STAFF REPORT
Rio Hondo was ranked in the personal top 10’s by seven of AIM Media’s eight high school football writers following their 6-0 start to the regular season. The distinction vaulted the Bobcats into the newest RGVSports.com poll for the first time this season, tied for ninth place. Rio Hondo is also the first sub-5A football team to crack the top 10 this season.
The Bobcats have been one of the most consistent Valley programs over the last decade under coach Rocky James. James has led Rio Hondo to nine playoff appearances and three district titles in 10 seasons. They are on a path toward district title No. 4.
Last week’s game at previously undefeated La Feria was Rio Hondo’s toughest test of the season. Senior quarterback Josiah Ortega does more than drive the bus for the Bobcat offense. Ortega entered the La Feria game with 1,653 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes under his belt, but the Lion defense clamped down on the senior.
Ortega managed 206 yards passing, threw a season-high two interceptions and the Bobcats managed to win 14-7 thanks to a tightened defense and a Danny Vasquez rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Ortega maintained the mantle as one of the best quarterbacks at any classification across the region. His 1,859 passing yards are tops among signal-callers in Region IV and 20 touchdowns are still good for second in the region.
The eight voters are the writers and editors who cover RGV high school football for AIM Media’s three newspapers: The Monitor, The Valley Morning Star, and The Brownsville Herald.
The latest poll also saw the unclogging of the top four spots, who all happened to be on their bye weeks simultaneously. Weslaco High was bumped from No. 3 to No. 4. Brownsville Hanna, whose win over Amarillo Tascosa on Sept. 29 moved them to No. 2, assumed the third spot heading into Week 7. Mission Veterans will travel to Donna High, who also enjoyed a bye, this week as the Valley’s No. 2 team. No. 1 Edinburg Vela received all eight first-place votes. The SaberCats will go on the road to face the fourth-ranked Panthers at Bobby Lackey Stadium this Friday.
McAllen Memorial’s fourth quarter collapse against La Joya High dropped them clear out of the rankings. The Mustangs have been in each top 10 poll up to this point. San Benito assumed the No. 5 spot. No. 6 PSJA High kept the good times rolling in a 10-7 win against PSJA North last week. Brownsville Veterans throttled Brownsville Porter and moved up to No. 7. Mission High hopped up a space to No. 8 after beating McAllen High 37-0. The Los Fresnos Falcons share the No. 9 slot with Rio Hondo.
The following are the teams in the RGVSports.com top 10 poll, with first-place votes in parentheses and total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through 1 point for a 10th-place vote. The eight voters are the writers and editors who cover RGV high school football for AIM Media’s three newspapers: The Monitor, Valley Morning Star, and Brownsville Herald.
Team Record Points Previous
1. Edinburg Vela (8) 5-0 80 1
2. Mission Veterans 4-1 62 3
3. Brownsville Hanna 3-1 61 2
4. Weslaco High 5-0 42 3
5. San Benito 2-3 34 8
6. PSJA High 3-2 27 7
7. Brownsville Veterans 5-1 25 10
8. Mission High 4-1 24 9
T-9. Los Fresnos 2-3 20 6
T-9. Rio Hondo 6-0 20 NR
Other teams receiving votes: Weslaco East (18); McAllen Memorial (11); La Joya High (8); Valley View (5); Brownsville Pace (3).