MIKE GONZALEZ | STAFF WRITER
DONNA — Donna High coach Ramiro Leal on Friday left Bennie La Prade Stadium after his team’s 37-7 loss to Mercedes impressed with his team’s opponent.
Entering the District 32-5A game, Leal knew the quality team the Tigers field with standout quarterback Rene Presas and a strong receiving corps. On Friday, he witnessed the Tigers’ talent in person.
The Tigers (5-1 overall, 3-0 district) terrorized the Redskins for 393 yards and head into next week’s showdown tied for first place with rival Edcouch-Elsa, a team they face next week.
Presas passed for 204 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. Leal likened the Tigers offense to Sharyland’s. The Redskins played Sharyland yearly when they competed in District 30-5A.
“We didn’t matchup with their speed,” Leal said. “I didn’t think they were that fast. They’re a good team.”
Behind a solid offensive line, Presas hit his targets Josh Garza, Brandon Gutierrez, Daniel Martinez and Roel Garcia down the field with ease. All four receivers and Presas (17-of-31, 233 yards, three touchdowns) credit their 7-on-7 season for their chemistry.
Garza hauled in two scores and ended with eight receptions for 160 yards. Gutierrez’s 8-yard TD reception capped a 15-play, 85-yard drive that gave the Tigers a 7-0 lead to start the game. On that drive alone, Presas connected with four different receivers.
“So many weapons,” Presas said. “Our whole receiving crew, it’s crazy.”
Presas would then hit Garza for a 26-yard strike on the team’s third drive and later the duo connected again on a pretty 45-yard bomb that gave Mercedes a 20-0 lead.
Just before the first half ended, the Tigers used a trick play where Presas hit Garza, who then handed the ball off to Roel Garcia and the senior flew past the Redskins defense for a 59-yard touchdown run, which gave Mercedes a 27-0 lead at halftime.
“There are some balls out there where I’m like, ‘Who’s going to catch it and Josh is there,’” first-year Mercedes coach Roger Adame said. “Our boys did well in everything. We’re in mid-season form.”
And that includes the district’s top-ranked defense, which allowed 204 yards with most coming late in the second half during mop up time.
Donna couldn’t establish much until the third quarter behind quarterback Edward Dougherty. Dougherty scored on a 30-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter but that was all the Redskins mustered.
The Tigers’ defensive unit led by linebacker Jorge Solis and Isaac Izaguirre credit their work against the offense during the week as a perfect preparation for whoever the team faces on Fridays.
“Theyset up the bar high for us,” Solis said. “We have good communication and it helps us out.”