DISTRICT 30-6A
McALLEN MEMORIAL AT LA JOYA JUAREZ-LINCOLN
WHERE: La Joya Stadium, La Joya
WHEN: Thursday, 7 p.m.
RECORDS: McAllen Memorial (5-1, 2-0); La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (0-5, 0-1)
GAME NOTES: A matchup that has all the makings of a blowout win for the Mustangs. … McAllen Memorial has the best offense in District 30-6A, gaining an average of 469.7 yards per game. La Joya Juarez-Lincoln has the district’s worst defense, allowing 389.4 yards per game. … McAllen Memorial has the district’s best point differential at plus-87. La Joya Juarez-Lincoln has the district’s worst at minus-124. … McAllen Memorial running back Trevor Speights has run for 1,525 yards this year. La Joya Juarez-Lincoln has gained 879 yards as a team. … Speights has scored 114 points this season. Juarez-Lincoln has scored 47. … The upside for Juarez-Lincoln is that it is coming off a bye following its best result of the season, a 28-21 loss to McAllen Rowe. Of course, Memorial also just played Rowe, and the Mustangs dominated the Warriors 58-19.
PREDICTION: McAllen Memorial, 58-6
— Greg Luca
McALLEN HIGH AT McALLEN ROWE
WHERE: McAllen Memorial Stadium
WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS: McAllen High (4-2, 2-0); McAllen Rowe (2-4, 1-1)
GAME NOTES: A city rivalry that has lost some of its luster as the teams appear headed in different directions. … McAllen High has won its two district games by a combined 89-14. Behind those impressive showings, McHi was the only 5A or 6A Valley team to garner votes in the most recent AP poll, ranking 15th with 7 points. … Rowe, on the other hand, has looked highly beatable in its two district games. The Warriors survived La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 28-21 and were trampled by McAllen Memorial 58-19. … Rowe has allowed 230 points this season, more than any other team in the Valley. … The teams have traded streaks in the rivalry in recent years. McHi won four in a row from 2005-08, Rowe won three straight from 2009-11, and McHi has won the past two.
PREDICTION: McAllen High, 36-20
— Greg Luca
LA JOYA PALMVIEW AT LA JOYA HIGH
WHERE: La Joya Stadium, La Joya
WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS: La Joya Palmview (3-1-1; 1-0); La Joya (1-5; 0-2)
GAME NOTES: This matchup might not look like much now, but it may end up having major playoff implications. … Coming off a 1-9 season, Palmview has shown substantial improvement, albeit against relatively weak competition. The run-heavy offense ranks second in district with 386.2 yards per game, and the defense is the district’s best at 169.2 yards per game allowed. … La Joya High’s numbers aren’t as promising — the Coyotes rank fifth in district on offense, third on defense — but they’ve done it against perhaps the Valley’s most difficult schedule. The past four weeks, the Coyotes have played McHi, McAllen Memorial, Weslaco East and Edinburg Vela.
PREDICTION: La Joya Palmview, 24-20
— Greg Luca
DISTRICT 31-6A
PSJA NORTH AT PSJA MEMORIAL
WHERE: PSJA Stadium, Pharr
WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS: PSJA North (3-3, 2-0); PSJA Memorial (3-3, 1-1)
GAME NOTES: Two teams that were a combined 2-14 in district play last year are out to a combined 3-1 start. … Memorial has won three of the past four meetings in the series, snapping what had been a lengthy win streak for North. None of the past four matchups have been decided by more than 6 points. … First-year PSJA North coach Jorge Peña was on the staff at PSJA Memorial before accepting his new position. The man he replaced, Steve Flores, is now an assistant at PSJA Memorial. … Only four Valley 5A or 6A players have scored 10 or more touchdowns, and two of them are in this game. PSJA Memorial running back Jonathan Treviño has run for 781 yards — second-best in district — and 10 scores. North quarterback George Olivarez has also scored 10 times, ranking sixth in the district with 496 rushing yards.
PREDICTION: PSJA North, 24-18
— Greg Luca
WESLACO EAST AT EDINBURG ECONOMEDES
WHERE: Cats Stadium, Edinburg
WHEN: Thursday, 7 p.m.
RECORDS: Weslaco East
(5-1, 1-1); Edinburg Economedes
(2-3, 0-1)
GAME NOTES: Expect a lot of running the football, and from a lot of different players. … Weslaco East has gained 94.2 percent of its yardage on the ground, running for 2,082 yards while passing for just 128. … The Wildcats have won three games this season without passing for a single yard. … During a Week 2 win against San Benito, seven different players ran the football. … Somehow, Edinburg Economedes has been even more diverse, giving carries to 10 different players in a Week 1 win against Brownsville Hanna. … Weslaco East’s Lupe Moron has been the best back on either team, picking up 1,046 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. He is one of only two Valley 5A or 6A players with more than 1,000 yards.
PREDICTION: Weslaco East, 28-18
— Greg Luca
EDINBURG HIGH AT EDINBURG NORTH
WHERE: Cats Stadium, Edinburg
WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS: Edinburg High (1-4, 0-1); Edinburg North (3-3, 1-1)
GAME NOTES: Edinburg North is coming off its worst week of the year going up against an Edinburg High team in the midst of a difficult season. … The Cougars and Bobcats were outscored a combined 88-0 in Week 6. … Last Thursday, with workhorse running back Matt Whitesides sidelined due to injury, Edinburg North was dominated 42-0 by PSJA North. … Scores like that have hardly been uncommon for Edinburg, which lost 46-0 to Weslaco High last week and has been outscored 172-15 this year. … Something has to give in the run game. Edinburg High’s rush offense is the worst in district, gaining just 68.8 yards per game. The next closest is Weslaco High, at 192.3. PREDICTION: Edinburg North, 34-6
— Greg Luca
DISTRICT 31-5A
EDINBURG VELA AT SHARYLAND PIONEER
WHERE: Richard Thompson Stadium, Mission
WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS: Edinburg Vela (5-1, 1-1); Sharyland Pioneer (3-3, 1-1)
GAME NOTES: Edinburg Vela’s response to a 27-24 district-opening loss to Sharyland High? A 49-10 victory over a playoff-caliber team in Roma. … Vela looks to make it 2-0 in district against a Sharyland Pioneer squad that is hovering around .500 after losing 24-0 to a Rio Grande City team that had lost four of its previous five games. … As it stands, the SaberCats are in a three-way tie for second place in district, along with Rio Grande City and Sharyland Pioneer. Vela will try to break out of that knot with QB Ebher Lopez, who has thrown a Valley-high 16 TDs passes this year. … Pioneer is led by Alejandro Ramirez at QB, who has completed 55.9 pecent of his passes for 503 yards and 2 TDs, with running back/wide receiver Alec Cruz doing his share to shoulder some of the offensive load.
PREDICTION: Edinburg Vela, 42-14
— Mario Aguirre
RIO GRANDE CITY AT VALLEY VIEW
WHERE: Valley View ISD Tiger Stadium, Hidalgo
WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS: Rio Grande City (2-4, 1-1); Valley View (0-5, 0-1)
GAME NOTES: Rio Grande staved off an 0-2 to start to district last week by coming up with a nice win over Sharyland Pioneer, another team vying for one of our playoff sports in 31-5A. … Starting to get healthy now, the Rattlers should improve. And this week affords them an opportunity to get accimilated again, facing a Valley View team that has lost nine straight games dating back to last week. … The Tigers have been shutout twice this year. They’re coming off a bye last week after losing to Sharyland Pioneer 28-7 in Week 5.
PREDICTION: Rio Grande City 24-7
— Mario Aguirre
MISSION VETERANS AT ROMA
WHERE: Gladiator Arena, Roma
WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS: Mission Veterans (3-2, 0-1); Roma (3-2-1, 1-1)
GAME NOTES: Mission Veterans will more than likely be without the services of quarterback Santos Villarreal, who sprained his right ankle in a 37-20 loss to Sharyland High in Week 6. … The dual threat quarter hands over the reins to sophomore Diego Hernandez, who completed 14 of 18 passes for 126 yards in one quarter of action. … Roma is coming off 49-10 loss last week to Edinburg Vela. All year, the Gladiators had given up a combined 40 points in five games. … Both teams could use a win at this point, with Mission Veterans, a team once hoping for a 10-0 season, trying to avoid an 0-2 start to district, and Roma hoping to pounce on this opportunity with Villarreal out. … As much as Villarreal helped run the offense, the Patriots still have capable players to help shoulder the load, along with John Garcia, who leads runs and catches the ball at a steady rate.
PREDICTION: Mission Veterans, 17-10
— Mario Aguirre
DISTRICT 32-5A
PSJA SOUTHWEST AT BROWNSVILLE PORTER
WHERE: Sams Memorial Stadium, Brownsville
WHEN: Thursday, 7 p.m.
RECORDS: PSJA Southwest (3-2, 1-1); Brownsville Porter (2-3, 1-1)
GAME NOTES: PSJA Southwest lost to PSJA High 27-0 in Week 6. … The Javelinas boast the district’s top running back, Jesus Acosta, who has already carried the ball 95 times for 640 yards and 12 touchdowns. … PSJA Southwest’s defense allows 291 yards per game, of which 248 yards coming from opponents’ ground game. … Brownsville Porter lost to Edcouch-Elsa 38-7 last week. … The Cowboys also rely heavily on a strong run game. George Gutierrez leads the way with 461 yards on 95 carries and three touchdowns, third in District 32-5A. The Cowboys’ defense allows 265 yards of offense and 22 points per game. … Both teams will look to run first and control the line of scrimmage. If Porter can keep drives alive and put the clamps on Acosta as PSJA High did last week, the Cowboys can get back on the winning track.
PREDICTION: Brownsville Porter, 24-21
— Andrew Crum
MERCEDES AT DONNA HIGH
WHERE: Bennie La Prade Stadium, Donna
WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS: Mercedes (4-1, 2-0); Donna North (0-5, 0-2)
GAME NOTES: These two teams could not be more opposite offensively. Mercedes is the district’s top passing team and Donna High is coming off consecutive 250-plus-yard rushing games. … The Tigers have shown they can stop the run, allowing just 83.6 rushing yards per game. And the Redskins have shown to be stellar against the pass, led by a secondary paced by safety Jon Marty, allowing 67.3 passing yards per game. Something’s got to give. … Since its 28-0 season-opening loss to Calallen, Mercedes has not been challenged, outscoring opponents 134-47. The Tigers have it all — a dominant, balanced offense and an aggressive defense ignited by great linebackers in Fabricio Quintanilla and David Alvarado. … Game by game, Donna is seeing improvement in its offensive line.
PREDICTION: Mercedes, 28-14
— Dennis Silva II
BROWNSVILLE PACE AT PSJA HIGH
WHERE: PSJA Stadium, Pharr
WHEN: Thursday, 7 p.m.
RECORDS: Brownsville Pace (1-4, 0-2); PSJA High (3-2, 1-1)
GAME NOTES: PSJA High is coming off its first district win and may have found the solution to its quarterback problems in senior Troy Flores. Flores started for the first time this season and ran for a TD and passed for another in the 27-0 win over PSJA Southwest. … The Bears allow 12.6 points on 197.4 yards per game. Defense has been their anchor this season, led by middle linebacker Christian Sanchez. … When the offense is clicking, PSJA High is tough to beat. The Bears are hoping Flores can bring some life to an offense that ranks in the bottom four in the district. … Pace is a quality offensive team, but not so much defensively. The Vikings are last in the district in defense, allowing 361.4 yards per game. … QB Alex Cisneros leads the Vikings. He has thrown for 784 yards and 8 TDs to four interceptions. … Pace’s only win this season was a 53-22 stomping of winless Brownsville Lopez.
PREDICTION: PSJA High, 27-7
— Dennis Silva II
EDCOUCH-ELSA AT DONNA NORTH
WHERE: Bennie La Prade Stadium, Donna
WHEN: Thursday, 7 p.m.
RECORDS: Edcouch-Elsa (3-2, 2-0); Donna North (0-5, 0-2)
GAME NOTES: Edcouch-Elsa is on a three-game winning streak, outscoring its opponents 74-28 over that span. … Defense has carried the Yellowjackets. E-E has gone from last in the district in total yards allowed to now fifth. … Sophomore QB Marco Aguinaga suffered an ankle injury early during last week’s 38-7 win over Brownsville Porter and was removed for precautionary reasons. He is expected to play this week. … The Chiefs are looking forward to the return of sophomore QB Manny Ramirez from a wrist injury. Ramirez missed last week’s game and most of the previous one with the ailment. … Donna North had just 25 total offensive yards last week versus Mercedes, 5 rushing and 20 passing. … RB Dominic Ochoa paces the Chiefs’ offense. The sophomore has 315 yards and two TDs.
PREDICTION: Edcouch-Elsa, 28-0
— Dennis Silva II
DISTRICT 16-4A, DII
PORT ISABEL AT PROGRESO
WHERE: Red Ant Stadium, Progreso
WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS: Port Isabel (5-0, 0-0); Progreso (1-4, 0-0)
GAME NOTES: Port Isabel is once again rolling. In what was thought to be a rebuilding year, the Tarpons have won all of its games by at least nine points. … The Tarpons average 385 rushing yards. Their workhorse is senior Jaime Gonzalez, who has 585 yards and five TDs. He averages 9.1 yards per carry. … Port Isabel has played as many as three quarterbacks in games this year and has two interceptions to one passing TD. The Tarpons have three games this season in which they have failed to complete a pass. … Progreso’s lone win was a 7-0 decision over Brownsville Porter. Since then, the Red Ants have lost four in a row. … Progreso has been outscored 152-45 and has only scored in double figures twice.
PREDICTION: Port Isabel, 35-0
— Dennis Silva II
GRULLA AT LA FERIA
WHERE: Lion Stadium, La Feria
WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS: Grulla (0-5, 0-0); La Feria (4-1, 0-0)
GAME NOTES: Grulla could not have put away its non-district season any quicker after being outscored 177-68 in the five games. Fortunately, those games don’t matter, and the real deal starts this week. … But the Lions are a daunting task. La Feria is averaging 361.6 yards per game and allowing only 192. … La Feria’s only loss was a 28-14 decision to Mercedes, ranked No. 6 in the RGVSports.com Top 10 poll. … QB Isaac Galpin leads the Lions. He has rushed for 264 yards and two TDs and has passed for 565 yards and eight TDs. He has thrown just one interception in 100 pass attempts. … RB Adrian Torres is the Lions’ leading rusher with 407 yards and three TDs. Backfield mate Rusbel Gonzalez has 333 yards and two TDs. … La Feria has allowed nine or fewer points in a game three times this season, and has allowed no more than 14 in a game.
PREDICTION: La Feria, 35-14
— Dennis Silva II
DISTRICT 16-4A, DI
HIDALGO AT ZAPATA
WHERE: Pirate Stadium, Hidalgo
WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS: Hidalgo (1-5, 0-0); Zapata (5-1, 0-0)
GAME NOTES: This is the district opener for both teams. … Hidalgo is coming off a tough 25-21 loss to Lyford at home last week. The Pirates have been competitive, but have lost four in a row because of poor defense. … The Pirates have been outscored 170-134. … Zapata, on the other hand, has won five in a row since its 62-36 season-opening loss to Laredo Cigarroa. The Hawks average 232 rushing yards. Sixteen touchdowns have come via the run compared to three passing. … Zapata has three players (Raul Ruiz Jr., Orlando Villarreal, Carlos Gutierrez) that have rushed for at least 204 yards this season. … Zapata has outscored its opponents 216-138.
PREDICTION: Zapata, 35-14
— Dennis Silva II
DISTRICT 16-2A, DI
LA VILLA AT THREE RIVERS
WHERE: Three Rivers Stadium, Three Rivers
WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS: La Villa (1-4, 0-0); Three Rivers (5-0, 0-0)
GAME NOTES: The district opener for both teams. … La Villa has struggled this season, being outscored 152-73. The Cardinals average 256 yards per game, much of that on the ground. But they allow 320.8 yards per game, 242.2 on the ground. … La Villa is paced by RB Ramiro Cantu, who has 324 yards and a TD on 69 carries. QB Macario Perez has 274 yards and a TD on 62 carries. … Perez has completed 24 of 63 passes (38 percent) for 437 yards and five TDs to four interceptions. … Three Rivers has outscored opponents 177-73.
PREDICTION: Three Rivers, 35-7
— Dennis Silva II
DISTRICT 16-3A, DII
MONTE ALTO AT DILLEY
WHERE: Bobcat Stadium, Dilley
WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS: Monte Alto (2-3, 0-0); Dilley (0-6, 0-0)
GAME NOTES: Monte Alto is coming off a nice 12-0 win over Marine Military Academy last week. … Now the Blue Devils open district play against a Dilley team that has struggled mightily. Dilley is 0-6 and has been outscored 155-26 this season. … Dilley has been shutout in four of its games this season. … Monte Alto, meanwhile, has won two of its last three games since starting the season 0-2.
PREDICTION: Monte Alto, 21-7
— Dennis Silva II