By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
MERCEDES — Mercedes established the type of momentum Friday that eluded it a week ago, when it lost to Calallen in its season opener.
Back at home, quarterback Rene Presas found his footing, accounting for three touchdowns and throwing for 230 yards. The Tigers defense came away with plenty of stops and a score. And Mercedes packaged it together to knock off McAllen Rowe 39-12 and deliver Roger Adame Jr. his first head-coaching victory.
“It’s something that I was waiting to get,” Adame said. “We’re going to enjoy this one (Friday) but we’re back at work (today). I knew there was some extra emphasis on this game but we took it as just a regular game. ‘Just go out there and show your talents. Don’t worry about the extracurricular activities.’ And our boys were able to do that.”
Presas completed 19 of 28 passes for one touchdown, while rushing for 51 yards on eight carries and two scores. The Tigers defense also held Rowe’s rushing attack to a mere 24 yards on 14 carries by halftime.
It marked Mercedes’ first win of the season after losing 28-0 to regional power Calallen. The Tigers came away from Week 1 producing the lowest offense of any of its district opponents, while fielding in a middle-of-the-pack defense.
On Friday, the Tigers forged a complete turnaround. Presas was efficient through the opening half, completing 14 of 18 passes for 180 yards, missing on two hurried attempts trying to beat the clock before intermission. His favorite receiver Friday was Daniel Martinez, who hauled in 72 yards on eight attempts and one TD, virtually all of it before halftime.
Isaac Vela helped balance the attack, rushing for 88 yards on 18 attempts, scoring on runs of 1 and 17 yards, respectively. Jesus Rios rushed for 60 yards on just six attempts.
The Tigers defense came up with plenty of stops, keeping Rowe from passing midfield until the fourth and final drive of the first half. They also came up with a safety that gave Mercedes a 34-12 lead with 4:20 to play.
“The defense stepped up 110 percent,” Presas said. “They went all-out for us. They gave us the ball every time and we tried to score as many times as we could with it.”
GAMBLING
All four of McAllen Rowe’s drives in the opening half ended in disappointment. The Warriors came up empty three times when it gambled on fourth down — twice on runs for no yards, once on an incomplete pass. The fourth drive ended after a fumble, when Inos Rios’ 4-yard reception came loose after absorbing a hit.
It was recovered by Mercedes defensive back Roel Garcia. That kicked off a nine-play, 61-yard drive to give the Tigers a 27-0 cushion heading into halftime.
Rowe didn’t gamble after that, punting on its first drive of the second half on a 4th-and-6 situation at the 40.
COMING HOME
Rowe defensive coordinator Michael Uribe returned to Mercedes for the first time since being resigned earlier this year. Uribe, who spent nine years with the Tigers, five as head coach, led a Warriors defense on Friday that gave up 281 offensive yards in the opening half.
Uribe was 32-24 in five years at Mercedes. His Tigers went 6-5 last season and lost in the opening round to Flour Bluff. He was replaced by Adame, his first assistant and defensive coordinator
CHANGE OF PACE
Rowe quarterback Hector Bosquez threw for three touchdowns and ran for two last week in a 48-28 win over Edcouch-Elsa. On Friday, he was replaced after two attempts — a 3-yard pass and an interception — by fellow junior John Perez.
He completed 13 of 24 passes for 201 yards. Bosquez came in late in the game and an attempted (and missed) one more pass.