGH
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Friday
WHERE: Bobby Lackey Stadium, Weslaco
RECORDS: Los Fresnos (6-3, 4-2); Weslaco High (3-5, 2-4)
GAME NOTES: Weslaco High is coming off a 64-14 loss at San Benito and had won twice prior to that setback. Los Fresnos has won two in a row, including Saturday’s 28-14 road triumph over Rivera … Weslaco High’s last win against Los Fresnos was a 49-28 triumph in Weslaco in the 2015 bi-district playoffs … Los Fresnos has a capable QB in Charles Chapa, who is a threat as a passer and runner. Chapa has passed for more than 1,200 yards with six TDs and has rushed for more than 500 yards with eight TDs … The Panthers boast a pair of reliable receivers in Devin Dena (25 catches, 296 yards, two TDs) and Jaden Cavazos (19 catches, 297 yards, three TDs) … Regardless of the outcome, the Falcons are locked into 32-6A’s No. 2 playoff spot in 6A Division I behind San Benito … The Falcons average 324.4 yards per game on offense, while the Panthers generate 265.5 yards. per contest.
PREDICTION: Los Fresnos 24, Weslaco High 17
— Roy Hess
District 32-5A
Porter at Edcouch-Elsa
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Friday
WHERE: Benny Layton Sr. Memorial Stadium, Elsa
RECORDS: Porter (0-9, 0-6); Edcouch-Elsa (4-5, 1-4)
GAME NOTES: Porter was outscored 124-0 combined in their last two games against Brownsville Veterans and Mercedes. … If Porter loses again, it will be the Cowboys’ second straight winless season. The last time the Cowboys went winless in consecutive seasons dates back to the early 1990s when they went 0-40 between the 1991 and 1994 seasons. … Porter’s last regular-season victory came in 2015, which was a playoff year. … Edcouch-Elsa was eliminated from playoff contention with a 23-14 loss to Lopez last week. … This is the first time the Yellowjackets will miss the playoffs in coach Joe Marichalar’s five years at the helm of the program. E-E last missed the playoffs in 2009. … Friday’s game will be the last for E-E senior running back Jorge Gomez. Gomez rushed for 2,339 and 25 touchdowns over 21 games during his junior and senior years.
PREDICTION: Edcouch-Elsa 31, Porter 0
— Nate Kotisso
TAPPS Division I, District 2
ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY AT ANTONIAN PREP (SAN ANTONIO)
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Friday
WHERE: Ferrara Stadium, San Antonio
RECORDS: St. Joseph Academy (5-4, 1-0); Antonian Prep (4-4, 0-1)
GAME NOTES: St. Joseph lost to All Saints Academy (Fort Worth) 42-8 on the road in Week 10. … The Bloodhounds’ offense average 451 yards and 39 points per game. Senior quarterback Kai Money leads the team with 1,744 yards and 24 touchdowns and has rushed for 1,060 yards and eight scores. Junior receiver Pablo Zolezzi has 24 catches for 517 yards and eight TDs. … SJA’s defense has allowed less than 25 points per game. … Antonian Prep (San Antonio) lost to Central Catholic (San Antonio) 41-20 in Week 10. The Apaches’ offense averages 36 points per game. … The Antonian defense surrenders less than 19 points per game. … SJA can earn a district title with a win. … Both teams can light up the scoreboard. This could be a back-and-forth shootout, but it could come down to which offense gets a quick start and makes the most of its opportunities.
PREDICTION: St. Joseph Academy 37, Antonian Prep 34
— Andrew Crum
District 16-4A DII
WEST OSO AT PORT ISABEL
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Friday
WHERE: Tarpon Stadium, Port Isabel
RECORDS: West Oso (5-4, 1-3); Port Isabel (2-6, 1-3)
GAME NOTES: West Oso defeated Progreso 47-7 in Week 10. … The Bears’ offense averages 26 points per game. … The West Oso defense allows less than 24 points per game and has 14 sacks and 12 interceptions. … Port Isabel lost to Raymondville 22-7 on the road in Week 10. … The Tarpons’ offense averages 315 yards and nearly 21 points. Sophomore running back Bryan Medina leads the way with 633 yards and seven scores on the ground while senior tailback Travis Camacho has 352 yards and seven TDs. Senior quarterback Jeremy Martinez has thrown for 644 yards and five scores. … Port Isabel’s defense allows 32 points per game, but it has seven sacks, eight fumble recoveries and six interceptions on the year. … West Oso’s defense has allowed less than 10 points in four games this season.
PREDICTION: West Oso 27, Port Isabel 21
— Andrew Crum
Saturday’s Game
District 32-5A
DONNA HIGH AT BROWNSVILLE VETERANS MEMORIAL
WHEN: 2 p.m., Saturday
WHERE: Sams Memorial Stadium
RECORDS: Donna High (4-5, 2-4); Brownsville Veterans (8-1, 6-0)
GAME NOTES: The Chargers host the Redskins in the regular-season finale with a chance at an outright district title. … BVM has been on a tear the last couple of weeks after beating Porter and Donna North by a combined score of 119-0. … QB Gustavo Vasquez has been a force this season, rushing for 1,198 yards and 19 touchdowns while passing for 840 yards and five scores. … In the last two outings alone, the Chargers’ offense has posted 1,049 yards of offense. … BVM has forced 14 turnovers this season, sacked the quarterback 11 times and have recorded 45 tackles for loss. … Donna was eliminated from the postseason last week in its 35-31 loss to Pace. Donna has averaged 20.5 points per game this season and are averaging 223 yards of offense per game. … Donna has been solid on defense at times, holding opponents to under 300 yards of offense per contest this season.
PREDICTION: Brownsville Veterans 42, Donna High 21
— Mark Molina