Mission High and Mission Veterans each entered their regular season finale on the outside looking in at last week’s RGVSports.com top 10 poll, but after key Week 11 victories, both the Eagles and Patriots have broken into the latest ranks.
The No. 9 Patriots (7-3, 7-1) won a share of the District 16-5A DII championship by cruising past PSJA Memorial 49-7 last week. Mission Veterans will take on Medina Valley (3-7, 2-3) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bennie La Prade Stadium in Donna.
The No. 10 Eagles (7-3, 6-2) topped No. 6 PSJA North 27-21 in a key District 31-6A showdown last week, and are now set to collide against the Los Fresnos Falcons (6-3, 5-2) at 7 p.m. Friday at Bill Pate Memorial Stadium in Hidalgo.
Edinburg Vela (10-0, 8-0) began the year as the unanimous No. 1 team and finished in the same position at the end of the regular season. The District 31-6A champion SaberCats were on a bye last week and preparing for a Region IV-6A Division II bi-district matchup against No. 7 San Benito (8-2, 5-2) at 7 p.m. Thursday at Richard R. Flores Stadium in Edinburg.
District 32-6A title winner Harlingen South (10-0, 7-0) held strong at No. 2 for the fifth consecutive week after taking down Los Fresnos 29-10 during Week 11. The Hawks are set to host No. 6 PSJA North (8-2, 6-2) in the opening round of the playoffs at 7 p.m. Friday at Boggus Stadium in Harlingen.
McAllen Memorial (9-1, 9-0) moved up one spot to No. 3 by receiving all six third-place votes after claiming the District 16-5A DI crown outright with a 37-23 win over Weslaco East. The Mustangs are set to host Victoria West in the opening round of the playoffs at 7 p.m. Thursday at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Mercedes (9-1, 7-1) jumped to No. 4 after a 49-14 victory against Sharyland Pioneer. The Tigers, who also won a share of the 16-5A DII title, will travel for their first-round matchup against Boerne-Champion (8-2, 4-1) at 7 p.m. Friday in Boerne.
Harlingen High (7-3, 5-2) flew past Brownsville Hanna 38-7 last week and improved to No. 5 in the top 10. The Cardinals will welcome Edinburg High (6-4, 5-3) to Boggus Stadium at 2 p.m. Saturday for a bi-district bout.
PSJA North (8-2, 6-2) tumbled from No. 3 to No. 6 this week after suffering its first loss since Sept. 10. The Raiders are matched up against No. 2 Harlingen South in the bi-district round at 7 p.m. Friday at Boggus Stadium in Harlingen.
San Benito (8-2, 5-2) stayed at No. 7 with a 26-3 win against Weslaco High last week. The Greyhounds will attempt to take down No. 1 Edinburg Vela in the first round of the playoffs at 7 p.m. Thursday at Richard R. Flores Stadium in Edinburg.
La Feria (7-1, 4-0) moved from No. 10 to No. 8 in the latest ranks after securing the District 16-4A DI championship. The Lions meet Beeville Jones (4-6, 2-3) at 7 p.m. Friday at Cabaniss Stadium in Corpus Christi.