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Edinburg Vela got the offensive machine rolling at a high pace, and despite a lightning delay of more than an hour, the SaberCats (5-0, 1-0) made short work of the Edinburg North Cougars (0-5, 0-1), winning 56-7 on Friday night at Richard R. Flores Stadium.
“I think (sophomore quarterback) AJ (Sotelo) had a really good game,” Vela coach John Campbell said. “We weren’t sure how (North) were going to play us. They basically came out and gave us some throws, and didn’t make the run look too attractive. I though AJ did a really good job of getting the perimeter screen game going, and then we were able to hit some big passes downfield, as well.”
Sotelo had four passing TDs on the evening, and Vela went up 35-0 before halftime. Vela’s passing attack opened up the ground game, and senior running back Christian Flores scored twice, while senior running back Aaron Alvarez and sophomore running back Kevin McKinney each scored once.
Vela was pleased to hold the Cougars to seven points on the evening.
“The defense did a good job getting off the field,” Campbell said. “We were able to get some stops and get the ball back. That is what got our offense good field position early, and we took off from there.”
DISTRICT 30-6A
PSJA NORTH 34, LA JOYA JUAREZ-LINCOLN 29: At La Joya, PSJA North coach Marcus Kaufmann said he was too frustrated and upset at his team’s giveaways to pay attention most of the night. At least when the final horn sounded, the result was a tick in the win column.
“We had five turnovers. It was a comedy of errors,” Kaufmann said. “The kids were about as resilient a group as you can possibly imagine. We ended up winning a ballgame that we had no business being in because of all the turnovers.”
After the Raiders jumped out to a two-touchdown lead, the Huskies stormed back to life. Albert Martinez scored a rushing touchdown, while Kenneth Hernandez scooped and scored to give Juarez-Lincoln a 14-13 lead. With a safety and another touchdown, Juarez-Lincoln pushed that lead to 22-13.
PSJA North receiver Arturo Beltran had three touchdowns, while Jonathan Garza had another on a speed sweep pass. Along with those touchdown passes, Iziaah Rangel also was tasked with running out the clock and playing keep away once the team earned the lead back.
“Iziaah pretty much controlled the game. As the game started getting toward the end, we just started running Iziaah. We tried to end it and get out of there. It was one of those types of games”
Ryan Reyna had an interception return for a touchdown.
DISTRICT 16-5A DI
MISSION VETERANS 55, BROWNSVILLE PORTER 37: At Mission, the final score doesn’t quite tell the whole story for Mission Veterans (4-1, 3-1).
The Patriots offense returned closer to form, despite missing wideout Mikey Garcia and two offensive linemen in Friday’s game. Quarterback Landry Gilpin threw four touchdown passes, two of which landed in the hands of sophomore A.J. Gonzaque, while also running for two more on the ground.
Mission Veterans led Brownsville Porter (1-4, 0-4) 55-13 at halftime and rested all of its starters in the second half.
DISTRICT 16-5A DII
SHARYLAND HIGH 42, LAREDO CIGARROA 13: At Mission, the Rattlers returned home to Richard Thompson Stadium and got back into the winnning column.
Sharyland High quarterbacks Edgar Longoria and Oscar Valdez were effective on Friday night. Longoria threw two touchdown passes and ran for one, while Valdez connected on a touchdown throw to Joe Gomez.
In the Rattlers backfield, Danny Escalera and Fernie Cardenas had one touchdown run apiece against the 0-5 Toros.
VALLEY VIEW 38, ROMA 7: At Hidalgo, the start of district play didn’t stop the Tigers’ thorough thumping of opponents.
The Valley View defense swarmed Roma, allowing only 145 yards of offense, recovering four fumbles and an interception. The Tigers also blocked two Gladiators punts on special teams.
The Tigers are 5-0 for the first time in program history. They can equal their best win total in a season ever if they are able to defeat Edcouch-Elsa next week.
NON-DISRTICT
HIDALGO 10, PROGRESO 7: At Hidalgo, the Pirates (1-4) found a way to win.
“(Progreso) had the ball in good field position (in the fourth quarter),” Hidalgo coach Monty Stumbaugh said. “Our defense closed up and stopped them, and we were able to run out the clock. Very proud. We are getting there. Slowly but surely, we are getting there. The main thing for us is we are happy with those kids. They have been working our tails off, and they still believe in us, and we found a way to win.”
Junior Jose Figueroa hit a field goal in the second quarter, and the Pirates took a 3-0 lead to the locker room at halftime.
In the third, junior quarterback Angel Lopez connected with junior receiver Gus Sanchez on a touchdown pass to put the Pirates up 10-0.
The Red Ants (2-3) got on the board with a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but Hidalgo’s defense held, and Progreso was short on a 40-plus yard field goal attempt at the end.