RGVSPORTS.COM
Facing off in what has been dubbed “the Battle of Starr County,” Rio Grande City and Roma will open District 31-5A action against one another in The Monitor’s Game of the Week.
Both teams are coming off impressive wins over La Joya Palmview (2-2), a 6A program that advanced to the area round of the playoffs in 2014. Rio Grande City won 35-34 in overtime in Week 3, and Roma took it 44-27 in Week 4. Both were road victories.
Coming off a 42-17 loss to Corpus Christi King, Rio Grande City (2-2) will host Roma at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Joe R. Sanchez Stadium.
Roma (4-0), which won 7-6 in the head-to-head battle last year, boasts the top district’s defense once again.
With a ground-and-pound attack, the Gladiators have outscored four opponents by a combined 124-50. More than half of those points allowed came last week against Palmview. But Roma has been able to stay in front of teams, thanks in part to workhorse running back Ramon Espinoza, who leads district in carries (132), yards rushed (1,069) and touchdowns (14).
The junior entered the year as the team’s lead back after playing behind then-senior Peter Rodriguez, the district’s top carrier a season ago. Rushing for 260 yards on 38 carries and three scores last week, Espinoza lifted his team over Palmview, marking the best start in program history.
Like Roma, the Rattlers are also reliant on their rushing attack. They split the workload between Casimiro Olivarez, a junior running back, and quarterback Jason Perez. Olivarez has rushed for 393 yards and six touchdowns, while Perez has accounted for 170 yards and one score.
Heading into Week 4, both ranked among the top 5 running backs in district in rushing yards.
The matchup marks the first of a six-game district schedule, with both teams setting their sights on the playoffs. On the heels of a second-round playoff appearance, Roma seems better suited to earn another berth, a year after making the postseason for the first time in program history.
Rio Grande City was absent from last year’s playoffs following a string of injuries that decimated the team. The Rattlers were area-round qualifiers in 2013.